Family mini-van - what to do?

[Chocaholic]

2011 Odyssey now has 93k on the clock. Original brakes grinding so wife dropped it at dealership (I'm 3000 miles away). They're doing the brakes (no choice, $450) but...

Service advisor says, rear shock leaking, due for timing belt and water pump ($900), plugs, and will need tires soon. Probably more.

Car has been bullet proof and she likes it. 3 dogs, 3 grown kids, pulls utility trailer. Do I put $2500 into it and keep her in it? Do we trade it in and spend 10x+ that much but have a new, warranted car that we don't need to worry about when stuck in Atlanta traffic? With two kids in college, that's a tough pill to swallow.

I'm good at making bad automotive decisions. Appreciate thoughts from those with more common sense than I have!

[VincentVega]

Nothing you listed is complicated, could do it in your driveway if you want. Otherwise find another place to do the work. Hard to beat those things for family duty.

[Scott Douglas]

You've hit the 100k mile maintenance wall with your Honda. I'd let the dealer do the brakes (since you're not there) but find an indy shop to get a cost estimate on the rest of it. $900 isn't bad for the timing belt, but it's not a great price either.
With kids in school, you don't need a car payment, at least I didn't.

[ckelly78z]

Keep it and run the wheels off of it, you are at the prime time (in the vans life) to lose the most money while upgrading. In the first 5 years, most vehicles lose 50% of thier value, and only lose another 10-20% over the next 5 years. You are far better off keeping the van and fixing a few things that have come up rather than taking on a new, large loan.

[recycled sixtie]

Well you have come to a fork in the road and I agree with the above - namely get it fixed. A second opinion is warrantied(pardon the pun) coz I don't trust dealerships.

You don't need major debt or large expenditure on a new vehicle at your stage of life. I get that impression anyway.

It reminds me when I had a 95 AWD Chrysler Van and had a 100k miles on it. It started to cost me about $100-200 a month to keep it on the road. It could have gone on a lot longer if I had kept it.

[Steve Carlton]

I would expect the Odyssey would have another 100K easy miles left in it, but I'm just guessing. I'd research it online and see if it's got a reputation for holding up well from here on out. If a lot of expensive things tend to go, now is the best time to move on.

[Scott Douglas]

I'd recommend getting the trans fluid changed if you decide to keep it. I think that is the weakest link in the chain when it comes to the Ody.
Doing the maintenance that is recommended at 100k should make it good to go with just oil and gas for at least 50k more miles.
Does the leaky shock effect the ride or is it just an oil weep that has dirt on it that is worrying the dealer.

We had a 2000 Ody that we bought CPO used when our Pontiac Transport hit 55k miles and started to come out of extended warranty. I'd have to say it was one of the best cars we ever owned, right behind my 2002 V-6 Accord.

[vash]

not bad. that entire list is all wear items. nothing really broke.

i vote fix the thing and start the clock over again. $450 for the brake job is a bit painful, since we all know what's involved..

what sucks it that the van is at a dealership shop...ouch. those guys are proud of their labor and the prices show it. and OEM parts are not cheap either.

[LeeH]

Call other dealers in the area and ask their price for the timing belt/water pump. Check out the dealer's web site. Many have service coupons posted. Tell your dealer you can get it done elsewhere for less... are there any discounts available? Dealer service prices aren't set in stone.

[LeeH]

Are you in ATL?

Curry Honda has a service coupon on their web site for timing belts. $700 including water pump/coolant.

Honda Service Coupons Atlanta, GA | Curry Honda Atlanta

[berettafan]

our Honda dealer sent out a coupon showing something like $675 for timing belt/water pump service if done by end of January.

it looks like an official Honda ad, not just a local thing. maybe check with your dealer on that?

[fastfredracing]

I usually come in under 6 for tb water pump job, with oem parts go see an indy, It is a Honda, run it!. I see these with 200k all the time. Trans would be the only other major worry, but I believe it is much more uncommon than on the earlier vans

[vash]

GREAT points!! call the dealership the car is at and see if they can offer up a coupon. they have codes they know. my subaru shop gave us a 10% off..every little bit helps ease the pain

[aschen]

fix that sob for sure, no brainer. You can do it your self for an 80% discount or take it to an indy for a 35% discount, or at least barter the dealer for a 15% discount.

[Dantilla]

From a financial standpoint, absolutely a no-brainer.

$2500 to go 100,000 miles. At 1000 miles/month, your monthly "payment" is 25 bucks.

Even paying cash for a new one, depreciation alone is greater than that.

[MBAtarga]

Put the money into fixing the Honda - it's got a lot of life left with <100k miles.

Put the car payment savings into your watch fund.

[Chocaholic]

Pretty unanimous feedback. So, that's the plan. Did some research and found an Indy nearby that's highly regarded. I hate the dealership (Nalley) and will be happy to get it out of there once the brake ripoff is done.

Wife likes the van and it's in good shape overall. Had the trans fluid changed at 60k. So, will do the responsible thing and fix her up for another few years of (hopefully) reliable use.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Wife likes the van and it's in good shape overall. .

Happy wife, Happy life......My wife and I just went through this with her 2003 BMW 325 CI that has 200,000 miles. It needed a few things done to it, but ultimately, the repairs cost about 2 payments on a new one....I can afford to do that every year.

This is on a car we bought 3 years ago for $6500, I fully expect in another year or two, we will need to spend another $10,000 on a nice used one that will last for 5 years, and still be able to sell for a few thousand.

[onewhippedpuppy]

You made the right choice, that thing is just getting started! The shocks would be optional, but guaranteed you'll notice the difference at 100k. I just replaced the shocks on my wife's 2012 Nissan Quest that has 60k and it rides significantly better.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Happy wife, Happy life....

My wife refuses to part with the 2003 4Runner I bought from OWP many years ago.

It has north of 230K on the clock. It mostly stays local and hasn't been difficult to maintain. I do the routine stuff and trust my Indy to do the rest.

Take it to 150k and enjoy.