At what point do you call it a day

[Deleted User]

There's a G reg Audi A4(or what ever the model was then) that someone near us has had for as long as I can remember.
They obviously look after it, I wonder how much they have saved over the years by not chopping and changing cars?

If you spent even a thousand pounds a year on maintenance there could be good arguments for doing that. Personally I get bored of cars and like to change every 3 or 4 years but maybe I've never really had a car I really liked. 

motorguy

Deleted_User said:

There's a G reg Audi A4(or what ever the model was then) that someone near us has had for as long as I can remember.
They obviously look after it, I wonder how much they have saved over the years by not chopping and changing cars?

If you spent even a thousand pounds a year on maintenance there could be good arguments for doing that. Personally I get bored of cars and like to change every 3 or 4 years but maybe I've never really had a car I really liked. 

I spent £1,000 or so getting my newly acquired 2006 330i into the shape i wanted it for the next few years driving, including discs and pads all round, new rear shocks, new battery, full service.  All of which should stand it in good stead going forward.

eamon

It's a variation on bangernomics. You have a 17 year old car that you maintain to a high standard. Plus you do low mileage. I wouldn't be bothered changing unless the car no longers meets the utility that you need it for.

longwalks1

Thanks all - Right, its unanimous, I'm keeping it.  I think ive just had a few niggly things with it recently and I've fallen out of love with it.  Spent 2 hours cleaning it today and  with your advice, going to keep it for another couple of years (hopefully).  I think the fact my normal mechanic isnt around at the moment doesnt help, and been struggling to find someone reliable. 

Thanks all

fred246

Regular checking of oil and water levels are still important. In the last few years people seem to have decided that garages do everything and the only thing you have to do is drive it. A few months ago a lady who lives opposite me stopped me. Fred you know about cars. My windscreen washers have stopped working. "Has the reservoir got fluid in it?" I asked. She looked blank. "Don't worry I will take it to the dealers tomorrow". People are convinced that cars are so complicated they can't touch them.

[Deleted User]

I have a 1.0 3 cyl engine which needs regular top ups. Apparently (hopefully) this is normal for this type of engine. 

AdrianC

Mickey666 said:

I know what you mean, and basically agree, although it’s not really necessary to actually check oil and coolant levels these days because the car’s systems will tell you when they need topping up . . . and well before before any dangerously low levels.

That's a dangerous line of thinking.

Apart from anything else, not all cars have level sensors. Most oil lights are low pressure - and tell you after you've run out. Few have coolant level. Few have washer bottle level.

Assuming the level won't change over a year is a great way to turn a minor coolant leak into an expensive head gasket.

And, even with legally-required tyre pressure monitoring systems, you still need to look at tread depths, and at sidewalls for damage.

This stuff is all in the driving test...

[Deleted User]

Oil and windscreen washer. Never had to touch the coolent or brake fluid. 

Probably about a litre of oil a month. There doesn’t seem to be an oil leak. It’s just an oil burning engine. 

AdrianC

Mickey666 said:

AdrianC said:

Mickey666 said:

I know what you mean, and basically agree, although it’s not really necessary to actually check oil and coolant levels these days because the car’s systems will tell you when they need topping up . . . and well before before any dangerously low levels.

That's a dangerous line of thinking.

Apart from anything else, not all cars have level sensors. Most oil lights are low pressure - and tell you after you've run out. Few have coolant level. Few have washer bottle level.

Assuming the level won't change over a year is a great way to turn a minor coolant leak into an expensive head gasket.

And, even with legally-required tyre pressure monitoring systems, you still need to look at tread depths, and at sidewalls for damage.

This stuff is all in the driving test...

You must be driving some pretty old cars.

Or just have a clue about how these things actually work.

A friend's son drove his Ford Focus for about a month with the oil pressure warning light on before the engine eventually threw a rod on the motorway.  Stupid, I know, but he didn't have a handbook and didn't know what the warning lamp meant.  My point is that the warning was very conservative and anyone who ignores it for a month deserves what happens but it shows there's no need to check oil levels every month these days, just pay attention to the instruments.

No. Go and look at the pressure required for the light to go out. It is minimal. Rule of thumb is 1 bar per 1,000rpm hot. At hot idle, there's minimal pressure, so the light switches at very low levels. Some engines - relatively few - have a second pressure switch that's brought into use at higher revs, precisely because the hot idle pressure means that the main switch has to be negligible.

But that's less black and white than "the oil level's so low the light comes on". A question of differing pressures simply means internal wear causing pressure to leak by. When there's insufficient oil, it's because the pickup in the sump is not delivering any oil at all. It's pumping air around the engine. There is NO lubrication AT ALL.

Similarly with coolant levels, that's what the temperature gauge is for.  None of the other fluids are particularly critical.

For the temp gauge to show low coolant level, the level has to be low enough for the sender to be in air instead of in coolant. Remember, modern temp gauges don't actually show the temperature. They're ECU controlled, and merely sit static at "normal, honest" until something's outside normal bounds. They do not show minor changes at all - not that low level will give any anyway, until it's too late.

noclaf

Hope this is ok and the OP doesn't mind but thought easier to ask a qu here rather than start a new thread.
I was due to begin looking for a new car last month as my MOT was due in April so had hoped to get a fresh MOT and then move the car on/buy a new(used) car. Just noticed that the gov website has updated my MOT date by a further 6 months and given the situation we are in there are more pressing matters to worry about. So I will hold fire on the plans to change and continue driving my car. 
This brings me onto "Preventative Maintenance"; within reason I don't mind spending sensible money to keep the car plodding along as I need it to continue being reliable due to carer responsibilities that I fulfil. It's a 16 yr old Focus (petrol), full service was done in Jan so spark plugs, oil etc I keep an eye on oil, coolant, washer levels and tyre pressure on a regular basis. The only slight niggle that worries me is a low 'click/knock' sound on the steering rack when turning the steering wheel during corners..it's been there a couple of years but I'd rather avoid a catastrophic failure/break if it needs to be fixed etc Tyres and tracking may also need to be checked.
Is there anything else obvious I should be checking?
Mileage is now above 75k so fairly low but with the age of the car I'm expecting more issues to crop up though hope to be proved wrong.