Head Gasket gone. Need a new (secondhand) car

Psygnosis · 07-05-2016 8:25pm #1

Well I bought a 2006 zafira 1.6 a little over a year ago 110KM on it currently has 9 months tax left. No heat in the car since I bought it so brought it to my mechanic and he's told me that the radiator in it was filled with gunk the stuff people use to seal a leak. He also said the head gasket is gone on the car. He's had the car a week so put a bit of work into it. He said that if I'm being offered useless money as a trade in he would give me a couple of quid for it and not charge on the bill owing on it.
Now he's being my mechanic for years and I trust him so nothing dodgy going on.

This leaves me with a dilemma do I just take the money and go buy something privately or try trade it in. Would I get anything for it?
It is driving ok.

Leading on from this I need a second car also. We have 3 young kids all under 4 although at a push the eldest would nearly go into a buster seat high back seat if needed (4 in June). Our main car is a 08 Grand Picasso which does all the big miles.

My thinking is I take the money from my mechanic what ever it is.

I need recommendations on purchasing a car as can been seen I'm crap at it.
My thinking is go Japanese.
Budget would be 3.5k for the right car Prefer less as I've just taken 2.5k hit on that car. Would go upto 1.6 in tax. Although as the majority of driving will be 10km a day with the odd longer tripp a 1 litre micra would do the job.

Preferences would be
New shape Civic (probably out of budget)
Carolla Hatchback
Mazda 3 Hatchback
Although a this stage anything that has rock solid reliability would be my thinking.
Please any help would really be appreciated.
You don't need to tell me how stupid I was purchasing that car I purchased it in a hurry and an expensive lesson, had a bad feeling even buying it the guy was a chanser.

colm_mcm · 07-05-2016 8:45pm

Even if the gasket costs €1000, you're better off spending it. Car should be worth €2000-€3000ish fixed.
I guess you're getting the timing belt done while the gasket is being done. That buys you a bit of peace of mind.

Psygnosis · 07-05-2016 8:49pm

Hi colm
Thanks for the feedback, The meachanic said it not worth it even to get to the radiator to replace it to get heat back into the car he said it would take around 8 hours as the whole dash has to come out. I've also lost all confidence in it. I'm nearly of the opinion that the shagging thing is probably clocked to some extent as well.
To be honest its left a bad taste in my mouth and I want to get rid of it.

magentis · 07-05-2016 9:03pm

I reckon you would find any of the cars you mentioned very small if you had to take the 3 kids in it together.I think you should get something similar in size to what you have.How about something like a 407 or c5 estate?You should be able to pick one up for decent money too if you opt for a petrol.I just traded in an 09 407 petrol estate with 92k klm on it,never gave me an ounce of trouble in over 3 years,something like that would be in and around €3500-€4000.

If your mechanic is talking like that I reckon he would be offering somewhere between €500 and a grand if lucky.If sold to a breakers,you can claim back the road tax,so it might be an option for you.

colm_mcm · 07-05-2016 9:08pm

And flushing out the matrix isn't an option?

Call me cynical, but it sounds like the mechanic would prefer to fix the car only after he's bought it for peanuts.
I might be way off though, but if the car isn't worth fixing for you, it shouldn't be for him either.
Has he given you a price including changing the matrix?

Psygnosis · 07-05-2016 9:27pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

And flushing out the matrix isn't an option?

Call me cynical, but it sounds like the mechanic would prefer to fix the car only after he's bought it for peanuts.
I might be way off though, but if the car isn't worth fixing for you, it shouldn't be for him either.
Has he given you a price including changing the matrix?

He flushed the matrix numerous times added a new water pump as well. This is when he saw all the gunk from the kseal

colm_mcm · 07-05-2016 9:29pm

It is a dash-out job alright to do the matrix.

bmm · 07-05-2016 9:34pm

Phone an Opel dealer and get a quote. Maybe your mechanic isn't familiar with your Opel .

SmartinMartin · 07-05-2016 9:40pm

Get rid of it as soon as you can. They were an awful car in general and you'll never trust that one again.

Psygnosis · 08-05-2016 9:22am

What are peoples opinions on a 1.8 Mazda 6. Thinking about it seems to be much better value once you go over 1.6

saabsaab · 08-05-2016 9:33am

I'd take the mechanics advice and get rid. He can fit it up when he has down time etc. Maybe a skoda or hyundai?

Toyotafanboi · 08-05-2016 9:52am

Think logically about this and put your emotions over the situation to one side.

So the Zafira cost you €2500.

Mechanic tells you it's fudged and not worth repairing.

You have set aside a further €3500 to buy another car and are prepared for some reason to write the Zafira off.

You have two choices with it:

1 - Take your mechanics offer of buttons (best case €500) for it.
This means your €3500 car has really cost you €5500 (2500 cost of old car+3500cost of new car-500 sale of old car)

2 - Get the Zafira fixed at an absolute worst WORST case price of €1000, resell if for €2500 to get your money back out of it, then buy a new €3500 car.
This means your €3500 car has really cost you €4500 (2500 cost of old car+1000 repair of old car will get you back your initial €2500, then you only have to put €1000 with it to buy your new €3500 car)

Saving a not unconsiderable thousand euros... I think

Psygnosis · 08-05-2016 6:34pm

Thanks Toyotafanboi but myslef and the wife are just going to give it to mechanic and see what we can get. But I understand your advice allright. With such young kids getting time to look at and then sell a car would be a nightmare for us.

