Trade in, sell, repair, or scrap??

AlecEiffel

Hi all.

In the market for a new (to me) car. My current car has a number of things starting to go wrong with it that will cost a small fortune to repair compared to the value of the car.
-Lambda probe throwing up an engine management light. Passed 2 mots with this as it tests fine, emissions are fine, economy is fine. The light gets switched off and will come on a day or so later. Never paid the £300 or so to replace it as the garage advises that apart from the light it seems to be fine.
-Possible gearbox bearing. Rattles when the clutch is up, in gear and neutral. Driven for a few months with this, not getting worse.
-scraped paintwork on rear door which also scraped the wheel arch. Two panels and first quote I got was nearly £900!!
-timing belt due in a few thousand miles.
Car is a Seat Leon, not a hot version, 9.5 years old, avg mileage.

Pondering what to do with it with these issues. Spend money to repair, take a low trade in price, sell privately as a fixer-upperer, scrap it.

To fix all the issues and change the timing belt I think it's more than the car would fetch.

Any thoughts please??

forgotmyname

Sensors can be picked up cheap and very easy to fit.

Your driving it with the scrape currently so that doesnt seem to bother you, why fix?

If your thinking of scrapping it then save every penny for another car and fix only the essentials.

Jonesya

Are you debt free, got money to spend - buy a new car!

If not, keep the one you've got - do a DIY paint job in the scratches, see if you can DIY the lambda sensor, keep it running for another year or two while you save up a deposit for a new one.

AlecEiffel

No thinking of scrapping really unless that comes out as the best option. Prob a good car for a home mechanic (which I'm not!). I'd like the best price obviously, just not sure of best option. The scrape does bother me, if it didn't have the other issues I'd have sorted it (the only long term issue is the probe). I suppose I could have sorted all the bits by doing it over a few months but I have admittedly let it slide.

AlecEiffel

Yes I'm debt free and I keep cars for a couple of years after I've paid them off.

parking_question_chap

No point trading in for something else which your just going to let slip as well, then you will be dealing with the previous owners problems as well. Just get the repair work done and keep it.

jimjames

Fix or sell privately. No point scrapping for such minor issues and dealer will give pittance as trade in with the issues.

AlecEiffel

I don't habitually let it slip, probe excepted. I service cars according to the schedule etc. The scrape and the bearing occurred on literally the same day, I'd maybe have done it if it was one or the other but was pondering a new machine at that point anyway and my initial tot up of repair costs was a significant proportion of the value. Have thrown good money on a previous car month after month before, but then that's always a risk I guess! Will maybe try to do the bits I can myself if I think i can.