What would you do? (car trade in)

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Thunderstruck xx
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5:29p, 10/13/26
I have one car with only 63k miles, and it has developed an oil leak (timing gasket and valve cover gasket) just outside the 60k powertrain warranty. The cost to fix is probably $1600 with the dealer, but if I trade it in I could probably get $16k-$20k towards a more reliable car.

Our other car has about 150k miles and needs an ABS module replacement which would cost more than the car's trade in value (probably $2k to fix). However, this car has never had any major engine issues like oil leaks or anything serious.

Do you trade in the older car and attempt to fix the newer one, or trade in the newer car while keeping the old reliable car going?





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CanyonAg77
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In reply to Thunderstruck xx • 5:47p, 10/13/26
AG
Quote:
. The cost to fix is probably $1600 with the dealer

Take it to an independent mechanic and get another estimate

And depending on how big the leak is, you can ignore it. Modern cars are doing a great job of keeping the motor from leaking. Older cars always leaked.

And why are you trading in a car that has another 100,000 miles left in it, easy?

I guess you can get some trade in value, but I'd also bet that you're going to make payments on the new car for the next 48 months, and the $1600 can be paid in 2-3 months
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CanyonAg77
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In reply to Thunderstruck xx • 5:55p, 10/13/26
AG
Thunderstruck xx said:
Our other car has about 150k miles and needs an ABS module replacement which would cost more than the car's trade in value (probably $2k to fix). However, this car has never had any major engine issues like oil leaks or anything serious.


A little tougher.

It would help to know the make and model of the cars, to make a better decision. $2,000 sound high for a module, but it depends on the car

If you're going to get $2000 in trade, you'd probably get $4,000 to $5,000 in a private sale.

But if it's running well, no issues, you probably can get another 25,000 to 50,000 miles out of it, so the module replacement is going to add 4 to 8 cents a mile to the remaining life of the car.
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Thunderstruck xx
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In reply to CanyonAg77 • 5:58p, 10/13/26
We need two cars in good working condition. The one with the bad ABS module isn't the safest to drive like that.

We can afford the $1600 repair out of pocket and could even pay cash for a new car if we wanted to, so not going to be financing anything unless a dealer gives us 0% interest on a new car.
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Thunderstruck xx
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In reply to CanyonAg77 • 6:02p, 10/13/26
The newer car is a 2021 Mazda CX-5 and the older car is a 2012 Dodge Charger.

From what I've learned, these particular Mazda's are prone to this type of oil leak which really pisses me off. I've never owned a car that's developed oil leaks with so few miles on it.
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CanyonAg77
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In reply to Thunderstruck xx • 6:06p, 10/13/26
AG
Good for you for being in good financial shape. I still think fix the oil leak and keep driving it.

Even if you aren't making payments, comparing the cost of repair to payments on a new car, is a good way to visualize whether the repair is justified.

Personal opinion, the one with the faulty ABS is safe to drive, it basically defaults back to the way every car drove before about 1990. Pump the brakes to keep it from skidding.

Just keep it off the freeway, and don't drive in the rain.

Again, I'd still be leaning toward replacing the module, unless the rest of the car is having mechanical problems, or looks like refried rat crap.

Though again, if you have the cash flow, and are worried that it will start developing additional gremlins at 150,000+ miles, I can't fault your wanting to change. I'd still consider private sale.
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Thunderstruck xx
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6:06p, 10/13/26
Also my wife is dead set on replacing one of the cars for something larger for traveling with our kids, so one of them has got to go. If it was me deciding, I would drop this POS Mazda and get a Toyota which is more reliable, and repair the ABS module to keep the older car running, but she doesn't like that idea, and I'm trying to get other opinions.
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Absolute
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6:24p, 10/13/26
AG
My wife and I would probably get rid of the older car if we wanted/needed a bigger suv for kid stuff. A 14 yo car is going to start having failures from age at some point.

