So to fix or not to fix....

charlietheminxx

Apologies in advance for the long OP....My car recently failed the NCT and so I brought it to get it fixed, thinking that it would cost a couple of hundred to do.

It turns out that there is a problem with my front suspension that will need a part replaced (my apologies, can't think of the correct name at this very minute). The dealer part alone is on average €250 and with a couple of other minor things needed (new wiper arm etc) the total to fix my car will be €400 - €500.

I'm pretty broke at the minute and struggling to rationalise paying it - I spent €750 getting the car fully serviced and my brakes and everything done back in October.

It's a 00 Corsa, and I know older cars are going to start having problems but this really has me in two minds. I cannot afford €1500 a year to maintain a car, with petrol, tax and insurance etc on top of it. I cannot afford a new car. The mileage on mine is very low because I don't use it for work anymore, just use it socially and for running errands. Because of that I can't justify the cost but the thought of leaving myself without a car and giving up driving is KILLING me...

So what would you do?

Hal1

I would try a good local indi mechanic not a main dealer. Go around to a few of them and get some quotes. I've never used a main dealer as they charge far too much for labour.

charlietheminxx

Hal1 wrote: »

I would try a good local indi mechanic not a main dealer. Go around to a few of them and get some quotes. I've never used a main dealer as they charge far too much for labour.

Hi Hal,

I didn't actually go to my main dealer - I went to a garage close to where I live but they said they would need to order in the main dealer part......

Rover The Moon

charlietheminxx wrote: »

Hi Hal,

I didn't actually go to my main dealer - I went to a garage close to where I live but they said they would need to order in the main dealer part......

Hi charlietheminxx,

I had the same issue a few years back and i also had an opel corsa. I only used the car for social activities errands. I had to get a whole new engine which would have cost me €800 at the time. I was in 2 minds about it at the time as the car was only worth about €1,000. I decided against getting it repaired and try life without a car. well i have to say it was the worst decision i made.

By not fixing it i was effectively giving away all the money i had previously spent on it and i was unable to sell it. That meant i was out of pocket and without a car. In hindsight i should have fixed it and used the car for a few months and then look to sell it so i could get a newer model. Eventually when i went to purchase a new car it was made that bit harder as i didnt have the collateral of selling my previous car behind me.

Obviously this is just my personal experience which pertains to my personal circumstances at the time.

Hal1

I get you now. What parts did they say need changing? shock absorbers?

Speedway

Rather than paying full price for the parts, if you were able to get a list of the part numbers you could always try buying online or trying some of the breakers yards etc around the country.

http://www.partfinder.ie/ for example might be a place to start hunting. Get some quotes for the parts you're looking for and see if they work out any cheaper.

charlietheminxx

Guys just got a second repair quote and confirmed my first - it's actually even more expensive than I thought so it looks like I will be saying goodbye to my little motor Actually ridiculously upset,

MugMugs

charlietheminxx wrote: »

I cannot afford €1500 a year to maintain a car, with petrol, tax and insurance etc on top of it.

charlietheminxx wrote: »

I cannot afford a new car.

charlietheminxx wrote: »

I don't use it for work anymore, just use it socially and for running errands.

It seems to me OP that you've more or less answered your own question.

If the above is all true, get the bus for the errands and enjoy not having a money pit sitting outside the front door.

Hal1

The car would be worth more with a valid nct.

working fool

What parts exactly do u need ?
A good breakers yard would sort you out with parts for a corsa .
Maybe shoot into halfords and get a manual for your car and tackle the labour yourself .

Mr Benevolent

Antares wrote: »

It seems to me OP that you've more or less answered your own question.

If the above is all true, get the bus for the errands and enjoy not having a money pit sitting outside the front door.

This. You're better off without one. I got rid of mine and have an extra €400 in my pocket every month. I have an electric bike arriving next week to get me to work too. Feck the car (unless you're in the middle of nowhere and really need it).

dgt

charlietheminxx wrote: »

Apologies in advance for the long OP....My car recently failed the NCT and so I brought it to get it fixed, thinking that it would cost a couple of hundred to do.

It turns out that there is a problem with my front suspension that will need a part replaced (my apologies, can't think of the correct name at this very minute). The dealer part alone is on average €250 and with a couple of other minor things needed (new wiper arm etc) the total to fix my car will be €400 - €500.

I'm pretty broke at the minute and struggling to rationalise paying it - I spent €750 getting the car fully serviced and my brakes and everything done back in October.

