Good time to upgrade my car?

Mumum

Hi there. I have a 2004 1ltr semi-automatic Toyota Yaris car which over the last year has cost me a new cam chain and front and rear breaks - more than the car is worth! I'm thinking of upgrading to a Toyota Aygo (simply because I'm familiar with the gearstick!) 1ltr semi/automatic but have a few thoughts. I was thinking of investing a bit more to try and save on future repair costs and was thinking of spending about £5,500 for a Yr 13 reg and maybe 30,000 miles or so on the clock (my garage will give me around £500 for my car). This will only be my second car so I'm not familiar with the market but I know that we are heading towards electric cars so am not sure what to do. I'm nervous because I don't have anyone to help so am hoping you good people could offer your experience and guidance? Thanks!

Mumum

*brakes not breaks 

daveyjp

Front and rear brakes will eventually need changing on any new car you buy.

A new chain cam on a 17 year old car isn't an unexpected expense and if it means your car is now running well I'd keep it. 

Whilst the Aygo has a Toyota badge, unlike your Yaris it isn't 100% Toyota as its a collaboration with Citroen/Peugeot.

Mumum

Thanks, I had to change the cam chain just after I bought it 6 yrs ago too, don't know why as I only drive 2-3k miles/yr and get it serviced regularly. I believe this car was also made in France so not a true Toyota in that sense either. Thanks for your advice. Garage suggested it should keep me going for a year and I should think of upgrading before then, which I assume is based on age as otherwise it runs fine.

feolojad

Cambelt I could understand changing as it's rubber and the rubber deteriorates with age but a cam chain shouldn't need changing more than once in the car's lifetime. Usually what fails is the cam chain tensioner if you don't do regular oil changes but service it properly and a cam chain should be able to do well over 100,000 miles, even 200,000.

AdrianC

7-8yo Granny-spec car with just 30k on it?

Nope...
Recipe for problems.

Mumum said:

I believe this car was also made in France so not a true Toyota in that sense either.

Aygos are built in the Czech republic. 
Your Yaris was built in France.
Toyota assemble cars all over the world - including Derbyshire. How does the location of the factory stop them being a "true Toyota"?

Mumum

feolojad said:

Cambelt I could understand changing as it's rubber and the rubber deteriorates with age but a cam chain shouldn't need changing more than once in the car's lifetime. Usually what fails is the cam chain tensioner if you don't do regular oil changes but service it properly and a cam chain should be able to do well over 100,000 miles, even 200,000.

That's pretty much as I understood it too. Garage says I've just been unlucky. Tried to take it up with Toyota but, as the garage didn't use Toyota only parts on the car, they wouldn't help.

Mumum

AdrianC said:

7-8yo Granny-spec car with just 30k on it?

Nope...
Recipe for problems.

Mumum said:

I believe this car was also made in France so not a true Toyota in that sense either.

Aygos are built in the Czech republic. 
Your Yaris was built in France.
Toyota assemble cars all over the world - including Derbyshire. How does the location of the factory stop them being a "true Toyota"?

I was told Toyotas built in French factories are not up to standard with those built in Japan. I obviously know very little about cars though.
Re your granny spec comment, what would you recommend I do then if I want that spec car? I cant buy new, don't have that sort of money and £5,500 budget was already at a push. Thanks for your reply.

AdrianC

How has your French-built Yaris been? Just fine? No issues with build quality? It's got to 17yo, after all...

I'd buy one with higher mileage, and pay less for it in the process...
30k across 8 years is probably pootled to the shops and back, never got properly warm, never had a decent run.

parking_question_chap

For a balance I have a near on twenty year old petrol car and for the last six or seven years have only driven up to 2,000 miles a year almost exclusively to get me to the supermarket or football. Both of which are a few miles away and I have had no engine related problems. Engine damange is not caused by short journeys alone, it is caused by excessive revving before the engine has been warmed up or not bothering to keep the oil level sufficient.

Assuming its petrol and a got a FSH then unless the previous owner of this 30,000 mile car was a wannabe Fernando Alonso it will most probably be fine.

Mumum

AdrianC said:

How has your French-built Yaris been? Just fine? No issues with build quality? It's got to 17yo, after all...

I'd buy one with higher mileage, and pay less for it in the process...
30k across 8 years is probably pootled to the shops and back, never got properly warm, never had a decent run.

I'm not sure two replacement cam chains could be described as fine but if you say French built Toyotas are as good as Japanese built then I'm happy to go along with that. What sort of mileage and age would you say is a happy  medium? Thanks.