How much would it cost to 'overhaul' a 171,000 mile car?
Discussion
... I bought a runaround for the other half- a Suzuki Swift. It's 12 years old and was obviously used as a motorway car. It cost me a grand.
Before I bought it I checked MOT history, all checks out and it had a very clean MOT history with only a couple of fails- nothing out of the ordinary for the age and mileage.
It's been serviced, on time, every time and was generally well cared for. 2 previous owners.
Now I went into this with my eyes wide open and have allowed a few quid for inevitable repairs. With it being a basic NA petrol of that vintage, Japanese and no toys (not even A/C) my thinking is that there is very little that could go wrong, and hopefully if it does won't be costly.
It's had a new clutch in the last 20,000 miles, new tyres, and gearbox bearings.
The fact of the matter is, no matter the age or value of the car it still is transporting my other half and kids so I want to rest assured it's as safe as can be.
What would a mechanic charge to renew things which could do with a refresh? Talking various bushes etc... There is an occasional knock for instance that I certainly feel could do with looking at.
Could I ask a mechanic to have a real close look at it and give me an opinion on what could be done to make sure all is as ok as can be? Would £500ish possibly iron out some of the wear and tear items? It is a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' type of question I realise but I'm hoping you guys will realise what I'm asking!
Before I bought it I checked MOT history, all checks out and it had a very clean MOT history with only a couple of fails- nothing out of the ordinary for the age and mileage.
It's been serviced, on time, every time and was generally well cared for. 2 previous owners.
Now I went into this with my eyes wide open and have allowed a few quid for inevitable repairs. With it being a basic NA petrol of that vintage, Japanese and no toys (not even A/C) my thinking is that there is very little that could go wrong, and hopefully if it does won't be costly.
It's had a new clutch in the last 20,000 miles, new tyres, and gearbox bearings.
The fact of the matter is, no matter the age or value of the car it still is transporting my other half and kids so I want to rest assured it's as safe as can be.
What would a mechanic charge to renew things which could do with a refresh? Talking various bushes etc... There is an occasional knock for instance that I certainly feel could do with looking at.
Could I ask a mechanic to have a real close look at it and give me an opinion on what could be done to make sure all is as ok as can be? Would £500ish possibly iron out some of the wear and tear items? It is a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' type of question I realise but I'm hoping you guys will realise what I'm asking!
I'd agree with having a mechanic look over it carefully - perhaps checking wheel bearings, exhaust, alternator, battery condition etc. Brake fluid too as this sometimes get missed.
Refreshing some of the suspension may be a good idea if nothing else comes up. Maybe replacing entire suspension arms is a more cost effective way than replacing bushings. New dampers could make a difference to the ride quality too.
How long is a piece of string? In terms of safety, that's what the MOT is for, and so putting it in for a MOT, or looking at the previous ones should give you a good idea as to what on the car needs looking at. Otherwise then letting a mechanic have a look will highlight any areas which fall outside the MOT but may be worn.
Assuming the brakes and tyres are good, things like a knock in the suspension could just be a bush or drop link, which are not safety things, but are just wear and tear on a car which has done a reasonably large amount of miles. Up to you how much you want to spend on returning the suspension to "as new" condition, but any new bush or suspension arm will feel better than an old one, although again these are not safety things.
In terms of general maintenance, then a full fluid change (oil, filters, gearbox oil, brake, power steering and clutch fluids, coolant change) is not especially expensive but will make it feel a lot better to drive. If the timing belt hasn't been done in 70,000 miles then that would likely be due, along with a water pump and tensioner. Otherwise there isn't much to do unless things break and need replacing.
Assuming the brakes and tyres are good, things like a knock in the suspension could just be a bush or drop link, which are not safety things, but are just wear and tear on a car which has done a reasonably large amount of miles. Up to you how much you want to spend on returning the suspension to "as new" condition, but any new bush or suspension arm will feel better than an old one, although again these are not safety things.
In terms of general maintenance, then a full fluid change (oil, filters, gearbox oil, brake, power steering and clutch fluids, coolant change) is not especially expensive but will make it feel a lot better to drive. If the timing belt hasn't been done in 70,000 miles then that would likely be due, along with a water pump and tensioner. Otherwise there isn't much to do unless things break and need replacing.
Edited by Condi on Sunday 19th June 01:19
georgeyboy12345 said:
Engine-wise probably a new timing chain, tensioners and water pump. Valves/clearances too. Probably best to get a proper mechanic to look over it and check. Which engine is it? 1.2 or 1.3?
Yep it's a timing chain. Doesn't sound noisy. I think I'd perhaps take a chance on that as it is a costly job no?It's the 1.3.
Condi said:
How long is a piece of string? In terms of safety, that's what the MOT is for, and so putting it in for a MOT, or looking at the previous ones should give you a good idea as to what on the car needs looking at. Otherwise then letting a mechanic have a look will highlight any areas which fall outside the MOT but may be worn.
