At what point do you replace a car?

loracan1

My R-reg mondeo has gone in for its MOT, full service & timing belt today, it's done 135,000 miles and I've had it for 9 years. Mechanic rang up to say it needed a few things doing - is going to cost ~£500 and is more than the car is worth - did I want them to go ahead. Last year's was probably much the same but nothing spent on it since...and I've budgeted for it. My logic is that if it keeps it on the road for the next 12 months it's £10 a week, a new car would depreciate by far more than that. Told him to go ahead with it and am keeping my fingers crossed that other costs don't turn up in the meantime.

I did start having second thoughts about it and wondered if I should bother with the timing belt but justified that by remembering the 2 occasions I've been in a Ford and the timing belt has gone...one of which was on a motorway.. My other concern is that this is the first time it's needed any welding and that it could be the beginning of the end. Just makes me think it could be the last time it's worth doing.

It's a great car, brilliant to drive, comfortable and other than the battery, has never let me down. But at what point do I replace it, or get shut and buy a pushbike?

LandyAndy

£500 is still cheap motoring for a car you like and know.

My Peugeot 405 is 'M' reg and has done 225,000 miles. I woudn't hesitate to pay that sort of money to keep it on the road, potentially, for another 12 months.

hartcjhart

Keep it, as you say £500 for a years motoring is nothing,you know the car and it is reliable

lilacclaire

You could spend £500 buying another car of similar age etc and end up spending much more on repairs.
At least you know what to expect with the car you've got and what repairs it needs.
I would definetly keep the one you've got and spend the money on it.

loracan1

Oh I'm definitely keeping it at the moment - I'm hoping it will appreciate the love, cash and care I'm lavishing on it and keep going for a good while longer. Plus I've put aside enough to pay it, just wondering how long it will only be £500 - he did say it'd probably need some welding doing from now on, age of the car etc. Just wondering how far I'd go in keeping it running - do you think there's a cut off point.

Rolandtheroadie

I'd cancel the timing belt and take my chances. Start saving for another car next year. If he recons weldings going to be the norm, it'll probably just get worse and more expensive next year.

Any

That is pretty old.
I would just have it done and run it to the ground.
The moment next repair goes over £250 in 6 months take it for scrap. It can only go down from now on...

Volcano

Your other option is MOT it in 6 months time, and if it:

a) Passes (or with minimal ££s) then you've hopefully another 12 months; or

b) Fails badly then you can sell it for a few hundred with remaining MOT or drive it and scrap after 6 months.

When you get down to a few hundred quid, it really is a bit of a gamble. However after 9 years I'm sure you know it very well and this knowledge is worth money.

If you'd just bought the car then I'd agree with the mechanic, but he doesn't know it as well as you so it's not so much of a gamble and the odds are in your favour.

Rowan1946

MOT guarantee for £50 at nationwide,, not sure how old a car can be though.

Hintza

I c oncur with most of the other posters, keep it for another year (especially with the way things are going in the economy) the thing is once the rust gets into it and it needs more welding then the end is nigh.

Next year get it MOT'd just less than month berfore it expires and see what it fails on then you can decide whether to repair or replace but at least it is still MOT'd.

Would I do the timing chain? If you believe in sods law then yes. But I might gamble on it.

hewhoisnotintheknow

am i the only one that thinks that a 10 year old car is old and should be thrown away

cars around that age are the best value for money if you find the right one (in my opinion)