Then we would get the Mazda fixed at a independent mechanic not the dealer if it was out of warranty.
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Thunderstruck xx
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In reply to Absolute • 6:44p, 10/13/26
Absolute said:
My wife and I would probably get rid of the older car if we wanted/needed a bigger suv for kid stuff. A 14 yo car is going to start having failures from age at some point.

Then we would get the Mazda fixed at a independent mechanic not the dealer if it was out of warranty.


Yeah I simply don't trust the dealer to make a good repair if we go that route. I've read that the repair is fairly complicated, so I am going to get a quote from a good mechanic I trust to see what they can do.

Who knows, maybe we decide to trade both of them in for two cars over the next year.

Related question: if I am just seeing one little drop of oil on the floor from the Mazda every day, is that type of leak going to cause engine damage? I check the oil level on it practically every day at the moment.
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CanyonAg77
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In reply to Thunderstruck xx • 8:15p, 10/13/26
AG
Quote:
Related question: if I am just seeing one little drop of oil on the floor from the Mazda every day, is that type of leak going to cause engine damage? I

Amazingly enough, there is a unit convertor online from drops to quarts.

It takes 18,927 drops to equal a quart.

By my calculations, it would take 58 years to lose a quart of oil at a drop a day

So, no. Just check it every week or two, until you're satisfied it is not a factor.

I also Googled up this leak. Some folks think it might be leaks higher up on the engine, and thus, cheaper to fix. My experience is that oil leaks are darn hard to pinpoint, and a leak high on the engine may certainly appear to be coming from lower down.

Leaks on the bottom seldom appear to be coming from higher.
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Charismatic Megafauna
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8:20p, 10/13/26
AG
Bro. My Yukon leaves 3 drops of oil every time I park, whether I have driven 1 mile or 100 (mostly valve cover gaskets...mostly). I check the oil every fill up, it probably needs a quart per oil change and that's most likely due to consumption rather than the leak. Get your abs module fixed as cheaply as possible and sell/trade in the dodge
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Absolute
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8:31p, 10/13/26
AG
As was mentioned earlier, us olds remember cars that always leaked. I remember carrying a quart to top off when I filled up.

I would think the Mazda should be repairable and good for a while. Once you fix the leak. Aren't they considered pretty reliable cars?

No guarantees, but you should be ok if you check it weekly.

If you need a good independent, this is a good source, just share your location.
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TSW2012
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8:32p, 10/13/26
AG
If I had to pick keeping a few year old Japanese car or a 14 year old mopar it's a crazy easy choice.
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Absolute
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In reply to TSW2012 • 8:48p, 10/13/26
AG
TSW2012 said:
If I had to pick keeping a few year old Japanese car or a 14 year old mopar it's a crazy easy choice.


I wasn't going to mention that……but Dodge…..age. …. Would influence me too.
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SnowboardAg
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9:11p, 10/13/26
AG
My motto lately is fix everything and avoid expensive cars / car payments. I HATE depreciating items (especially the disposable cars of today). I would absolutely buy a classic car though - I know, doesn't make sense.
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Thunderstruck xx
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In reply to Absolute • 9:13p, 10/13/26
Absolute said:
As was mentioned earlier, us olds remember cars that always leaked. I remember carrying a quart to top off when I filled up.

I would think the Mazda should be repairable and good for a while. Once you fix the leak. Aren't they considered pretty reliable cars?

No guarantees, but you should be ok if you check it weekly.

If you need a good independent, this is a good source, just share your location.


