Not sure what to do about my car:
I have a paid-off 2015 Subaru Outback, 162,000 miles. I love this car, and it's treated me well, but the rear lift gate is busted. The dealership quoted me $1400 to fix it. Right now the hatchback is pretty useless unless I have someone else around to help me physically hold it open- it's heavy so it only opens to about halfway.
I commute 10 miles each way to an office job 5 days/week, then 1 day/week I commute 50 miles one way to adjunct teach at a local university. My husband works 20 miles away in the opposite direction, so for right now, we need 2 cars.
I was given a rough estimate of trade-in value on my car of $7-9,000, but I don't think they took the lift gate problem into consideration. I imagine that will take the trade-in value down significantly.
I love this car b/c we frequently kayak and camp, so we can easily haul everything we need. It's our main family car, the one we take on road trips, etc. The mileage may seem high b/c we take road trips a few times per year and also I'm seeking (hopefully temporary) medical care out of state, we drive about 300 miles to a clinic, about every 6-8 weeks, depending on procedures I need.
I have about $50,000 in various savings accounts that I could pull from to get another car. I don't need brand new, I would likely get another Outback that's 2-3 years old. From looking at the local dealership website, it looks like brand-new Outbacks are around $35-42,000 and used are $27-29,000.
So, I feel like my options are:
1. Do nothing, live with the busted lift gate- I've been doing this for 6 months.....it's....ok but annoying
2. Pay to get it repaired, and drive the car until it dies
3. Trade it in and put anything gained toward a new-to-me car
What would you do? Used cars are so pricey right now, and I really wonder if I hold off for a few years what the electric options will be.