Should i get rid of this car or drive it until the wheels fall off?

Question

I have a 1997 toyota corolla. It still runs and drives but it has some serious rust issues. Basically, the rocker panels are rotted out. There was also a hole in the floor that thankfully my mechanic patched up for cheap. Know it sees the wheels wobble when i hit bumps and i dont know why. Should i get a new car or just drive it until the wheels fall off?

Answer 1

I wouldnt dump money in it for a transmission rebuild or an engine overhaul but i think you should get an alignment and tune up. And also frequently put gas additives in it like Lucas or Seafoam.



So yeah just drive the thing until it fails and be saving up a cushon so that you can replace it with a cash car.

Answer 2

If the rust has attaked your subframe or unibody, it masy be time to say BYEBYE to this Toyotas1 As we know the toyota mechanicals are MARVELOUSbut neglecting spray washing on the body may RUIN the car! Rust usually occurs in th spring early when the alted water gets WARMand begins to ativate! There is a SPRAYrust pevntative mafe by PERMATEX that works nicely! DOYOURseLFAfAVOR and get a fREEsuspension exam somewhere like belletireOR OTHER SAFETY ORIEN TED TIRE STORE TO SEE IF THE DAMAGE IS ONLY CONTROLARMBUDSHINGS(very common(OR more SERIOUS! iF YOU USE cargurus< YOU CAN FIND FLORIDA CARS THAT ARE old< LOW MILEAGE AND verYnCheap! I GOT MY 1997 c280 Benx FROM THERE AND IT I A beaut! iT HAS norus ANYWHERE AND LOW ILEEGE,TOO! IT ONLY COST $3500, AND THE safety AND TEHB ost STEREO ARE WORTH IT! tHE SEATS ARE DESIGNED BY ROTHOPEDIC SURGEONSD AND WILL not WEAR OUT! dRIVING A CAR THAT SHAKES LIK yourS IS askinbgfortrouble! iT MAY BE TIME TO KISS BetSy GOO BYE, IF IT WILL COMPOMISE YOU health! tHERE ARE tonS OF GREAT BMW CARS OUT THERE FOR $300 AS WELL,A DN THEY ALSO FINANCE THESE GEMS! sadly< I BOUGHT A 1990 tauruswagonTHAT WAS LoadED WITH FEATURES, AND GOT 30 mpg ALL DAY LONG AND DROVE LIKE A bmw ON THE HIGHWAYS>>>>THE LOWER doorpanelS RUSTED AWAY, AND the comfy SEAY fabrics wore totaly out! I lovEDthis car for its' road worthiness, but it also wen t to FORDHeAVEN! The engiEN and TRANS still ran PERFECT< as i used ONLYgERMANsYNTHETICOIls andn IRIDIUMLASERplugs that outnperform all other plugs! I lost my precious BENXto auto theft from a car reapir shop that was paid in advance and did NOTHINGbut let the car sitn for one year as I lanbguished paying for insusrance while the DIDDLED the time away and spen the deposit money! this keyboard SUCKS~! GOODLUCKALWAYS an have that car INspeCTED before the BALLJOINTsBREAKand you cie in a DITCH somehwere!, or the CONTROLARMs ust off! BYEfor now! RgM

Answer 3

The wobble could be something hazardess so get that checked out. Otherwise holes in the skin of the vehicle can be patched with sheet metal and items available at a hardware store.

Answer 4

Get the suspension fixed and keep driving it

Answer 5

Wheels fall off?...that day may be coming up. Break the piggy bank and see what kind of down payment you have for a new car.

Answer 6

It's a Toyota still running- tighten wheel lugs, check for sway bar links, ball joints, unbalanced tires and keep going. Problem is the rust MIGHT be part of wobbling if the suspension mounts are in a rusty spot. Get it on lift and check underneath at suspension mounting areas- might need a couple spot welds to get another year. Wisconsin has salt on roads in winter, so do many other snow belt states- salvage yard has some very good running engined cars with rear end body rot, suspension falling off. Upper strut mountings can get splash and rust, top wobbles go to wheels.

Answer 7

See mechanic that did the patching about the wheel wobble. Fix that. The body rust is just cosmetic looks. No one is going to WANT TO STEAL your car.

The prettiness of the body is not ILLEGAL ANYWHERE.It is "customized" you can tell yourself. I have 1994, and it is mechanically sound and body looks like something from the "Zombies".



. I take it in to those "Free inspections" of stuff and know when stuff needs work to stay safe on the road. I do not worry about what people think about my wheels, it just transports me from "A" to "B". It is not me.

No one wants to hit it because it will damage their car more than mine.



As for new, wait if you can as we are at the cusp for a possible change in the what people will want for cars. If they go electric, then you are the first...instead of buying a gas guzzler as Trump shut down the fuel supply. You never know how nuts he will be TODAY.

Answer 8

it is a Toyota it will go forever although rust may cause problems

Answer 9

take it to your mechanic and get it fixed. then take it to a body shop and get the body fixed enough to drive on.

Answer 10

I would say the second option. I have an older car and going to buy a new one is a waste of money in my opinon

Answer 11

If those are the ONLY problems your 19 year old car has, you should be very happy. As far as how long you should keep it, that depends upon your financial situation, and how much it bothers you to be driving such an old car.

Answer 12

Sell it. It is 2019. Time for a new or newer vehicle. Life is too short to spend time driving clunkers.



“Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.”



― Warren Buffet

Answer 13

Lots of factors. #1 would be ...does your state have yearly inspections?



Down south, 97 Toyotas don't have rust and bring top dollar.



I would never buy a brand new car but "until the wheels fall off" is a poor choice of words.



You should keep most cars until its no longer economical to repair.



For me, my AC on my 94 Buick was going to cost $350+ to repair. After a dozen years, I decided I was too old & too wealthy to be driving such an old car and upgraded to a $9000 car. This could easily last the rest of my life given I drive 4000-5000 miles a year and keep the oil changed.



Or I might upgrade after 5-6 years just because I can easily afford it. And when you get older, you realize you can't take your money with you.