NCT fail on 00 Corsa - worth it to get repaired?

filmifan

Hi - I just took my 00 Corsa in for the NCT, and it failed. I was wondering if anyone could tell me if these problems would be very costly or worth it to get fixed. Here's the list:

Bodywork: Primary Structure Corrosion (Door sills offside & nearside)
Rear Springs: Mounting/Mounting Area (Corroded on Nearside/Rear)
Steering Linkage: Track rod ends worn (Offside Front)
Front Springs: Coil spring damaged or broken (Offside Front/Nearside Front)

I know from the last NCT that the door sills failed because of rust, and it only cost about 125 euros to repair them. But I'm worried about the springs/mounting, steering linkage and coil springs problems. Are these very costly things to repair or replace?

Please be honest - would this cost hundreds upon hundreds to get sorted?
Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Nissan doctor

Honestly, on the rust alone it would be a financial write off.

A cheap patch up job may scrape it through this time but its only a years worth of NCT so I'm not certain it would be worth it.

m.mac

For the amount of money and for the age of the car, I dont think there would be much point in fixing it up. You could buy a car with some NCT left of it cheap enough.

Is this not a lot of damage for a 00 car, what was this car used for???I have a 99 corsa that is sound and doesnt have rust.

filmifan

Back in 2010 (that horrible icy winter of 2010, to be specific), while only yards away from my house, the car skidded on - and then OFF - the road, and sort of fell on its left side off the road onto the soggy, boggy field that was a couple of feet lower than the actual surface road I was driving on at the time of the skid). Maybe that's what has caused all these new problems this time around on the NCT since the last time I had it tested in 2010? For that test, it passed on everything else EXCEPT the rusted door sill on the driver's side. The car I had before this one, a 96 VW Polo, also had the same problem - rusting/corrosion on the door sills, and it too failed only because of the rusting.

I'm getting really worried now. I was hoping that the total cost for repairs would only come to - at most - around 300 euros. After reading both your comments (which I appreciate, by the way), I'm now fearing the worst.

I don't want to go through the hassle of buying another car so soon after I bought this one, only two years back (after my beloved Polo was rammed into by a lunatic driver in a Lidl car park, going about 50mph!)

Nissan doctor

filmifan wrote: »

Back in 2010 (that horrible icy winter of 2010, to be specific), while only yards away from my house, the car skidded on - and then OFF - the road, and sort of fell on its left side off the road onto the soggy, boggy field that was a couple of feet lower than the actual surface road I was driving on at the time of the skid). Maybe that's what has caused all these new problems this time around on the NCT since the last time I had it tested in 2010? For that test, it passed on everything else EXCEPT the rusted door sill on the driver's side. The car I had before this one, a 96 VW Polo, also had the same problem - rusting/corrosion on the door sills, and it too failed only because of the rusting.

I'm getting really worried now. I was hoping that the total cost for repairs would only come to - at most - around 300 euros. After reading both your comments (which I appreciate, by the way), I'm now fearing the worst.

I don't want to go through the hassle of buying another car so soon after I bought this one, only two years back (after my beloved Polo was rammed into by a lunatic driver in a Lidl car park, going about 50mph!)

00 Corsa's(late Corsa B or early Corsa C) wouldn't be known for rust problems so I'd suspect that you either live very close to the sea or the car was badly repaired after a crash before you bought it and, TBH, I'd be leaning towards the latter.

We have several regular customers with Corsa's of that vintage and there are no rust issues with them. My uncle also has a 00 one from new and there isn't a spot of rust on it.

filmifan

Thanks to both of you for being honest with me. I guess the only thing left to do now is take it to my repair guy (who wasn't in on Friday after I came back from the NCT centre - maybe on holiday or closed early for the day) and show him the list, and ask his opinion. I trust him and have gone to him for a few years now, so I know he'd tell me straight up if the car was just in hopeless, helpless state and would be better if I just bought another car instead.

When I looked at the NCT list - in my naivete, I now see - apart from the door sill rust (which I sort of figured the car would fail on, for certain), I didn't think or realise that things like corroded coil springs and worn track rods would be expensive to fix or replace. Are they THAT expensive, then? Forgive my ignorance on this - I just didn't think it would be as worrisome as it apparently is.

Nissan doctor

filmifan wrote: »

Thanks to both of you for being honest with me. I guess the only thing left to do now is take it to my repair guy (who wasn't in on Friday after I came back from the NCT centre - maybe on holiday or closed early for the day) and show him the list, and ask his opinion. I trust him and have gone to him for a few years now, so I know he'd tell me straight up if the car was just in hopeless, helpless state and would be better if I just bought another car instead.

