Life without car!!

Valencia

tomstickland wrote:

How old is the car and how many miles? There's no rule that says old cars will always need expensive work.

Car is from 1996 and has done 92,000 miles.

harrie_2

my OH had bad times latley he gave up his car to take me on my last
holiday to greece ................i have been there 24 times when he was working it was never a problem i live my OH :A

quickstepqueen

Oh dear....my oh my how this thread sounds like my problem!!

My K reg Orion went for its MOT weds and was condemned! Apparently the rear chassis has completely rotted away and is completely uneconomical to repair! Not to mention dangerous. (I'd also need new steering rods and I didn't ask about anything else.) I know the guy that did the MOT so I know if the car could have been saved then he would have tried for me.

Anyway I live in a very rural village. We have one bus on a Weds but only during term time (so no shopping for me during the summer or at xmas!) and it doesn't get into town until after 10am (so no 9am start at work for me!)

My alternative is to book in advance the local connect-a-bus service (a rural minibus taxi service but booked on a first come first served basis!) This will collect me from home and take me to the main village 3 miles away. I can then catch the main bus into town (13 miles away.). All this costs me is £7.80 return!!!(1012donna ...so you think £5 is expensive!! )

I did however calculate that to get into town twice a week would cost me £62.40 on the bus. To use my car (including petrol ins, tax, mot, repairs and car parking) would cost me approx £74 per month. However, a car is very convenient. I can go to the supermarket twice a month and bring home heavy items. Without a car I would have to rely on good old tesco home delivery at £5 each time!

I think you can manage without a car but you have to be much more organised and prepared to change the way you do certain things. For me I'd have to give up working Saturdays as I normally start work at 8am but can't get into town until over 1hr 30 mins later than that. The last bus leaves town at 5.15pm! (Oh how I sometimes wish for a city life with decent public transport!)

A new car I just can't afford right now. Will have to tolerate the bus (that's if someone hasn't booked the connect-a-bus before me!) and maybe walk the 2 miles to the en route bus stop, oh and change my job, and give tesco online all my money and.......


PS. I was told the best I could do with my car was to sell it as a breaker/parts on EBAY. Knowing a few guys that do banger racing, I guess it'll end up as a donation! (Though I'd want a fiver for the fuel left in the tank! )

ultrak3wl

BobToo wrote:

ultrak3wl- I don't know what's wrong with your steering but a reconditioned power steering rack for a Vectra shouldn't cost much over £100. I haven't fitted one but it shouldn't be more than four hours at the very most. Beware of garages with high hourly rates, especially on an older car because they will put the apprentice on it. Expensive garages don't necessarily do a better job, their mechanics aren't paid any more.

Result! Local garage failed the MOT on leaky PAS and wanted 500 for a new steering rack + 5 hours labour. I appealed and VOSA appeal guy found garage was technically correct that there was a leak but didn't think garage had delivered required standard of customer service so didn't charge me for appeal.

Found decent local mechanic who fixed the (apparently very common on Vectra) problem of leaking feed pipe, rack itself was OK. Total charge 90 quid + retest fee. Hopefully back on road tomorrow.

avantra

I was in the same situation two years ago after my divorce. My beloved Primera went with the wife. Couldn't really afford a car at the time. We live in a rural area (love it!) with 30 minutes walk to the nearest bus station.

Done a bit of research on the net and found how to run a car on a shoestring (I think the site name was 'bangernomics' something).

Some old cars are far better than other but not more expensive (avoid most french makes).

The name of the magic is "1981-1992 VW POLO".

You can find these everywhere and they cost anything between £25 for a well used one to £350 for a good example with a long MOT.

The body is very hardy and don't rust easily, part are VERY cheap (how about brake pads for £2.80 each).

Got one from Autotrader for £300 with one year mot.

Didn't spend a £ and sold it for £230 after a year to a student.

Just sit down for an hour in front of the PC and you can still get a next to nothing motoring untill you saved enough for a newer car.

Trust me I am a moneysaver!