Run a car to end of its life
Discussion
Pan Pan Pan said:
Pete Mac said:
We bought a Discovery 3 new, one of the last of the 'Tonka Toy' style 09 plate, I managed to get £10k. off the price. It was the wife's car at the time and she quickly ran up the miles until the kids grew up and she decided she wanted something smaller. So we now run the Disco as a second car, we lease a Golf GTD.
The Disco has now only done 84k miles. I do all the maintenance myself, spares are not that expensive, it is so useful as a tow vehicle and for carrying stuff, with the seats down it is cavernous inside. I do try and keep it in good nick and plan to run it until something catastrophic means it's uneconomical to repair. Who needs the new Defender at £75k. when you've got an old Disco 3?
What better vehicle to go and get your TVR chassis galvanised......;)
Genuine question, but what did TVR do (Or possibly not do) to their chassis, that they seem to rust so easily. I have always liked TVR`s and in particular the way the chassis is built, but they do seem to corrode rather too quickly. The Disco has now only done 84k miles. I do all the maintenance myself, spares are not that expensive, it is so useful as a tow vehicle and for carrying stuff, with the seats down it is cavernous inside. I do try and keep it in good nick and plan to run it until something catastrophic means it's uneconomical to repair. Who needs the new Defender at £75k. when you've got an old Disco 3?
What better vehicle to go and get your TVR chassis galvanised......;)
At the place I get some of my MOTs done, there is a superb looking TVR sitting on top of a container, and when I asked about it, the garage owner said `nice car but totally rust f*cked chassis'.
bigothunter said:
Pan Pan Pan said:
Pete Mac said:
We bought a Discovery 3 new, one of the last of the 'Tonka Toy' style 09 plate, I managed to get £10k. off the price. It was the wife's car at the time and she quickly ran up the miles until the kids grew up and she decided she wanted something smaller. So we now run the Disco as a second car, we lease a Golf GTD.
The Disco has now only done 84k miles. I do all the maintenance myself, spares are not that expensive, it is so useful as a tow vehicle and for carrying stuff, with the seats down it is cavernous inside. I do try and keep it in good nick and plan to run it until something catastrophic means it's uneconomical to repair. Who needs the new Defender at £75k. when you've got an old Disco 3?
What better vehicle to go and get your TVR chassis galvanised......;)
Genuine question, but what did TVR do (Or possibly not do) to their chassis, that they seem to rust so easily. I have always liked TVR`s and in particular the way the chassis is built, but they do seem to corrode rather too quickly. The Disco has now only done 84k miles. I do all the maintenance myself, spares are not that expensive, it is so useful as a tow vehicle and for carrying stuff, with the seats down it is cavernous inside. I do try and keep it in good nick and plan to run it until something catastrophic means it's uneconomical to repair. Who needs the new Defender at £75k. when you've got an old Disco 3?
What better vehicle to go and get your TVR chassis galvanised......;)
At the place I get some of my MOTs done, there is a superb looking TVR sitting on top of a container, and when I asked about it, the garage owner said `nice car but totally rust f*cked chassis'.
Edited by Pan Pan Pan on Friday 5th March 10:43
Bought my kia sorento new in 04, 130000 on it now, new clutch fitted at Mr clutch two years ago apart from that biggest expense has been tyres, seem to pick up punctures willy nilly.
It's a diesel with no particle filter so pretty basic, and no major electronic gubbins to fail so it'll be in my ownership for the foreseeable.
It's a diesel with no particle filter so pretty basic, and no major electronic gubbins to fail so it'll be in my ownership for the foreseeable.
Deep Thought said:
devnull said:
My previous car was a Mercedes C250 sport estate. Bought with 80k and traded it in (I.e let someone else deal with scrapping it) with 260k 7 years later. Truly loved that car, I’d have gotten it restored if I could.
Not sure if yours suffered the same fate but i'd a C320 petrol saloon that i took in against another car i was selling. Drove totally to perfection and had a full MB history but there was literally rust blistering out on every single panel. I'd have loved to have spent the money on it but could find no justification at all for it (not old enough to be a classic and wasnt even interesting spec). Sold it on to a guy with a few months MOT remaining. Saw it one day on the back of a low loader some months later, presumably going for scrap. 
Edited by Deep Thought on Thursday 4th March 13:59
Forgive me if it's a bit off topic, but would it be a false economy, when looking through second hand markets, to be really looking at cars most people would've considered to have passed their 'end of life', as opposed to those with just regular 'high mileage'?
