Car Failed it's MOT - should I scrap it?

alyth

My little N Reg Nissan Micra failed it's MOT last week, due to the cross member being really badly corroded - I knew it was going to fail, just not quite as badly as it did!

Problem is, the car's in brilliant condition (apart from the cross-member), only got 59K on it, just had 4 brand new tyres last month at a cost of £180, brand new stereo fitted, and I'm not sure whether I will get more money from scrapping it, which would be about £100, or whether to sell the car as a whole through ebay or Scotads (a free ads mag in Scotland), saying the cross member needs replaced, or whether to try and sell bits of it, like the tyres, engine, etc.

I'm not in the slightest bit knowledgable about cars, but I seem to be getting loads information from kind-minded people, and rather than just seeing him being taken away for scrap, and obviously making £100 from him, I wondered whether there was a market for this kind of car to be used by someone as spares for perhaps a micra they were doing up?

Anyone offer advice?

nickj_2

i would be suprised if you got 100 for scrapping it , i think the going rate is around £25 if you're lucky , i think ebay would probably be your best bet

joshm_2

Blimey, poor thing (the car, not you) - for being considered a scrap-yard job! Front cross-member rot is a common fault on Micras. The part is around £50 and the labour is about £150. If the rest of the car is as good as you say it is, then get it fixed...

Sobraon

Bangernomics http://bangernomics.tripod.com/bangval.htm gives the following valuation model:

" [FONT=Verdana,Arial,Times New I2]For the car you are valuing, start with what it would be worth, in the same condition it is in now, but with no tax or MoT. This might range from £10 for a ropy looking old Fiesta (someone will buy it for spares, if it's cheap enough) to £500 or more for a tidy, original Golf GTI MK2.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Times New I2]Now add £30 for each month left to run on the MoT.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Times New I2]Now add the value of any road tax left on it.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Times New I2]Now deduct, pound for pound, the cost of any repairs that you know will be needed to bring the car into a fit state for you to use as daily transport. So if the front tyres are bald, deduct what it will cost you to buy 2 new tyres (or part worn tyres or remoulds, if that is your preference).[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Times New I2]The figure you end up with is what that banger is worth. "

Then compare with the cost of the repair to determine if it is worth it or not.
[/FONT]

alyth

I figured because the cross member is so common on micras that someone might be able to fix it, hence me thinking about selling it. I've bought another car now, which I pick up today so it's not worth me salvaging him.

I think I'll try ebay first, this weekend, and see what response I get. Thanks for your replies, Nick there's a garage in Kirkcaldy that will offer £80 - £100 for the car, I spoke to them yesterday.

joshm_2

I'd say that a small, reliable economical car with low road tax a year's MOT is worth a fair amount. If you were nearer London I'd have it!

epz_2

its a shame about the tyres but you can remove the stereo no probs and get i wuld guess £200 odds on ebay.

now given you could pick up a straight same spec motor without issues for about £400 and the likely money pit the corrosion will cause i would get shot and buy somethine else.

oh and by "something else" i mean a different type of car, i mean one that woulnt fall to bits and cause you grief at unexpected times when it is hardly broken in. seriously 60k on a car is nothing and it shows how cheap it has been desighned.

it might sound mad but if you can handle the larger size i would buy an old merc 190e, Eclass or audi A6, they all start about £600-£800 and though the milage is double yours they will last forever. petrol might be a little more though you seem a pretty low milage user and parts arnt really any more as long as you dont go to a main dealer. they also qualify for classic insurance if over 10 years old and i can speak form personal experiance as to how well build the pre 94 mercs are.

to give you my example i just passed my test and wanted a banger fast, went to an aution and bought a merc190e for £800, it has so far outlasted my familys renalt megan whos engine blew at 80k and been more relaible than my sister 306, works van or new pickup truck. it sat on my drive for 6 months and i turned the ignition last week and it started first turn of the starter motor, its also a lot more fun than any modern car ive been in.

by the way when i say that type of car lasts forever i mean good for 1million miles+ theres a reason merc offer 30 warrantys on their cars

alyth

epz, unfortunately I bought a Renault Clio and it was delivered tonight! I've just been out in it, and it's unbelieable, compared to the Micra - for a start it's so much bigger! But power steering, everything electrical, windows, etc. Such a change!

The guy who delivered the car said the Micra was in great condition, so I'll ebay it this weekend and see what if any response I get, but thanks for your reply.

highguyuk

It sounds like a garage you've bought your new car from - you should maybe have part-ex your old car, even without MOT, for your new car.

I'd ebay your Micra, but watch out for the fees. If you start the auction at £100, and it sells at £100, your going to be "worse off" taking off the eBay fees than if you had sold locally.

trets77

i.d have mended it for £200 no question, we loved our old Micra it never gave us a day of trouble . shame it ended up round a tree :eek: :eek: :rotfl:

hope your Clio is not a Mk2 , check that bonnet catch very carefully if it is

Quinny_2

highguyuk wrote: »

It sounds like a garage you've bought your new car from - you should maybe have part-ex your old car, even without MOT, for your new car.

I'd ebay your Micra, but watch out for the fees. If you start the auction at £100, and it sells at £100, your going to be "worse off" taking off the eBay fees than if you had sold locally.

I've just sold my wife's 1.3SR Micra via E.Bay,and the total bill for 2 attempts at selling it,came to £22.

Ken.