Assuming the brakes and tyres are good, things like a knock in the suspension could just be a bush or drop link, which are not safety things, but are just wear and tear on a car which has done a reasonably large amount of miles. Up to you how much you want to spend on returning the suspension to "as new" condition, but any new bush or suspension arm will feel better than an old one, although again these are not safety things.
In terms of general maintenance, then a full fluid change (oil, filters, gearbox oil, brake, power steering and clutch fluids, coolant change) is not especially expensive but will make it feel a lot better to drive. If the timing belt hasn't been done in 70,000 miles then that would likely be due, along with a water pump and tensioner. Otherwise there isn't much to do unless things break and need replacing.
Very roughly how much would all of the above potentially cost? I mean I don't mind chucking £500ish on it at this stage but much more would be overkill. Assuming the brakes and tyres are good, things like a knock in the suspension could just be a bush or drop link, which are not safety things, but are just wear and tear on a car which has done a reasonably large amount of miles. Up to you how much you want to spend on returning the suspension to "as new" condition, but any new bush or suspension arm will feel better than an old one, although again these are not safety things.
In terms of general maintenance, then a full fluid change (oil, filters, gearbox oil, brake, power steering and clutch fluids, coolant change) is not especially expensive but will make it feel a lot better to drive. If the timing belt hasn't been done in 70,000 miles then that would likely be due, along with a water pump and tensioner. Otherwise there isn't much to do unless things break and need replacing.
Edited by Condi on Sunday 19th June 01:19
It drives VERY well- truly- but I'd just feel happier with a more professional in depth look at it. I did what I could with a fairly limited knowledge at the time of purchase!
randomeddy said:
The big problem here is finding someone trustworthy to do the work/ checks.
Very very true. I may as well ask, anyone know of a good mechanic around the Leeds/Wakefield area? A rare one who actually likes to fix old things and takes pride in mending old things and putting them back on the road sort of thing!?Seriously, it’s a £1k car. That’s in bangernomics territory. So, just keep your ears, eyes and nostrils open and deal with issues as they arise.
It’s a simple car, and mostly well put together with a good reputation. You could spend a couple of hundred quid on a decent mechanic to spend time going over it, but he can’t see inside components. It’ll just be his opinion, nothing more.
Keep your money and relax.
It’s a simple car, and mostly well put together with a good reputation. You could spend a couple of hundred quid on a decent mechanic to spend time going over it, but he can’t see inside components. It’ll just be his opinion, nothing more.
Keep your money and relax.
Tony1963 said:
Seriously, it’s a £1k car. That’s in bangernomics territory. So, just keep your ears, eyes and nostrils open and deal with issues as they arise.
It’s a simple car, and mostly well put together with a good reputation. You could spend a couple of hundred quid on a decent mechanic to spend time going over it, but he can’t see inside components. It’ll just be his opinion, nothing more.
Keep your money and relax.
This. I wouldn't be throwing pointless money on the car. It doesn't even have a/C!It’s a simple car, and mostly well put together with a good reputation. You could spend a couple of hundred quid on a decent mechanic to spend time going over it, but he can’t see inside components. It’ll just be his opinion, nothing more.
Keep your money and relax.
Funky Squirrel said:
Tony1963 said:
Seriously, it’s a £1k car. That’s in bangernomics territory. So, just keep your ears, eyes and nostrils open and deal with issues as they arise.
It’s a simple car, and mostly well put together with a good reputation. You could spend a couple of hundred quid on a decent mechanic to spend time going over it, but he can’t see inside components. It’ll just be his opinion, nothing more.
Keep your money and relax.
This. I wouldn't be throwing pointless money on the car. It doesn't even have a/C!It’s a simple car, and mostly well put together with a good reputation. You could spend a couple of hundred quid on a decent mechanic to spend time going over it, but he can’t see inside components. It’ll just be his opinion, nothing more.
Keep your money and relax.
You will easily spend more than the car is worth replacing things that are past their best but don't need replacing. It's a cheap car. Don't expect it to be perfect in all respects. Look after it, service it regularly, fix problems as they occur and it could be a good reliable runner for years to come.
If you want a proper inspection you should tell the mechanic you want to pay for a proper inspection. Ask if an hour of labour is enough. It should be.
I used to service BMWs and as some will be aware the service routine for BMWs has always alternated between 'Oil Service' where you go under the car with your eyes shut, drain the oil, change the filter (and do the other items as specified) and look at nothing. In and out in less than an hour... about £100 including parts.
'Inspection Service' = you check everything using a check list for that vehicle. You test the battery, plug it into the diagnostics machine and read out the faults, you check the condition of the spare tyre, look to see if there is flat tyre equipment, check the engine drive belts for cracking, clean all the drainage channels, align / unblock the washer jets, press every button on the dash, replace interior light bulbs if any have blown.. basically you really go to town on it looking for problems and noting down what is required to bring it back to new condition, even if the work isn't going to be done you let the customer know so they can decide.
So an 'inspection' is what you require and if you pay for it you should get a thorough job but it really depends on the quality of the service at the place you use.
