Telltale Signs That It’s Time For A New Car

You really like your car. You have been together for a long time and it’s developed into a safe, secure relationship. You know all its quirks and foibles, all its moods, good and bad. You know that on a cold, rainy morning it’ll often be cranky and quarrelsome, and on freezing day it’ll be downright impossible to reason with. But on those days when it all comes together, just you and your “baby” cruising down the highway, reveling in each other’s company, laughing and sharing and loving life, you can’t imagine life without your car.

But lately you have been troubled. You find yourself stealing glances at other cars on the road, maybe wondering what they’d look like all pimped out. Then you look at your car and notice all the little flaws and blemishes that somehow you didn’t really pay much attention to before. And though you hate to admit it, you have to face reality and ask yourself the tough question: Is it time to buy a new car?

Relax. You’re not the first to travel down this road. Luckily there are some surefire signs that it’s probably time to buy a new car:

• Lots of other people are dumping their old cars for new. According to the Wall Street Journal, sales of cars and, yes, even trucks increased in the final quarter of 2013 to more than 8 million vehicles. That doesn’t necessarily mean you should dump your ride. If you do, though, you’ll feel better knowing you’re in company and there’s a lot of potential new fish in the sea looking to hook up.

• People often approach you and remark that they used to have a car just like yours and “Boy, did they have some fun times in it” and “They just don’t make ’em like they used to.” And then you realize that they’re talking about high school 30 years ago.

• You always drive exactly 10 miles over the speed limit, not because you’re worried about a ticket but because that’s as fast as you can go without your front end shaking.

• You’re always looking for bulk sales on motor oil because your ride leaks so much.

• You’re always looking for deals on duct tape.

• Your friend asks what that crazy looking thing on your dash is and you have to admit that it’s an 8-track player.

• You notice other drivers avoid you on the road because it’s so obvious you’re not afraid of a collision.

• When you walk down a hallway it sounds like tape being ripped off because of all the spilled beer and soda on your car’s floor.

• You can look down and see the road going by beneath your feet.

These are just a few signs you need a new car—you can probably add more. Realize it’ll be difficult to part at first. It helps to face up to your responsibility in the failed relationship; you have probably not been perfect either. And take consolation in the fact that you won’t be single for long.

Check out Kelley Blue Book for used car reviews and other resources to help you find your next ride. Maybe you could even take a few for a spin before you commit.