Kill the Jeep or fix it - the perennial banger question?
Discussion
I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.7 V8 which is mainly used for short runs to train station or towing a horsebox (the key requirement so no MX5 responses unless they can tow 2400 kgs).
Just put it in for a new MOT and it has failed in a spectacular fashion (though mainly small but expensive jobs):
Needs new -
Front discs & pads
1 tyre
1 CV joint gaiter
1 side draggling (?) joint need replacing
New torque reaction arm bushes
+ a couple of bulbs out
All in likely to be around £1000 to fix on a car that is only worth £1500.
What do you think - spend the money as the majority of the above are consumables that any new car could also need or sell for scrap / parts and replace with a different cheap 4x4 (if so what would you recommend for under £2k).
Just put it in for a new MOT and it has failed in a spectacular fashion (though mainly small but expensive jobs):
Needs new -
Front discs & pads
1 tyre
1 CV joint gaiter
1 side draggling (?) joint need replacing
New torque reaction arm bushes
+ a couple of bulbs out
All in likely to be around £1000 to fix on a car that is only worth £1500.
What do you think - spend the money as the majority of the above are consumables that any new car could also need or sell for scrap / parts and replace with a different cheap 4x4 (if so what would you recommend for under £2k).
Not sure when the tax goes (June I think) - don't see the relevance really though as I can get a refund on unused months / would need to pay VED on any new car (am I missing something)?
I'm not much of a mechanic (more hammer or duct tape engineering) - I could replace the pads and discs (done before) but beyond that don't fancy it due to lack of knowledge / tools / suitable area to jack car up / axle stands etc.
I'm not much of a mechanic (more hammer or duct tape engineering) - I could replace the pads and discs (done before) but beyond that don't fancy it due to lack of knowledge / tools / suitable area to jack car up / axle stands etc.
DazedandConfused said:
Sorry should have specified - it's a '99 model (first of the 99-04? range) so no different to tax than any other >1.6 car pre 2001 (though the tax saving evaporates when you look at 15 mpg).
where are you in uk?i may be able to help with an excellent independent mechanic who does all the work on my GC
As above - better the devil you know to be honest unless of course you've already got your eye on something else and you're just looking for some PHers to back you up and thus permission to buy it by saying 'scrap the Jeep, it's s
t'!
So: the VED isn't going to go up, you know it's foibles, it does the job you've bought it for, it doesn't do that many miles so the 15mpg isn't too much of an issue - for all those reasons I'd keep it.
On the other hand. It's going to cost a £1,000 to get it through it's MOT, it does 15mpg (which does weigh on the mind whether you admit it or not) and I get the feeling you're itching for an excuse to buy something else.
Is there no way you can source all those parts on the cheap? Ebay (as above has suggested) or at a specialist website or at a scrap yard maybe?
Then maybe invest in an LPG kit to mitigate that 15mpg issue? I realise it's potentially throwing good money after bad but nevertheless it's an option potentially.
t'! So: the VED isn't going to go up, you know it's foibles, it does the job you've bought it for, it doesn't do that many miles so the 15mpg isn't too much of an issue - for all those reasons I'd keep it.
On the other hand. It's going to cost a £1,000 to get it through it's MOT, it does 15mpg (which does weigh on the mind whether you admit it or not) and I get the feeling you're itching for an excuse to buy something else.
Is there no way you can source all those parts on the cheap? Ebay (as above has suggested) or at a specialist website or at a scrap yard maybe?
Then maybe invest in an LPG kit to mitigate that 15mpg issue? I realise it's potentially throwing good money after bad but nevertheless it's an option potentially.
To be honest I'm probably leaning towards fixing - as much as I would love a defender for the Jeep's duties, they are just too expensive to purchase in the first place (and will likely need just as much mtce although the parts might be slightly cheaper).
In regards to getting stuff of ebay - from the quote, the parts themselves aren't too bad it's the quantity of stuff that needs doing and the labour cos.ts (e.g £120 to replace the cv gaiter but only about around a £25 part)
Car only does around 3000 miles pa so not worth LPGing as won't recoup the costs (one of the reasons I got the V8 in the first place (other than the noise) was as I didn't care about MPG for this car and they are significantly cheaper than their DERV counterparts).
In regards to getting stuff of ebay - from the quote, the parts themselves aren't too bad it's the quantity of stuff that needs doing and the labour cos.ts (e.g £120 to replace the cv gaiter but only about around a £25 part)
Car only does around 3000 miles pa so not worth LPGing as won't recoup the costs (one of the reasons I got the V8 in the first place (other than the noise) was as I didn't care about MPG for this car and they are significantly cheaper than their DERV counterparts).
DazedandConfused said:
Hi Grand Cherokee (sound like you're probably the guy to speak to with that username)
I'm in the SE: on the Herts / Bucks border (near Tring) - where is the specialist?
i'm in north notts - IF you could bring the car up here my 'guy' could no doubt sort it or give you advice but its probably too far for you?I'm in the SE: on the Herts / Bucks border (near Tring) - where is the specialist?
Edited by grand cherokee on Thursday 28th April 11:03
jbi said:
fix it... half of those jobs could be done at home with minimal effort, plus parts are widely availible on the internet.
You know the car, you are familiar with it.
If you buy something else, you are potentially buying a whole new set of problems.
This. Totally. A grand, to get all that done? Jeez! I've suddenly realised how much I save by doing all my own jobs You know the car, you are familiar with it.
If you buy something else, you are potentially buying a whole new set of problems.
jbi said:
fix it... half of those jobs could be done at home with minimal effort, plus parts are widely available on the internet.
You know the car, you are familiar with it.
If you buy something else, you are potentially buying a whole new set of problems.
+1 You know the car, you are familiar with it.
If you buy something else, you are potentially buying a whole new set of problems.
My thinking too. Bulbs, discs + pads? Come on fella, man up!
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