Transmission Rebuild

[Eric 26]

Hello all, I need some advice and I’m hoping to hear from our mechanics both in the actual trade ie @Woody B and or shade tree members. So I have a 2009 Ford Focus with about 158,000 miles and a really good body with some minimal surface rust under the paint on the frame where it meets the body. I basically had the suspension rebuilt this year and now it’s in need of a new ignition lock cylinder and as we just discovered this morning a new/rebuilt transmission because the current one is slipping. I’m looking for advice on return on investment vs just going ahead and purchasing a used vehicle with a budget of no more than $15,000.00 which I’m aware is not going to buy much in today’s market. I apologize for the long winded description but appreciate any and all advice that is shared. 

[deaknh03]

Get quotes and make a decision based on your personal situation 

[Jigfishn10]

Standard? Automatic?

 

I’m no mechanic but if it were me and the parameters are new transmission or a new (to me) used vehicle, I’d go the transmission route. 

 

Why? They are both used cars, why not keep the used car you know a lot about as opposed to one you know nothing about?

 

Good luck.  

[Eric 26]

2 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Standard? Automatic?

 

I’m no mechanic but if it were me and the parameters are new transmission or a new (to me) used vehicle, I’d go the transmission route. 

 

Why? They are both used cars, why not keep the used car you know a lot about as opposed to one you know nothing about?

 

Good luck.  

As of now with zero quotes this is my and my wife’s preferred route. I’m currently driving a 2005 Dodge Caravan with less than 150,000 miles but severe body rot which only goes 24 miles round trip 5 days a week and my son drives the Ford to high school and work. I appreciate all of the responses and I will say this is one of the many reasons I love this site. And I should have mentioned it’s an automatic transmission.

Edited November 23, 2024 by Eric 26
Content

[MediumMouthBass]

I would have the entire car inspected thoroughly before making that decision.

Most vehicles ive been around have had or needed engines replaced before at or after 100k.

But these are mostly performance cars, and driven hard. Then the idiots who use cheap oil in them also plays a factor too. Although ive seen alot of regular commuter cars need new engines as well.

 

You can spend $15k on a used car, but within a few months might need to replace that transmission also, or more. Buying used cars today is like ice fishing on a half inch of ice on a warm day.

You know how your car was taken care of, that its got minimal rust, and just redid the suspension, so maybe spending some money on it will be worth it. It all depends on how much the quote costs, and what you can replace it with.

Then your return comes in to play, you spend x now and with the miles going up higher and higher you might not even make a small fraction of it back....

You can take a car worth 10k, add 10k worth of work to it. Its still a car worth 10k.

But add 100000 more miles, its worth 3k. Theres alot of factors, and things to think about.

[VolFan]

3 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Most vehicles ive been around have had or needed engines replaced before at or after 100k.

Yeah this shouldn’t be happening with a normal car with normal maintenance. I drive a 2006 4Runner with 180,000 miles on it. I will replace the tranny when it needs it. You have a 2009 Focus - it a good reliable car. Maybe not as reliable as a Toyota 😀… You’ve just gotta make a decision on if the cost is wortH it vs getting a newer car. $15k will get you into a much newer Corolla or Camry here with manageable miles. 

[Jigfishn10]

Good luck @Eric 26