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TexasPete

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello,
I live in UK and own an 08 Patriot (diesel) with 18k. The warranty is up in June. Car was funded mostly by bank loan, I'm paying £200 a month at the moment for it. With specific regard to the patriot, am I likely to be better keeping it a) until it dies b) for 3,4 or 5 years or c) after one year is up. I suppose I need to do my sums on what makes most financial sense but would appreciate anyone's input who has had to make the same decision in the past.
Thanks - Tom.
 
#3 ·
I keep my cars until one of several things happens. The most important one being that they no longer move on their own. The other being that when the cost of keeping the car running gets to be more of a cost than its worth. I traded in my 02 Mitsubishi Galant for the 08 Patriot when I was spending more time working on it than I was driving it. The maintenance costs on it were nickel and diming me to death. It seemed like every week something would break and cost me $75-100. Finally I had enough of that and got the Patriot. I would have kept that car until it died, but it was totaled by another driver, and therefore fit in the category of "couldn't move on its own" So now I have the 2011.
 
#4 ·
I'm probably the worst person in the world to address this question, I buy on whims , fancies & occasionally personal reasons.

In the last 6 yrs...Daewoo Leganza, Skoda Superb, Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot, Dodge Avenger. These cars are the exception ....My Mrs Skoda Fabia wagon is nearly 9 yrs old & only has 15,000 mls. on the clock!!
 
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#5 ·
TP, I was in the same position as you up until last November. I was up to fifty-two thousand on the clock. The trouble was that I had a really bad roof leak that, even after four trips to the repair shop, was no nearer getting sorted. Like you I was worried where I'd stand after the warranty ran out. People kept reassuring me that, since it was an ongoing issue |I'd be OK, but I wasn't convinced.
In the end I took a really poor price on the car and exchanged it for a 2010. I stuck with the Patriot model because, other than the leak, it's been a fantastic car. I live on the edge of the North York Moors and, in the last two and a half years I've been through snow the like of which most people have never seen in a lifetime. I've been through one flood that was way, way, way in excess of the much quoted thirteen inches, no trouble at all.
I'm now paying almost three hundred and eighty a month, and yes, that's a deep hole in my pocket, but the thought of what I might have paid to sort that bloody roof out eases the suffering a bit. The garage told me that the repairs so far on the last car were totalling just under three thousand, so imagine finding that lot out of the bottom of your wallet.
I think that, without the roof problem, I'd have kept the car another year, but you have to bear in mind that dealerships have a totally unrealistic idea of what normal yearly mileage is. After your car shows fifty thousand they offer you peanuts for it, despite the fact that your vehicle may show zero rust (as mine did) and, as Dane says, there's often sod-all wrong with a diesel after a hundred grand.
Weigh it up; see what they offer you, make your choice. Hope this has helped,

Rocal

PS: if you change your car you'll get rid of that bleedin' headrest, too
 
#6 ·
TexasPete said:
Hello,
I live in UK and own an 08 Patriot (diesel) with 18k. The warranty is up in June. Car was funded mostly by bank loan, I'm paying £200 a month at the moment for it. With specific regard to the patriot, am I likely to be better keeping it a) until it dies b) for 3,4 or 5 years or c) after one year is up. I suppose I need to do my sums on what makes most financial sense but would appreciate anyone's input who has had to make the same decision in the past.
Thanks - Tom.
Click to expand...
With proper maintenance, the Patriot will last far longer than that. You will be able to drive it at least 15 years or 300,000 miles. Just make sure mice don't eat the wiring.
 
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Discussion starter · #8 ·
Guys thanks v much the replies. Useful stuff there.

I'll go to my local jeep chrysler dodge when i've had the car a year and see what they offer but i figure the most likely scenario is that i keep the car until it dies!

@ mannyR - is that for UK too? I'm the second owner though anyway!
 
#9 ·
I generally keep cars until they are at least ten years old and 150K miles. Basically until they no longer serve my needs. I try to choose cars with drivetrains that have a record of relieable service. Having a bigger than needed engine so that it is not working hard is a goal.

