Cut my losses and sell up or keep it?

[Acehood]

My Clio 182 has already cost me a small fortune in repairs and general running costs. It's getting to the point where I'm going to be really stuck if anything major goes wrong again. I've toyed with the idea of selling it, cutting my losses and buying something else but I can't think of any viable options for the money I'll have. I want something as quick or quicker, with significantly less running costs. The problem is I'd get at most £3.5k for my Clio and that's being optimistic. I can't find anything that will offer the same performance as mine for the price, without dipping into some seriously hit and miss cars that could cost me even more than my Clio does.

I don't have any other money to put towards a 'new' car so it's going to be whatever I get for mine. Is it worth selling it, buying something slow and cheap for a bit and saving towards something decent? My worry is buying myself a £500 pile of junk and it failing an MOT or going seriously wrong.

Any ideas? I'm fed up of paying through the nose for fuel, tax, insurance, tyres, etc and then the car going wrong mechanically but I want to have some fun when driving and I'd probably be bored of anything much slower, as the Clio isn't exactly fast - makes up for it with the handling though.

Oh btw I don't want any of the following:

Convertible
Diesel

So that rules out the usual MX5 or remapped tdi suggestions

[klarky]

I'd say sell and buy a shed whilst you save, but depends on how much you've spent to keep the Clio going, if it's over half the value of the car youd be better keeping it as you know what's been done and therefore shouldn't go again.

[thinfourth2]

Acehood said:

My worry is buying myself a £500 pile of junk and it failing an MOT or going seriously wrong.

The joy of a £500 car is it never cost more then £500 to repair as if it goes wrong big style its scrap time

[EDLT]

What has "gone wrong"?

If you've just fixed everything that is likely to go wrong in the near future you are better off keeping the Clio. Many £3.5k cars will have parts that are worn out.

[Acehood]

EDLT said:

What has "gone wrong"?

If you've just fixed everything that is likely to go wrong in the near future you are better off keeping the Clio. Many £3.5k cars will have parts that are worn out.

Many things have gone wrong and may be "common problems" but it seems like there's a new one each month. I've added some of them to my profile but not all as I can't be arsed to look through all the old receipts.

A lot of things are so called consumable items (tyres, etc) but that doesn't mean they're free.

From memory;

Cambelt/aux belt replacement has happened 3 times since I bought the car due to a combination of a massive oil leak requiring it to be re-done and idiot garages who completely messed up my timing and fitted the wrong aux tensioners. That's about £500 a pop

Dephaser pulley

My springs have broken twice

Gearbox/engine mounts replaced

Rear Exhaust mounts replaced twice

Washer motor broke

Coilpack went the other week

Driveshaft. Other one needs replacing too but I can't afford it right now

Lambda sensor x2

Tyres

Air con has stopped working. Issue with a pressure sender possibly from the diagnostics

My clutch vibrates at over 6000rpm and will likely need replacing

Centre section of the exhaust rotted away

Power steering fluid holder thing is leaking


It never seems to end! I have owned the car almost a year now..

[gareth.e]

edit:

eeeek!

not terrible, but I can see why its bugging you!

[LuS1fer]

Something with HONDA on it I would imagine. Like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[66comanche]

Acehood said:

Many things have gone wrong and may be "common problems" but it seems like there's a new one each month. I've added some of them to my profile but not all as I can't be arsed to look through all the old receipts.

A lot of things are so called consumable items (tyres, etc) but that doesn't mean they're free.

From memory;

Cambelt/aux belt replacement has happened 3 times since I bought the car due to a combination of a massive oil leak requiring it to be re-done and idiot garages who completely messed up my timing and fitted the wrong aux tensioners. That's about £500 a pop

Dephaser pulley

My springs have broken twice

Gearbox/engine mounts replaced

Rear Exhaust mounts replaced twice

Washer motor broke

Coilpack went the other week

Driveshaft. Other one needs replacing too but I can't afford it right now

Lambda sensor x2

Tyres

Air con has stopped working. Issue with a pressure sender possibly from the diagnostics

My clutch vibrates at over 6000rpm and will likely need replacing

Centre section of the exhaust rotted away

Power steering fluid holder thing is leaking


It never seems to end! I have owned the car almost a year now..

