Dilemma - What would you do?
Discussion
Ok so I'm at a point where I'm battling with myself with whether to fix my car, or get something else? so what would you do?
Currently own:
2001 Vectra 1.8 with 132K miles on it. It suits me very well for what I need it to do - A 40 mile daily commute along A roads, with reasonably frequent long trips to visit family.
Plus points:
- The engine is a peach, returns 37-40mpg on my commute, is very sweet with no issues.
- I've had the suspension and brakes replaced when I got it 16 months ago as they were EOL.
- It's practical and I like how it drives, the colour etc.
- Its very comfortable and quiet on longer drives.
Negative:
- The AC is bust, and needs about £500 to recommission.
- It has rust coming through on the arches, the front bumper and bonnet are heavily stone chipped and its rusting on the boot where the spoiler joins. I'd say about £1k worth to make it look very respectable again.
So do I fix a car I like, I have no issues with it being a vauxhall, or with it being old I have nothing to prove and quite frankly don't car what people think. I like owning something older that is kept in a nice condition, and I like the thought of keeping it going certainly seems a shame to bin it.
I've got about £5k to buy something else, but struggling to find something similar that is more modern that I like. Had a look at a MK5 Astra estate, its nice, but doesn't really do anything better than the vectra. I've had a look at an Accord too, and it was pretty nice but just didn't do much for me. My mechanic friend thinks I'm completely insane to consider spending more money on the Vectra, but then again I'm not so into budget motoring to be prepared to cook in the summer.
So what would you do? To answer a potential question, I can certainly afford to fix the AC without it really impacting on anything else, bodywork less so but it's certainly not a beans and toast scenario, and I'd still have plenty of money to get a replacement if it gave up the ghost completely.
Currently own:
2001 Vectra 1.8 with 132K miles on it. It suits me very well for what I need it to do - A 40 mile daily commute along A roads, with reasonably frequent long trips to visit family.
Plus points:
- The engine is a peach, returns 37-40mpg on my commute, is very sweet with no issues.
- I've had the suspension and brakes replaced when I got it 16 months ago as they were EOL.
- It's practical and I like how it drives, the colour etc.
- Its very comfortable and quiet on longer drives.
Negative:
- The AC is bust, and needs about £500 to recommission.
- It has rust coming through on the arches, the front bumper and bonnet are heavily stone chipped and its rusting on the boot where the spoiler joins. I'd say about £1k worth to make it look very respectable again.
So do I fix a car I like, I have no issues with it being a vauxhall, or with it being old I have nothing to prove and quite frankly don't car what people think. I like owning something older that is kept in a nice condition, and I like the thought of keeping it going certainly seems a shame to bin it.
I've got about £5k to buy something else, but struggling to find something similar that is more modern that I like. Had a look at a MK5 Astra estate, its nice, but doesn't really do anything better than the vectra. I've had a look at an Accord too, and it was pretty nice but just didn't do much for me. My mechanic friend thinks I'm completely insane to consider spending more money on the Vectra, but then again I'm not so into budget motoring to be prepared to cook in the summer.
So what would you do? To answer a potential question, I can certainly afford to fix the AC without it really impacting on anything else, bodywork less so but it's certainly not a beans and toast scenario, and I'd still have plenty of money to get a replacement if it gave up the ghost completely.
fitz1985 said:
Ok so I'm at a point where I'm battling with myself with whether to fix my car, or get something else? so what would you do?
Currently own:
2001 Vectra 1.8 with 132K miles on it. It suits me very well for what I need it to do - A 40 mile daily commute along A roads, with reasonably frequent long trips to visit family.
Plus points:
- The engine is a peach, returns 37-40mpg on my commute, is very sweet with no issues.
- I've had the suspension and brakes replaced when I got it 16 months ago as they were EOL.
- It's practical and I like how it drives, the colour etc.
- Its very comfortable and quiet on longer drives.
Negative:
- The AC is bust, and needs about £500 to recommission.
- It has rust coming through on the arches, the front bumper and bonnet are heavily stone chipped and its rusting on the boot where the spoiler joins. I'd say about £1k worth to make it look very respectable again.
So do I fix a car I like, I have no issues with it being a vauxhall, or with it being old I have nothing to prove and quite frankly don't car what people think. I like owning something older that is kept in a nice condition, and I like the thought of keeping it going certainly seems a shame to bin it.
