Money Pit, Scrap or Repair?

[MrPresident]

Hi all, I thought I'd get some professional car owners advice. I'll try make this short. I don't know whether to keep my (Audi A4 B6 1.9tdi 130bhp Sport) or scrap it. I bought it for £1000 about 2 years ago and this is from invoices and memory roughly what i've spent (probably more).

My previous cars were a fiesta and MX5 project. The mx5 was a voluntary money pit but I actually didn't even spend this much and the Fiesta I owned for 4 years, other than two tyres and a service each year for £30 the only thing that broke was an expansion tank for £15, So yeah, right now I really feel like my hands are round my ankles.

In the past month I've spent around £300 and more problems have just come about with the suspension clunking and I should really replace all the front arms which I cant only imagine will be £450+ Alignment , The rear brakes and pads also need doing at some point and If I want aircon the condenser and filter need doing + Gassing. This is only what I am aware of and to be honest there is alot more I could replace.

When working the Audi is lovely, obviously I can't compare a Fiesta to it but recently with the cost I've just been remenicisng the days where I didn't spend a penny on my car and actually spent my evenings not working under it. It seems a waste to scrap it but I doubt it will sell as its on 214k, I just feel consumed by the car really. What would you do?

[AndyN01]

Ah, the $64,000 question .

I consider it this way.....

You have a car you know pretty well and "...when working is lovely.." You need to spend about £1K+ on her. From your list it's pretty much wear and tear items.

So, if you spend £1K+ you have a car that may well give you another year or two or even more.

OR

You can dump her - probably for scrap value, as who's going to pay anything for a 214K car that needs £1K spending on it, and buy something else.

What are you going to buy that is unlikely to need a decent amount of at least time and probably £££'s spending on her? There isn't a lot out there that isn't going to eat ££££'s. In some cases the newer, the bigger the £££££'s, and the jobs are nearly impossible for DIY.

If you're generally happy with her and she does what you need her to then I'd spend the money and keep her. If you really are fed up with the spannering and the costs then dump her but have your eyes open about what's likely to happen with her replacement.

Good Luck whatever you decide.

Andy.

[Crasher]

It depends on where you live in that when these toxicity zones come into force you could be paying £10 a day to go into them.

[MrPresident]

Ah, the $64,000 question .

I consider it this way.....

You have a car you know pretty well and "...when working is lovely.." You need to spend about £1K+ on her. From your list it's pretty much wear and tear items.

So, if you spend £1K+ you have a car that may well give you another year or two or even more.

OR

You can dump her - probably for scrap value, as who's going to pay anything for a 214K car that needs £1K spending on it, and buy something else.

What are you going to buy that is unlikely to need a decent amount of at least time and probably £££'s spending on her? There isn't a lot out there that isn't going to eat ££££'s. In some cases the newer, the bigger the £££££'s, and the jobs are nearly impossible for DIY.

If you're generally happy with her and she does what you need her to then I'd spend the money and keep her. If you really are fed up with the spannering and the costs then dump her but have your eyes open about what's likely to happen with her replacement.

Good Luck whatever you decide.

Andy.

Cheers Andy I completely agree, my thoughts are exactly the same and generally with every new car I buy unless there is record of service history. I do a full service myself and cambelt+water pump change right off the bat so I'd have to probably do that too ontop of another cars price.

I'll keep the Audi and put more money into it. The situation could always be a lot worse. I've felt a bit better recently since speaking to a colleague who owns a Merc and knowing what he spends on his car. He takes it to the dealership and once paid £700 for a rain sensor replacement...... .

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[MrPresident]

It depends on where you live in that when these toxicity zones come into force you could be paying £10 a day to go into them.

Had to Google this as I haven't heard of it. I live on the south coast right by Brighton so not sure if affected. I think it's only massive cities.

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[Crasher]

Well there could be a good side to this stupid virus in that the whole thing may be dropped due to its economic recovery impact... except Birmingham who are being belligerent but as elected officials can sometimes find out, being belligerent can see you out of a job.

[AndyN01]

Well there could be a good side to this stupid virus in that the whole thing may be dropped due to its economic recovery impact... except Birmingham who are being belligerent but as elected officials can sometimes find out, being belligerent can see you out of a job.

Although now living in Tamworth I was born & bred a Brummy. I despair at their council. It'll be a dead, ghost town (city?) if they keep going the way they are.

Andy.

[Crasher]

One of my customers was on the phone to me the other day, he lives in central London and he despairs of the incumbent Mayor.

[Crasher]

Although now living in Tamworth I was born & bred a Brummy. I despair at their council. It'll be a dead, ghost town (city?) if they keep going the way they are.

Andy.

the evils of socialisum, the politics of envy...

[jonathanfenton]

Always the better the devil you know in my opinion.