What to do with my lemon of a car - advice welcome
Discussion
This is a tale of stupidity and woe, and now I need some help before I make the whole situation worse (please be kind 
).
4 Years ago I needed a cheap run around for 1 year. My sister-in-law was emigrating and said "Why dont you buy my little Fiesta, it is an automatic, low mileage and blue?" Not having much time to go looking I foolishly said "Yes", what could go wrong with that pedigree? I said I'd pay the value listed in the guide book (value based on the reg number), she said "They are listed for 1.5k more than that on autotrader". I said "Don't push your luck I'm saving you the hassle of selling". Much wailing and interference from in-laws I agree to pay the "immaculate" price for the car. My mistake was buying it unseen on the basis of the sister-in-laws evaluation of it being a perfect little car. I also ignored the a few words that kept coming back on the valuations. These were "manual gearbox, durashift".
When I collected the car, the condition was not immaculate and I realised it was not an automatic, but a truly awful semi-automatic system. But to keep the peace in the family I accepted my stupidity and took my mistake on the chin. Within a year I had to replace the clutch (at 25,000 miles) and the guy at the garage suggested I get rid of the car ASAP. I didn't need another car, I am not ruthless enough to sell privately so I took the easy option and lent it to my brother who needed a stop gap car for a few years. He knew it was a heap of junk.
It has kept going for 3 more years and now has 45K on the clock. But the motors in the gearbox have now seized. It will not move. 2.3K for a repair or 900 to have the motors refurbished. If I pay to get it moving again, it is worth between 1.2K and 1.5K trade in and max 1.9k private sale but I couldn't pass it off as being immaculate in all honesty.
I have since learnt that the "Durashift" was never a good move and dealers will avoid taking them at all costs. The dealer who sold it to my sister in law must have been extremely chuffed.
So I see my choices as:
1. Pay 900, hope it works long enough to then sell/trade in ASAP for more than 900.
2. Do nothing and scrap it.
Does anyone have any other (legal) suggestions or advice? Is there any chance someone would buy it from me in its current state to repair it themselves by replacing the gear box?
Thank you!
).4 Years ago I needed a cheap run around for 1 year. My sister-in-law was emigrating and said "Why dont you buy my little Fiesta, it is an automatic, low mileage and blue?" Not having much time to go looking I foolishly said "Yes", what could go wrong with that pedigree? I said I'd pay the value listed in the guide book (value based on the reg number), she said "They are listed for 1.5k more than that on autotrader". I said "Don't push your luck I'm saving you the hassle of selling". Much wailing and interference from in-laws I agree to pay the "immaculate" price for the car. My mistake was buying it unseen on the basis of the sister-in-laws evaluation of it being a perfect little car. I also ignored the a few words that kept coming back on the valuations. These were "manual gearbox, durashift".
When I collected the car, the condition was not immaculate and I realised it was not an automatic, but a truly awful semi-automatic system. But to keep the peace in the family I accepted my stupidity and took my mistake on the chin. Within a year I had to replace the clutch (at 25,000 miles) and the guy at the garage suggested I get rid of the car ASAP. I didn't need another car, I am not ruthless enough to sell privately so I took the easy option and lent it to my brother who needed a stop gap car for a few years. He knew it was a heap of junk.
It has kept going for 3 more years and now has 45K on the clock. But the motors in the gearbox have now seized. It will not move. 2.3K for a repair or 900 to have the motors refurbished. If I pay to get it moving again, it is worth between 1.2K and 1.5K trade in and max 1.9k private sale but I couldn't pass it off as being immaculate in all honesty.
I have since learnt that the "Durashift" was never a good move and dealers will avoid taking them at all costs. The dealer who sold it to my sister in law must have been extremely chuffed.
So I see my choices as:
1. Pay 900, hope it works long enough to then sell/trade in ASAP for more than 900.
2. Do nothing and scrap it.
Does anyone have any other (legal) suggestions or advice? Is there any chance someone would buy it from me in its current state to repair it themselves by replacing the gear box?
Thank you!
fjord said:
You sound like someone with moral conscience. Could you really sell it to a private buyer knowing the history? If it's as bad as you say, and you're honest, it won't sell.
This is my feeling as well.fjord said:
Scrapping it is a silly idea, in terms of just binning it.
It feels terrible from and ecological point of view.fjord said:
Personally? Put it on e-bay as spares or repair. You'll hopefully get a reasonable price for it, not as much as selling it in working order, but you can gurantee some trader will tow it away on a truck, hand you some cash, and you never need worry about it again.
I am bit naive here, but would someone really buy it given it won't move? I must admit I hadn't thought of ebay. Thanks!
moebiusuk said:
Get rid but just out of curiosity what was the age and mileage when you bought it and how much did you pay for it?
Don't judge me (or try and sell me anything I am an easy target).Looking back at the emails I paid 4.8K, it was 4 years old with two previous "careful" lady owners and I think 20k on the clock.
I hang my head in shame.
jonnM said:
You need to take revenge on your sister-in-law.....shag her husband or something!
You do realise the husband of a sister-in-law could be my own brother?! But in this case she is my husband's sister and unmarried. I have to take responsibility for my own stupidity in this whole saga, so revenge would not be fair. I've had a pow-wow with my brother, the dealer have kindly offered to push the car back to his driveway, if they have enough staff tomorrow. He is then going to try a few tips from the Ford user forums to try and get it going. Then it is going on Ebay with an honest description and the whole sorry saga can be closed.
If we had the time, I think we would go ahead and convert it to a manual gearbox because the rest of the car is reasonable. It needs a respray to improve the paint job the first "careful lady owner" had done. But brakes, steering etc are all pretty sound. After the advice here I have confidence it should get a positive response on ebay.
Thank you for all the wisdom
kapiteinlangzaam said:
My Granddad had the same g'box in his 2004 Fusion (what a POS).
Owned from new, 40k miles @ 4yrs old and g'box went pop driving over the Rhynose Pass in The Lakes.
Traded it in at the supplying dealer (for an absurdly low sum) against another new bland box. Dealers must have been pissing themselves
Oh dear, Grandparent's should be protected from this kind of rubbish technology. I can empathise with you Grandad. Owned from new, 40k miles @ 4yrs old and g'box went pop driving over the Rhynose Pass in The Lakes.
Traded it in at the supplying dealer (for an absurdly low sum) against another new bland box. Dealers must have been pissing themselves
The fiesta's gearbox went pop on the forecourt of garage my brother had been hoping to get a trade in from. Not so picturesque as the Lakes.
JimmyConwayNW said:
What area are you in and do you have a figure in mind to get shut of the car. I ask as I have a blue 56 fiesta that I am attempting to sell but needs an entire interior and a few other bits and bobs. I may be interested in purchasing the car and then scrap what's left?
Those gearbox really are a heap of crap aren't they.
I'll bear this offer in mind - thanks. Those gearbox really are a heap of crap aren't they.
But.......
Kama seems to be on our side (I hope)
The garage called today. The gearbox repair company want to try and repair the gearbox (as a learning exercise?). If we don't mind being without the car they will collect it, work on it and then hopefully return it to us drivable for less than 200 pounds. We have taken this gamble and see what happens.
Then it is going on Ebay - end of!
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