Like say if a car has gone back up for sale at say 200k miles, there must be a multitude of preventive maintenance carried out on it that maybe outweighs the general 'wear and tear' that comes with a car that's had that much use
Like say if a car has gone back up for sale at say 200k miles, there must be a multitude of preventive maintenance carried out on it that maybe outweighs the general 'wear and tear' that comes with a car that's had that much use
wmitchell said:
Forgive me if it's a bit off topic, but would it be a false economy, when looking through second hand markets, to be really looking at cars most people would've considered to have passed their 'end of life', as opposed to those with just regular 'high mileage'?
Like say if a car has gone back up for sale at say 200k miles, there must be a multitude of preventive maintenance carried out on it that maybe outweighs the general 'wear and tear' that comes with a car that's had that much use
Absolutely. Cars don't reach that mileage with "nothing done to them". Like say if a car has gone back up for sale at say 200k miles, there must be a multitude of preventive maintenance carried out on it that maybe outweighs the general 'wear and tear' that comes with a car that's had that much use
W201_190e said:
wmitchell said:
Forgive me if it's a bit off topic, but would it be a false economy, when looking through second hand markets, to be really looking at cars most people would've considered to have passed their 'end of life', as opposed to those with just regular 'high mileage'?
Like say if a car has gone back up for sale at say 200k miles, there must be a multitude of preventive maintenance carried out on it that maybe outweighs the general 'wear and tear' that comes with a car that's had that much use
Absolutely. Cars don't reach that mileage with "nothing done to them". Like say if a car has gone back up for sale at say 200k miles, there must be a multitude of preventive maintenance carried out on it that maybe outweighs the general 'wear and tear' that comes with a car that's had that much use
How many people, even on PH, replace dampers before they're so knackered they are leaking oil and fail an MOT, or replace bushes before they fail, or bearings? How many people replace cooling hoses pre-emptively.
I've run a lot of older/high mileage cars and the maintenance load in terms of time, inconvenience, and money is usually far in excess of anything new. Luck plays a huge part of course, but even the most reliable leggy old car will drive nothing like a new one if only parts that have utterly failed have been replaced. That's why they're a grand and hardly anyone wants them.
The thing that kills most cars these days is big bills caused my long servicing intervals, coupled with complicated electronic parts that need replacing that cost more than the car is worth.
Bought my Mk1 Focus TDCI new in 2002, drove it 144k miles and sold it for £500 in late 2013 as my wife started qualifying for motorbility. The car itself was in top notch condition except it needed a new set of injectors (for the 2nd time in it's life), with the exception of service items, the injectors were the only thing that was clearly "weak" on it.
Hope the person who bought it managed to get a new set for not huge money and carried on driving it, because it was plain brilliant.
Currently running a 2005 E46 330CD and have spent a fair bit of money refreshing parts of the car (mostly suspension), I will probably never sell it, it's hit the bottom of the depreciation curve and is only likely to go up in value and it's allowed me to rediscover my love of driving.
Bought my Mk1 Focus TDCI new in 2002, drove it 144k miles and sold it for £500 in late 2013 as my wife started qualifying for motorbility. The car itself was in top notch condition except it needed a new set of injectors (for the 2nd time in it's life), with the exception of service items, the injectors were the only thing that was clearly "weak" on it.
Hope the person who bought it managed to get a new set for not huge money and carried on driving it, because it was plain brilliant.
Currently running a 2005 E46 330CD and have spent a fair bit of money refreshing parts of the car (mostly suspension), I will probably never sell it, it's hit the bottom of the depreciation curve and is only likely to go up in value and it's allowed me to rediscover my love of driving.
RicoOS said:
The thing that kills most cars these days is big bills caused my long servicing intervals, coupled with complicated electronic parts that need replacing that cost more than the car is worth.
Bought my Mk1 Focus TDCI new in 2002, drove it 144k miles and sold it for £500 in late 2013 as my wife started qualifying for motorbility. The car itself was in top notch condition except it needed a new set of injectors (for the 2nd time in it's life), with the exception of service items, the injectors were the only thing that was clearly "weak" on it.
Hope the person who bought it managed to get a new set for not huge money and carried on driving it, because it was plain brilliant.
Currently running a 2005 E46 330CD and have spent a fair bit of money refreshing parts of the car (mostly suspension), I will probably never sell it, it's hit the bottom of the depreciation curve and is only likely to go up in value and it's allowed me to rediscover my love of driving.
