Refreshing older car rather than buying nerwer
Discussion
HI everyone.
I have a little dilemma i'd like to get peoples opinions on. I will soon be in a position to splash a bit of cash and i'm fancying something vehicle related. Initially I was going to sell my '02 Octavia VRS and replace with something around the £6-7000 mark.
That was until last night when I started thinking about refreshing the old girl. I've owned it 3.5years and not once has it let me down. I've fairly recently replaced the clutch, cambelt and water pump so I know they are done. I'm thinking of a suspension refresh in the way of some decent coilovers and a bushes where needed, possibly a set of subtle wheels (BBS CH) a big service and a damn good 'detailing' to bring the paint up to scratch.
I'd probably be chucking what the cars worth back at it but once done I should have a car that still makes me smile that also looks a bit fresher. Plus I do love an excellent condition older car.
Whats your thoughts guys? Has anyone else spruced up an older car rather than replace?
P.s Heres what I had in mind but without the grille and badge.
I have a little dilemma i'd like to get peoples opinions on. I will soon be in a position to splash a bit of cash and i'm fancying something vehicle related. Initially I was going to sell my '02 Octavia VRS and replace with something around the £6-7000 mark.
That was until last night when I started thinking about refreshing the old girl. I've owned it 3.5years and not once has it let me down. I've fairly recently replaced the clutch, cambelt and water pump so I know they are done. I'm thinking of a suspension refresh in the way of some decent coilovers and a bushes where needed, possibly a set of subtle wheels (BBS CH) a big service and a damn good 'detailing' to bring the paint up to scratch.
I'd probably be chucking what the cars worth back at it but once done I should have a car that still makes me smile that also looks a bit fresher. Plus I do love an excellent condition older car.
Whats your thoughts guys? Has anyone else spruced up an older car rather than replace?
P.s Heres what I had in mind but without the grille and badge.
Why not if it's a car you like and trust. You won't get your money back but neither will you get money back buying something newer.
Chances are if you buy somethinbg newer you will find things (repair/refurbishment/improvements) to spend money on anyway.
Enjoy the refresh.
or you could just sell your car to me so I can benifit from the fruits of your labour
Chances are if you buy somethinbg newer you will find things (repair/refurbishment/improvements) to spend money on anyway.
Enjoy the refresh.
or you could just sell your car to me so I can benifit from the fruits of your labour
That's exactly my thinking. I do Fancy an E46 330 'vert but i'd be merrily pissed off if I bought one that then cost me a fortune in rust repairs etc.
The refresh list is something like this.....
Coilovers
Replace as many bushes as needed
BBS CH (Or original alloy refurb)
Bootlid and spoiler respray (Someone has keyed the boot)
Couple of minor dings removed
New original Bonnet and boot badge, Pro Interior Valet and exterior paint correction.
Remap
Full service.
The refresh list is something like this.....
Coilovers
Replace as many bushes as needed
BBS CH (Or original alloy refurb)
Bootlid and spoiler respray (Someone has keyed the boot)
Couple of minor dings removed
New original Bonnet and boot badge, Pro Interior Valet and exterior paint correction.
Remap
Full service.
Do it! I just spend a few grand on all sorts of maintenance, cosmetic, and tarting up bits and bobs on my S2000, and I dont even get to drive it that much (GF's main car these days)... It's looks and drives excellent now. Well worth it, and I know the oily bit are all in top spec, rather than spending out on another car that's going to be an unknown.
Just got the wheels to refurb or replace, and we're good to go for many years to come.
Just got the wheels to refurb or replace, and we're good to go for many years to come.
VRSAndy said:
Well a bit of Man maths seems to make it more of a sensible option to be honest. As it stands the car is probably worth £1000 or a touch more. I'd have to add £5-6000 to get a car i'd consider replacing it with. If I throw £1500 at the VRS i'm effectively saving money (Kind of).