When I looked at the NCT list - in my naivete, I now see - apart from the door sill rust (which I sort of figured the car would fail on, for certain), I didn't think or realise that things like corroded coil springs and worn track rods would be expensive to fix or replace. Are they THAT expensive, then? Forgive my ignorance on this - I just didn't think it would be as worrisome as it apparently is.

Its the rust that's the most expensive to repair properly/permanently. A pair of replacement front springs and track rods would not be overly expensive on their own, €200-€250 ish max.

filmifan

Hi again Nissan Doctor. I don't live near the sea, no, but I do live in way-too-rainy Sligo. It's weird to me how both my 96 VW Polo and now this 00 Corsa both have had door sill rust problems, and both have failed the NCT mainly because of the rust.

Before I bought the Corsa (two years ago), it was checked over by a very, very reputable and honest repair/service guy/garage, that I completely trust. He told me that, apart from the door sills (which he did fix last time on the Corsa in 2010, and also on the Polo, two years prior to that - I seem to be cursed with this rust problem on the door sills!), he could very nearly 100% predict/guarantee that the Corsa would pass on everything else on the NCT.

He was right. Everything else was fine with the Corsa - everything EXCEPT for the rust on the door sills. Which he fixed, and which passed the NCT when I brought it back for a re-test back in 2010.

So...apart from the cost of the door sills (which last time came to 100 euros for the repair), do you reckon it'll be very expensive to get the coils and springs and track rods replaced)? I do realise it's not cost-effective, but if I can hold on to the car for another year or two, I'd be happy enough. I loathe and dread the thought of having to go through the hassle of finding another car so soon after just getting this one, only two years ago.

geneyuss

was the car ever imported from England at some stage ? just wondering , , ,
as a previous poster has correctly said, you will easily find something a couple of years newer in good condition, maybe even with a full test for the few hundred euros you could end up spending on this car, have a browse on done deal and you'll have an idea

filmifan

Hi Geneyuss - As far as I know, the car is originally from here in Ireland, not imported from the UK.

I guess I may have to reconsider my stubborness on getting another car, if this is going to be such an expensive repair job.

I've been weighing the pros and cons of the cost of repair work vs. the cost of getting another car - if the repairs cost around 300 - 350 euros (and I'm probably being optimistic there, I realise, but let's just say, for argument's sake, that it's not more than that), and if I had to sell this one, I'd probably not get much for it (especially if I didn't get it repaired to have it pass the NCT re-test). Then, on top of that, I would have the added expensive of buying another car (hopefully costing not more than 800 or 900 euros, max).

To me (and my wacky maths, I hear some of you muttering, lol), it seems like the less costly option (for the short term, I mean) would be to get the repairs done (unless the repairs cost something outrageous like 500 or 600 euros - yikes! I don't even want to go there!), and hang on to the car for another year (hopefully two), and then, sadly, say goodbye to the Corsa and admit defeat and yes, get another one then.

Or am I truly being way too naive and way too optimistic?

geneyuss

your not being naive,,, but dont forget you've to test it every year now !

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3707429


i know this is older than yours, but it looks clean, and maybe you can keep your own for parts

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3749260

m.mac

OP sounds like you dont have the best of luck with cars.:d Personally if it was me I would be leaning towards buying a new car and maybe trying to move up the years a wee bit.

My 99 corsa's NCT ran out, I didnt retest, just posted online selling it for parts. You could do this and hope to get something for your car.

filmifan

Hi again Geneyuss - Thanks for making me feel better (about me being naive, I mean). And thanks, too, for providing me with those two links to other cars. I may have to go down that route, depending on what news I get back from my mechanic this afternoon.

filmifan

Hi again M.Mac - It does feel like that sometimes, especially with the rust on the sills thing. This Corsa, though, has been great to drive these past two years (and the stereo system that the previous owner installed in it is absolutely incredible - making it that much harder to let go of, lol).

Depending on what my repair guy tells me, I'll probably be taking all your collective advice on board and look for another car, and either selling the Corsa (sniffle, sniffle) for parts. I just want to hold onto it for maybe one or two more years, saving up for another (used) car along the way, and then, when it's time to let the Corsa go, I'll be more financially prepared for whatever happens. I honestly did not think that, apart from the possible failure on rust, that the Corsa would fail on these other issues. I was prepared for the rust thing, and wouldn't have had a big problem shelling out a bit of money to repair that (again...sigh), but now that these other problems are there too, I guess I have to 'man up' about it and face facts.