Typically, I have bought a used car with 3-4 years and 50,000 miles so that the first owner pays the big initial depreciation tab.

With the Patriot, I went out on a limb a bit due to its lack of extended service history, but I have the limited lifetime drivetrain warranty on my 2008. I am trying to make the engine's life easy by not driving it hard. That is reflected in the gas mileage in my signature.
 
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#10 ·
Hi TP,

I'm in the same boat. For the last ten years I have been buying new cars and then selling them after 18 - 30 months. It's nice to have a new car, but it is a very costly thing to do.

Now, with the Pat even though I have had a couple of issues with it since I bought it, I have decided to keep it past the three year warranty and I am hoping to keep it for another 5 years. There's several reasons for this, but I figure that after then it will be worth very little.

I've also had through the post in the last week the Chrysler Assist (or whatever it's called) renewal through the post. It's pretty costly but the cover it offers does seem very good, and I think I will be happy to have this.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Jeep and other new cars

I have experienced the same issue i typically change cars every two years due to my needs changing haha, never loose any money yet thank god. but with the jeep i think i'm going to make an exception heres some of my reasons.

1. jeeps like Toyota have high-resale value if taken care of.
2. currently my average mpg is 22, getting litle better on highway ;)
3. 4 door, 4x4 and great mileage for the size.
4. auto trans helps with california stop and go with manual option when i hit the trails.
5. regular maintence and some good ol' common sense have proven to let vehicles live quite a long time, one exp:
graduated highschool in 07, Father traded me pickups i got a 1991 toyota extra cab 4x4 manual with 4cl engine. with 220,000 miles he was the only owner i changed the oil every 3k, greased every zerk i could find every 2 oil changes because i went off road every chance i got. only mechanical damage in trucks life after all i put it through, 3ft of air, four-wheeling that you would not believe and a der mashed the front end and got new custom bumper.

point in case take care of your vehicle and save money and headache.
keep the jeep if it meets your needs.

my dads friend bought my truck when i was in bootcamp currently 290,000 and still going strong only thing replaced was front wheel bearings and timing chain, and i think one set of u-joints for the rear drive-shaft.
 
#14 ·
With Jeeps, if you are willing to replace the interior when it wears out, you can drive them basically forever.
 
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#15 ·
I too am probably the worst person to quote here but anyway, I loved the look of the Pat but I really wanted the Ltd. I saw mine at a year old with only 13 miles on her. Sport +, ummed and arred for around and hour and then finally thought ok. I let my head rule my heart. She's been great, But i like my luxuries and the Pat's luxuries are not so great, not bad but not great. I pick up my new 300C tomorrow, I hope. (Lux pack)
 
#16 ·
There is a point when you start to lose a lot of trade in value where you do need to decide if you're going to keep a vehicle long term, or trade it. Right at 60K miles now on mine, and I probably will trade for an 11 model.

Usually the value of the timing of a trade is before the mileage gets too high, and before you need to start replacing costly items. On previous vehicles I've gone this many miles without replacing a thing, but in this Jeep I've already replaced the tires, a tie rod end, and a wheel bearing. I like to trade before some of those expenses come up. I don;t mind some mait costs in a vehicle that is already paid for, but not while making payments.

Now if 2012 is the last year for these, I will plan on keeping the next one a long time.

My Ram truck has over 150K miles on it and my Tracker is at just about 190K miles. I like to have one vehicle I can really count on to get to work, with lower mileage and a warranty.

I've read where trading ever two years is the best financial way to go. Always have a payment that can be budgeted for, and no un-expected expenses, and generally good trade value. I guess some of that depends on how much you drive. I put between 25K and 30K miles per year on my vehicle.
 
#17 ·
I like my Pat, but oh you 300C! If my wife's 2003 Toyota Camry ever quits on her, I'm going to try suggesting the 300. If I were to get the 300C it would be the all wheel drive model, the V6 would appeal to her because she likes cars that give good mileage. her Camry gets around 30 mpg. I really like the looks of the new 300 series, although the wild wheel style is a bit much. Let us know how you like the 300C
 
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Ben73
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