Replace car or keep it going? Starting to feel like I'm driving a banger.....

Northern_Wanderer

So, was hoping to keep my 12yr old car going for a few more years and then pass it to my child who will be learning to drive this year. It's valued at £1250-£1800 so far trade in with 9 months MOT left. It passed the last MOT (no advisories) but mechanic said I might want to think about replacing it before next MOT due to corrosion underneath which he thinks will be costly to weld by next MOT. He mentioned suspension so not sure if there corrosion is in an important suspension place. He's mentioned corrosion on suspension arms over the years but not failed it on that so far.

It's been a fab reliable car but over the last few years has needed new shock absorber, spring, top mount and anti-roll bar link, then a bearing on top mount. Did the rear brakes last spring but now needs another brake caliper (within 3 yrs) (around £180) so I've had to replace rear pads already annoyingly! Will need new front dics/ pads soon, possibly 2 tyres. I have a boot leak that was supposedly fixed, the alloys are corroded so seal not good and leaking air, have to re-inflate every week, boot handle sticky. 85k miles, have kept up with servicing. Interior and paintwork in good condition.

Being a Honda, the engine is likely to go on for a considerable amount of miles. I'm just getting tired of having to go to garage/ get things fixed and feel the rust will kill it off soon. Different garage says it might cost £700 for welding by MOT. If I want to underseal it, £700 with the amount of corrosion.

I usually like to buy a low mileage 3 yr old car and keep it a long time. Have looked at newer cars but struggling to justify the cost for what is a 6 yr old car! Used cars seems twice the price they were 6 yrs ago. Also not liking all the tech on newer cars which I don't want or need and would switch off. The sensors can still go wrong presumably and need replaced at high cost. Want to stick to an ICE petrol manual so is hard to find a non-mild/ hybrid and I'll be wanting a spare in the boot not a silly battery.

I think I decided I'm tired of the car, but have the dilemma that at some point soon I will need to fork out for a car for my child which isn't going to be cheap. There are a lot of unknowns costs with keeping this car and I don't want to donate him a car than needs loadsa money spent on it.

Options:

trade in my car now & source car for child later

keep car and spend how much? having regular garage trips

Is my car likely to be only scrap value by next MOT?

If I could find a newer car I was happy with it would be much much easier. Crappy boot space in most cars nowadays and small cars are somehow bigger? Also wanted a bit more BHP.

Any thoughts to help me choose how to navigate?

MikeJXE

It sounds as though you have spent a lot on this car and know it inside out 

Buying another car is dipping into the unknown as you will know nothing about it and it could cost you more on top of the purchase price. 

Northern_Wanderer

MikeJXE said:

It sounds as though you have spent a lot on this car and know it inside out 

Buying another car is dipping into the unknown as you will know nothing about it and it could cost you more on top of the purchase price. 

Do you mean maybe it's good to keep it for my son? I honestly haven't spent a lot on it over the 8 years I've had it as I no longer do main dealer servicing, but it will need a few things going forward.

paul_c123

The best time to sell a car is just before some major expense comes up on it. This approach relies on either predicting the future, or knowing your car (and its intimate mechanics) so well that you can accurately gauge the imminent failure of something. If it starts making a noise or influencing how it drives, its too late (the value of a car with obvious faults, crashes).

Also as a car's age increases, there is the factor of how long the MoT is; and when it had a cambelt (or cam chain) change.

All that assumes its not rusty - if your car is rusty and actually needs welding, please don't pass it onto your child (as-is). I'd say on this alone, sell it now while it still has some value to another.

Bigwheels1111

From memory most not all cars from 2015 have not had a spare wheel as standard.
If you paid £500, you got a space saver and a jack.

Keep your one as long as possible, less things to go wrong compared to new cars and there new features.
If changing what’s your budget.
Is an EV an option. Some mad deals on new or pre reg models.

Ibrahim5

It's interesting. It's all about labour costs and availability. Some countries can really keep old cars on the road, whilst some just scrap them. My local MOT garage was previously happy to do welding at a reasonable price which kept my cars on the road. Recently the old MOT tester retired, another one left and now the owner of the garage has to do the MOTs. The last time I had a car welded they didn't want to do it and charged a lot. Still worth it, though. Much cheaper than replacing the car. If a garage has loads of work, they really would rather charge someone £300 for an oil change than spend hours welding someone's car.
I was reading recently that gas boilers lasted 20 years in Germany, but the same boilers only lasted 10 years in the UK. Heating engineers just can't be bothered fixing them. Just tell the customer that parts aren't available and then charge £1500 a day installing new ones.

Nobbie1967

Once a car starts needing welding, it’s likely to keep needing welding every couple of years. Sounds like it’s time to get rid and get a newer car.

Ibrahim5

If you can find someone who can weld your car at a reasonable price then it's not a problem. No need for a new car. Welding just takes time so it's all about labour rates. Some areas in the country will be cheaper. Need to phone around, do a bit of research. If your garage is really popular they just won't want the work. Another garage may take it on. I don't really agree with this argument of "Well the welding would have cost £700 but the car was only worth £600 so I spent £23K on a new car instead".

Katiehound

I feel your pain! 

I managed to keep my faithful Fiat Doblo on the road for 16 years with 110,00 on the clock until repairs such as a new 'electronic brain' & something to do with tracking was going to cost a bundle far more than 1k value. I had spent out on it but it owed me nothing after the years/ mileage.

I struggled to find anything like a replacement (because van body types have been withdrawn in the main.) Luckily found a Vauxhall locally  but this last year has been quite a learning curve & 19k poorer. I'm told all second hand cars have rocketed in price- greater demand? Price of replacement parts?
Technology on cars has moved on hugely in that time.

I would shop around & see if anyone reliable does bodywork without costing a fortune

I was lucky that the garage I have been using for many many years are extremely honest- so if they say something is wrong then it is! (Got scammed when in ROI last year- cost me euros 2K- with the flipping new-to-me car)

Northern_Wanderer

paul_c123 said:

The best time to sell a car is just before some major expense comes up on it. This approach relies on either predicting the future, or knowing your car (and its intimate mechanics) so well that you can accurately gauge the imminent failure of something. If it starts making a noise or influencing how it drives, its too late (the value of a car with obvious faults, crashes).

Also as a car's age increases, there is the factor of how long the MoT is; and when it had a cambelt (or cam chain) change.

All that assumes its not rusty - if your car is rusty and actually needs welding, please don't pass it onto your child (as-is). I'd say on this alone, sell it now while it still has some value to another.

Thanks, no noises at all, car has a chain which is meant to last the lifetime of the car. I'd obvioulsy want to get the welding done when needed if giving to my child. I'm erring on the getting rid of it.

Northern_Wanderer

Bigwheels1111 said:

From memory most not all cars from 2015 have not had a spare wheel as standard.
If you paid £500, you got a space saver and a jack.

Keep your one as long as possible, less things to go wrong compared to new cars and there new features.
If changing what’s your budget.
Is an EV an option. Some mad deals on new or pre reg models.

I would intend to buy a used spare if the car I buy doesn't have one. I do not want an EV or a hybrid. It will be a used ICE car, probably around 3-5 yrs old. I'm fussy with the specs and rear space so have a couple of models in mind. Like my Japanese cars for reliability but they rust.....lol