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Is this old car worth fixing?

  • 29-05-2009 3:54pm
    #1
    Gudgeoon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭


    I have been given a '96 Toyota Corolla, 80K, 1.5 auto - free of charge!

    I think it needs a front wheel bearing replaced guessing from the noise (i am no expert) and one of the rear seatbelts is not retracting.

    Is it worth fixing this car and if so where would I go to get it done?

    thanks!


Comments

  • #2
    ART6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,632 ✭✭✭ART6


    More to the point is does it have a current NCT? If it hasn't then there could be a lot more wrong with it. But then, if you got it for nothing it's probably worth a chance on getting the two faults fixed since they would not be that expensive, and then trying an NCT if it doesn't have one. If it passes you're fine. If it doesn't and the repairs costs are out of the question, then you've lost your investment in the earlier work. It's like a bet on the horses. Only you can decide what you want to risk.


  • #3
    Gudgeoon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭Gudgeoon


    I appreciate it's a risk.

    It passed an NCT a year ago.

    Where would I get it looked at? Would a main dealer be too expensive?


  • #4
    L-M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,694 ✭✭✭✭L-M


    Do you have a car?

    What do you plan on doing with it?


  • #5
    Fionnanc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 162 ✭✭Fionnanc


    Giving it away? With only 80K on the clock? That old car has barely been used. If it appears as it seems it would be worth fixing.
    Has it been crashed or previously written off?


  • #6
    Rowley Birkin QC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,259 ✭✭✭Rowley Birkin QC


    I'll take it if you don't want it.

    Seatbelt from a scrappie, might cost €20-40, very easily replaced, I've done it myself on that exact model actually.


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  • #7
    ART6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,632 ✭✭✭ART6


    Gudgeoon wrote: »
    I appreciate it's a risk.

    It passed an NCT a year ago.

    Where would I get it looked at? Would a main dealer be too expensive?

    I'd go to someone cheap and cheerful like Advanced Pitstop and get them to do a diagnostic on it. In spite of the criticism of members on this forum on occasions, they are not all bad. I certainly wouldn't take a car of that age to a main dealer. If it has a current NCT then it's probably not all that bad:)


  • #8
    ji
    Closed Accounts Posts: 232 ✭✭ji


    I have a corolla for parts send me €5 for postage and i'll post ya the rear seat belt...


  • #9
    Muckie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,763 ✭✭✭Muckie


    Get it checked over, spend a few bob and i'm sure you'll

    get a good few years out of it.


  • #10
    Gudgeoon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭Gudgeoon


    Limerick man wrote: »
    Do you have a car?

    What do you plan on doing with it?
    I used to drive newish family saloons and get them main dealer serviced. But I've had a huge pay cut so I have to cut back now. I need very little from a car just sometimes need to carry kids in the back and only do about 9K kms/year and a lot of that mileage is unnecessary short journeys. An a-b city car is all i need.
    Fionnanc wrote: »
    Giving it away? With only 80K on the clock? That old car has barely been used. If it appears as it seems it would be worth fixing.
    Has it been crashed or previously written off?
    belongs to a good friend who got it as a jap import so god knows what history it has prior to him.
    ART6 wrote: »
    I'd go to someone cheap and cheerful like Advanced Pitstop and get them to do a diagnostic on it. In spite of the criticism of members on this forum on occasions, they are not all bad. I certainly wouldn't take a car of that age to a main dealer. If it has a current NCT then it's probably not all that bad:)
    great - I wouldn't have thought of that, I'll drop it in to them.
    ji wrote: »
    I have a corolla for parts send me €5 for postage and i'll post ya the rear seat belt...
    really? that would be brilliant.
    Muckie wrote: »
    Get it checked over, spend a few bob and i'm sure you'll get a good few years out of it.
    Yeah, that's what i'm hoping as these old corollas are supposed to go on for ages.


  • #11
    rebel.ranter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,570 ✭✭✭rebel.ranter


    There are loads of independent mechanics out there that will be able to help you out, getting the jobs done that you describe, plus a once-over check would be advisable too. Family, friends or work colleagues will more than likely be able to recommend someone.
    Either that or post your general location & somone on here might be able to recommend someone.


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  • #12
    L-M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,694 ✭✭✭✭L-M


    Gudgeoon wrote: »
    I used to drive newish family saloons and get them main dealer serviced. But I've had a huge pay cut so I have to cut back now. I need very little from a car just sometimes need to carry kids in the back and only do about 9K kms/year and a lot of that mileage is unnecessary short journeys. An a-b city car is all i need.

    If you are keeping it then, and there isn't a large amount of worth to be done, then yes, it is worth fixing. Corolla's are renound for living long lives, and hopefully that car has plenty left in it.

    If it still has an NCT, then happy days. If not, get it booked in straight away. You could be waiting longer than you think for an appointment.


  • #13
    Kartale
    Closed Accounts Posts: 167 ✭✭Kartale


    Before spending money on it, why not just put it through NCT and see what it fails on. This will only cost you €50.00 and no unnecessary spend done.
    You can then make your mind up whether to proceed or not


  • #14
    Rowley Birkin QC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,259 ✭✭✭Rowley Birkin QC


    Kartale wrote: »
    Before spending money on it, why not just put it through NCT and see what it fails on. This will only cost you €50.00 and no unnecessary spend done.
    You can then make your mind up whether to proceed or not

    +1.

    You will then have a list of what needs to be replaced/mended.


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