As posted earlier, my `loose' plan is to try to keep the daily driver going as long as possible. and then step over to whatever is deemed the best type of new tech car (EV / Hydrogen, whatever) when the daily driver finally gives up the ghost ( and whatever type of new tech has been confirmed as the path motoring will take.) Bought my Mk1 Focus TDCI new in 2002, drove it 144k miles and sold it for £500 in late 2013 as my wife started qualifying for motorbility. The car itself was in top notch condition except it needed a new set of injectors (for the 2nd time in it's life), with the exception of service items, the injectors were the only thing that was clearly "weak" on it.
Hope the person who bought it managed to get a new set for not huge money and carried on driving it, because it was plain brilliant.
Currently running a 2005 E46 330CD and have spent a fair bit of money refreshing parts of the car (mostly suspension), I will probably never sell it, it's hit the bottom of the depreciation curve and is only likely to go up in value and it's allowed me to rediscover my love of driving.
For me that step over point might be when the structure of the vehicle is no longer viable. But it may not last that long.
I (again loosely) am hoping that spares, even used, but viable major components, e.g gearbox, engine etc might be A. available (because no one else by then really wants them, and B. relatively cheap, because by then no one else really wants them. Whether this `plan' works or not is of course anyone's guess, but for the time being my daily driver is what I will be content with, as it also allows me have, and play with `other' toys.
I bought a brand-new car almost three years ago which I intend running to the end of its life. It will hopefully last for 15-18 years and 200k miles, by which time I'll be into my eighties and will reconsider what to do next. The MX-5 will have probably gone by then - dissolved, no doubt!
The car? Toyota Prius. Lots of thought before I bought, but will hopefully prove worthwhile. Bullet-proof reliability record going back many years; no cambelt, no clutch, no gearbox, no turbo. 12 year battery warranty, but Toyota have apparently never had to replace a battery under warranty. The thing is actually quite acceptable to drive with the latest 4-link suspension - reminiscent of my Pug 405 with eager turn-in, good grip and plenty of suspension travel which is not oversprung and underdamped as was the case with many other Jap cars.
And best of all, it averages about 70mpg despite enthusiastic driving.
I'll pop back in during 2036 (the year, not just before bedtime tonight...) and let you how it's going.
The car? Toyota Prius. Lots of thought before I bought, but will hopefully prove worthwhile. Bullet-proof reliability record going back many years; no cambelt, no clutch, no gearbox, no turbo. 12 year battery warranty, but Toyota have apparently never had to replace a battery under warranty. The thing is actually quite acceptable to drive with the latest 4-link suspension - reminiscent of my Pug 405 with eager turn-in, good grip and plenty of suspension travel which is not oversprung and underdamped as was the case with many other Jap cars.
And best of all, it averages about 70mpg despite enthusiastic driving.
I'll pop back in during 2036 (the year, not just before bedtime tonight...) and let you how it's going.
Pan Pan Pan said:
Genuine question, but what did TVR do (Or possibly not do) to their chassis, that they seem to rust so easily. I have always liked TVR`s and in particular the way the chassis is built, but they do seem to corrode rather too quickly.
At the place I get some of my MOTs done, there is a superb looking TVR sitting on top of a container, and when I asked about it, the garage owner said `nice car but totally rust f*cked chassis'.
They just weren't prepped particularly well or with any real care or attention and plenty sat around for a while after being made, starting to rust before being painted and used in builds. At the place I get some of my MOTs done, there is a superb looking TVR sitting on top of a container, and when I asked about it, the garage owner said `nice car but totally rust f*cked chassis'.
On top of that, because the cars were so affordable many then lived outside and few owners washed the undersides or carried out any care/maintenance under the skin.
Subsequently there is a big difference between one that was kept in a garage and had its underside washed every so often versus one that lived on the street and didn't. And then there were the ones that were already rusting before they were painted and just carried on regardless of what the owners did.
colin86 said:
Was thinking today does anyone buy a new/nearly new car and run it till the end of its life ?
I've always bought 2-3 year old ex lease cars and then run them for at least a decade by which time all the crash protection stuff has moved on considerably and the annual upkeep is beginning to build. I'd hate to start getting involved in that 3 year trap but with the big automotive changes happening it might become the more prudent means to run a generic wagon later on.
previous employer had a hilux from new, 10 years on one of the lads crashed it badly enough to write it off but they kept it another 5 years just using it shunting trailers around the yard but the rust got the chassis pretty bad where it was kinked and it split so it got weighed in.
One of my customers in fife have owned a m reg defender from new, gets used daily on and off road. It looks like it hasnt been washed or maintained since the 90s and I have no idea how its mot'd.
One of my customers in fife have owned a m reg defender from new, gets used daily on and off road. It looks like it hasnt been washed or maintained since the 90s and I have no idea how its mot'd.