Ouch, not good at all. I had an Impreza for 4-5 years and had to do virtually nothing to it, obviously brakes, tyres, a wheel bearing... that was it as far as I can recall. Oh to be fair there was a small rocker cover oil leak and the speedo had given up the ghost when I sold it. Bearing this in mind, you could afford a good classic Impreza with that type of money, although I don't know your age and therefore if insurance is an issue. Would be a good move up as it's still a fairly light car (approx 1200kg IIRC?), more power, AWD and a turbo, which is always nice. You could even get a WRX for £3k but it would be the hideous bugeye, I suppose one with the headlight conversion might be ok?

£2999

[ROB8 F]

go japanese
the type r posted earlier was a good choice!
and i quite like the bug eyed scooby aswell!

for me though it would be this
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[Gizmo!]

Surely that Scooby isn't really £3k? That's insanely cheap for the power...

[someday]

Acehood said:

Many things have gone wrong and may be "common problems" but it seems like there's a new one each month. I've added some of them to my profile but not all as I can't be arsed to look through all the old receipts.

A lot of things are so called consumable items (tyres, etc) but that doesn't mean they're free.

From memory;

Cambelt/aux belt replacement has happened 3 times since I bought the car due to a combination of a massive oil leak requiring it to be re-done and idiot garages who completely messed up my timing and fitted the wrong aux tensioners. That's about £500 a pop

Dephaser pulley

My springs have broken twice

Gearbox/engine mounts replaced

Rear Exhaust mounts replaced twice

Washer motor broke

Coilpack went the other week

Driveshaft. Other one needs replacing too but I can't afford it right now

Lambda sensor x2

Tyres

Air con has stopped working. Issue with a pressure sender possibly from the diagnostics

My clutch vibrates at over 6000rpm and will likely need replacing

Centre section of the exhaust rotted away

Power steering fluid holder thing is leaking


It never seems to end! I have owned the car almost a year now..

sounds like the car has had a hard life

[Johnboy Mac]

Acehood said:

EDLT said:

What has "gone wrong"?

If you've just fixed everything that is likely to go wrong in the near future you are better off keeping the Clio. Many £3.5k cars will have parts that are worn out.

Many things have gone wrong and may be "common problems" but it seems like there's a new one each month. I've added some of them to my profile but not all as I can't be arsed to look through all the old receipts.

A lot of things are so called consumable items (tyres, etc) but that doesn't mean they're free.

From memory;

Cambelt/aux belt replacement has happened 3 times since I bought the car due to a combination of a massive oil leak requiring it to be re-done and idiot garages who completely messed up my timing and fitted the wrong aux tensioners. That's about £500 a pop

Dephaser pulley

My springs have broken twice

Gearbox/engine mounts replaced

Rear Exhaust mounts replaced twice

Washer motor broke

Coilpack went the other week

Driveshaft. Other one needs replacing too but I can't afford it right now

Lambda sensor x2

Tyres

Air con has stopped working. Issue with a pressure sender possibly from the diagnostics

My clutch vibrates at over 6000rpm and will likely need replacing

Centre section of the exhaust rotted away

Power steering fluid holder thing is leaking


It never seems to end! I have owned the car almost a year now..

If it makes you feel any better that's not a bad list in all honesty. Saying that I'm presuming there's a fair few miles on the car and it's driven the way most would (broken springs). Keep the faith.

[anonymous-user]

Civic Type R won't be quite as entertaining but will be far more robust and a far better car to own and run IMO.

[Bungleaio]

The clio sounds like a lemon I'd get rid if I were you and get something else.

Gizmo! said:

Surely that Scooby isn't really £3k? That's insanely cheap for the power...

Scooby's are very cheap to buy, it's amazing what you can get for your money now. Hence why all the chavs are buying them.

Sadly the insurance and fuel is not cheap, servicing is pretty reasonable though.

[Prof Prolapse]

Gizmo! said:

Surely that Scooby isn't really £3k? That's insanely cheap for the power...

Yes, what could possibly go wrong...

