What should I do with my car?

[Fallout]

Ok, so I won't go into why I own a 2003 1.6 Astra automatic. In the past I have bought good cars which have been reliable and good to drive. Needless to say, I would never have bought this car if it was down to me.

Anyway, current list of problems are failing head gasket, and engine management light which is apparently for EGR valve and crackshaft or camshaft sensor (I can't remember which. An RAC bloke told me age ago after being called out cos of a knackered battery). I suspect EGR valve may be ok, and is just gunked up with all that sludge that builds up when you have a failing head gasket. I say this because, I've had the gunked cleaned out before and the light turned off, and it didn't come back on for a good week or so, and came back on when the gunk had built up again. Also at the last MOT, the garage said the rear suspension arms are on their way out, and also I suspect one of the rear calipers is knackered since it's generally jammed each morning and finally breaks free after some throttle. Basically, it needs money spent on it! Cambelt and water pump are done (though by Qwikfit, so they may have used an elastic band), and it has some new rubber.

So I've been in about four minds for ages, and I need to decide what makes the most sense. I can either sell it the devious way, covering the faults as much as possible, sell it the honest way as a "needs work" car and not get a lot for it, get it fixed by a garage, or do the head gasket myself to save money, since most of the cost is labour and then deal with the rest at MOT time.

It's probably worth £1400 in good condition. Maybe £600 in it's current state, if I sold it as a car that needs work. I have the time to do work on it myself if necessary, but only limited experience (Ya know, oil changes, spark plugs, that kind of thing. I have the haynes). I want to make the right decision, but I'm undecided like a fool. I also have a mate of a mate of a mate who said they'll do the gasket for £200, but I don't like not dealing with it myself.

So I want to get rid to be honest, but I've already sunk money into it with the cambelt, big service, water pump and rubber last year. Plus the money I'll end up with if I sell it openly and honestly won't exactly get me a decent replacement.

So if it was you, what would you do?

[-Ralph-]

Do you have the money to replace it with something better if you sold it, or could your budget just end up with you buying another bucket of bolts? Sometimes with low budget vehicles, it's better the devil you know.

[Fallout]

Yeah, I need one. I don't use it for commuting or anything, so it can sit on the drive for a week at a time, but I use it often for carrying more than I can carry on a bike. I might get a new job where I need to commute in a car soon too, so I do need one. Maximum budget for a new car, excluding sale price of current one, would be another £1000 absolute max (preferably £500).

[-Ralph-]

I edited the question after reading your OP again. My bad.

OK, if you would be selling it for 600 quid and could only afford to buy another £600 quid car, then I'd say fix the one you have. But if you could put a grand in then you may be better off getting rid and finding something newer and lower mileage, than spending half of that grand fixing the bucket of bolts that you have.

[-Ralph-]

I don't use it for commuting or anything, so it can sit on the drive for a week at a time, but I use it often for carrying more than I can carry on a bike.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201201440346457

[dizzyblonde]

want to buy Freelander with more problems than what you have?



Nah.....didn't think so! I have the same headache at the moment!

We're in the same boat, was going to get rid of our 2.5l V6 Freelander for something a little cheaper to run all round, as in November I coughed up around £1300 for tyres and repairs to get it through a failed MOT. We planned to get through the first half of Winter then trade it in, sell it, for something better.
For the MOT we had
four new tyres, as the others were bald
ABS sensor
Steering gaitor replaced, the other one had cracked
ball joint tightened, dangerously loose
New rear light (I broked it..oops)
few other bits and bobs


Its now just had another ABS sensor pop, which are £200 a go, dodgy starter motor spade connector, and it seems the great big VCU sledgehammer has fallen upon it. Vibrates under load, acceleration, drives smooth once cruising, but slow down and go round a corner and the back end bangs around :( Prop shaft is loose, had a heat shield welded last week and it was noticed then......if that falls off its bye bye car!

....so if its off for a second opinion this aft, and an estimate of cost. Bearing in mind, I don't have extra cash for a new car really, and the Landy 'was' ok last week to be sold on, what gets repaired now, will take the bill well over what its worth, and there isn't much choice in the matter either.
We've come to the conclusion we'll have to bite the bullet, get it repaired and keep it, no chance of new car now.

I aren't in the mood for the regulars to take the michael out of the poofwaggon today!

[-Ralph-]

Don't buy a Land Rover!

[Fallout]

Cheers Ralph. Ya know, if it wasn't an Astra that handled like a vomit copter in the corners, I'd definitely agree with you. I don't like the car though, so even if it was in good nick, I'd want rid, which makes it a tough call. BUT the bike is for fun and this is just for practical stuff, so should I care if its rubbish to drive? Not really. I'm just reluctant to keep it because one of my mates always buys Vauxhalls and always had problems.

I may walk up to the local garage and ask them for a head gasket quote then.

[Fallout]

Ahh Dizzy, I feel your pain. Bloody cars. I've always done well before. I had a cupra R of the same age a few months back and it was bullet proof. Nothing wrong with it. The guy who bought that got a steal. Before that I had a Skyline which would've been ragged since the day it rolled out of the factory, and that was bulletproof. Civic before that ... changed some CV gaitors and that was it. Japanese or VW group are the way to go. Vauxhalls? *shudders*

I think I may have to bite the bullet now too, and keep it running. It would be a shame to spend so much on it, just to pass it on to someone else to reap the benefits of a new cambelt etc.