OldGermanHeaps said:
previous employer had a hilux from new, 10 years on one of the lads crashed it badly enough to write it off but they kept it another 5 years just using it shunting trailers around the yard but the rust got the chassis pretty bad where it was kinked and it split so it got weighed in.
One of my customers in fife have owned a m reg defender from new, gets used daily on and off road. It looks like it hasnt been washed or maintained since the 90s and I have no idea how its mot'd.
There are definitely certain cars and trucks that are more likely to be bought and kept for life until they're no longer viable to keep on the road.One of my customers in fife have owned a m reg defender from new, gets used daily on and off road. It looks like it hasnt been washed or maintained since the 90s and I have no idea how its mot'd.
Defenders and Hiluxes are two of the first that I'd think of. Also maybe Volvo estates, Landcruisers, Merc E or S-classes, and small Jap cars (loads of Micras and Yarises bought by OAPs and kept for a long time)
DonkeyApple said:
Pan Pan Pan said:
Genuine question, but what did TVR do (Or possibly not do) to their chassis, that they seem to rust so easily. I have always liked TVR`s and in particular the way the chassis is built, but they do seem to corrode rather too quickly.
At the place I get some of my MOTs done, there is a superb looking TVR sitting on top of a container, and when I asked about it, the garage owner said `nice car but totally rust f*cked chassis'.
They just weren't prepped particularly well or with any real care or attention and plenty sat around for a while after being made, starting to rust before being painted and used in builds. At the place I get some of my MOTs done, there is a superb looking TVR sitting on top of a container, and when I asked about it, the garage owner said `nice car but totally rust f*cked chassis'.
On top of that, because the cars were so affordable many then lived outside and few owners washed the undersides or carried out any care/maintenance under the skin.
Subsequently there is a big difference between one that was kept in a garage and had its underside washed every so often versus one that lived on the street and didn't. And then there were the ones that were already rusting before they were painted and just carried on regardless of what the owners did.
I've got a 16 year old petrol A4 Avant quattro, bought it from it's first owner 8 years ago. Only 110k miles on it, but for the last few years it's only been a dog/tip/snow car. A while back the traction control light came on, and Vagcom indicated it needed a new Yaw Sensor. Nearly £700 from Audi FFS. Found a guaranteed refurbished sensor for £100, and all is well. But I did think it would be electronics and road tax that would be the end of it. Just got a years ticket, but it will need 4 new tyres and a cambelt at some point which is £500, so debating whether to move it on.
E92 M3 bought new in 2008, still got it.
Porsche Boxster S bought new in 2012, still got it.
Mercedes GL bought new in 2013, still got it.
Mercedes GLA bought new in 2014, still got it.
458 Spider bought new in 2014, still got it.
The list goes on. I've only one car the I would consider selling, although every time I consider selling it I change my mind when I go look at it in the garage.
I tend to buy and keep cars that I like and I enjoy the 'that's never x old??' conversations with people. I'm not one for 'latest is best' either. I've been with my Mrs for 27 years too. bodywork aint quite what it was, doesn't always start for me and the chassis could do with a polish up but well, I'm a sentimental old bugger.
Porsche Boxster S bought new in 2012, still got it.
Mercedes GL bought new in 2013, still got it.
Mercedes GLA bought new in 2014, still got it.
458 Spider bought new in 2014, still got it.
The list goes on. I've only one car the I would consider selling, although every time I consider selling it I change my mind when I go look at it in the garage.
I tend to buy and keep cars that I like and I enjoy the 'that's never x old??' conversations with people. I'm not one for 'latest is best' either. I've been with my Mrs for 27 years too. bodywork aint quite what it was, doesn't always start for me and the chassis could do with a polish up but well, I'm a sentimental old bugger.
W201_190e said:
wmitchell said:
Forgive me if it's a bit off topic, but would it be a false economy, when looking through second hand markets, to be really looking at cars most people would've considered to have passed their 'end of life', as opposed to those with just regular 'high mileage'?
Like say if a car has gone back up for sale at say 200k miles, there must be a multitude of preventive maintenance carried out on it that maybe outweighs the general 'wear and tear' that comes with a car that's had that much use
Absolutely. Cars don't reach that mileage with "nothing done to them". Like say if a car has gone back up for sale at say 200k miles, there must be a multitude of preventive maintenance carried out on it that maybe outweighs the general 'wear and tear' that comes with a car that's had that much use
"Yeah, I've not done much to it, apart from replaced the engine, gearbox, suspension, full respray ...."
Mercky said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Weirdo
tannhauser said:
Mercky said:
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