Change car, or drive into the ground?

MarkR

Going on from my earlier thread, Recommend me a diesel.

I'm now wondering does it make sense to change cars.

It's a 2004 Avensis Diesel. 225k miles. Clutch, Flywheel, and Fuel Pump done recently. Timing belt and water pump due at 240k miles, but's that's no big deal.

I bought the car 4 years ago at 89k miles for about 13k. No loan or anything on it. Worth little enough to a dealer. Has leather seats, economical. MP3 headunit and bluetooth car kit. Big boot. Still clean and straight. No rust, no crashes.





Plan was to trade in wife's car against another diesel, 08. With maybe 8k.

I don't have loads of money, but I can cover it. But should I? It's not really going to depreciate any further, as it's kind of past that. No high repair or running costs. I suppose the engine could go, but I look after it well.

Would I be mad to change it?

no1beemerfan

My honest opinion is with the high milage its worth feck all really and you have done a few jobs on it that you won't get the money back on if you sell it.

If it was me and the car is going fine I'd keep it.

biko

Tbh, as long as an old car is running well, and is well maintained, there is never a good reason to change (imo).
It'll give you years of motoring still. Save your dosh for maintenance and repairs, it'll be cheaper.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Keep it. Seeing as the main expensive work has been done on it, and it's running well, I think you would be mad to get rid of it!

puppetmaster

Be hard as you said to get any decent money for it with the milage. Its worth much more to you as a car if your happy with it Stick with it. Its basically like drivin for free if you do

Leonard Hofstadter

As the others said, keep it till it dies. There's another bit left in it as long as you service it on time every time;)! Belt and water pump are to quote yourself "no big deal".

Interceptor

Drive it like you stole it. With that mileage its worth buttons and if its working ok and you owe nothing on it, it is cheap motoring.

'cptr

MarkR

I'm keeping it. Would be a bit mad to change it. Thanks for the advice.

An Ri rua

Ah folks, this fear of a 100k or 200k is barmy! Vis a vis the car being sound, I mean.

If you know the car well (and ps it looks well also) and you are aware of jobs done and jobs to do (which you are), then that is a solid car in safe hands.

There's a lot more than 200K left in that engine, unless I'm very wrong. I've brought a 00 Xantia from 75K to 200K and, like you, some bigger jobs have reared their head. Crank pulley replaced this summer. But no crazy stuff. I know of a Xantia Hdi in the Midlands with over 400K on it.

I would (and I'm not a mechanic) have the thermostat changed. Its only a tenner odd for the parts and can save you hundreds in the long run. If it's not operating correctly, the rad's under pressure and then possibly the heater matrix may be. I know that this IS the case with HDi engines. But bringing this quantitative market research to a TOYOTA mechanic, he told me he'd never changed one before and he wasn't going to. So I waited til I got back to my Citroen specialist (a REAL mechanic, they have to be ) and got it done there.

Man, your car sounds 1000%. I would not sell it. Drive it on, regular oil changes (err on the shy side) and then sell it privately to a hackney company for small money when you have to.