Do I fix or buy a new car? (help needed)
Discussion
Hi all
I own a fiat punto 51 plate, its booked in for a full service soon, but on the way to work today the abs started to activate everytime I used the brakes.
I've dropped it off at a garage that was next to where I stopped!!.
At the moment the windscreen has a 4 inch crack in it, the handbrake doesn't work (although its tight) needs a full service and now the abs problem (although I wonder if its something to do with the rear brakes and lack of handbrake)
my problem is my wife uses the car a lot with our one year old in tow and maybe this is a good time to get rid.
We only have approx £500 to spend on a new car! plus what ever the Punto is worth (would get brakes fixed first)
Do I spend the money on fixing the car, its only done 60,000k and wife has had it from nearly new (better the devil you know) or would it be possible to buy a bigger/family type car at that low price etc.
any ideas greatly received
thanks in advance R
I own a fiat punto 51 plate, its booked in for a full service soon, but on the way to work today the abs started to activate everytime I used the brakes.
I've dropped it off at a garage that was next to where I stopped!!.
At the moment the windscreen has a 4 inch crack in it, the handbrake doesn't work (although its tight) needs a full service and now the abs problem (although I wonder if its something to do with the rear brakes and lack of handbrake)
my problem is my wife uses the car a lot with our one year old in tow and maybe this is a good time to get rid.
We only have approx £500 to spend on a new car! plus what ever the Punto is worth (would get brakes fixed first)
Do I spend the money on fixing the car, its only done 60,000k and wife has had it from nearly new (better the devil you know) or would it be possible to buy a bigger/family type car at that low price etc.
any ideas greatly received
thanks in advance R
Sadly £500 doesn't give you a huge amount of scope. But there are some decent family sized cars available so long as you aren't too picky on make, model or colour.
But only you can truly answer your question. My advice though, if you feel its time for a change, might as well. You've got nothing to lose by doing it, and the longer you keep the Fiat the less it'll be worth.
But only you can truly answer your question. My advice though, if you feel its time for a change, might as well. You've got nothing to lose by doing it, and the longer you keep the Fiat the less it'll be worth.
Hi
Thanks for the reply, we are definitely not picky on colour/make model etc, as long as its safe for my son to travel in.
I'm just worried that I'll buy a £500 car and have to spend xxxxx on it.
Sadly with only £500 ish this could be the case. Waiting for the garage to phone me ref the ABS problem, hopefully not mucho money!
Are there any recommendations for £500 ish. Reliable and safe are the most important things.
Thanks for the reply, we are definitely not picky on colour/make model etc, as long as its safe for my son to travel in.
I'm just worried that I'll buy a £500 car and have to spend xxxxx on it.
Sadly with only £500 ish this could be the case. Waiting for the garage to phone me ref the ABS problem, hopefully not mucho money!
Are there any recommendations for £500 ish. Reliable and safe are the most important things.
Hi Tino
The service I have booked in is one of those £129 'full' services which is a wheels off and check everything, which sounded a good deal especially since the garage is 5mins walk from my house, guess I wanted peace of mind from the experts.
Maybe your right though and I should do the service bits myself and save myself some money...
The service I have booked in is one of those £129 'full' services which is a wheels off and check everything, which sounded a good deal especially since the garage is 5mins walk from my house, guess I wanted peace of mind from the experts.
Maybe your right though and I should do the service bits myself and save myself some money...
The ABS will very likely be a sensor or reluctor ring problem; it shouldn't be expensive to fix. Windscreen can likely be replaced through your insurance, if so you will need to pay an excess of about £60-£70.
£500 is soundly in banger teritory and unless you are very carefull you could easily buy something which will cost more to keep running than your Punto. Unless it develops a seriously expensive fault that is not economicaly viable, then usualy better the devil you know.
£500 is soundly in banger teritory and unless you are very carefull you could easily buy something which will cost more to keep running than your Punto. Unless it develops a seriously expensive fault that is not economicaly viable, then usualy better the devil you know.
Robster said:
Are there any recommendations for £500 ish. Reliable and safe are the most important things.
In truth, you are better off buying the best condition/spec you can for your money, regardless of model or make at this price point.No point driving 200 miles just to view a car.
This means anything mainstream is likely to be a viable option, but as with any car purchase there will be risks. But you could equally spend £5k on a car and have major issues one week later too.
