When to stop using main dealer...

jennlx

We are a young family and bought a 1.6 04 Touran for £4k in April. No inspection as we needed a car quickly (we normally use Dekra). It was a motability vehicle, oneowner and FSH, all main dealer. We got a wedge of receipts and over £3k was spent on repairs in past three years. So we take it to main dealer and £300 main service due plus £1k repairs/other stuff needed, including £600 for new rad as old one "slightly leaking". So plan is, do major service at VW but get rad done at garage (presumably for less?). Bit cautious of using main dealer as worry they will find lots wrong with a ten year old car which will be expensive to fix. But will not using main dealer really damage effort to sell car on at a later date?

Secondly, really concerned by lack of spare wheel especially when driving alone with two toddlers. Space saver equally seems like a bit of a waste of time for our situation....is a full spare going to cripple the fuel economy? Is it even safe to have one rattling around unsecured I'm the boot? I know they're 20kg or so bit still....

Completely clueless and husband allergic to cars. Any help appreciated!!!

Hintza

I wouldn't go anywhere near a dealership with a car of that age.

Find out where the radiator is leaking and if it is on the matrix then just get a pair of pliers and nip the leak shut. If it is elsewhere you can source a second hand radiator from the scrappy.

As for a spare tyre does the car not have space for a spare, you need to check? It might be underneath the car.

gilbert_and_sullivan

As above really, avoid main dealer like the plague.

You might find a radiator specialist in your area who can fix the leak properly, much depends as Hintza says on where the leak is, local motor factor, or Eurocarparts/GSF worth a look if a new one is needed, thats where an indy will be sourcing one from.

Nothing wrong with a space saver (miles better than a tub of goo and toy pump), very unlikely you'll be on a 500 mile trip in the event of a puncture and perfectly adequate so long as you drive sensibly.
Though if you check the spare holder (assuming it has any spare at all) there just might be room to stuff a full size wheel in there.

A good indy garage is the best bet, if you happen to have a recommended VW specialist nearby thats where i would investigate first.

AdrianC

There's no way I'd be taking a 10yo car to a dealer. Nor would I be bodging up a rad like that - especially when a quick two-second google finds Touran rads starting from £40...

It's not safe to have a spare "rattling about" in the boot - is there really nowhere to secure it? Even a ratchet strap around cargo hooks or whatever? As for whether you'd want to be without - when did you last get a flat? 90%+ are due to people hitting things. If you do get a flat, would you be changing it yourself, or would you be calling the breakdown services?

And, no, an extra 20kg on a car that weighs a ton and a half is not going to make much difference to economy at all.

anotherbaldrick

All VW's come with skinny spare .

GooliesOfFire

I go to a main dealer only when I need some specific part for my car, never to repair it.

Find yourself some decent independent garage that will do all the work for you and won't rip you off in the process. Main dealers are too expensive. Ask friends/family about their experiences, maybe they can suggest a good place.

colino

I'm pretty sure you've answered your own question by chasing down a "one-owner, FSH" and then discovering the truth that a 10 year old hack allegedly needs four figures of work to bring it up to standard. Find a local, friendly, independent to look after you and the car.

forgotmyname

£4000 for a 2004 Touran? Dealers on Autotrader have them for less than £3000.

I presume you have the 7 seater version. If so then chucking a spare in the boot is the only option.
I dont like the cans of sealant and pumps they supply. A spare is a must for me.

Ectophile

I wouldn't be happy about having a 20kg spare wheel just rattling about in the boot all the time. If you were involved in a head-on collision, then it could get very unpleasant for whichever unfortunate passenger was sitting directly in front of it at the time.

Personally, I don't have a problem with space savers. You're limited to 50MPH, but otherwise you can continue your journey as normal, and get it replaced when convenient.

And no, I wouldn't bother taking a 10 year old car to a main dealer unless it was for a particularly tricky problem. I would still get it serviced regularly, though.

jennlx

Thanks for your responses....no main dealer then!! (Great!). Plus looks like I'm on the hunt for a new car - 7 seated Touran and don't like idea of tyre in boot. Admittedly, was pretty big for our family too.

Appreciate paid over the odds but had to buy car quickly due to MOT fail on old banger and an auto car too...

Appreciate responses, flying blind on the car stuff.

RegWorts

Hintza wrote: »

I wouldn't go anywhere near a dealership with a car of that age.

Find out where the radiator is leaking and if it is on the matrix then just get a pair of pliers and nip the leak shut. If it is elsewhere you can source a second hand radiator from the scrappy.

Bars Seal (in the solid form) is the stuff to use for radiator leaks...Brilliant

Photo here

http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mt6PzWylfnxtIQNyPkMTcIA.jpg

It looks like a lump of doggie droppings but is extremely effective for a long term solution ( and prevention of further leaks in older cars)

Available from Halfords, Ebay etc