Myths About Repairing Or Replacing An Ailing Car (NAPSA)—If you think replacing your ailing car will be more economical than fixing it, you may be heading upa blind alley. These days, an average car costs at least $20,000 to $25,000. When youfigure in your monthly payment, taxes, fees and additional insur- ance costs, a new car can easily cost more than $2,400 to $3,000 in just the first six months! Compare that with a maMEMBER (py jor repair, such as a transmis- sion rebuild; even if the repair cost is $2,000, you'll actually begin to save money within four to six months. Some Other Myths Nowlet’s look at the myth that your old car will nickel-and-dime you to death. Not necessarily. There are many variables that affect how components wear and fail. These include maintenance, abuse and temperature. The best way to make sure that your car is worth fixing is to have it checked thoroughly by a qualified technician. Another myth is that newer cars are cheaper to operate. Don’t count on it. Sure, you'll probably save a few bucks each week in gas and some of the familiar maintenance requirements, but those maintenance items have been replaced with other services. For example, to keep that fuel mileage high, plan on servicing the fuel and induction system about once a ONE OF THE BIGGEST MYTHS to watch out for is that replacing a carwill costless thanfixingit. year. Also, emissions inspections are a lot tougher for newercars, so there’s a good chance you'll have to spend more to keep your car legal. A Smarter Way A smarter way to save on your repair bill is to find a qualified repair shop; one that'll make sure you're paying an honest price and only for the work you need. Many motorists find that oasis at the nearly 2,000 ATRA membershops, all across the U.S. and Canada. ATRA (the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association) is dedicated to providing proficient service and ethical standards in the automatic transmission repair industry. To find an ATRA member near you, call ATRA at 1-866-GO-4ATRAorvisit www.atra.com.
