Replace clutch or buy new car?

Strider590

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Its all about driving you see....

It's actually all about manufacturers realising that making something that lasts isn't profitable.
It's happened throughout all industries too, most notably electronics and in consumer grade computers/laptops are a complete joke!

We're a very consumerism driven society, something goes wrong and the first thing we say is "go get a new one".

My hoover packed up 2 years ago, my mum said "just get a new one", I pulled it apart, replaced a thermal fuse and bobs your uncle it's been going strong ever since!

Countless other examples I could use too.

Lum

davidjwest wrote: »

Just the original one cheeky

A fair few exhausts though, probably about 4 I think but at around £80 a chuck I wasn't too worried.

Don't make 'em like they used to.

:rotfl:

You had a 1.2 Nova and didn't have a stainless steel fart cannon fitted? I hope you sold that car as a rarity!

realised

liam8282 wrote: »

Having just had to get rid of my Mk4 Golf as an MOT failure last month, I would suggest that you try to make sure that this isn't the only problem you have got with your car.

I was advised by a VW specialist that the Mk4 1.4 & 1.6 engines around this time are notoriously poor. So I suspect that you will probably have the same 1.4 mk4 engine I had in my Golf.

The clutch could be the start of many more problems to come.

If you or the mechanic are 100% that the clutch is the only problem and £200 will sort it, I would pay the £200 and get it fixed, BUT if you suspect it could be something else or there could be other problems I would seriously consider getting rid.

My Golf was a V reg and had about 86k miles, but it failed it's MOT on emissions and I was advised it needed a new engine!

When is the MOT due?

MOT is due in November. The mechanic right now knows its definately the clutch but will need to get the car on the ramp first (he doesnt have his own one has to borrow from a collegue)
He also said the front wheel ball bearing (?) needs replacing but I checked for parts and that only costs about £12ish

When I first purchased my car, it had a whole hand full of problems and therefore it was cheaper to purchase a whole new engine for it. When this mechanic fitted the engine, he also replaced the clutch with the one that came with the new engine as the existing one looked worn out. So I guess I should be thankful it didn't go earlier.

So far the parts will cost about £120 (for the clutch and the ball bearing) and i'm guessing he will charge an extra £80 to fit making it a total of £200.

Edit. Strider- my Future M-I-L had a problem with her Dyson not sucking up and so bought a new one. My OH just bought it back recently to our apartment to see if he could fix it - the belt had broken... 99p ebay later it's as good as new and now I have a free hoover

liam8282

Well if it is going to cost you £200 to get it sorted, and the mechanic seems pretty confident from what you have said, I would agree with the others that say get it fixed.

8 months motoring until the MOT, for £200, if nothing else breaks.

I am just a bit pessimistic about cars at the moment!

From experience with my last car, when things start to go it is time to get rid. I really liked my golf, but I held onto it for too long, getting things fixed and keeping it going, when I should have got it fixed and sold it.

I can't really complain though as I still got £800 for it as an MOT failure on ebay. Although if I had sold it say 6 months before the MOT, I would have got double that.

Lum

Wheel bearings are also a wear item, so I wouldn't worry too much, however if one is gone the one opposite wont be far behind. The rears might last longer, not sure on that particular model of car.


As for the Dyson, I also got a free one from my mum, however it didn't even have a snapped belt, she just hadn't changed the filter in the 2 years she'd owned it!

realised

liam8282 wrote: »

Well if it is going to cost you £200 to get it sorted, and the mechanic seems pretty confident from what you have said, I would agree with the others that say get it fixed.

8 months motoring until the MOT, for £200, if nothing else breaks.

I am just a bit pessimistic about cars at the moment!

From experience with my last car, when things start to go it is time to get rid. I really liked my golf, but I held onto it for too long, getting things fixed and keeping it going, when I should have got it fixed and sold it.

I can't really complain though as I still got £800 for it as an MOT failure on ebay. Although if I had sold it say 6 months before the MOT, I would have got double that.

That's one of the reasons why I asked the question in the first place because I was afraid of maybe having to pay out for extra things in the future... If only I had a looking glass. But my car is fairly reliable, the last problem on it was the thermostat around november last year. but other than that I hope nothing else goes wrong!

Mat_Lock

My Seat Ibiza 2.0 gti (P reg) has cost me twice as much to repair as it did cost me to buy so far. £700 for the car, £1400 on repairs (although some of them were uprated rather than original equipment) but went in for some new tyres, came out with a quote for major steering issues and a further £400 - £600 cost of repair just sent me over the edge. I knew there were other things wrong which needed doing as well as another cam belt change and would fail the MOT in May so decided to SORN it and when I get back from holidays am going to strip it for parts. Will make more than the original £700 back hopefully.

No idea what car to buy next as I see anything under £1500 to be putting me in exactly the same position with repairs and servicing. I'll buy a nice bicycle as it's Summer.

Some cars are just not worth trying to save. Especially mk2 Ibiza's which I have always loved since my first one back in 1999 !!

edit: What I mean is, I tried saving it, but some of the are just destined to be scrapped after a certain time.

realised

Hi all

Just a quick update. I got the new clutch fitted monday and wow the car is really nippy now! Have to keep an eye on the speedo so as to not do over the speed limit!

When it was first fitted my mechanic told me to drive it around the block first to see how it felt. I stalled about 3 times because the biting point is a lot lower than what I was used to, and i kept jerking which was horrible although i'm getting used to it now.

Thanks all for your adivce, my car drives like a dream now

leosayer

Glad to hear it. It's always nice to get a car working properly, especially if it improves the way it drives.