Got to ask how much is the new shape vRS? How much of a step up? What does that have that this car doesn't and will not - why is it a better car?But if you spend £1k doing that lot well it will be a nice older car which should keep going well for years to come will it add value- doubtful but it will be a more appealing buy. Heck £1k for a years depreciation is a bargain.
VRSAndy said:
That's exactly my thinking. I do Fancy an E46 330 'vert but i'd be merrily pissed off if I bought one that then cost me a fortune in rust repairs etc.
The refresh list is something like this.....
Coilovers
Replace as many bushes as needed
BBS CH (Or original alloy refurb)
Bootlid and spoiler respray (Someone has keyed the boot)
Couple of minor dings removed
New original Bonnet and boot badge, Pro Interior Valet and exterior paint correction.
Remap
Full service.
The chances are if you bought an E46 it would need all the suspension and engine ancillary work you've either done or are considering for your current car. BMWs are certainly not immune from ageing, not by a long shot.The refresh list is something like this.....
Coilovers
Replace as many bushes as needed
BBS CH (Or original alloy refurb)
Bootlid and spoiler respray (Someone has keyed the boot)
Couple of minor dings removed
New original Bonnet and boot badge, Pro Interior Valet and exterior paint correction.
Remap
Full service.
There's a lot of value in knowing and trusting a car you've cherished when considering the value of work you want or need to do to it, versus its value on the open market.
I certainly wouldn't replace with a newer Octavia. It'd just feel like a waste of money for me.
I love my old beast. Huge boot for the dog, 4 doors for the Daughter, fast enough to keep me entertained, good enough on fuel for it not to be a concern, super cheap to insure and I still like the look of it (on my first date with my current G/F the first thing she said upon approaching the car was "Nice car"!).
Just a little bit of TLC and i think it'd be a cracker and make it stand out from the battered ones that are knocking about
I love my old beast. Huge boot for the dog, 4 doors for the Daughter, fast enough to keep me entertained, good enough on fuel for it not to be a concern, super cheap to insure and I still like the look of it (on my first date with my current G/F the first thing she said upon approaching the car was "Nice car"!).
Just a little bit of TLC and i think it'd be a cracker and make it stand out from the battered ones that are knocking about
By the time I re-commission my old 5-series it'll be 19 years old.
I bought it two years ago as a 'downgrade' from a 2003 Mondeo TDCI which I just had no faith in. I only had a few mechanical problems with the Mondeo but there were so many horror stories surrounding the fuel system and DMF that I just couldn't enjoy owning it as it approached 140k miles. I didn’t particularly enjoy driving it either, the handling was great for a large saloon but there was no pleasure to be had from the diesel engine or the 6-speed gearbox. I certainly didn’t enjoy working on it, what with it’s odd sized fixings, plastic everywhere, tight engine bay and the beginnings of corrosion on the underside.
Being that I do all of my own mechanical work, another ‘complicated’ 21st century car didn’t appeal- so I went backwards.
The ’88-’96 5-series got a few mentions in the ‘best built cars’ thread. I can see why. It has a feeling of solidarity and integrity and despite it’s age inspires much greater confidence than the Mondeo. It’s also much nicer to work on. I can’t think of anything before or since which I’d rather own. It also owes me very little money, and being a Touring it’ll be generally useful for all kinds of stuff- it’ll be a perfect compliment to a more exciting weekend car or race car.
It’s sat unloved 6,000 miles away from me now, but when I get back to it, it’s in for a treat. I want to make it good for another 19 years, with some sympathetic upgrades into the bargain.
I bought it two years ago as a 'downgrade' from a 2003 Mondeo TDCI which I just had no faith in. I only had a few mechanical problems with the Mondeo but there were so many horror stories surrounding the fuel system and DMF that I just couldn't enjoy owning it as it approached 140k miles. I didn’t particularly enjoy driving it either, the handling was great for a large saloon but there was no pleasure to be had from the diesel engine or the 6-speed gearbox. I certainly didn’t enjoy working on it, what with it’s odd sized fixings, plastic everywhere, tight engine bay and the beginnings of corrosion on the underside.
