Do I keep my old car or buy a new one? It's a question most Waterford drivers ask themselves at some time or another.

Generally, what it comes down to is the choice between a car payment and the possibility of repair bills. Most of the time, we want to choose the car payment because we don't like the inconvenience and uncertainty of car repairs. But that car payment has a detrimental effect on our budget and bank account.

Edmunds.com is a great website to help you with your decision. This site uses repair histories to calculate the average repair bills for specific makes and models of cars. You can plug in the information for your car and get an estimate on what it will probably cost you to continue owning that vehicle.

Now, Edmunds.com isn't a crystal ball. It can't know what will happen to your specific vehicle. But it can guide you in knowing how much money to budget for the repair and maintenance of your vehicle. Ultimately, that can help you in your decision to buy a new vehicle or wait a few years.

For example, a five-year-old Camry V-6 is projected by Edmunds.com to cost about $96 a month, on average, to repair and maintain (at the time of this writing). Remember, maintenance costs are part of car ownership, whether it's a new car or an old one, so the projected cost for repairs on your five-year-old Camry average out to only about $50 a month. That's a whopping lot less than a new car payment.

If your vehicle is older than five years, you should also talk to your friendly and knowledgeable professional at Complete Auto Center Pro about its future. They are more familiar with the average cost of repairs for vehicles in your area and of specific problems they commonly see in particular vehicles. More importantly, they know you and they know your car. They can give you a heads-up on what repairs you may be facing in the near future.

Remember, the older your vehicle gets, the more preventive auto maintenance becomes. Over time, vehicles accumulate wear and debris, and we just have to give them a little more attention. Getting to know your vehicle and its peculiarities is also good auto advice for Waterford drivers.

If you decide to keep your older vehicle, you may want to talk with your Complete Auto Center Pro service advisor about fluids specially formulated for older engines. These motor oils, transmission and other fluids are designed to clean older engine and automotive systems and recondition their seals and gaskets.

Good car care at Complete Auto Center Pro in Waterford will keep your older vehicle on the road in MI. And that may be just the boost you need in this uncertain economy. It may even save you enough to be able to afford that new car you've been dreaming about.

Complete Auto Center Pro
5100 Dixie Hwy
Waterford, MI 48329
248.623.1400