Value, Sell or Repair and Keep

advisemerite

Currently have a 2012 1.6 diesel Skoda Superb driving good engine wise. It has the following things done to it.

New battery

New clutch,

New tyres

Mileage is 157,000 miles with belt done at 118,000 miles. It has been regularly serviced but is over due a service now. There is wear and tear on the inside and light scratches all over the car. I suspect it was owned by a farmer previously. That's the good parts if that is even good.

Now to the bad parts that I know,

It needs

Brake pads, possibly discs.

A front grill

A back taillight

Oil sump replaced

Coolant pipe replaced

Steering issued fixed it makes noise when the wheel is turned

A spare tyre

A full service.

Now that's what I know of. I paid under €4000 for it in January 2024 it was just NCT'd and the coolant light came on within the hour 😔 after buying it. It was a private sale.

My reason for posting is to ask should I get the work done for the NCT which is due in February 2025 and if so have you any idea what the above work will cost? Or should I sell it and if so, how much would I get for it? If I sell I will only have maximum €3000 for a car which isn't a lot these days. I know it will be difficult to find anything decent for that price. The car is 12 Years old October 2024 it was a late registration. The car was imported from England.

Any advice greatly received.

MarkR

Pads and discs and the service shouldn't be a reason to sell a car. A tail light can be easily replaced, probably even by you.

Being overdue a service is something you should fix now. Spare tires aren't technically required, but are cheap to replace.

Grass is always greener on the other side, but you won't get anything more reliable than what you have for three grand.

advisemerite

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122713816#Comment_122713816

Thanks for your input and advice. I appreciate you taken the time to reply to me.

KevRossi

The highlighted bits can be either bought cheap online or via a scrap merchant in person. And they can be fixed yourself. There should be loads of videos on YouTube as to how to do them and even if you're not handy at tools you can get an idea as to what you can attempt.

The 'full service' is an oil and filter change, air filter change and a quick check of wipers, etc. If there's anything missing, the NCT will tell you.

If you can't do the oil change, then any independent garage will do it for you. Bring along a sump, a new sump gasket and a new sump bolt and gasket. (Ring your local Motor Factors for these or get prices online from Mick's Garage, or similar).

First stop for me would be to go to a local Indy garage, get the above items priced up and diagnose the steering knock. Take it from there price wise.

I would personally fix a car that I know well, rather than go out and look for a 2nd hand car with a load of unknown issues.

BrianD3

Re: steering noise, if it's a grinding noise and the car has hydraulic power steering, check that there is power steering fluid in the reservoir and that there aren't any leaks under the car. If there are leaks, you could be looking at replacing the steering rack which would be a fairly expensive job.

advisemerite

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122720811#Comment_122720811

Thanks for taken the time to reply to me. I'll probably get it repaired as 3k isn't a lot for a car even an old banger.

advisemerite

The car has no power steering fluid. It's not really a grinding noise it's a noise when you turn the wheel either way all the way round. If it's the steering rack, have you any idea of the cost? Thanks for your reply.

advisemerite

From the list of jobs I've posted in the original post, would you get that work done for 2k or would it be closer to 3k or more?

Esel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122749845#Comment_122749845

Does the noise just happen when the wheel is turned all the way? Just back off the wheel a little bit and see if it is still noisy.

I would not have any major work done on the car before the NCT. Some mechanics will rope you in to a lot of expensive work after doing a so-called 'Pre-NCT Check'.

For now, only do essential stuff!

Book the car in for the NCT as soon as you can for a date within 90 days of the due date. Get the car tested, then see what has to be repaired. Go to a different mechanic for this.

IMO, you would be absolutely crazy to go ahead with up to €3,000 work now.

Absolutely crazy.

PukkaStukka

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122749845#Comment_122749845

Could be strut top bearing. You hear the grinding noise and might feel it through the steering wheel. A simple test: with the car stopped, put your hand on the top of each front tyre and have an assistant turn the steering wheel full lock each way. If the bearing is the fault, you'll likely hear the noise outside and feel the grinding resonate through the tyre itself. Repair is strut removal, dismantling and replacement of the bearing.

BrianD3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122749845#Comment_122749845

If it's more of a boinging or thumping noise, it could well be a top mount as mentioned by another poster. That wouldn't be too expensive, maybe a couple of hundred. The rest of the work that needs doing is straightforward and not very expensive at an indy garage. Nowhere near 2 grand for the lot IMO.