On the whole, larger petrol engined mid and large size cars are going to be better value for money at this price point, e.g. you'll get more and a better Mondeo for £500 than you will a Fiesta. Diesels and estates usually hold a premium too, so something like a 2.0 petrol saloon or large hatch might offer the best value for money.
I'm quite a Rover fan, so I'd say you could probably buy a nice Rover 400/45 at this budget. Or maybe an MG variant. Rover 600's are still good cars, although older.
Plenty of Ford's and Vauxhalls to chose from too. Late Escort/early Focus, Mondeo, Vectra.
Big French saloons are often great value for money, sometimes a bit flakey build quality, but often more reliable than given credit for. 406's the big Citroens, that sort of thing.
VW's and VAG stuff is often over priced and actually no better.
Volvo's are probably worth a look though if you want a car that big.
Or maybe something Jap, Nissan, Toyota, Honda....
Just have a look on autotrader or in your local paper.
There's loads of offers where companies are doing full service and mot for £80 etc. Get the handbrake and abs fixed then leave the service until mot is due?
Pointless changing your car for one you don't know - could well be a money pit at £500.
I bet the handbrake could just need adjusting from within the drum.
Pointless changing your car for one you don't know - could well be a money pit at £500.
I bet the handbrake could just need adjusting from within the drum.
If you can't fix those things (windscreen aside) or even do a service yourself I doubt you'll know be able to tell if a £500 car is any good or not, you won't have the mechanical knowledge to make an informed decision. If you do go that route it'd be well worth taking someone who's a bit more expert with you. Personally, given that you car has only done 60,000 miles I'd keep that. Unless it's the ABS actuator that's gone I can't see it being expensive to fix.
Edited by varsas on Thursday 13th October 11:12
hora said:
Look at the show me your snotter thread for inspirarion.
Thing is when you buy a sub 1k snotter you have to be in the mindset that you could be throwing that money down the loo or spending 200-300+ on consumables/jobs that will need doing.
No one sells a mint £500 car. Its usually its cost them a fair bit on they are walking away.
Rare but you do get a car owned from new by an old fella whose passed away or finally decided to trade it in.
VERY rare.
Guy in autocar bought a £500 728i....and then spent £170 servicing it! Crazy!Thing is when you buy a sub 1k snotter you have to be in the mindset that you could be throwing that money down the loo or spending 200-300+ on consumables/jobs that will need doing.
No one sells a mint £500 car. Its usually its cost them a fair bit on they are walking away.
Rare but you do get a car owned from new by an old fella whose passed away or finally decided to trade it in.
VERY rare.
In the price bracket you will be searching it will be highly unlikely to buy a car that doesn't have issues to sort out and therefore further expenditure.
Its a numbers game really. If money is tight then fix your own car as its a known quantity - otherwise you are just gambling.
With the problems you describe, ie a brake issue and cracked screen these are two that I would deal with before letting your child travel in it again.
Its a numbers game really. If money is tight then fix your own car as its a known quantity - otherwise you are just gambling.
With the problems you describe, ie a brake issue and cracked screen these are two that I would deal with before letting your child travel in it again.
falkster said:
There's loads of offers where companies are doing full service and mot for £80 etc. Get the handbrake and abs fixed then leave the service until mot is due?
Pointless changing your car for one you don't know - could well be a money pit at £500.
I bet the handbrake could just need adjusting from within the drum.
Have you tried any of these? As frankly I don't believe it at all. Sounds more like a phishing attempt.Pointless changing your car for one you don't know - could well be a money pit at £500.
I bet the handbrake could just need adjusting from within the drum.
hora said:
Garlick bought a nice Lexus recently- then had to spend a small fortune correcting an issue.
Umm but that's hardly proof of anything.Paul bought a top end luxury barge, which you could have used fine. He chose to replace ALL the suspension parts at great cost. Most people would have just lived with it, or replaced a few bits.
Thanks for all the great replies, If I do service it myself, basic fluids,plugs filters etc, anyone know the best place to get these items cheaply?
I'm leaning towards getting the abs and windscreen fixed and then servicing the car myself (although the reason I wanted a garage to do it was so they could check everything as I only have a basic knowledge)
bit of a waiting game till the garage phone me today...
If only the screen hadn't cracked
I'm leaning towards getting the abs and windscreen fixed and then servicing the car myself (although the reason I wanted a garage to do it was so they could check everything as I only have a basic knowledge)
bit of a waiting game till the garage phone me today...
If only the screen hadn't cracked
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