How much Is too much to spend on car repairs?

In January, I bought a 2015 Audi A4 sedan for £10,650 from a friend who had recently upgraded to a newer model. The car had 140,000 miles on the clock and, according to my friend, had been well-maintained with regular services and no major issues.

However, just a few weeks after purchasing the car, I started experiencing some strange issues. The steering wheel began to shake at higher speeds, and the brakes started making a high-pitched squeal whenever I applied them. I took it to a local mechanic, who informed me that the suspension was worn out and would need to be replaced. They also found that the brake pads were nearly gone and had to be replaced immediately. The total cost for these repairs came to £1,200, which was already a bit more than I expected for a car in decent condition.

After getting those fixed, I thought I was done, but just two weeks later, the car began to overheat. The coolant level kept dropping, and the engine temperature kept rising, especially when idling. I took it back to the mechanic, who diagnosed a leaking radiator and a faulty water pump. They said it would cost another £1,500 to fix these problems. While I wasn’t thrilled with the ongoing repairs, I thought I could manage, but when I got the car back, the transmission started acting up. It began slipping between gears and had trouble shifting, especially during acceleration.

At this point, I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed. The total cost of repairs has now reached £3,700 in just a few months, and the car still doesn’t feel right. I paid £10,650 for the car, but now I’m facing a potential £7,000 repair bill just to fix the transmission and other issues that have popped up. Some of my friends have advised that it may be time to cut my losses and sell the car for parts or look into selling it as-is. They suggested contacting a metal recycling company to at least get some money back (learn more), considering that the car’s issues might only get worse over time.

I’m seriously considering whether to continue sinking money into repairs or just walk away from the car. The transmission issues are especially concerning, and I don’t want to keep throwing money at it only to face more problems in the future. If I do decide to sell it for parts, I might recover some of the money, but it’s a tough decision to make.