[Acehood]

Bungleaio said:

The clio sounds like a lemon I'd get rid if I were you and get something else.

Gizmo! said:

Surely that Scooby isn't really £3k? That's insanely cheap for the power...

Scooby's are very cheap to buy, it's amazing what you can get for your money now. Hence why all the chavs are buying them.

Sadly the insurance and fuel is not cheap, servicing is pretty reasonable though.

Yeah I think as someone else posted it's had a hard life! I wish I'd been more throughough with my checks upon buying but I was in a rush to get a car and settled on the 3rd one I looked at.

A scooby probably isn't the best idea. Despite any apparent reliablility it'll drink loads of fuel and sting me a bit more on insurance

yonex said:

Civic Type R won't be quite as entertaining but will be far more robust and a far better car to own and run IMO.

Very tempting but it's hard to find many around my price range that don't have moon miles. I know it's not a big issue for jap cars to do 120k+ miles but it still means lots of things are liable to go wrong! I agree they're not as entertaining. Test drove a few, fairly quick but lack any kind of steering feel or character compared to the Clio. Handling isn't quite there either but may be sortable with a few choice mods.

Johnboy Mac said:

If it makes you feel any better that's not a bad list in all honesty. Saying that I'm presuming there's a fair few miles on the car and it's driven the way most would (broken springs). Keep the faith.

It's on about 85k. It's probably not a bad list at first glance but it's easily 2-3k on repairs in under a year. I could have ran something way better for that money..

ROB8 F said:

go japanese
the type r posted earlier was a good choice!
and i quite like the bug eyed scooby aswell!

for me though it would be this
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

I have a special place in my heart for Supras but it'd kill me to own a non-turbo one!

[66comanche]

Acehood said:

Yeah I think as someone else posted it's had a hard life! I wish I'd been more throughough with my checks upon buying but I was in a rush to get a car and settled on the 3rd one I looked at.

A scooby probably isn't the best idea. Despite any apparent reliablility it'll drink loads of fuel and sting me a bit more on insurance

That's a short-sighted attitude IMO as what you listed as having had done on the Clio must have cost you a couple of grand or more (in a year!) whereas the scoob (well known for being bullet-proof) is probably only 5mpg worse than the Clio, although the mpg and insurance is hard to say as you haven't said the mileage you do or the age/NCB you are/have.

[Acehood]

66comanche said:

That's a short-sighted attitude IMO as what you listed as having had done on the Clio must have cost you a couple of grand or more (in a year!) whereas the scoob (well known for being bullet-proof) is probably only 5mpg worse than the Clio, although the mpg and insurance is hard to say as you haven't said the mileage you do or the age/NCB you are/have.

Per week I do about 140 miles commuting + various personal mileage (usually not more than about 50 a week)

I'm 24 and have 6 years NCB. Insurance on the Clio, fully comp with any mods I want replaced like for like - £650

I do like the idea of a scooby but I can imagine if it does go wrong - which it will do as every car I've owned has had something go wrong - it will be expensive. The fuel I'm not as fussed about as it's fairly minimal compared to a lot of people

[Prof Prolapse]

Acehood said:

I do like the idea of a scooby but I can imagine if it does go wrong - which it will do as every car I've owned has had something go wrong - it will be expensive. The fuel I'm not as fussed about as it's fairly minimal compared to a lot of people

Subarus are tough. But they are expensive to repair mate, think of the complexity of the thing. "the standard new clutch at 80K sir? Certainly that'll be £2000 afterall we have to remove the diff, driveshafts, exhaust...".

As for MPG being comparable to a 182 clio I highly doubt that. I've yet to meet a subaru owner who gets more than 25mpg combined and even they drive like my granny.

Then insurance, I'm similar to yourself and was looking at just under grand for insurance... Then there's road tax...

If you want something easier to live with either buy a decent one or alternatively get yourself a Type R.

[Bungleaio]

Prof Prolapse said:

Subarus are tough. But they are expensive to repair mate, think of the complexity of the thing. "the standard new clutch at 80K sir? Certainly that'll be £2000 afterall we have to remove the diff, driveshafts, exhaust..

A clutch change will not be £2000.