Can I ask peoples opinion on the following Its a Seat Altea 1.6 Petrol What would this be like reliability wise
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/seat-toledo-1-6-nct-service-history/12244008

Another one here. Seem to be reasonable value second hand
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/seat-altea/12167261

Would love this
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93/12008530

Lacetti any use
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/chevrolet-lacetti-1-4-5dr-nct-01-18-fsh/12261027

Passat estate would be great
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2006-passat-estate-nct-05-2017/12211511

Toyota avensis 1.8 is that a good engine.
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-avensis-1-8-luna/11763955

Toyotafanboi · 08-05-2016 6:54pm

The Avensis is the best of a bad bunch there...

A Ford Focus C-Max 1.6 petrol would be worth a look, maybe?

Psygnosis · 08-05-2016 7:06pm

If anyone has got a moment would they mind recommending me a couple of cars

Toyotafanboi · 08-05-2016 7:08pm

Sounds like you need to go Japanese really.

What are you looking for exactly, a 5 seat saloon or a 7 seat MPV style car?

Psygnosis · 08-05-2016 7:41pm

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Sounds like you need to go Japanese really.

What are you looking for exactly, a 5 seat saloon or a 7 seat MPV style car?

Either really would prefer not another 7 seeater

ba_barabus · 08-05-2016 8:17pm

Any interest in a Corolla Verso? Nice car with a reliable history

SmartinMartin · 08-05-2016 8:18pm

That Passat estate would be my choice by a mile.

Psygnosis · 08-05-2016 8:27pm

Yeah friends have a verso and its never given issues

ba_barabus · 08-05-2016 9:09pm

A left field suggestion would be a Hyundai Matrix

bazz26 · 08-05-2016 9:17pm

ba_barabus wrote: »

A left field suggestion would be a Hyundai Matrix

Ah Jasus!

ba_barabus · 08-05-2016 9:18pm

bazz26 wrote: »

Ah Jasus!

I don't even know how that entered my head :P

Bland but reliable

coolbeans · 08-05-2016 9:42pm

ba_barabus wrote: »

I don't even know how that entered my head :P

Bland but reliable

http://m.carzone.ie/used-cars/Honda/FR-V-1.7-SE-6Seates--NCT-01-2017-/201214545863536180

1.7L engine. Don't know anything about the dealer though.

LostTazMan · 09-05-2016 4:27pm

Psygnosis wrote: »

What are peoples opinions on a 1.8 Mazda 6. Thinking about it seems to be much better value once you go over 1.6

I recently bought a 04 Mazda 6 with a 1.8l petrol engine and I'm very happy with it. I only need to use one car seat so I'm not certain about fitting 3. Best thing to do is bring them with you and see how they fit as part of the test drive.

Choosing a car in your price range will be tricky enough without ruling out anything over a 1.6. For the sake of getting a better car I think you should consider moving the upper limit to 2l.

Another point to consider is that older diesel engine cars can come with serious garage costs if the wrong part gives up on you. I've got caught with that!

Keep an eye on the bangernomics thread, a lot of good stuff appears up there! Best of luck. LTM

Idbatterim · 09-05-2016 6:20pm

Thanks Toyotafanboi but myslef and the wife are just going to give it to mechanic and see what we can get. But I understand your advice allright. With such young kids getting time to look at and then sell a car would be a nightmare for us.

so its a full day job you said 8 hours. You wouldnt bother hiring out a car or getting a taxi for one day to save 2,500 if not more?! Id get another opinion on it. Can recommend a mechanic on naas road, who would be perfect for job like that I reckon and charges peanuts. Rathgar motor factors recommended him to me and for the price he charges, I wouldnt bother doing the work myself even if I could for most jobs...

At least with your current car its a devil you know. The girl in work had the same advice from mechanic, few hundred euro worth of work to get done for nct (break lines done and bit of corrosion around door) option 1. Option 2 with a small budget, buy another decade old car that requires yearly nct and likely also be hit with these repair bills when nct is up...

Psygnosis · 09-05-2016 8:29pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

so its a full day job you said 8 hours. You wouldnt bother hiring out a car or getting a taxi for one day to save 2,500 if not more?! Id get another opinion on it. Can recommend a mechanic on naas road, who would be perfect for job like that I reckon and charges peanuts. Rathgar motor factors recommended him to me and for the price he charges, I wouldnt bother doing the work myself even if I could for most jobs...

At least with your current car its a devil you know. The girl in work had the same advice from mechanic, few hundred euro worth of work to get done for nct (break lines done and bit of corrosion around door) option 1. Option 2 with a small budget, buy another decade old car that requires yearly nct and likely also be hit with these repair bills when nct is up...

Im afraid its not the devil I know unfortunately, I dont have much documentation on it at all would'nt want to through good money after bad.

What can people tell me about an altea 1.6 fsi engine car 2005/2006 with a FSH

Head Gasket gone. Need a new (secondhand) car

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