Should You Have A High-Mileage Transmission Rebuilt?

Cars are expensive investments, and most people want to keep theirs on the road for as long as possible. While it sometimes makes sense to replace a car after a few years, many people choose to keep their cars for the better part of a decade or even longer. Modern cars are extremely robust and can often go for hundreds of thousands of miles with only a minimum amount of work, but eventually, all mechanical parts will wear out. Of these, one of the most expensive to replace is the transmission.

Since automatic transmissions are generally sealed units, repair without a full rebuild is often impossible. If your higher-mileage car is beginning to suffer from transmission issues, you may be wondering whether a rebuild makes sense. This guide will help you to make the right choice for your particular situation.

What's the Overall Condition of the Car?

Since a transmission rebuild can be expensive, it's worthwhile to first look at your car's overall cosmetic and mechanical condition. Putting over a thousand dollars into a car that's about to fall apart doesn't make a lot of sense, but saving an older car that's in pristine condition certainly does.

Even if your car isn't going to win any beauty contests, its mechanical condition may justify the investment. After all, part of the appeal of sticking with a car for the long haul is that you get to worry less about the minor dents and dings. If the car is still in solid mechanical condition, then repairing the transmission is a great way to give it a new lease on life.

How Long Do You Intend to Keep the Car?

Just because your car happens to be in good shape doesn't mean that you aren't getting ready to part ways with it. Since transmission rebuilds can be expensive, it's also worth asking yourself how long you will continue to drive your car. If you plan on keeping the car for at least a few more years, then that rebuild can actually be an incredibly cost-effective decision. Spending between $1000-2000 right now may seem like a large investment, but it's much cheaper than replacing a car that can easily have a few more years of life left in it.

Are You Planning on Selling or Trading the Car In?

Selling a car that isn't running is difficult, and selling one with major transmission problems can be almost impossible. The amount you're likely to lose on your sale is almost certainly greater than the cost of simply having the transmission repaired. It may be a tough decision if you're getting ready to sell the car right now or if the car already isn't worth much, but in most other cases, it will be more cost-effective to get your repairs done first. This is especially true if you will be driving the car for a few months or years before moving on.

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