" Is it nuts to hold onto an old car?" Not no but He@@ NO! Whats nuts is buying a new car. First off, the only time you ever get a chance to drive a "New Car" is that brief period at the dealership when they allow you a test drive. During the test drive the car is still registered under the dealers "In Transit Title" and it is legally a new car. The moment the title is put in your name and you sign the document it becomes a "Used Car" and the value instantly drops from the MSRP window sticker to the "Blue Book Price" even before you attach your license plates or start the motor the first time. What is really nuts is taking a cash rebate instead of demanding they take that number off the selling price. Consider the facts. They artificially inflate the price by $2,000 and offer you a $2k rebate which you are to receive after the sale. You negotiate your best price (which still contains that artificially inflated $2,000) and you sign the contract. You now have two choices, you can write them a check for the full amount or you have to finance the transaction. If you have to finance it, you are now paying interest for the full term of the note on that rebate, even though you will get the money back at closing. Not a bad deal for them, they hold your money for perhaps one day and you pay interest on it for 5 years. Now, when you get insurance you are also paying insurance on that $2,000 rebate that you took back immediately and went shopping for other stuff you probably didn't need. Oh yes, Did I mention that you also payed sales tax on the rebate money tooo. But then it is not all bad, hopefully you don't live in my state where you have to pay an excise tax on the value of your vehicle every year, including that $2,000 artificial markup. Personally, I wouldn't buy a new car if I won the lottery.

Annie, Your old Pella windows can be replaced very easily by a skilled glazier. They do it from the inside by removing the stops. These are the wood strips that you see the tack heads on from the inside. They are nailed in place with braid nails and can be easily removed. Your local glass guys were right about cutting the paint lines. This helps in the removal process. Let them do the replace because if anything breaks they'll have the parts to repair it. 99% of the time it has no problems. Good Luck!!!

Not sure why my post did nto appear. These are my photos in previous post. They are Wenco windows, installed in 2001. Wenco was bought by Jeld Wen. Would like to repair instead of replacing the casement windows.Have had a few contractors that didn't seem interested and said to replace but one fellow said they could be repaired with Bondo. First, he would dig out the rotted wood, replace it with Bondo, sand and paint. He also suggested using PVC for the window sill which i initially opposed, but when shown the sample, thought it looked fine. Thoughts?

Pictures are some times decieving but those windows don't look like they are from nor in 18th century style. I leave the windows to the historic home purists but this much I know. I would do the happy dance if hired to build new shutters like those and repaint hardware for $500 a pop. Charging that kind of money to strip and paint shutters should be a felony. If those who like to gaga over historic homes could tell the difference between my shutters and whatever is being quoted for $7k,I would refund your money. Judging by the picture, the hardware isn't even historically correct reproduction,much less origional. Did I mention that hype is way over priced? I don't mean to miniumize the value or beauty of the home,it's truly a satisfying experience to own such place,not to mention living there. I'm only saying it isn't Drayton Hall and the contractor is not intitled to wages as if if were. Let my lashing commence.