Hey everyone, here's my situation.
I'm currently living as a student in Savannah, GA. I've been hired on as an intern in Glendale, CA, starting in about three weeks, after I graduate (2,400-ish miles). The internship right now is set to last three months.
The internship -could- be extended for up to a year, but there's no guarantee. I could also end up getting full-time work at another place in the area when the first three months are up. OR, I could end up getting full-time work somewhere else, like in Florida. OR, the company I'm interning with could hire me full-time themselves. Lots of variables here.
The point is that due to bill-paying and student loans, I will need to carry a weekend job as well, which I will likely need my car for depending on where I work.
My car is a 2006 Volvo V50 (the smaller wagon), which will have about 139,000 miles on it by the time I need to start driving. My mechanic says that it appears to be okay for the trip, but with two issues. First, my air conditioner is cycling on and off. I'm going other places to get third / fourth opinions, but the consensus based on my model is that I have to replace the AC compressor and clutch, to the tune of $580 at my mechanic (don't ask how much the dealer was asking). Second, my car will be several hundred miles overdue for an oil change by the time I get there.
I will be hauling a bunch of suitcases and boxes, plus two bed frame pieces, and a desktop computer (which I will remove the cooling fan and graphics card from before the trip, thanks r/buildapc).
In addition, I've been given an amount of money for relocation expenses that I won't say.
Do I...
A) Get the A/C fixed and make the drive. $580 for the A/C + $250 for gas + $200-300 for four nights of hotel stays. Plus, whatever unexpected wear-and-tear would be inflicted on the car during the trip. Plus, the possibility of unexpected breakdowns.
B) Ship the car as-is. The A/C cycling hasn't been an issue for commuting, because I just drive with the windows open in slow traffic, so I wouldn't have it fixed. Anywhere from $800-$1,200 to ship, right? My flight out there would then end up being fairly inexpensive, as I have a buddy pass. Will I be able to load my car up with stuff?
C) Some other option.
I'm not sure I'm willing to sell the car, mainly because despite its problems I like it very much. Also, due to poor resale value I would likely have to put a huge damper in my emergency fund to get another car in decent shape (my car is in good mechanical shape right now). I'd like to not have to consider buying another vehicle until after those first three months at least, when I have a better handle on my job situation. In addition, if I were to sell my car I would have to ship all of the stuff that I have.
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
May 19, 2017 at 07:53AM
