The old rule of thumb was when your car was 10 years old, it was time to look for another car.

Forget that, consumer advocate Clark Howard says. New vehicles purchased in the last decade can last 225,000 miles.

A car with 100,000 miles on it has plenty of life left in it, he says, noting that the average household vehicle is 9.2 years old.

Keeping that car going for 225,000 miles seems a stretch in this climate. But Howard encourages people concerned about dollars and cents to repair that old car, rather than replacing it.

So spend a $1,000 on a car worth $3,000, if that’s that’s what it takes, Howard says. Besides, that $1,000 that could cover two $450 monthly car payments.

“In a couple of months you’re even, even if you leave the car along the side of the road,” he said on his Headline News cable show.

His says the vehicle is worth repairing if the cost of the repair equals up to half the car’s value.

Consumer Reports goes even further: The car is worth repairing until repair costs exceed the value of the vehicle.

Of course, if you REALLY want a new car and don’t care about the bottom line, then go ahead, buy that new car.

When Ruth Michaelson of Cloquet bought her Kia brand new in 2008, it came with a free 100,000-mile warranty.

But as her car approaches the 30,000 mile mark, Michaelson insists the warranty isn’t free at all.

To keep the warranty valid, she must bring the car in every 30,000 miles for a thorough checkup which costs nearly $600, she says.

“If you don’t do it and something goes wrong, they may not cover it, because you didn’t have your checkup,” she says. “I don’t think they’re giving you any warranty. I think you’re paying for it.”

Calling it a $30,000 warranty would be more accurate, she says.

“In order to get the next 30,000 (mile warranty), you have to have a checkup,” she says.

Brad Nelson, general manager of Kia of Duluth claims Kia’s 100,000-mile warranty is the best in the business.

All that’s required are regular oil changes and the 30,000-, 60,000- and 90,000-mile maintenance checks.

You’re buying an expensive piece of machinery, don’t you want to keep it up?" he says. "What they’re requiring to keep that warranty up, by industry standards, is extremely minimal."

According to Nelson, the cost actually varies, depending on the year and model of the vehicle. The 30,000-mile checkup starts around $250 for a 2008-model car but may be $500 for a four-wheel drive, Nelson says.

Kia isn’t the only auto maker to have warranties that require major — and costly — maintenance checkups.

All Subarus come with a three-year, 36,000-mile new car warranty on everything and a five-year, 60,000-mile warranty on the engine, transmission and drive system. Extended 100,000-mile warranties can be purchased.

But to ensure the warranties apply, Subaru owners need to do the maintenance recommended, from oil changes to the big 30,000-mile checkups.

At Miller Hill Subaru, the 30,000-mile maintenance checkups cost $515, which includes changing fluids, differentials, spark plugs, tire rotation and brake check and take about four hours.

“There’s no question, it’s good for the car,” says Josh Davis, the dealership’s business manager. “It really is a good idea to do it.”

It ensures that anything that goes wrong with the car is covered by the warranty, he says.
 

How about you? Have you been surprised by required costly check-ups to keep your vehicle warranty intact? We welcome your comments.