Who has run a car till it's died?
Discussion
Spent most of my early driving life trying to keep the buggers alive! Ultimately failed with an mk2 Audi 80, a mk2 Escort, 309, Mk2 Capri, and Talbot Horizon. Did keep a couple of mk2 Cavaliers away from the Grim Reaper longer than was probably sensible in order to sell them.
Current Forester was bought new in 2007 and plan to keep until it dies.
Current Forester was bought new in 2007 and plan to keep until it dies.
Liquid Knight said:
Anyone's who's owned a Vauxhall for more than six months. 
This man speaks the truth!I ran a 2005 astra for 6 years until it became uneconomical to keep repairing, admitedly for 2 of those years I was doing 800 miles a week, but you expect a car to last over 120k miles these days.
After replacing the entire suspension setup, the alternator, the electric motor window on the passenger side twice, I decided to flog it on ebay when the engine started knocking.
I made £1900 which was about £1400 more than I expected, but the ad was honest and the guy who bought it seemed happy.
Only good thing about that car was the DAB radio.
Welshbeef said:
New POD said:
My father in Law bought a Secondhand 1.8 Mk3 Cavalier in December 1992, to replace the 1.6 Mk2 Cavalier he sold to me.
It was registered in May 1992, and had 15K miles on the clock.
Over the next 8 years he took it to 27K and in May 2000, GAVE it to my wife.
Over the last 12 years we have added more miles and it now stands at 119K.
The laquer is pealing, it needs a new sill before the next MOT, and is overdue a cambelt, and it looks knackered. The intention is to keep running it until it is pointless to continue, but plans over easter, are a service, a cambelt and water pump, and maybe a camshaft seal.
Why bother with the cambelt. Just run it until it goes generally it could be many many many more years gratis. Infect at this worthless value why not just top up fluids as it will not last any longer with new stuff in it. It was registered in May 1992, and had 15K miles on the clock.
Over the next 8 years he took it to 27K and in May 2000, GAVE it to my wife.
Over the last 12 years we have added more miles and it now stands at 119K.
The laquer is pealing, it needs a new sill before the next MOT, and is overdue a cambelt, and it looks knackered. The intention is to keep running it until it is pointless to continue, but plans over easter, are a service, a cambelt and water pump, and maybe a camshaft seal.
Oil and Cambelts are cheap. I think I have a camshaft seal, and IIRC the water pump will need to be destroyed to tension the cambelt.
Zoobeef said:
I bought my 98 vectra in december 06 for £800 on 91k miles. It now has 167k miles and went straight through its mot in december. Still get 50-55mpg. What more do i need? And when should i get rid of it :/
That is good economics. Nice work - 1p a mile depreciation if worth nothing now? My maths may be dodgy!smiffy180 said:
I havent but when i went to tenereife last year, the taxi i got in had 999,999 all warning lights on and still going strong 
Yeah sounds like a Mercedes taxi I was in when in Tenerife!All the dash lights were on but it didn't seem any the worse for it. The miles were also showing round the clock, yet the driver didn't spare the poor old thing taking it to maximum revs on every hill!
All this talk of vauxhalls being unreliable...utter b
ks. I suppose the badge snobs will continue though.
I have killed a fiesta mk3 si...3 times. Once to headgasket failure, next was a snapped cam and the final straw was a rod leaving the crank case. More recently a Saab 9000 turbo, something big has gone making lots of noise and giving the oil a metallic sparkly effect .
The vauxhalls I've had though have been reliable. Had my Astra coupe since 6000 miles, now on 60k and still on it's first pads, discs, clutch etc never ever put a foot wrong
ks. I suppose the badge snobs will continue though.I have killed a fiesta mk3 si...3 times. Once to headgasket failure, next was a snapped cam and the final straw was a rod leaving the crank case. More recently a Saab 9000 turbo, something big has gone making lots of noise and giving the oil a metallic sparkly effect .
The vauxhalls I've had though have been reliable. Had my Astra coupe since 6000 miles, now on 60k and still on it's first pads, discs, clutch etc never ever put a foot wrong
Killed a few MOT failures when they were handed to us as field cars. Racing around at 14 years old in knackered 305s, Passats and escort vans.
As for legal cars, um... no. Moved one on as the gearbox was getting roapy, and ran some seriously high mileage vehicles abroad. Just keep replacing bits, 99% of the time they are only minor things which go. We had a landcruiser in Oz which had about 800,000 on the clock. It was a stockmans tractor so did proper 4x4 work - cattle chasing, sheep moving etc - always up and down banks, in and out of the rivers covered in sand and crap. It went through suspension parts and CV joints like you wouldnt believe, but the chassis, engine and gearbox were fine and very rarely gave trouble.
As for legal cars, um... no. Moved one on as the gearbox was getting roapy, and ran some seriously high mileage vehicles abroad. Just keep replacing bits, 99% of the time they are only minor things which go. We had a landcruiser in Oz which had about 800,000 on the clock. It was a stockmans tractor so did proper 4x4 work - cattle chasing, sheep moving etc - always up and down banks, in and out of the rivers covered in sand and crap. It went through suspension parts and CV joints like you wouldnt believe, but the chassis, engine and gearbox were fine and very rarely gave trouble.