I used to service BMWs and as some will be aware the service routine for BMWs has always alternated between 'Oil Service' where you go under the car with your eyes shut, drain the oil, change the filter (and do the other items as specified) and look at nothing. In and out in less than an hour... about £100 including parts.
'Inspection Service' = you check everything using a check list for that vehicle. You test the battery, plug it into the diagnostics machine and read out the faults, you check the condition of the spare tyre, look to see if there is flat tyre equipment, check the engine drive belts for cracking, clean all the drainage channels, align / unblock the washer jets, press every button on the dash, replace interior light bulbs if any have blown.. basically you really go to town on it looking for problems and noting down what is required to bring it back to new condition, even if the work isn't going to be done you let the customer know so they can decide.
So an 'inspection' is what you require and if you pay for it you should get a thorough job but it really depends on the quality of the service at the place you use.
My view is that if you replace what needs replacing at MOT and follow the manufacturers recommendations regarding oil change with filter plus othe fluid changes such as brake fluid it will give years of trouble Fred motoring.
My cousin who services and repairs heavy lorry’s always uses manufacturers parts on his private vehicles.
My cousin who services and repairs heavy lorry’s always uses manufacturers parts on his private vehicles.
Leicesterdave said:
Thanks guys. Perhaps I should relax a little then!
There is that knocking but so far so good. It is £1,000 car after all. It will have the odd creak and groan. But I'm determined to get things fixed as and when they crop up. It does us just fine for now!
If you put parts onto an old car you're enjoying the benefit of those parts. So even if the car didn't cost much when you buy a part and have it fitted you're getting use from it. So it's a bit ass-about-face to base it all on the window sticker price as it doesn't tell the full story. After all, if you fitted new tyres would you say it's a waste of money because you shouldn't spend £250 on a £1000 car? Same goes for any other parts in my view. There is that knocking but so far so good. It is £1,000 car after all. It will have the odd creak and groan. But I'm determined to get things fixed as and when they crop up. It does us just fine for now!
Appreciate that you want it to be safe and reliable for the family so yes a few quid spent IF REQUIRED wouldn't go amiss but DON'T OVERSPEND.
Check the tyres - age, tread depth, any cuts or bulges? Are they all the same or at the least the same across axles?
Fan belt - do modern cars still have them? Does it look in OK condition?
Drive it yourself - is the brake pedal near the top or at the bottom of the travel? Is the brake pedal spongy or hard? does the car pull to one side when you brake? Does the handbrake hold the car on an incline? (Not applicable to most TVR & Lotus Elans!)
Steering - any steering wobble at say 40/50/60mph? The knock is probably a drop link, not a major safety problem unless it uncouples but cheap to replace.
Oil colour on the dip stick - black or golden. If black maybe think of an oil & filter change.
After a week or so - any oil leaks, drips on the drive? Check the water level (when cold) any change in level? Do the radiator hoses look OK or starting to fail?
All things you can do yourself really or at least get a feel for what is needed before dropping it into your local friendly mechanic (not halfwits/Kwakfit/etc). Ask at work for a recommendation.
You could spend thousands in preventative attention but as above, it's a £1K shed. It could seem OK this week but next week the clutch could fail, a piston hole/timing chain jump a tooth/gearbox strip a cog or any number of things that will likely cost as much as the car itself (or another shed to replace it).
Check the tyres - age, tread depth, any cuts or bulges? Are they all the same or at the least the same across axles?
Fan belt - do modern cars still have them? Does it look in OK condition?
Drive it yourself - is the brake pedal near the top or at the bottom of the travel? Is the brake pedal spongy or hard? does the car pull to one side when you brake? Does the handbrake hold the car on an incline? (Not applicable to most TVR & Lotus Elans!)
Steering - any steering wobble at say 40/50/60mph? The knock is probably a drop link, not a major safety problem unless it uncouples but cheap to replace.
Oil colour on the dip stick - black or golden. If black maybe think of an oil & filter change.
After a week or so - any oil leaks, drips on the drive? Check the water level (when cold) any change in level? Do the radiator hoses look OK or starting to fail?
All things you can do yourself really or at least get a feel for what is needed before dropping it into your local friendly mechanic (not halfwits/Kwakfit/etc). Ask at work for a recommendation.
You could spend thousands in preventative attention but as above, it's a £1K shed. It could seem OK this week but next week the clutch could fail, a piston hole/timing chain jump a tooth/gearbox strip a cog or any number of things that will likely cost as much as the car itself (or another shed to replace it).
171k is sod all for a modern car, although you do get into the economies of value versus service and repair bills unless you do all your own work like I do.
For comparison I drive a 170k 15 year old Nissan. It gets new suspension and steering links every few years and often cv boots due to mild off road use.
Mechanically it’s gets an oil and filter change every year and an air filter every other. I also fit new plugs every few years. A new drive belt is a good idea if it looks a bit decrepit.
For comparison I drive a 170k 15 year old Nissan. It gets new suspension and steering links every few years and often cv boots due to mild off road use.
Mechanically it’s gets an oil and filter change every year and an air filter every other. I also fit new plugs every few years. A new drive belt is a good idea if it looks a bit decrepit.
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