It's a 00 Corsa, and I know older cars are going to start having problems but this really has me in two minds. I cannot afford €1500 a year to maintain a car, with petrol, tax and insurance etc on top of it. I cannot afford a new car. The mileage on mine is very low because I don't use it for work anymore, just use it socially and for running errands. Because of that I can't justify the cost but the thought of leaving myself without a car and giving up driving is KILLING me...

So what would you do?

On most cars I would have a good think, but not on a Corsa. Personally I think you might have been overcharged with that last service, those cars cost naff all to maintain.

Do you really need the car? If it were me, considering the circumstances you have pointed out, I'd consider alternative modes of transport. Unless you live in the arse end of nowhere of course. If you live in or near a built up environment, start cycling

My advice is to sell bits off the car for spares, then bring it to the scrapyard, get weighed in, get paid for it and get your destruction cert. Then get the satisfaction of watching it get smashed up and crushed :cool:

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

You could always sell it with no nct or scrap. You would get roughly €200 either way.

Then go without a car for a fortnight or so, keep an eye on the bangernomics section on here and hopefully grab something for about €450

unkel

charlietheminxx wrote: »

I don't use it for work anymore, just use it socially and for running errands.

Paying the running cost of a car just for the odd social use is prohibitive!

Scrap the car and from now on take the bike, bus. And you'll easily be able to afford regular taxi trips too

Tonyandthewhale

As someone else said above, sell it for scrap or nct and buy a decent second hand bicycle. Then you'll have 1500 bob maintenance and running costs saved and sitting in your pocket for spending on fun stuff.

If you can't afford to own and run a car then there's no point having one. Some people need a car because of the work they do or where they live but by the sounds of things, you don't. I know it's sort of a blasphemous thing to say on the motors forum but a car is not an absolute necessity for everyone especially if you don't have kids or a superlong commute or whatever.

charlietheminxx

Thanks for all the advice guys. I took it all on board and slept on my decision!

I reckon I'm going to scrap it and get myself a cheap runner. I know a car isn't a necessity for me but I really do love having a car. I know they take money to run, and I don't mind putting money into it but I cannot justify the cost of repairs alone for this one at the mo. The second mechanic said that once things like this start going in a car, it's just because of the age and it's likely that there will be further costly repairs down the line. So I guess getting the repairs done this time would have taken me about..... 2 months of saving and being broke. I can go 3 months without a car while saving and invest in a new one.

Cheers for all the input.

EDIT: http://www.buyandsell.ie/motors/damaged-repairables-for-sale

Has anyone used this before? Might be a way of getting rid of it for a few hundred without scrapping it.

icjzfmq7ewon1t

Thing is though if you get the car you have fixed you know what you have so to speak where as if you buy another you could be taking on a whole new set of problems.

Merch

charlietheminxx wrote: »

Apologies in advance for the long OP....My car recently failed the NCT and so I brought it to get it fixed, thinking that it would cost a couple of hundred to do.

It turns out that there is a problem with my front suspension that will need a part replaced (my apologies, can't think of the correct name at this very minute). The dealer part alone is on average €250 and with a couple of other minor things needed (new wiper arm etc) the total to fix my car will be €400 - €500.

I'm pretty broke at the minute and struggling to rationalise paying it - I spent €750 getting the car fully serviced and my brakes and everything done back in October.

It's a 00 Corsa, and I know older cars are going to start having problems but this really has me in two minds. I cannot afford €1500 a year to maintain a car, with petrol, tax and insurance etc on top of it. I cannot afford a new car. The mileage on mine is very low because I don't use it for work anymore, just use it socially and for running errands. Because of that I can't justify the cost but the thought of leaving myself without a car and giving up driving is KILLING me...

So what would you do?

what exactly did it fail the NCT for?
Does this correspond to the work being suggested?
What was included in a service for 750? just what you mentioned?? or something else? I think you paid too much for that, the car probably wasnt worth that then?
Fixing it yourself might be possible, depending on how comfortable you feel about trying, get a manual from a library (read through it and copy the pages you need so you dont grubby up the librarys book?) it might not be a runner if you have no tools as the cost to buy stuff might add up quick, if you have access to a place to store the car while you work away at it and that has some tools/equipment and maybe some assistance from someone with the work.
If you do choose to repair, dont source parts from a main dealer, do it yourself (as suggested already).
Or get a honda 50/90 or something like that?