Bought my car new in 2001 and it's still running fine 230,000 later. I'm bored to death with it but it's worth nothing so I just keep running it, but since Merc diesels are tough it may be a long time yet. It's only a T202 220CDi but friends have seen starship mileages from them before they die. Repairs to date are one aircon compressor, two injectors, front springs, and hatch struts, all in all under £3,000, so not bad for 11 years running.
I always tell myself I am going to do this with my next car, but always get bored after a year or so and sell it. Hopefully this time will be different!
On a side note, my Mum managed to get a 1 year old Corsa for £3000 in 2005 and plans to run it until it dies.
It is a basic "life" spec, on around 70k now, used for short journeys to work every day and the occasional trip to Edinburgh / Aberdeen, and serviced only when I am back from university and have time! In all the time we have had it, it needed a new track rod end (pothole), a coolant hose (thought the HG was gone!) and a brake calliper. Oh, and the heat shield is starting to fall off.
I know Vauxhalls get a bashing on here, but this one is brilliant. Suits her needs perfectly, brilliant in town, and no matter how hard I try when I get my hands on it I cannot make it go below 40mpg!
On a side note, my Mum managed to get a 1 year old Corsa for £3000 in 2005 and plans to run it until it dies.
It is a basic "life" spec, on around 70k now, used for short journeys to work every day and the occasional trip to Edinburgh / Aberdeen, and serviced only when I am back from university and have time! In all the time we have had it, it needed a new track rod end (pothole), a coolant hose (thought the HG was gone!) and a brake calliper. Oh, and the heat shield is starting to fall off.
I know Vauxhalls get a bashing on here, but this one is brilliant. Suits her needs perfectly, brilliant in town, and no matter how hard I try when I get my hands on it I cannot make it go below 40mpg!
Mk2 Astra 1.3 Estate, used to eat head gaskets, managed to get a change down to 45mins. In fairness I killed that one on some trees..
Mk2 Astra Hatch, bought with 55k on the clock, I drove it until 110, wife then used it until 150k. Still went but the sills started falling to bits.
Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T. Bought 11 1/2 years ago with 18k on the clock, drove until Jan when the diff failed with 210k on the clock. Not economically viable to fix, so I bought a clutch and gearbox
I fitted it myself and it lives to fight another day. It's worth nothing but as it uses LPG is cheap to run so worth it to me to keep it going all the while I can DIY fix it.
I ached for a few days after bench pressing the gearbox back in though!
Mk2 Astra Hatch, bought with 55k on the clock, I drove it until 110, wife then used it until 150k. Still went but the sills started falling to bits.
Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T. Bought 11 1/2 years ago with 18k on the clock, drove until Jan when the diff failed with 210k on the clock. Not economically viable to fix, so I bought a clutch and gearbox
I fitted it myself and it lives to fight another day. It's worth nothing but as it uses LPG is cheap to run so worth it to me to keep it going all the while I can DIY fix it.I ached for a few days after bench pressing the gearbox back in though!
Rammy76 said:
Yeah sounds like a Mercedes taxi I was in when in Tenerife!
All the dash lights were on but it didn't seem any the worse for it. The miles were also showing round the clock, yet the driver didn't spare the poor old thing taking it to maximum revs on every hill!
Funnily enough it could be the same driver!All the dash lights were on but it didn't seem any the worse for it. The miles were also showing round the clock, yet the driver didn't spare the poor old thing taking it to maximum revs on every hill!
Sushi said:
Liquid Knight said:
Anyone's who's owned a Vauxhall for more than six months.
This man speaks the truth!Silver940 said:
Mk2 Astra 1.3 Estate, used to eat head gaskets, managed to get a change down to 45mins. In fairness I killed that one on some trees..
Mk2 Astra Hatch, bought with 55k on the clock, I drove it until 110, wife then used it until 150k. Still went but the sills started falling to bits.
Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T. Bought 11 1/2 years ago with 18k on the clock, drove until Jan when the diff failed with 210k on the clock. Not economically viable to fix, so I bought a clutch and gearbox I fitted it myself and it lives to fight another day. It's worth nothing but as it uses LPG is cheap to run so worth it to me to keep it going all the while I can DIY fix it.
I ached for a few days after bench pressing the gearbox back in though!
Bloody good going there well worth while if you have the skill to do it. No doubt your depreciation cost per year overall is very small. Mk2 Astra Hatch, bought with 55k on the clock, I drove it until 110, wife then used it until 150k. Still went but the sills started falling to bits.
Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T. Bought 11 1/2 years ago with 18k on the clock, drove until Jan when the diff failed with 210k on the clock. Not economically viable to fix, so I bought a clutch and gearbox
I fitted it myself and it lives to fight another day. It's worth nothing but as it uses LPG is cheap to run so worth it to me to keep it going all the while I can DIY fix it.I ached for a few days after bench pressing the gearbox back in though!
The secret of making car ownership cheap on an annual basis is to run the car for a long time and of course no bad luck with a Friday afternoon car makes s bit of difference too.
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