My car is a money pit! What to do?

ross191

Hi all wondering when to stop dumping money into my car.

2003 Ford Mondeo tddi 162000miles,

A year ago I got a small loan out to fix a few bits that the car had failed on nct. Brake line hoses , handbrake caliper, brake pads and front shocks...the usual Ford Mondeo wear and tear stuff, money ran out and still needed to get tires, battery and tracking.
I decided to take it off the road while teaching my girlfriend to drive in her Citroen c3 auto (painful to drive) for the last 7 months...

I finally decided it was time to put Mondeo back on the road and get out of the (washing machine on wheels!) Citroen, got new battery tyres and tracking done, but realised that one of the rear shocks are gone, but bought rear shocks a year ago incase this very thing happened..last night back box of exhaust fell off....what to do now?😭 can't get another loan and invested too much to scrap........any suggestions?

Toyotafanboi

Sounds like you are throwing money at it. Stop spending money would be my first recommendation, send it in for it's next NCT, let them tell you what it needs and go from there.

Parking a car up for an extended period is never good for it's health. It's a recipe for things to seize and perish.

There's no way I'd be taking out loans to fix up a 15 year old Mondeo with 150k on the clock, even if you know the car. If money is a bit of an issue and a loan is the only answer is sooner take out a 2-3k loan and buy a petrol Avensis or something that should be fairly unshakeable.

ross191

Hi folks,

Sorry for only getting back to you now. OK so I took your advice and stopped wasting money on an ancient car.

I managed to get a loan of 3K and plan on getting a more reliable car, I'll be working in Waterford soon enough and traveling from Gorey, CO. Wexford so need a diesel.( alot of motorway miles) ahead of me.

Would appreciate any recommendations...

Currently have my eye on a 2007 Honda accord with 150K miles on carzone

Have 3 kids now so will need 4 door for when I have them.

Once again thanks in advance for any advice

mikeecho

Pretty much everything that was wrong with your mondeo was wear and tear.
That's the joys of motoring.
Motoring costs money.

Your next car, no matter what it will be, will require maintaince as well, unless you do nothing and drive it till everything fails/breaks/wears out, and then end up with another money pit.

Then you'll be back here wondering if a bottle of Dipetane will make it pass the nct.

/rant

Cee-Jay-Cee

With your budget I'd forget about a diesel car and get an 06> Civic 1.8 saloon. You'll average 40+ mpg easily and near bullet proof reliability. (45mpg is easily achievable on longer journeys)

Buying an Accord with 150k on the clock is going to cost you considerably more. For a start tax is over €330 a year more and you'll only be getting 6-8mpg more than the civic at best but in reality the difference will be nearer 3-4mpg so you'll be a long time getting your €330 back.

There are plenty of cars within your budget on DD.

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/15294634

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/14940246

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/15919933

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/15809544

colm_mcm

I'd get a Prius, you'd get an 05/06 one within budget.

Sam Kade

mikeecho wrote: »

Pretty much everything that was wrong with your mondeo was wear and tear.
That's the joys of motoring.
Motoring costs money.

Your next car, no matter what it will be, will require maintaince as well, unless you do nothing and drive it till everything fails/breaks/wears out, and then end up with another money pit.

Then you'll be back here wondering if a bottle of Dipetane will make it pass the nct.

/rant

A petrol car would have less wear especially in front, the weight of the diesel engine is hard on suspension and ball joints.

chrismon

ross191 wrote: »

Hi folks,

Sorry for only getting back to you now. OK so I took your advice and stopped wasting money on an ancient car.

I managed to get a loan of 3K and plan on getting a more reliable car, I'll be working in Waterford soon enough and traveling from Gorey, CO. Wexford so need a diesel.( alot of motorway miles) ahead of me.

Would appreciate any recommendations...

Currently have my eye on a 2007 Honda accord with 150K miles on carzone

Have 3 kids now so will need 4 door for when I have them.

Once again thanks in advance for any advice

Iv a 2008 Diesel Accord.
Cracking car.

Toyotafanboi

I'd still go with the above comments and get a petrol car.

I used to commute from Gorey to Waterford in a 2004 1.4 petrol Corolla and averaged 40mpg. At the moment i commute 100km each way a day into Dublin in a 1.8 petrol Civic and average 45mpg. Neither car has given any trouble whatsoever.

Buying an (I assume) diesel Accord with 150k on the clock is going to be another moneypit. The best MPG you'll ever see from it is late 40's anyway, so that'd only be a tiny saving over a petrol car and you will definitely lose money when it breaks down.

Wibbs

What T says. I'd reckon mid noughties Japanese car, petrol. Reliable as granite for the most part. Try and shop around for one under 100,000 miles/160,000Kms on the clock if you can. It's not a given by any means and different types of driving affect how miles get racked up, but generally speaking that's the kinda milage where the more expensive bits and bobs may need replacing. Only issue I can see being the insurance hitting you because of the it's an "old car" bullsh1t.

tossy

The problem with threads like these is you are going to be more confused by the end, People will give advice and opinions with the best of intentions but they will always conflict and confuse the OP.

The bottom line is if you buy any car with 100k plus on the clock by it petrol/diesel jap or euro you are going to be back to square one within no time of replacing shocks, brake pads/discs etc.

You need to judge each car on its merits based on it's condition and service history.

Isambard

Mikeecho is right. I wouldn't pay €3000 for another 150000 mile moneypit. I'd buy the cheapest NCTd car I could find and throw it away next year if it fails the NCT, buying another. The cheapest way to drive I reckon. Don't go too old or you'll struggle to insure it.

wonski

Alternatively head into bangeromics thread, pick something nice for 2000 and leave 1000 for "unexpected" expences like a service, timing belt etc.

2k will get you fairly modern nice car. Having 1k will give you a peace of mind if something goes wrong.

biko

OP has opened a thread in Buying
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=104031171

Closing this