What car has cost you the most in servicing/repairs?
Discussion
As above and was it worth it? Conversely, what was your cheapest car to run?
On a per month basis, my mk4 Golf GTi. Only owned it for a year and cost me on average about 200 pounds per month in repairs. Didn't actually break down but needed silly things like a new starter motor, new rear wash/wipe pump, engine sensors etc and everything seemed to cost 200 pounds to fix. Needed 800 [pounds of work to pass its first MOT and it was only 7 years old with 80k, so I traded it in and didn't bother, so probably not worth it. It shattered the illusion that I was buying a better quality car
My Impreza WRX did actually cost me more in servicing and repairs but then I loved the car and they were all wear and tear items (catalytic converter, brakes, tyres) and I kept it for 2.5 years, so obviously considered it to be a worthwhile expense. Genuine Subaru parts are pretty expensive too!
My cheapest car to run was the new Polo TDI that I traded my Golf in for. I negotiated 3 free services into the price and it was stupidly economical as well. Needed nothing apart from routine (free) servicing. I was utterly bored of it by the time I had my 3 free services now and wasn't about to spend my hard earned on the next service!
On a per month basis, my mk4 Golf GTi. Only owned it for a year and cost me on average about 200 pounds per month in repairs. Didn't actually break down but needed silly things like a new starter motor, new rear wash/wipe pump, engine sensors etc and everything seemed to cost 200 pounds to fix. Needed 800 [pounds of work to pass its first MOT and it was only 7 years old with 80k, so I traded it in and didn't bother, so probably not worth it. It shattered the illusion that I was buying a better quality car
My Impreza WRX did actually cost me more in servicing and repairs but then I loved the car and they were all wear and tear items (catalytic converter, brakes, tyres) and I kept it for 2.5 years, so obviously considered it to be a worthwhile expense. Genuine Subaru parts are pretty expensive too!
My cheapest car to run was the new Polo TDI that I traded my Golf in for. I negotiated 3 free services into the price and it was stupidly economical as well. Needed nothing apart from routine (free) servicing. I was utterly bored of it by the time I had my 3 free services now and wasn't about to spend my hard earned on the next service!
Maybe not very PH but a Vectra. It was a 3.0 V6 cdti, put a tuning box on it and it transformed the car, then got limp mode problems.
Paid a fortune trying to sort it out and eventually VX took pity and started contributing.
I blamed the box and took it off, seemed like it was sorted after many new engine parts including a new fuel rail.
Took it for a remap, still had the limp home mode fault and gave up throwing money at it.
Only diesel I've owned, when working it pulled brilliant and the fuel running costs were a bonus. The problems have been enough to put me off diesels, even though I know it was probably been self inflicted.
Wouldn't get another diesel unless in warranty and wouldn't go the tuning route with one again either.
Paid a fortune trying to sort it out and eventually VX took pity and started contributing.
I blamed the box and took it off, seemed like it was sorted after many new engine parts including a new fuel rail.
Took it for a remap, still had the limp home mode fault and gave up throwing money at it.
Only diesel I've owned, when working it pulled brilliant and the fuel running costs were a bonus. The problems have been enough to put me off diesels, even though I know it was probably been self inflicted.
Wouldn't get another diesel unless in warranty and wouldn't go the tuning route with one again either.
shakermikee said:
Maybe not very PH but a Vectra. It was a 3.0 V6 cdti, put a tuning box on it and it transformed the car, then got limp mode problems.
Paid a fortune trying to sort it out and eventually VX took pity and started contributing.
I blamed the box and took it off, seemed like it was sorted after many new engine parts including a new fuel rail.
Took it for a remap, still had the limp home mode fault and gave up throwing money at it.
Only diesel I've owned, when working it pulled brilliant and the fuel running costs were a bonus. The problems have been enough to put me off diesels, even though I know it was probably been self inflicted.
Wouldn't get another diesel unless in warranty and wouldn't go the tuning route with one again either.
Funnily enough, after owning three very reliable petrol Vectra's a few years ago, I bit the bullet and bought my first (and last) diesel.Paid a fortune trying to sort it out and eventually VX took pity and started contributing.
I blamed the box and took it off, seemed like it was sorted after many new engine parts including a new fuel rail.
Took it for a remap, still had the limp home mode fault and gave up throwing money at it.
Only diesel I've owned, when working it pulled brilliant and the fuel running costs were a bonus. The problems have been enough to put me off diesels, even though I know it was probably been self inflicted.
Wouldn't get another diesel unless in warranty and wouldn't go the tuning route with one again either.
Mine was the 1.9 CDTi and it really was a heap of unreliable junk.
V8Wagon said:
Funnily enough, after owning three very reliable petrol Vectra's a few years ago, I bit the bullet and bought my first (and last) diesel.
Mine was the 1.9 CDTi and it really was a heap of unreliable junk.
Don't judge all diesels because of one bad experience with a 1.9 Vauxhall. I've had some very good & very bad diesels but by far the worst vehicle I have ever owned was a 1.9cdti Astra H. I have never spent so much on a vehicle in such a short space of time. The 1.9cdti option was a truly awful range of vehicles which I hope costs Vauxhall dearly in future sales. Mine was the 1.9 CDTi and it really was a heap of unreliable junk.
Greatest cost has been my Chimaera. It's been reliable overall, but the £6000 main bill over 15k miles is mostly split between two incidents: the Rover V8 lunching itself at 46k miles and new suspension after one of the factory Bilsteins snapped in half while I was driving the car.
My S13 200SX ate two whole engines and one turbo in the space of 2000 miles. Piece of s
t.
