should i think about a new car?

split_second

hi all quick question.

i bought a 2002 stilo on finance in 2004, paid £4800 for it, with 22k on the clock.

fast forward 7 years and its now got 50k on it, used daily etc, but am worried it will soon start getting expensive.

i have found out the lambda sensor is on its way out, it only just made it through the last mot and also one of the suspension bushes at the front is in need of replacement too, it has a few electrical gremlins (ok more than a few, its a stilo and they are notorious for them) and i think it will need a new tyres soon as well (full new set went on at purchase, new fronts about 3-4 years back)

is it worth running this one into the ground or looking for something else, can pay up to £3k if i find what i want, dont want anything larger than a 1.6 (insurance is a consideration), jap or german if possible, any advice?

davidjwest

How much do you expect it will cost to keep it running for another year?

If it's economically sensible to do so, keep it.

Hammyman

£3000 will not buy you a car without faults. It'll buy you a car likely to need tyres in the next year, a cambelt and probably suspension bushes no better than yours.

split_second

davidjwest wrote: »

How much do you expect it will cost to keep it running for another year?

If it's economically sensible to do so, keep it.

few hundred probably, worst case scenario is having to deal with the lambda sensor, suspension and all tyres to get it through another mot.

full set of tyres would be £300 and a couple of hundred for the other bits

jase1

Doesn't sound like a car in need of replacing to me. Tyres are a fact of life, and what size tyres does it take anyway? £75 each sounds like a lot -- you should be able to get that down to £50 for reasonable mid-range tyres and the rest of it doesn't sound too bad. The car's not that old either.

rodenal

Your car sounds alright to me too - lambdas just need replacing as they get on in life it could be the same with whatever car you buy.
They are also usually diy'able too maybe think about doing it yourself to save a bit of cash?

Tyres as said just a fact of life, you should be getting at least 20k out of a set too so once they're on there you're pretty much sorted for a while.

Bushes again arent expensive to have done, the parts are dirt cheap it's just labour really. Maybe even look on gumtree and the likes for a local mechanic.

Imo you are much better off with a car that you know than an unknown for £3k, as said it will need maintenance anyway

jase1

Tyres are 195/65/15s aren't they? One of the cheapest sizes around -- £45 to £50 for something half-decent like Hankook or Khumo, or £35-40 for cheaper ones (which I wouldn't particualrly recommend).

King_Nothing

I'd just keep running it personally.

split_second

jase1 wrote: »

Tyres are 195/65/15s aren't they? One of the cheapest sizes around -- £45 to £50 for something half-decent like Hankook or Khumo, or £35-40 for cheaper ones (which I wouldn't particualrly recommend).

nope these are bigger

205/not sure/16

too far to the car park to go and look (am on break at work)

jase1

Ah. 205/55/16 most likely -- still not that expensive (maybe £50/corner for Khumo).

Strider590

Hammyman wrote: »

£3000 will not buy you a car without faults. It'll buy you a car likely to need tyres in the next year, a cambelt and probably suspension bushes no better than yours.

Spot on.....

However it won't be a Fiat :rotfl: