Should I get a new transmission? Or a new car?

That is always a perplexing question. I suggest you ask your repair person. Take it to a shop you trust and ask them for a complete diagnostic. There will be a charge, but you will get your answer.

For me, the situation would be slightly different as I know my way around vehicles fairly well. There are things you do know, the timing belt and water pump has little miles on it. A used car off the dealer’s lot will have more miles on it. If you got it off the lot, will it be purchased outright? If not, then you have an expense monthly you did not have before. Unless the Volvo was costing you each month the cost of a car payment, if I were on a limited budget, I would opt to keep the Volvo and avoid the note.

Consider the condition of the existing car’s engine, paint, suspension (how do the tires wear?),upholstery, and what you might find in another car before deciding. What @YARNLADY said would be of value. Besides, the transmission may just need a check-up or minor repair. What exactly does it do that makes you think it is about to blow??

It’s possible that the car is about done for. If you spent 1400 bucks on it,and now you need to spend another 2000, you may have ran into a mechanic that’s fucking you. If all these repairs and this recent diagnosis are from the same mechanic, I would get a second opinion. I’m assuming that you already checked your transmission fluid. Often times, a mechanic will recommend new brakes or tranny when the fluid is simply low. It’s not ethical, but it keeps their bills paid.
Labor is always more expensive on a foreign car. If you are in the US, consider buying an American brand next time you buy. Parts are easier to find and it’s easy to find someone to work on it.

@kritiper it slips out of reverse, which my mechanic says is a sign of a dying transmission. @MrGrimm888, the transmission fluid is almost black, but was drained and changed about a year ago. I wondered about the mechanic thing, but the one who has been advising me doesn’t even work on this car anymore-he’s my parents old mechanic and worked on the car when it belonged to them. I called him on the phone to get his opinion, but he likely wouldn’t be the one to replace the transmission. The timing belt replacement and all that happened for legit reasons—the water pump cracked and leaked coolant all over the timing belt, which got stretched out and messed up.

So it’s a manual transmission? I would find a replacement in a wrecking yard and have it installed. Use synthetic lubricant.

@kritiper no, it’s automatic.

Manual tranies don’t have transmission fluid. @kritiper.

Unless the Volvo has some value to you other than a monetary one get the Honda Fit/Jazz.

You won’t be disappointed.

Once after partying a little too hard I had my Volvo owning cousin drive us home in my Honda Integra.

After a few minutes she chuckled, then said “It’s like it wants to go!”

I explained that the urgent, frisky nature of the engine was intentionally built in.

Honda makes great vehicles. I’ve owned three Honda motorcycles. They were great. My parents had a Honda like a million years ago, and it was great.

@MrGrimm888 Correct, but they do have gear lube which is a form of transmission fluid. (Duh!)

If the transmission slips out of gear but doesn’t do anything like that in first or third, have a reputable auto tech check the transmission shift linkage for proper detent adjustment.

‘Reputable’ is the appropriate word. It’s sometimes hard to find a trustworthy mechanic.

Finding the correct technician is like any other relationship.

It takes time and is the result of some trial and error, and depends of the age and type of vehicle. It also depends on the type of repair. I can only give advice on a case by case basis.

There are some definite DO NOT’s, for example, never go to a Jiffy Lube or Pep boys for anything.

Manual transmissions do have transmission fluid. It’s called gear oil. As far as new tranny vs new car I’d say think it over carefully. If the rest of the car is operating well get the new tranny and save some cash. 150k mikes is not that much these days. However, if the car has been a lemon and in the shop several times a year dump it ASAP. This does
not include regular maintenance items outlined in the vehicles service guide. 200K+ is not too much to ask for a Volvo. I’m a Nissan guy myself and have had a couple go 250k+. Use your intuition but beware that a another used car may not be much better than you have now. Read the car forums for what you are thinking about buying. I avoided the SMOD “strawberry milkshake of death” when looking for a new truck several years ago by doing my due diligence.

Please describe this slipping out of gear thing. Do you mean the transmission slips when you give it too much gas or the shift lever shifts itself out of the reverse detent position?

@kritiper One example is that I will put it in reverse and try and go backwards, and the car will shake violently, and then will behave as though it’s in park—the engine will rev and nothing will happen. Also, when I’m driving forward, I’ll feel it shifting between gears—like there will be a bump as I accelerate up a hill and the car upshifts. Sometimes I’ll be going straight and the car will feel like it’s the wrong gear, and is underpowered.

All this being said, an update: my check engine light came on the other day while I was driving, and the info box said “transmission service required”. I decided to drive the couple miles to the parking lot where I keep my car rather than pulling over, because I was so close. I stopped before making a left turn into the parking lot, and when I started again felt like the car barely had enough power to move forward, like I was really having to press on the gas to make anything happen.

I pulled into the lot and had it towed to a transmission shop nearby where I am, who said he could get me a used transmission and install it for 2200 total, so I think that’s the opinion I’m going to go with—might as well try and keep this car alive a little longer, and the new transmission on top of a new water pump and timing belt that I got this year means that it might have a tiny bit of trade-in value when I do decide to get a Honda.