When Should I Say Goodbye to My 2009 Hyundai Sonata and Weighing Costs Against Value

I need some advice here.

I have a 2009 Hyundai Sonata with a 4 cylinder engine. I’ve seen tips suggesting to keep repair expenses in check as the car’s value goes down. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on whether I might be at that point:

  • I estimate my car is worth around $2,100

  • In the last 9 years, I’ve spent $2,145 on repairs, not including routine maintenance costs that all cars need (like oil changes, inspections, registration, and so on)

    • 2016: $367, the biggest expense was an alternator replacement
    • 2018: $25
    • 2020: $61
    • 2021: $646, including $609 for new tires
    • 2022: $1,046, another alternator replacement (8 years later) and a problem with a stuck brake caliper (driver side)
    • 2023: $436, which included $293 for a leaking oil issue from the valve cover gasket and another $142 for a stuck brake caliper (passenger side)

A good time to switch cars is when the amount you spend on keeping it running for a year exceeds what you’d pay in a year for a new car payment.

Merritt said:
A good time to switch cars is when the amount you spend on keeping it running for a year exceeds what you’d pay in a year for a new car payment.

Don’t forget to think about the savings from property taxes on a new or newer car.

And consider the savings on insurance costs too.

If you haven’t already, it might be worth getting just liability insurance and dropping collision. Once a car drops to around $3,000 in value, it’s often not worth having collision coverage if you can buy a new car if you end up in an accident. Remember that insurance companies often pay out less than full value for totaled cars, sometimes around 80%.

Merritt said:
A good time to switch cars is when the amount you spend on keeping it running for a year exceeds what you’d pay in a year for a new car payment.

[deleted]

Freddie said:

Merritt said:
A good time to switch cars is when the amount you spend on keeping it running for a year exceeds what you’d pay in a year for a new car payment.

[deleted]

With proper maintenance, you could likely keep it for a long time.

Freddie said:
[deleted]

Yeah, I don’t drive much, maybe 7,500 miles a year. The car currently has 130,000 miles on it.

I have the cash for a new car, but I was considering putting it in a high-yield savings account to earn interest until my partner and I have a baby and need a bigger or second car.

@Lennon
If you’re only driving 7,500 miles a year, I’d say keep it until it can no longer run. If it’s mostly city driving and the brake caliper just has minor issues, you might not even need to fix it since speeds are low.

Being a 2009 model, it’s pretty solid. The repairs seem minor and mostly routine maintenance. Like one commenter mentioned, if you’re spending more than what a year’s worth of payments on a new car would be, that’s when you should start looking for a new one.
It just needs to get you from point A to point B.

You shouldn’t worry so much about repair costs versus the car’s value. Focus more on annual running costs versus the price of a replacement.

If you’re considering buying used again, keep in mind that you might need to spend a bit on repairs again. There’s something to be said about knowing the history of your current car and being aware of its issues. If rust isn’t a major concern and mileage is okay, I’d say get the most use out of it. I’ve often regretted letting go of cars too early. The last time I did, I ended up spending $1,000 immediately on repairs for little annoyances like a valve cover gasket. Your costs for ownership seem reasonable over these past years.

I have a 2006 Hyundai Sonata, and I’ve spent more than you in recent years, recently $1,300 on a stuck brake. All my windows are not functional, and I suspect the gasket is leaking too. I’m not a car expert, but a friend is selling her 2018 Mazda3, so I wouldn’t have to spend $30k on a new car. Personally, I feel inclined to go that route because I want something more reliable. Reading your post makes me rethink though since I do have some attachment to my car.

@Dakota
Interesting that we both have the stuck brake and possibly the leaking valve cover issue.

By the way, my windows also stopped working. I managed to fix it by replacing the switch at the door, which you can find on Amazon, and there’s a replacement video on YouTube. I’ll need to do the same for my passenger window and my gas cover soon.

@Lennon
Valve cover leaks are common in older vehicles. Often it’s just a rubber gasket that wears out over time and goes bad, allowing oil to leak. There’s usually nothing to worry about, and you can often replace it yourself with just basic tools and a bit of knowledge.

Does it have disc brakes all around? If it does, you might want to replace the other two brake calipers too along with inspecting the rubber brake lines. Or replace the wheel cylinders if it has drums.
Your car looks in decent shape overall.
After 130k miles and 14 years, some parts will naturally fail or wear out. It’s just how it goes.
Preventative maintenance is a good idea. By the way, does the engine have issues with timing chains or belts?
At this rate, since you’re spending so little on repairs and the car is reliable, it seems like the biggest risks would be an engine failure, rust, or an accident.

@Dallas
I had the serpentine belt replaced a year or two back because the engine was revving while idling and replacing it was a simple task while I was changing the alternator too.

The engine seems to run well, but yes, I do have a bit of rust forming on the bumper.

@Lennon
Good to know you replaced the serpentine belt, since that powers important accessories!

The timing belt or chain keeps everything moving properly in your engine. If that fails, it could lead to big problems.

Are you handling much of this work yourself?

@Dallas
I do as much as I can myself, like changing brake pads, rotors, brake calipers, and interior switches.

For repairs that need a lift to do, I typically pay for those.

I bought a car from the 1980s and drove it 85,000 miles in 5 years. The total cost of repairs plus the purchase price definitely wouldn’t add up to getting a newer, nicer car. If you have the means, there’s nothing wrong with upgrading to a nicer car. The reliability argument isn’t always about savings; there’s also downtime involved when repairs are needed. People who think buying a new car will save them money on repairs, gas, etc., usually aren’t considering the whole picture.

@Skylar
Yeah, true. However, consider that time has value too. An old clunker that needs repairs now and then might be cheaper, but the time lost in those repairs could make it not worth it. You often pay in car payments with a new car and you pay with time and repairs for an older one.

@Baylen
That’s my point; getting a new car can be a good reason just for reliability alone. The person who posted this is focusing more on the costs involved.