Is it time to change my car?

Tizz

I currently run a 1.4 Ford Escort LX which I bought in 2000 for £6000. I really like it but it has developed an intermitent, but alarming problem which needs investigating (my dad thinks it could be the throttle cable sticking??). It hasn't been too painful to run financially - new clutch assembly and rear shock absorbers being about the most expensive things it has needed. But apart from the current problem, the thing that concerns me the most is the fuel consumption. If I have used the website that works it out for you correctly, I'm getting about 28mpg (38.96 litres giving me about 240 miles). It does have other problems like the exhaust rattles a bit since Lex Autocentres made a right pigs ear of installing a new one, the rear de-mist doesn't. Its clean and tidy inside and out - no rust visable - a bit a paint chipped off the rear bumper

Should I change it? I have been looking at cars in car parks etc and quite like Toyota Yaris, Ford Focus, Honda Jazz, Peugot 206, Citroen C3. It is only used by me for running the children to school and back and for pootling around in on dual carriageway - very little motorway driving. But I really don't set any status on cars, and have no problem that I run "a banger"

DH wants me to get a new car - not likely, I couldn't bear the depreciation - though he says there are some good deals out there. He's given up on me, and won't drive mine except for taking stuff to the tip. (The central locking gives him trouble - you just have to be nice to it, he doesn't like the braking - i approach roundabouts and junctions much more slowly than he does, it hasn't got aircon...etc etc)

Should I get the current problem fixed and keep on running it or has the time come for it to go, and what should I do with it if I do get a new one.

By the way, it was chosen purely because of its colour - when the guy at the sales centre asked me what sort of car i was looking for, I honestly said "a purple one". And this was the only purple one they had!

I really can't decide what to do - DH is much to happy to spend money, he's not tight like me, so would appreciate some like-minded peoples thoughts please.

wazza

in your place i will take the car to a garage for an estimate for repairs. considering the age and colour of the car i probably guess it may be worth 2000 pounds. if its only a throttle cable that needs replacing then its a simple job. being a fuel injected car it could also have something to do with a sensor somewhere. if the estimate is high then you will have to consider whether its worth fixing the car. personally i cant see it being so high. when did u service it last.

since it has a new clutch and other parts suggests it has plenty of life left in those parts. body is also in good condition.

being purple you may be best doing a part exchange than selling it privately. the colour may make it difficult to sell.

from your list i would go toyota, honda then ford. You will get a better deal on a ford since they are popular. Have you considered a cheap VW known as Skoda or SEAT. These are basically VW with a different body and badge

Silent_Bob_3

You seem to know all the faults your car has now and by trading it in for something else you may end up with a car which you may nothing about its history and may have more expensive faults than you currently have.

I'd say better the devil you know as you know what needs fixing on your car
Take it to a reputable garage that you or friends know of and get a few quotes for getting any essential repairs done. As for the rear demister - check the fuse that controls it hasn't blown.

Tizz

Thanks,

I agree I should get a quote, got to find another nice friendly garage - I'd just found a nice friendly (cheap) guy who had been looking after my car since my last disastrous service with Lex in March, and then one morning, I drove past, and he had gone with a planning notice on his doors, guess someone pulled his lease from under him (he was in a little lock up behind Royal Crescent in Bath, so i suppose it was just a matter of time) and there is no reply on his number.

Even if the quote isn't too high, there is still the question of the fuel consumption that is my main concern - don't know if it would be cheaper to keep on running what I have for another few years or until it dies.Or cough up 6/7K from savings to buy another, with hopefully lower running costs but the risk of unknown expensive work needing to be carried out in a year or two, at least i know what I've got.

I hadn't looked at Skodas, I'll look out for one when I'm out this afternoon.

By the way - whats wrong with purple? I'd pay extra for a purple car!

se999

Hi,

As far as fuel costs go, how much mileage a year do you do? If it's low mileage the fuel efficiency might not be that important to the decision. If you're not sure what your annual mileage is, look at the MOT certificates, they list the mileage at test date, so it's easy to calculate. If you're low mileage you might also get an insurance discount, if you don't already.

Also it sounds like most of your mileage is stop/start short trips, so not likely to get top fuel efficiency figures for that sort of driving anyway. So a new car may give a theoretically good figure, but yours might be lower.

Mention the fuel efficiency when you take your current car to the garage.

If you do decide to buy another, do check out insurance groups before buying, similar cars can be in widely varying in insurance groups and premiums.

I think silver and red are theoretically the best cars for resale, but at least purple is easier to spot in the sea of silver and red cars in the car parks!!

wazza

purple may be to your taste but to some it may not.

your car may have a faulty/dirty sensor which is causing extra petrol to be consumed. try putting redex, a fuel additive, in your petrol tank. it helps by 'cleaning' up the fuel system and hopefully improve your fuel consumption.

the following can affect your fuel consumption

low pressure in your tyres
carrying excess baggage (in your boot i mean)
lack of service and dirty air filter
lead right foot (ur husband more likely)
roof rack
lots of cold run

etc etc

Tizz

Thanks Silent Bob, you nipped in whilst I was replying. Better the devil you know is how I feel about it, but can't help feeling that £35 a week to 10 days is a bit steep, but a new one would be 7k less in my pocket.
I'm the saddo amongst my friends, can't think of one who wouldn't be taking their Mercedes, Chryslers etc to main dealers for servicing and my dad runs an MG, so thats specialist and husbands, brothers etc are company car owners - I'm sure I can find one another garage, I just liked old Mike from the Midlands. I used what I thought were a reputable company - Lex for years, until it went horrible, the lad servicing my car in March left the radiator cap loose I got half a mile away before steam started pouring out - found Mike nearby to help, and then found Lex's prices had been way over the top.

BobToo

You don't say what age your Escort is, I'm guessing somewhere around "S" reg. I think now would be a very good time to get rid, it's getting very close to moneypit age for an Escort. It's also getting close to losing its looks and therefore its value.

Big companies are rarely good value for car servicing, better to ask around for a decent back street garage, especially when a car is getting on a bit.

scheming_gypsy

Tizz wrote:

By the way - whats wrong with purple? I'd pay extra for a purple car!

I agree, nothing wrong purple cars.

Peter-Pan_5

I would keep it as well if it`s a 2000 it will be a V or W reg,its probably simple faults,I have a 2000 Focus Fords are good cars cheap to insure.
Speak to mates,workmates ask around to get good small garages,dont take it to franchised garages too expensive.

scheming_gypsy

it was bought in 2000 for 6k so would have been second hand at the time