My Alfa 156 had me replace alternator, timing belt, tensioners, water pump at a cost of a grand, all in sensible preventative maintenance. It returned the favour by failing the ABS, traction-control, half of the lights on the car and blowing the radiator and subsequent overheating in the space of about a week afterwards. Piece of st. Fecking thing was only 5 years old.
Most reliable was probably my 10 year-old Lancia Delta HF Turbo. Didn't miss a beat, and virtually all of the electrics worked.
My S13 200SX ate two whole engines and one turbo in the space of 2000 miles. Piece of s
t.My Alfa 156 had me replace alternator, timing belt, tensioners, water pump at a cost of a grand, all in sensible preventative maintenance. It returned the favour by failing the ABS, traction-control, half of the lights on the car and blowing the radiator and subsequent overheating in the space of about a week afterwards. Piece of s
t. Fecking thing was only 5 years old.Most reliable was probably my 10 year-old Lancia Delta HF Turbo. Didn't miss a beat, and virtually all of the electrics worked.
Mk5 Golf. New radiator has been the biggest single expense on it. Rear wiper motor was thankfully covered by the used car dealer a week after I bought it. I'm still managing to keep the bonnet catch working with regular cleaning.
Bought a new battery too. Wiper blades, tyres and servicing the only other costs I can recall.
Not complaining though because I've had it for almost 5 and a half years.
Bought a new battery too. Wiper blades, tyres and servicing the only other costs I can recall.
Not complaining though because I've had it for almost 5 and a half years.
LR Defender 110. Bought Used Approved on a 57 plate with the ad showing 31k miles. As we were sent the paperwork we noticed it was actually on 37k. For some stupid reason we still went ahead.
Everything went wrong with it and servicing cost a fortune as did tax. The garage was beyond dreadful and ended up threatening me with legal action when I complained and sought advice on-line; we'd clearly been sold a truck fit only for auction.
After a big battle, I got LR UK to pay for most of the work under warranty but I still spent an awful lot.
Sold it after a year at a 4k loss.
I know I can't name dealers but please all avoid a LR main dealer in Croydon.
Everything went wrong with it and servicing cost a fortune as did tax. The garage was beyond dreadful and ended up threatening me with legal action when I complained and sought advice on-line; we'd clearly been sold a truck fit only for auction.
After a big battle, I got LR UK to pay for most of the work under warranty but I still spent an awful lot.
Sold it after a year at a 4k loss.
I know I can't name dealers but please all avoid a LR main dealer in Croydon.
mygoldfishbowl said:
V8Wagon said:
Funnily enough, after owning three very reliable petrol Vectra's a few years ago, I bit the bullet and bought my first (and last) diesel.
Mine was the 1.9 CDTi and it really was a heap of unreliable junk.
Don't judge all diesels because of one bad experience with a 1.9 Vauxhall. I've had some very good & very bad diesels but by far the worst vehicle I have ever owned was a 1.9cdti Astra H. I have never spent so much on a vehicle in such a short space of time. The 1.9cdti option was a truly awful range of vehicles which I hope costs Vauxhall dearly in future sales. Mine was the 1.9 CDTi and it really was a heap of unreliable junk.
speedtwelve said:
Greatest cost has been my Chimaera. It's been reliable overall, but the £6000 main bill over 15k miles is mostly split between two incidents: the Rover V8 lunching itself at 46k miles and new suspension after one of the factory Bilsteins snapped in half while I was driving the car.
My S13 200SX ate two whole engines and one turbo in the space of 2000 miles. Piece of st.
My Alfa 156 had me replace alternator, timing belt, tensioners, water pump at a cost of a grand, all in sensible preventative maintenance. It returned the favour by failing the ABS, traction-control, half of the lights on the car and blowing the radiator and subsequent overheating in the space of about a week afterwards. Piece of st. Fecking thing was only 5 years old.
Most reliable was probably my 10 year-old Lancia Delta HF Turbo. Didn't miss a beat, and virtually all of the electrics worked.
My 200sx S13 also had 2 engines and a turbo within 12 months..apparently gearbox also went a month after I sold it! Was an early F plate in pearl white! Cost 5k in repairs in a year back in 1996My S13 200SX ate two whole engines and one turbo in the space of 2000 miles. Piece of s
t.My Alfa 156 had me replace alternator, timing belt, tensioners, water pump at a cost of a grand, all in sensible preventative maintenance. It returned the favour by failing the ABS, traction-control, half of the lights on the car and blowing the radiator and subsequent overheating in the space of about a week afterwards. Piece of s
t. Fecking thing was only 5 years old.Most reliable was probably my 10 year-old Lancia Delta HF Turbo. Didn't miss a beat, and virtually all of the electrics worked.
white_goodman said:
Glenred said:
TVR /thread
How much? 
I can remember exactly but the first bill was over ₤11,500,-
Funny thing was, I loved that car and spent at least another ₤10k on it over 2 1/2 years before writing it off.
Clio 172. Two grand in three months. The next owner also sold it on within three months and a previous owner spotted it due to its distinctive number plate and told me it was a right money pit for them too. I wish I had the benefit of that conversation beforehand. I wouldn't have minded if they were anything special to drive, but..... 
My fking hunk of st that was my e60 525i. Ok it was high mileage but it had immaculate specialist history.
Bought it in February this year, it did me for £2k in maintenance by July and I sold when it looked like it had was suffering HGF. Switched to Honda as some kind of recovery attempt.
Still, it's the best car I ever owned, when it was working it was great
king hunk of st that was my e60 525i. Ok it was high mileage but it had immaculate specialist history. Bought it in February this year, it did me for £2k in maintenance by July and I sold when it looked like it had was suffering HGF. Switched to Honda as some kind of recovery attempt.
Still, it's the best car I ever owned, when it was working it was great
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff