No car can last forever, and at some point, every car owner will need to decide whether to make a necessary repair or replace the car once and for all. A number of factors contribute to that decision, the most important of which being the overall cost of maintaining your current vehicle. Consider the pros and cons of either repairing or replacing your car carefully before making the decision. 
Maintenance vs. New Car Costs
The first thing to think about while deciding whether to repair or replace your car is the cost comparisons. Even though a new car seems like it must be more expensive than making repairs to your current vehicle, the combined cost of immediate repairs and inevitable ongoing maintenance often evens the budgetary playing field.
A mechanic should look over your car thoroughly, checking for any unseen problems or signs of an impending breakdown. A total maintenance and repair estimate that exceeds the car’s current market value or the cost of a new car’s down payment is a clear indication that replacing your vehicle is the cost effective choice. However, used cars between five and seven years old may require one or two repairs and then run like a dream for several more years, only requiring routine maintenance. Knowledge of basic maintenance, like changing oil and adjusting air pressure, can keep an aging car functioning long after it starts showing signs of its eventual breakdown.
Safety
Something else to keep in mind while choosing between car replacement and repair is how safe the vehicle is on the road. After several years or a number of miles driven, every car starts to wear down in one way or another. Multiple maintenance issues, or even just old parts, can create unsafe driving conditions. The con to replacing an aging car with a newer used car is the element of the unknown. Your current car has, most likely, become predictable even if it’s in need of repairs. Until the car is unsafe, or no longer cost effective, it can be more comfortable to keep driving the vehicle with which you are familiar.
Repairs Extending Life
One of the occasions when it makes more sense to pay for an expensive repair than it does to replace your car is if that one-time repair will extend the functional life of your car long enough to justify the cost. For example, if your car needs a repair that will cost $1000 and that repair will keep your car working for longer than $1000 worth of new car payments, then you should have the repair done.
Your choice of whether to repair or replace your car is simpler to make once you've considered the overall costs and consequences, both one-time and ongoing, of each option.
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