Fingers crossed that the news I get back isn't too painful or hopeless. If you'd like, I can let you know the result when I hear from yer man today.

Thanks again for all your advice, guys. I appreciate it.

dukedalton

With a small car like a Corsa, twelve years is probably at the upper end of the time scale that you will get out of it. Even if it passes this NCT (which, by the sounds of it, will cost you a few hundred euro at least), the certificate is only valid for 12 months, during which time you will probabaly be worried about what else could go wrong.

I had a '00 Corsa until last year. Had one or two smallish things go wrong with it but it just about got through an NCT in September 2010. A couple of months later the clutch went, so rather than throw bad money after good, I scrapped it and got a bigger car, three years younger- and it was the best decision I ever made.

Personally, I'd cut my loses and invest in something a bit newer.

filmifan

Good news all 'round. Not only did my brilliant repair guy give me a fair and reasonable price on everything that needed doing to the Corsa (see above) in order to pass the NCT, but I managed to get a last-minute cancellation slot for the re-test this morning, and the car passed the re-test.

For all that needed fixing on the car, and taking in all that you've collectively advised (and I appreciate all your feedback and honesty about it), the repairs came to - in total - including the parts, the labour and the VAT - 310 euros. Yep - that's not a typo - it was only 310 euros, for everything.

You've got to agree with me when I say that yes, even though there's another NCT coming up in just 12 short months from now, and the car's going on its best sell-by date, after expecting to pay (but praying it wouldn't come to that much) 500 or 600 on upwards and possibly having to seriously consider giving up the notion of getting it fixed and just buying another used car, I was quite relieved (and yes...actually happy ) that it only came to a little over 300 euros.

So...the start to my weekend's been great. I'm off to the Mela in Dublin tomorrow, to celebrate. Life is good! Thanks for all your feedback, once again.

Nissan doctor

filmifan wrote: »

Good news all 'round. Not only did my brilliant repair guy give me a fair and reasonable price on everything that needed doing to the Corsa (see above) in order to pass the NCT, but I managed to get a last-minute cancellation slot for the re-test this morning, and the car passed the re-test.

For all that needed fixing on the car, and taking in all that you've collectively advised (and I appreciate all your feedback and honesty about it), the repairs came to - in total - including the parts, the labour and the VAT - 310 euros. Yep - that's not a typo - it was only 310 euros, for everything.

You've got to agree with me when I say that yes, even though there's another NCT coming up in just 12 short months from now, and the car's going on its best sell-by date, after expecting to pay (but praying it wouldn't come to that much) 500 or 600 on upwards and possibly having to seriously consider giving up the notion of getting it fixed and just buying another used car, I was quite relieved (and yes...actually happy ) that it only came to a little over 300 euros.

So...the start to my weekend's been great. I'm off to the Mela in Dublin tomorrow, to celebrate. Life is good! Thanks for all your feedback, once again.

That's a good price to get you through now, the point that was being made about a proper repair is that you now have a year before you have to go through the whole lot again.

A proper rust repair would have been more expensive, this time...but it then would not be an issue for subsequent NCT tests.

m.mac

For 310 euro you get an extra 12 months in a car you are happy with. Sound like a win win. Glad to hear it all went well.

geneyuss

filmifan wrote: »

Good news all 'round. Not only did my brilliant repair guy give me a fair and reasonable price on everything that needed doing to the Corsa (see above) in order to pass the NCT, but I managed to get a last-minute cancellation slot for the re-test this morning, and the car passed the re-test.

For all that needed fixing on the car, and taking in all that you've collectively advised (and I appreciate all your feedback and honesty about it), the repairs came to - in total - including the parts, the labour and the VAT - 310 euros. Yep - that's not a typo - it was only 310 euros, for everything.

You've got to agree with me when I say that yes, even though there's another NCT coming up in just 12 short months from now, and the car's going on its best sell-by date, after expecting to pay (but praying it wouldn't come to that much) 500 or 600 on upwards and possibly having to seriously consider giving up the notion of getting it fixed and just buying another used car, I was quite relieved (and yes...actually happy ) that it only came to a little over 300 euros.

So...the start to my weekend's been great. I'm off to the Mela in Dublin tomorrow, to celebrate. Life is good! Thanks for all your feedback, once again.

thats great news,,,,,well ya may wear as they say around here