Is AUTHOR wrong in the post ? POST : So about a month ago, my father in law got into a car accident. He bought her the car about 3 years ago for $4000, a 2010 Scion XB. Since he owns my wife’s car (we live with my family) my wife gave the car to him willingly so he could get to work and we could just use my car (that my mom owns). It was only until he could get a new car and we were okay accommodating him.

Anyhow, about three weeks ago on the day that he was supposed to give us the car back he calls my wife and tells her that the car isn’t running anymore. It doesn’t go in Drive but it goes in Reverse but he was in the middle of the road and we needed to get him. So we drove down and get him, my wife takes him to work and I wait for the tow truck. We take it to the shop and an axle was broken and overall we came out paying $650 for the tow and repairs. Because we drive the car and Chicago is full of potholes, my wife and I paid it. I was reluctant but I wasn’t going to not pay for it.

A few days ago, my wife tells me that the check engine light came on so we took it to a shop and they’re telling us that the transmission is shot and to replace it. $1500 to have it done by Saturday.

So my wife and I had a back and forth this morning about how to and if we’re paying for the car. I don’t think it’s wise to have spent over half the value of the car in order to fix it, and I don’t want to pay for repairs for a car we don’t own. Repairs are basically an investment and $2000 to fix something whose value isn’t ours I don’t agree with. I told her I don’t want to pay more than 50% of the cars value in repairs since the car was already on its last legs. This is my wife’s “first” cars  that’s hers so I understand the sentimentality behind it. She needs the car because her commute is 45 minutes while mine is 10 minutes. I could absolutely take the bus or ride my bike to work when the weather clears up. But she 100% needs the car, but we can’t exactly afford a new car right now. My wife and I are about to both get promoted but we’re not sure when.

The thing is I’m kind of being held at a double standard. My car is from the same year, same mileage, and also had transmission problems last year but because my mom gave me the car after 130,000 miles my mom paid for the new transmission since I couldn’t at the time (I was going through cancer treatments at the time and needed to pay for that). My wife pointed out that my car has the same problems as her car so we should fix her car, but at least we own my car since my mom gave me ownership of it after the transmission.

So am I the asshole for not wanting to pay for further repairs?

