Eriberri
31-01-2009, 3:07 PM
I currently have a 1994 (M) Honda Civic, 1.5, with 107,300 ish miles on the clock. I adore my car, its reliable, retro, fun to drive and does what I need it to. However, it is getting on and bits are going through age and wear and tear. The last MOT was in September, and I was happy that it "only" cost £120 to get it through (cost of MOT on top). Pretty good going for a 14 year old car, I thought! Last week, the back box fell off the exhaust - £50 to fix. It developed a knocking noise (before Christmas :o) which I've just taken to my mechanic to check - its a bit of axle that's broken (I think!), £65 to repair and its going in on Tuesday. I have been instructed to drive gingerly until then. :o
The advice I need is what to do now really! Do I keep chucking money at keeping my beloved car on the road, or do I say that enough is now enough and look to replace with a newer car. As an example, I've seen a 2004 (53 plate) Honda Civic for sale locally for less than £3k, a 1.4. That would be like a brand new car to me. And yes, I do like my Hondas! It seems to me that you can currently get quite a lot of car for your money at present and maybe it would be more sensible in an economic and money saving sense to change my car.
But I just don't know. The repair costs on mine haven't been costly - yet!! My mechanic was a wee bit non committal when I asked him about the economic viability of keeping it on the road. He said it was pretty solid and that the thing that's broken on it now is unusual. But he said the same thing about the window drop regulators that went on it last year.....!! (replaced at a cost of around £60-£80, I think!).
I keep going round in circles - its not costing that much to keep mine on the road, its reliable, etc, etc. But then I start adding it up - since its MOT in September, its cost £235 to keep it on the road. It must only be worth £500-£700ish - so when do you say, that's it?!!
Can anyone help me - my brain is going round and round and I just don't know what to do for the best!! And who else to give good sound advice than MSE-ers??!! :D
The advice I need is what to do now really! Do I keep chucking money at keeping my beloved car on the road, or do I say that enough is now enough and look to replace with a newer car. As an example, I've seen a 2004 (53 plate) Honda Civic for sale locally for less than £3k, a 1.4. That would be like a brand new car to me. And yes, I do like my Hondas! It seems to me that you can currently get quite a lot of car for your money at present and maybe it would be more sensible in an economic and money saving sense to change my car.
But I just don't know. The repair costs on mine haven't been costly - yet!! My mechanic was a wee bit non committal when I asked him about the economic viability of keeping it on the road. He said it was pretty solid and that the thing that's broken on it now is unusual. But he said the same thing about the window drop regulators that went on it last year.....!! (replaced at a cost of around £60-£80, I think!).
I keep going round in circles - its not costing that much to keep mine on the road, its reliable, etc, etc. But then I start adding it up - since its MOT in September, its cost £235 to keep it on the road. It must only be worth £500-£700ish - so when do you say, that's it?!!
Can anyone help me - my brain is going round and round and I just don't know what to do for the best!! And who else to give good sound advice than MSE-ers??!! :D