MOT Failure - Rust rust rust!

[TheJimi]

Hard one to call. Answer the following questions -

What condition is the rest of the car in?

Can you afford to repair it now and get the chassis legs done next year?

How much will you be able to put into another car?

[Alex106]

TheJimi said:

Hard one to call. Answer the following questions -

What condition is the rest of the car in?

Can you afford to repair it now and get the chassis legs done next year?

How much will you be able to put into another car?

It isnt tip top. I could easily spend £3k on it and it still wouldnt be described as 'immaculate'

I can, but it would make quite a dent in my house deposit fund and with my current wage it would take well over a year to re-save that amount.

Im in two minds, buy a shed at <£1000 be blissfully uncaring about leaving it places or get something newer for perhaps £3k that I would care about. Either can be done, but if I were to spend a fair amount I would want it to last a good few years until I re qualify, say 4+.

[TheJimi]

Alex106 said:

TheJimi said:

Hard one to call. Answer the following questions -

What condition is the rest of the car in?

Can you afford to repair it now and get the chassis legs done next year?

How much will you be able to put into another car?

It isnt tip top. I could easily spend £3k on it and it still wouldnt be described as 'immaculate'

In that case I'd bail, and cut my losses. Buy a cheap runabout and save some more cash. No point throwing good money after bad with the MX5 (IMO)

Edited by TheJimi on Monday 20th April 23:32

[Alex106]

TheJimi said:

Alex106 said:

TheJimi said:

Hard one to call. Answer the following questions -

What condition is the rest of the car in?

Can you afford to repair it now and get the chassis legs done next year?

How much will you be able to put into another car?

It isnt tip top. I could easily spend £3k on it and it still wouldnt be described as 'immaculate'

In that case I'd bail, and cut my losses. Buy a cheap runabout and save some more cash. No point throwing good money after bad with the MX5 (IMO)

Edited by TheJimi on Monday 20th April 23:32

Thats what I have decided to do today I think.

So im searching for something probably <£2000. I do about 9k a year. Id like to not have to budget for the tax so <£150.

Punto, Focus, Stilo 03-05 1.2-1.4 range. Im leaning towards the Fiats. Should get something okay for the money.

Citroen C3 2005 1.4 (My Dad suggested this..)

[MX-5 Lazza]

I'd go with a Focus. I just couldn't trust any French car, let alone an old one. I've had a Focus and they are very good cars, go well, very good handling, loads of space inside, comfortable smooth & quiet and look dull so are safe to park anywhere. Also very reliable and very cheap for parts.

[Alex106]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I'd go with a Focus. I just couldn't trust any French car, let alone an old one. I've had a Focus and they are very good cars, go well, very good handling, loads of space inside, comfortable smooth & quiet and look dull so are safe to park anywhere. Also very reliable and very cheap for parts.

Awh, I was hoping the general consensus would be get the Punto! Aha.

I will look at the Focus as an interim car, but they dont excite me at all. I think the Punto ticks most of the boxes for now, well as many as it can anyway.

Il do more research around it. I can get to work most days (except weekends) by bus so it isnt urgent. I can wait and find something well maintained.

Thanks for the input chaps.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Don't just look at a Focus, drive one. They are much better than you would think, especially the early shape model. The facelifted model was softened down a bit but is admittedly a bit nicer inside.

[TheJimi]

^ wot 'ee sed

The Mk1 focus is a genuinely great drivers car - certainly far more than a bog standard family hatch as any right to be.

I'd pick a Mk1 Focus over a Punto any day of the week.

Edited by TheJimi on Tuesday 21st April 13:02

[LordJammy]

Where's best to get new repair panels from?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Autolink are very good for repair panels.

[LordJammy]

I had a look at them, I want a sill and rear arch for each side. The arch for one side is galvanized and the one for the other side isn't which is irritating. Do you think it Is worth getting genuine sills or aftermarket ones?

[MX-5 Lazza]

I'm not the expert on that side of things. I would have thought though that not being galvanised wouldn't be much of a problem as you should be covering any exposed surfaces with underseal anyway.

[LordJammy]

True, the only reason I wanted them both galvanized was because the garage I'm getting to do it remarked that the last time they did one the panel was galvanized and they seemed impressed by it.

[Perseverant]

I reckon they all rust there. Our "new" car will need repaired, but it's not too bad to do. The old car has just passed its MOT again - I repaired it some years ago now and the repairs have stood up well - not perhaps the neatest panel work I've done but nonetheless sound. Repairs also included a marathon on the front chassis rails, which are a wonderful rust trap. In my experience, the sill itself is fairly sturdy and if, as another respondent explains, you can waxoil it thoroughly after repairs, it seems to last better.