Managing the ownership of a bangernomic car

[Hoofy]

Well, my sub-£1k car failed its MOT the other day. ~£200 got it legal (new shocks, new tyre) with a long list of advisories, a handful of which would mean spending more than the car is worth (noisy wheel bearings being one).

I think I spent £150 last year to fix the clutch. It has a fresh Tax disc and now a fresh MOT.

So, do I run it until one day it lets me down (probably when I need to get somewhere important or on Christmas Eve) or sell it cheaply and buy a replacement banger?

I'm thinking the latter because at least I'm in control of when I will have to do the shopping around.

And which side of the bed shall I get out of tomorrow?

[hornetrider]

Stick with it. You are gradually fixing all the bork remember. If you move into another shed you'll be back to square one.

[Hoofy]

hornetrider said:

Stick with it. You are gradually fixing all the bork remember. If you move into another shed you'll be back to square one.

Yeah, this is true. I might end up with the same list of ste to deal with. But I thought the point of bangernomics was "shoot and move" especially as the cost is rising. If I get it serviced, it will need a new distie thing, spark plugs, oil, oil filter etc... the list goes on.

Plus I fancy an MX5.

[Mojooo]

I am in this situation now. Looking at £300 to fix my car or just buya new one.

The problem I have is I can't risk my car breaking downon me but at the same time buying a new car could bring with it its own set of problems.

Still in 2 minds on what to do in my situation - I might dump mine if I can find a suitable replacement.

[Hoofy]

Mojooo said:

I am in this situation now. Looking at £300 to fix my car or just buya new one.

The problem I have is I can't risk my car breaking downon me but at the same time buying a new car could bring with it its own set of problems.

Still in 2 minds on what to do in my situation - I might dump mine if I can find a suitable replacement.

Yeah, I can't risk my car breaking down - being mobile is essential for business purposes.

Wanna swap?

[hornetrider]

I'm speaking with some authority btw - I'm running a 7 series at the mo. Bought about 9 months ago for 800 - I've done 20k in it and so far the costs are something like:

PCV valve 120
Oil/plugs (did myself) 70 odd
Rear shocks/springs/upper arms 600
Front shocks/springs 600
New tyres all round 450
Tax 200 odd

Should be okay for a while now though...

[Hoofy]

hornetrider said:

I'm speaking with some authority btw - I'm running a 7 series at the mo. Bought about 9 months ago for 800 - I've done 20k in it and so far the costs are something like:

PCV valve 120
Oil/plugs (did myself) 70 odd
Rear shocks/springs/upper arms 600
Front shocks/springs 600
New tyres all round 450
Tax 200 odd

Should be okay for a while now though...

You'd hope. That's some cost you've paid out for a banger. Mind you, it's to be expected with a 7 series BMW. There are a couple of 3 series in my Autotrader search and I would be more interested if parts were cheaper.

[Rickyy]

Better the devil you know!

In the same boat, 11 year old Focus with 120k on the clock. Just about got it to a decent mechanical condition. Going to run it until it dies or costs more than £500 to get it through an MOT.

[hornetrider]

It's not exactly a banger... just ludicrously cheap to buy

(pic in profile)

[Hoofy]

Rickyy said:

Better the devil you know!

In the same boat, 11 year old Focus with 120k on the clock. Just about got it to a decent mechanical condition. Going to run it until it dies or costs more than £500 to get it through an MOT.

Define "dies"?

Maybe I should do that: "if it costs > £500 to be road legal..."

Problem is, the wheel bearings are a serious threat to its usability so I either pay ~£150 to get it fixed or brace for a painful repair and sudden inability to use the car. Hrmph.

[Hoofy]

hornetrider said:

It's not exactly a banger... just ludicrously cheap to buy

(pic in profile)

Ahhh, well, after fixing stuff, if it is still cheaper than a similar condition car without those requirements then you're a winner.

[Rickyy]

Engine failure, I won't throw money at it if the engine starts giving me grief.

At the moment it still pulls well and doesn't use any oil. I can keep on top of things like suspension, brakes, etc.

[Hoofy]

Right, I see. I guess when it's engine/gearbox, it gets tricky to fix things cheaply. Wonder if I can get away with not having the distribution cap and spark plugs changed?

Well, I'm going to give this thread until tomorrow. In the meantime, I have to rearrange my bedroom so that it's easier to get out of the right side.

[hornetrider]

Hoofy said:

Ahhh, well, after fixing stuff, if it is still cheaper than a similar condition car without those requirements then you're a winner.

Yeah. I figure the repairs are improving the car and adding a bit of value. It is now on brand new OEM suspension so there is a tangible performance benefit. This is my 2nd 7 series though, I bought another previously for a similar amount but the fuel tank started leaking... that costs over a grand to sort with no real benefit so I weighed it in as scrap and got 350 back for it.

[Hoofy]

hornetrider said:

Yeah. I figure the repairs are improving the car and adding a bit of value. It is now on brand new OEM suspension so there is a tangible performance benefit. This is my 2nd 7 series though, I bought another previously for a similar amount but the fuel tank started leaking... that costs over a grand to sort with no real benefit so I weighed it in as scrap and got 350 back for it.

Ouch. I need to think about this!

[James_N]

I thought I had failed with my bangernomics cars. All have been old Volvo's!
My latest one, a 940 Celebration costing £850 has had:

Replacement Radiator
Full service including cam belt
Two Rear Tyres
New Air con condenser so now the air con is nice and cold!

So that little lot probably adds up to a good £500.

Got the MOT on the 28th. All my Volvo's have always passed and there is nothing wrong with this one now that would make me think it is going to do anything other than pass!

I doubt I have added any value to the car (It never had much to lose!) but I can now at least take it to le mans, safe in the knowledge I have done everything I can in terms of keeping it going and its certainly better the devil you know!

[twazzock]

Better the devil you know... you have a new clutch on it so that part will last you tens of thousands of miles, a decent plus point.

I would say check it over thoroughly. If it has anything major that will fk you at the next MOT (eg serious structural rot) then be ready to scrap and replace. If it's going to need minor things like brake discs/pads, tyres, CV joints then do them yourself or get them done very cheap; well worth doing maintenance items if the rest of the car is sound. NOT worth doing if it's about to break in half or throw itself into the next ditch.

Replace cost effective stuff to keep it going, don't hang onto a car that will repeatedly shag you.

[Hoofy]

Not quite a new clutch - new clutch cable. But still, it's had work done.

3 tyres will probably need replacing at the end of summer. There's a slight oil leak from the engine (but it's been that way for the last 4 years ). I think the wheel bearings in one wheel is the issue - if that seizes up then it goes from a £150 job to a £350 job.

[jbi]

Engine, gearbox and body good

If so, fix and keep running.

The rest of the world is amazed at the cars we Brits throw away

[Vince70]

I had a new clutch fitted in my old banger last year the car cost me £281 and the clutch cost me about £350 fitted. But the way I look at it I could end up putting a new clutch in a £10000 car and have the hassle of depreciation.
If you have a good banger you know and trust I think it's better the devil you know, one day I may even splash out on a cambelt lol.