Car advice please - trade in or repair?

Hintza

Why do you need a 4x4? That has to be your first question. If you have no good reason to have one then don't buy one.

You are in a vicious circle and you have to stop at some stage (it's already got out of hand).

Edit:- Ah you have answered my question, same reason we need one.

Strider590

My final word...

A lot of people get rid of cars just after having a major repair done, thinking that something else will go wrong.... They buy another car and something similar happens, another costly repair. Meanwhile the owner of your last vehicle is having a great time with a reliable car that's only going to need a new set of tyre's in the next 5 years.

Kix

citykid5 wrote: »

sorry i now understand why u need a 4x4 for towing..the thing is that 4x4 are always more costly when things go wrong...wouldn't a bmw diesel do the same job..i've always had them for about the last six years or so great power economy reliability and a 320d has got a recomded towing weight of 2 tonnes

I need something with a bit more guts unfortunately and needs to tow nearer 3 tonne.

Yes totally understand that parts are more expensive for 4x4 - with regards to the ecu issue I was being quoted a minimum of £900 for parts!

It's not that I don't want to fix my car it's just I need to understand at what point are you throwing money away?

I admit that with the shogun I should have repaired it but there were other issues with that too - i.e. it's general towing ability which helped make the decision to sell.

Hintza

Your XTrail will never have towed 3 tonnes (legally).

Kix

Strider590 wrote: »

My final word...

A lot of people get rid of cars just after having a major repair done, thinking that something else will go wrong.... They buy another car and something similar happens, another costly repair. Meanwhile the owner of your last vehicle is having a great time with a reliable car that's only going to need a new set of tyre's in the next 5 years.

Thanks Strider - the thing is not all the repairs have been done - only some of them and as I say I've been quoted another £1k - £2k in possible repairs to keep it running (although I'm going to get a second opinion).

Do I spend that money and get it fixed and hope that nothing else happens but risk that after forking out that much there are future problems which I know with any car is a risk or do I cut my losses now, accept that I may be throwing away a good car that just needs work and take the risk with a newer car!

Kix

Hintza wrote: »

Your XTrail will never have towed 3 tonnes (legally).

Yes I know - I had to get the trailer plate derated to 2 tonne but even with one horse and a 505 I felt the xtrail struggled although others I know who have them love them.

citykid5

ok i dont want to preach but i think that unless you sudenly come in to money your hobby i presume is going to ruin you???if a shogun wasnt upto the job unless you'v 20k spare for a rangrover the next car you get will probably be old and not upto the job either....where will it all end??

Kix

Oh and I didn't get the full repair done on the xtrail - I paid £200 for a patch up which the mechanic said could last for a year or more but not if I was towing regularly.

Hintza

Kix wrote: »

Yes I know - I had to get the trailer plate derated to 2 tonne but even with one horse and a 505 I felt the xtrail struggled although others I know who have them love them.

That is why we ended up with a Cherokee. The number of cars that can tow up to 3.5 tonnes is quite small.

Kix

citykid5 wrote: »

ok i dont want to preach but i think that unless you sudenly come in to money your hobby i presume is going to ruin you???if a shogun wasnt upto the job unless you'v 20k spare for a rangrover the next car you get will probably be old and not upto the job either....where will it all end??

Shogun was only not up to the job because of age and wear.

Kia Sorento can tow what I need and I can get one of them for £6 - £10k.

It will also be better as a family car - SWB shogun is tiny inside and in a few years I'll be starting a family so a Sorento is more sensible for that.

If it really came to it and I was really struggling I can sell the 4x4 and trailer until I get on my feet - being able to tow my horse is a luxury and I'll gladly admit that - if I was struggling it would be one of the first things to go (the car and trailer not my horse!)