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I’m a relatively new driver; been going 3 weeks so far. I bought myself an old clanker in the cheapest insurance group I could find, and upon driving it for a bit, there is a problem that is somewhat expensive to fix; about £300-400. It cost me £200 for the car itself, then another hundred or so getting acceptable tires, new fluids, etc.
What I want to know, is how do you find out if a car is worth spending the money and time on, if it’s an old or cheap car? In my case, I could easily drive this to the end of its MOT in just over a month, then just can it as scrap and get a new one, but if doing the expensive repairs on it will keep it running for a few years, I’ll definitely do them.
For context, it’s an ’00 Renault Clio in the UK, 1.2L Petrol, but a list of tests to do on any car surely would help me in future.
Cheers.
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see if this helps explain it?
Besides Googling for common faults, that video only went over things I’m already considering; “is it worth paying money into my current car, or should I get a newer one?”
What I could do with is a list of things that usually go wrong in old cars and kill them, and how to check them.
It’s really up to you and is somewhat a gamble. Another vehicle could go for years without much work at all or could take you to the bank. If you like the car you have and you know what it needs. Then sure. Again it’s kinda a gamble unless you buy something under warranty.
[quote=”shaun” post=162461]or could take you to the bank[/quote]And that’s exactly why I’m here. What problems are old cars gonna develop that will indeed take me to the bank?
[quote=”shaun” post=162461]It’s really up to you and is somewhat a gamble. Another vehicle could go for years without much work at all or could take you to the bank. If you like the car you have and you know what it needs. Then sure. Again it’s kinda a gamble unless you buy something under warranty.[/quote]
I am learning the hard way that new cars with warranties can be a gamble too. My Toyota has had ongoing powertrain problems for the last year. Even though I am still covered under the power-train warranty, the dealership always comes back and tells me that everything is “normal.” So a warranty doesn’t really mean much.
[quote=”Crockett85″ post=162464][quote=”shaun” post=162461]It’s really up to you and is somewhat a gamble. Another vehicle could go for years without much work at all or could take you to the bank. If you like the car you have and you know what it needs. Then sure. Again it’s kinda a gamble unless you buy something under warranty.[/quote]
I am learning the hard way that new cars with warranties can be a gamble too. My Toyota has had ongoing powertrain problems for the last year. Even though I am still covered under the power-train warranty, the dealership always comes back and tells me that everything is “normal.” So a warranty doesn’t really mean much.[/quote]
Has the warranty taken you to the bank? Didn’t think so. He didn’t ask if new vehicles were perfect, he was wondering about money out of the pocket. To me, warrantees mean a lot, saved me a few bucks already.
can you get a decent car that has 6 months or better of MOT remaining for 300-400 (Pounds, i think. Canadian.)
If you could I would do that, you could spend 300+ and it might not pass MOT, then you have to spend more to get it on the road. Ganges know this, and some are scumbags, some are great. Take a look. good luck, it’s a gamble.
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