My Crappy car, what should I do?

I would say go with new car. It is unusuall that after 1 year it would be undriveable. What is wrong with it? 2000K is too little for a new engine but more than enough for a transmission fix.

What was the condition when you bought it? If it was abused is not fault of the car but the previous owner. Why you say is crappy? Did you dogged the crap out of it? Did you abused it? Did you neglected maintenance?

If you did any of the above any car will be destroyed on your hands. So far, I just see half of the story here.

Anyway, depends of the conditions. If the body is pretty straight and it has nice interiors might be worth to fix for $2Gs and drive a paid off vehicle. If is all tore up, heck no. On any car, that will be a money pit.

Now a fuel efficient vehicle Vs a paid off vehicle. Sometimes is more expensive buying a fuel economical vehicle since you are shifting the cost on car payments and insurance. If your car is paid off and you spend $300 on gas a month and $100 on insurance you are paying $400 to have that vehicle and fuel can be managed if you plan your trips. So if you buy a new car and paid $400 a month and insurance $100 or more that is without the fuel usage and if you add lets say $200 on gas that is $700 a month just to operate and have a vehicle.

Now, what makes more economical sense?

Edit...

The leaking is what kind of fluid? Transmission, Brake, Engine, Differential Oil??

Anyway, is time to pull the calculator and do some number crunching, beside, a $2000 repair is pretty steep on a domestic car. That has to be some serious issues here.

Anyway, all boils down what makes more economical sense for you. Can you cough out the 2Gs for the fix? Anyway, if you are going to trade it, it worth not much now since is broke to get a decent trade in. Other thing is, for a wheel to fall off on a pot hole, it has to be on such condition that it will be noticeable while you drive with some tell tale signs before goes really wrong. Either 1) you drove the car with a problem and let it escalate to what is now or 2) The mechanic is a freaking liar.

Go and get another opinion from other shop. If you do not feel anything while you drive, nothing at all. You could be subject to a scam.

Think about it.

$2000 to get a truck fixed, and it can last another 10 years.

If you buy a different car for $2000, how long will it last?

Save your money and buy a car that is not American or Korean. Then you will be happy. Celebrate by pushing your Chevy bomb off a cliff. Then piss on it. Repeat.

ditch the car and get another one.

get a new car. don't waste time on it. old cars drive you mad.

Good luck

Previous poster is pretty dead on :-)