I've got about £5k to buy something else, but struggling to find something similar that is more modern that I like. Had a look at a MK5 Astra estate, its nice, but doesn't really do anything better than the vectra. I've had a look at an Accord too, and it was pretty nice but just didn't do much for me. My mechanic friend thinks I'm completely insane to consider spending more money on the Vectra, but then again I'm not so into budget motoring to be prepared to cook in the summer.
So what would you do? To answer a potential question, I can certainly afford to fix the AC without it really impacting on anything else, bodywork less so but it's certainly not a beans and toast scenario, and I'd still have plenty of money to get a replacement if it gave up the ghost completely.
Sometimes it's better the devil you know.........................Currently own:
2001 Vectra 1.8 with 132K miles on it. It suits me very well for what I need it to do - A 40 mile daily commute along A roads, with reasonably frequent long trips to visit family.
Plus points:
- The engine is a peach, returns 37-40mpg on my commute, is very sweet with no issues.
- I've had the suspension and brakes replaced when I got it 16 months ago as they were EOL.
- It's practical and I like how it drives, the colour etc.
- Its very comfortable and quiet on longer drives.
Negative:
- The AC is bust, and needs about £500 to recommission.
- It has rust coming through on the arches, the front bumper and bonnet are heavily stone chipped and its rusting on the boot where the spoiler joins. I'd say about £1k worth to make it look very respectable again.
So do I fix a car I like, I have no issues with it being a vauxhall, or with it being old I have nothing to prove and quite frankly don't car what people think. I like owning something older that is kept in a nice condition, and I like the thought of keeping it going certainly seems a shame to bin it.
I've got about £5k to buy something else, but struggling to find something similar that is more modern that I like. Had a look at a MK5 Astra estate, its nice, but doesn't really do anything better than the vectra. I've had a look at an Accord too, and it was pretty nice but just didn't do much for me. My mechanic friend thinks I'm completely insane to consider spending more money on the Vectra, but then again I'm not so into budget motoring to be prepared to cook in the summer.
So what would you do? To answer a potential question, I can certainly afford to fix the AC without it really impacting on anything else, bodywork less so but it's certainly not a beans and toast scenario, and I'd still have plenty of money to get a replacement if it gave up the ghost completely.
When ever I buy another (older) car I always use some slush fund, just use it on the car you know.
Spending ~£1500 to sort the rust and aircon on a £500 Vectra would be pretty mental tbh.
I'm actually in a similar position myself. I run a 2001 Omega 2.2 as my commuter, aircon doesn't work, tiny bit of rust starting on the arches and it's due a cambelt but otherwise the car is faultless. However much I'm tempted to spend money on it though I just couldn't justify it, I intend to just drive it till it breaks then I'll buy something else.
I'm actually in a similar position myself. I run a 2001 Omega 2.2 as my commuter, aircon doesn't work, tiny bit of rust starting on the arches and it's due a cambelt but otherwise the car is faultless. However much I'm tempted to spend money on it though I just couldn't justify it, I intend to just drive it till it breaks then I'll buy something else.
iva cosworth said:
Those faults you could just live with.
Drive it till it dies.......
Pretty much this.Drive it till it dies.......
AC, whilst nice to have isn't a must have.
Paint and depending how bad the rust is, is just cosmetics.
The car as it stands is only worth peanuts. Would be pointless to spend 1.5k on it.
I'm aware I'm a complete girl in regards to the AC, but it is a dark colour (metallic purple I think, I'm colour blind 
). But I not hair chested enough to arrive at work in the summer hot n bothered etc. I'd just stomach the cost, I don't have any other hobbies.
I agree RE the rust, it is just cosmetic, but the rest of the paintwork comes up with a excellent deep shine, and the alloys are immaculate. It just seems a real shame. The bottoms of the arches have been touched up before the winter, but it requires metalwork to fix without it just coming through after a few weeks.
Just nothing more modern that I like as much, otherwise I'd have no issue trading it in.
Photo below on how nice the paint comes up elsewhere
). But I not hair chested enough to arrive at work in the summer hot n bothered etc. I'd just stomach the cost, I don't have any other hobbies.I agree RE the rust, it is just cosmetic, but the rest of the paintwork comes up with a excellent deep shine, and the alloys are immaculate. It just seems a real shame. The bottoms of the arches have been touched up before the winter, but it requires metalwork to fix without it just coming through after a few weeks.
Just nothing more modern that I like as much, otherwise I'd have no issue trading it in.
Photo below on how nice the paint comes up elsewhere
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