2015 patriot with 120k miles needs a new catalytic converter. is it worth it?
6 speed auto transmission, no rust, no leaks or water stains. 2015 jeep patriot 120k miles (purchased in 2023 at 105k miles for $10k).
basically the title! i've had a few repairs over the years, usually averaging about $1.5k a year in maintenance (things like the ABS sensor, break pads) we changed out the O2 sensor last year so it's definitely the cat at this point. there's nothing else functionally wrong with the car, but I was quoted 3k to replace the cat and i'm wondering whether it's a better choice at this point to get rid of it and lease a newer car with lower maintenance costs. I like owning my own car and not having a car payment (and I love my jeep) but I can't afford to buy another car and don't want to replace the catalytic converter if there's going to be another major repair within a few years. any advice is much appreciated!