Car worth repairing

aneurysm

My 2009 Ford Fiesta recently developed a problem with the thermostat housing leaking and fan causing the engine overheat light to come on. The car, whilst the years old has less than 70,000 miles on the clock and a full service history.

The estimated cost of repairs is about £450. Alongside this it's also due a cam belt replacement.

I'm wondering if it is worth getting these repairs done and keeping the car or look to upgrade? The combined cost of repairs is a large percentage of the value of the car and I'm worried this may be the start of a number of issues as the car is getting old.

This is my first car so I have little experience on when it's worth repairing and when it's worth calling it a day. Anyone have any advice?

caprikid1

As long as it has not overheated I would repair, without knowing what work is proposed it sounds quite a lot.

alan_d

Generally i'd say you're better with the devil you know (and I don't consider a 2009 car that old!)...
I spent about double that on parts alone to repair/improve my 2007 car last year - as i've had it for years, and plan to keep it for many more, so would rather spend the money keeping it running well than sell it and start again with another unknown car.

Herzlos

Don't look at the repair costs as a percentage of that car, look at the cost to change.


You can repair that one for £450 (+ whatever for the belts), which presumably gives you a car with a good history.


What would you be able to buy for yours + repair costs? It may be a bit newer but will be a total unknown.


If you were looking to upgrade anyway, that'd be a different matter.

The_Rainmaker

Is the car sound rust wise? If so then as above better the devil you know.

EdGasketTheSecond

Those plastic thermostat covers are always a problem. They warp and let coolant leak. Another great idea; NOT.

seatbeltnoob

Did cambelt and clutch on a 2002 vw golf. Clutch £380, cambelt £280.


Wasn't all ine one bill, but I've driven the car and serviced it for the last 8 years so I know it's solid. Would do the same at a heartbeat.


YMMV

alembicbassman

Better to repair a car you know, buying a newer used car is no guarantee it'll won't suffer the same type of problems.

My brother just forked out £11'000 on a brand new engine and suspension overhaul for his 2009 Land Rover Discovery 3.0 TDV6.

He couldn't get anything as good used and he knows the car is sound otherwise.

Land Rover guarantee the work for 2 years also.

chrisw

£450 seems an unusual amount for this.

A thermostat housing and possibly a fan temperature sensor will be nowhere near that amount.

Overheated and caused damage to the head will cost two or three times that amount but you might as well get the belts changed at the same time.

EdGasketTheSecond

My father-in-law paid £278 just for a replacement thermostat cover years ago. It's a lot of work on the Fiesta:

Remove underwing shield
Remove stretch belt
Remove headlight
Remove alternator
plus the usual new parts and coolant. If there are fan issues as well then £450 sounds about right,

stehouk

It sounds to me you have doubts about keeping the car, iv'e been in similar situations myself, iv'e spent money on car's and then ended up getting rid of them a few months later anyway and wished i hadn't spent the money in the first place, i tried to convince myself to keep the car when in reality i should have changed it and saved that money because the car wasn't worth anymore after the work, does that make sense or am rambling lol.
If the car needs repairing then you have no choice but to spend the money, its knowing when to stop and that has always been my problem.