At some point in our lives, most of us will find ourselves in a situation where our old, paid-off car breaks down. Not a big deal. We expected this to happen, right? But, what if it keeps happening? Suddenly your old car doesn’t seem to be rewarding you for taking good care of it. It doesn’t care about the new tires and brakes you put on last month. It doesn’t seem satisfied with the new oxygen sensor you gave it. You thought the sadness would end with a new timing belt, but the old beast gave way again. When the mechanic told you it needed a new starter, you were sure the love affair was over. But someone didn’t want your tough love to die. Now, you stand at the bus stop on a cold morning while your old car sits at the garage, waiting for you to authorize another repair.

Just then, a few words of wisdom come to mind, from one of the worst movies ever made: Cool as Ice. Vanilla Ice appears before you on at the bus stop wearing a blinding, bright orange bomber jacket. Ice leans in, pulls out his toothpick and says, “Drop that zero and get with the hero.”

Your bus pulls up, making all sorts of mechanical sounds as it opens its mouth to rescue you from your horrific hallucination. You leap in like no one has leapt into a bus before, and wonder how you got stuck with visions of Vanilla Ice and not Tyler Durden from Fight Club. It’s probably best to keep the whole thing to yourself, but maybe Ice is right. Is it really time to drop your old car for a new one?

I’m afraid I can’t give you a universally right or wrong answer. But here’s the best possible one I can come up with: The older your car gets, the more unreasonable it is to believe in it. And if you have limited finances that could either go towards one last-ditch repair or money down on a new car, I’d probably go for the new car. Especially if having a car is imperative for getting to work or driving your family where they need to go.

Biggest Upsides to a New Car: 

• Your monthly automotive budget will become more predictable, with fewer repair bills.
• You’ll have the protection of a new car warranty.
• If your old car is very old, a new car will likely be safer and more reliable.

If you do decide to shop for a new car, don’t tell them Vanilla Ice sent you. But be sure to visit carwoo.com to get the best offer on your next car.