Being that I do all of my own mechanical work, another ‘complicated’ 21st century car didn’t appeal- so I went backwards.
The ’88-’96 5-series got a few mentions in the ‘best built cars’ thread. I can see why. It has a feeling of solidarity and integrity and despite it’s age inspires much greater confidence than the Mondeo. It’s also much nicer to work on. I can’t think of anything before or since which I’d rather own. It also owes me very little money, and being a Touring it’ll be generally useful for all kinds of stuff- it’ll be a perfect compliment to a more exciting weekend car or race car.
It’s sat unloved 6,000 miles away from me now, but when I get back to it, it’s in for a treat. I want to make it good for another 19 years, with some sympathetic upgrades into the bargain.
I have a motorcycle that I've pretty much been over everything at least once (usual engine and chassis components). I've wanted to sell and get somehting newer, but the bike has never let me down either, much like the experience you've had OP.
If I were to buy another bike, i'd be starting from the beginning again...learning about that bike, over time tending to everything that needs tending to, so on so forth.
So I keep my bike, because I know whats been done, when it was done, and when it'll need doing again (if ever). It's a trusty old steed
Keep the car, give it some new parts to breath new life into it and enjoy it. A high-mileage vehicle of any type that has been, and still is, well looked after is something to rightly be very proud of.
If I were to buy another bike, i'd be starting from the beginning again...learning about that bike, over time tending to everything that needs tending to, so on so forth.
So I keep my bike, because I know whats been done, when it was done, and when it'll need doing again (if ever). It's a trusty old steed
Keep the car, give it some new parts to breath new life into it and enjoy it. A high-mileage vehicle of any type that has been, and still is, well looked after is something to rightly be very proud of.
Edited by thatdude on Tuesday 5th August 09:29
Go for it! I'm about to replace my 'modern' 10-year old Seat Leon with a 21-year old BMW 325i coupe.
Current cars don't appeal to me much - they seem to be bloated, overweight, over-styled and ridiculously over-equipped with unnecessary gizmos and virtually impossible to work on.
The car I'm buying is fairly cheap to buy but I expect to spend the purchase price again, or more, getting the cooling system and suspension parts refreshed.
If you already have a car you like and know what's been done to it then provided you've sorted the common issues affecting that particular car the risk of big bills is probably lower than buying an unknown quantity. Keep the rust at bay and there's not much risk of nasty surprises...
Current cars don't appeal to me much - they seem to be bloated, overweight, over-styled and ridiculously over-equipped with unnecessary gizmos and virtually impossible to work on.
The car I'm buying is fairly cheap to buy but I expect to spend the purchase price again, or more, getting the cooling system and suspension parts refreshed.
If you already have a car you like and know what's been done to it then provided you've sorted the common issues affecting that particular car the risk of big bills is probably lower than buying an unknown quantity. Keep the rust at bay and there's not much risk of nasty surprises...
I have just decided on the same thing. I could get about £4500 for my old Boxster and would need to add the same again to buy a car that would feel like a decent upgrade. Instead I have decided to spend £1500 quid replacing all the suspension parts, air con rads and refurbing the leather seats and I will keep the car for another couple of years. It will be 17 years old by then.
I will be doing just that when my Mustang hits the 100,000 mile mark (I race it so it makes sense to have certain bits looked at to make sure nothing is showing premature signs of wear) rather than selling it on and buying another car because all I'd be doing would be buying another mustang just a couple of years younger and with a few less miles because nothing else tickles my fancy.
So based on what I plan to do I say refresh the current car if you genuinely like it especially if you are only going to replace it with something similar but a bit newer.
So based on what I plan to do I say refresh the current car if you genuinely like it especially if you are only going to replace it with something similar but a bit newer.
I intend to spend around £2K doing the suspension on my Jag STR. Worth every penny as I like the car and I'd have to spend at least £5K to get a lower mileage example (that's only getting more tired by the mile) and I would be buying something of an unknown quantity. The £2K spent on my car will not only transform it but will also increase its value and make it easier to sell in the future.
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