I'm in the Boerne, TX area.
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Complete Idiot
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9:37p, 10/13/26
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aggiepaintrain
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10:30p, 10/13/26
AG
Fix the mazda and sell the dodge on fbm as is, an abs module is not 2k
(less) check eBay & they can be rebuilt as well

I would try find a nice used hybrid Sienna

Otherwise you're buying TWO cars


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MelvinUdall
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10:31p, 10/13/26
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Thunderstruck xx
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In reply to aggiepaintrain • 10:32p, 10/13/26
aggiepaintrain said:
Fix the mazda and sell the dodge on fbm as is an abs module is not 2k
(less) check ebay they can be rebuilt as well

find a nice used hybrid sienna

otherwise you're buying TWO cars




The dodge dealer near me said the abs module would be $1300 just for the part, so just estimating that plus labor.
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CanyonAg77
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In reply to Thunderstruck xx • 10:50p, 10/13/26
AG
Quote:
The dodge dealer near me said the abs module would be $1300 just for the part, so just estimating that plus labor.

https://www.amazon.com/Chrysler-Challenger-Charger-Control-Module/dp/B07741FGWM/

Quote:
Mopar 68291563AA Abs Control Module Chrysler 300 Dodge Challenger Charger

$324.11

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sts7049
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5:40a, 10/14/26
AG
absolutely fix the mazda and ditch the charger
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Ragoo
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6:01a, 10/14/26
AG
Fix both, list both private party. See which sells first. Don't be in a rush and don't accept a lowball offer.
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aggiedata
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In reply to Thunderstruck xx • 7:24a, 10/14/26
AG
Never use a dealer to fix stuff out of warranty. Now take it to an independent ( not Christian Brothers!!! )

Brady's seems like my kind of place in Borne.

https://share.google/baM9wvaqBZDxlqH8q
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agracer
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In reply to Thunderstruck xx • 12:44p, 10/15/26
AG
Thunderstruck xx said:
Also my wife is dead set on replacing one of the cars for something larger for traveling with our kids, so one of them has got to go. If it was me deciding, I would drop this POS Mazda Charger and get a Toyota which is more reliable, and repair the ABS module to keep the older car running, but she doesn't like that idea, and I'm trying to get other opinions.

I think you have the POS designation backwards.....
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Thunderstruck xx
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In reply to agracer • 3:41p, 10/15/26
agracer said:
Thunderstruck xx said:
Also my wife is dead set on replacing one of the cars for something larger for traveling with our kids, so one of them has got to go. If it was me deciding, I would drop this POS Mazda Charger and get a Toyota which is more reliable, and repair the ABS module to keep the older car running, but she doesn't like that idea, and I'm trying to get other opinions.

I think you have the POS designation backwards.....


My reason for calling it a POS is because it started leaking oil with only about 63k miles on it. I've never had a car leak oil like that. My charger hasn't leaked with more than double the miles. They don't make cars like they used to. I've heard from several mechanics that a lot of new cars have ridiculous issues like this unless you buy a Toyota.
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CanyonAg77
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In reply to Thunderstruck xx • 8:11p, 10/15/26
AG
Quote:
My reason for calling it a POS is because it started leaking oil with only about 63k miles on it. I've never had a car leak oil like that


We old farts who drove cars built in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, find this amusing.
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TSW2012
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In reply to CanyonAg77 • 10:53p, 10/15/26
AG
CanyonAg77 said:
Quote:
My reason for calling it a POS is because it started leaking oil with only about 63k miles on it. I've never had a car leak oil like that


We old farts who drove cars built in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, find this amusing.


It's not leaking it's seeping. If it becomes a leak it MAY need to be addressed.

Reminds me of the old joke about Harley's.
You know it's out of oil when it stops leaving puddles in the garage.
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12thMan9
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In reply to Thunderstruck xx • 9:46a, 10/19/26
AG
Thunderstruck xx said:
Absolute said:
As was mentioned earlier, us olds remember cars that always leaked. I remember carrying a quart to top off when I filled up.

I would think the Mazda should be repairable and good for a while. Once you fix the leak. Aren't they considered pretty reliable cars?

No guarantees, but you should be ok if you check it weekly.

If you need a good independent, this is a good source, just share your location.


I'm in the Boerne, TX area.

My daughter was happy w/Belden's, said the guy was thorough on diagnosing some issues for her. They've been around a long time.
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