Good luck with your Freelander. Btw, one of my mates recently bought a Defender 90 and has spent most of his spare time underneath it messing with broken differentials. At least he doesn't need to jack it up! ;)

[Wideboy]

None of that is really hard to fix on an astra, had the same model (albeit less ghey, manual) and did all of that. head gasket is easy as there's not much dismantling needed to remove the head its mostly the un-connection of tubes and wires, just get someone to help guide you has you pull the head out, you won't be able to see everything and probably end up catching something

[-Ralph-]

Cheers Ralph. Ya know, if it wasn't an Astra that handled like a vomit copter in the corners, I'd definitely agree with you. I don't like the car though, so even if it was in good nick, I'd want rid

But if you could put a grand in then you may be better off getting rid and finding something newer and lower mileage

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201201440346457

I really need to get into the habit of using the preview post button.

[Fallout]

Getting the local garage to quote me now. I've been toying with doing the gasket myself Wideboy, but I'd still need to get the EGR valve and cam/crackshaft sensor sorted to pass the MOT this year. I'll report back when they let me know how many organs I'd have to sell to get it done at the garage. If its a lot, I may have a go at it.

[dizzyblonde]

Ahh Dizzy, I feel your pain. Bloody cars. I've always done well before. I had a cupra R of the same age a few months back and it was bullet proof. Nothing wrong with it. The guy who bought that got a steal. Before that I had a Skyline which would've been ragged since the day it rolled out of the factory, and that was bulletproof. Civic before that ... changed some CV gaitors and that was it. Japanese or VW group are the way to go. Vauxhalls? *shudders*

I think I may have to bite the bullet now too, and keep it running. It would be a shame to spend so much on it, just to pass it on to someone else to reap the benefits of a new cambelt etc.

Good luck with your Freelander. Btw, one of my mates recently bought a Defender 90 and has spent most of his spare time underneath it messing with broken differentials. At least he doesn't need to jack it up! ;)


We don't like vauxhalls, hired one for the day when we had the Landy in for head gasket a couple of years back.....it was so loud on a motorway you couldn't hear yourself think let alone hear the radio! And it was pretty new iirc.

We've had this for around 2.5 years, after Peg negotiated a good price, and although the head gasket went after 600 miles(cost of that brought the total cost to its book price at the time), it hasn't cost us a bean apart from the usual fluid changes, and the previous MOT.
Since this MOT its turned into a money pit. I wouldn't mind, but we both actually love our car...then hate it when we choose to :lol:

It does pretty much everything we need it for, family of four, fat dog, prams, house moves, journeys to the tip etc, but obviously fuel for commuting is a bit ouch, and insurance. As I said we were getting rid, as insurance is up for renewal in Feb......I have a feeling its a bit like 'Christine', its alive, and it knows we want rid, so is doing it on purpose:smt075

[Fallout]

@Ralph - I've been looking at classifieds too. That's the best bit. Not sure I'd want a Ka though! One of my mates offered me one before for £400. Don't think it'd suit me as I don't look like your avatar. ;)

It's flogging this piece of junk I'm not looking forward to though. I hate doing it on the sly. I like to be upfront and honest to avoid come back, but with this one, that could mean I lose out on a grand.

[Fallout]

@Dizzy. I don't like to be car-ist, but I don't like vauxhalls either. I had a Nova as my first car, and that was great, but all others (except the monaro) are ruuuubbish. I had a Corsa once as a cheap £400 second car to keep the miles off my Skyline and it was atrocious. I've never driven anything that felt so much like a top heavy barge. The only good thing was I bought it for £400 and sold it for £400 9 months later. :)

[dizzyblonde]

Theres your problem, you have a consciounce like myself.
I could quite easily rip off the front prop shaft on the Landy, so it disguises all the problems(apart from the sensor which is on order anyway) I could then flog it on to some poor unsuspecting person, and they'd be none the wiser they had a none four wheel drive Landy, until someone went underneath and found out...not that you can climb under it so easy like a Disco or summat.

I aren't like that unfortunately, I like something to be right when I get rid, even if it hits the pocket very very hard.

[Bri w]

If you can afford for a garage to do then I'd take it there. That way you have a warranty on the work, especially if you're not sure on how to do it yourself. I wouldn't get rid just to buy something of a similar age that would probably have problems anyway - you'd be lucky to find a car of that age/price that has been maintained well. They've been bought by someone on a tight budget who probably can't afford decent maintanance.

[Fallout]

Theres your problem, you have a consciounce like myself.

Sucks doesn't it? Damn morals.

If you can afford for a garage to do then I'd take it there. That way you have a warranty on the work, especially if you're not sure on how to do it yourself.

Turns out the garage is quoting £550 as they have to put a new cambelt on in order to give the work a warranty (as it has to come off apparently). They guy actually said to me he reckons I should flog it.

I think I might take some photos tomorrow and get it on ebay with a completely honest account and see if anyone is interested. Probably make it a classified. Then if it goes I can take my time getting a decent replacement. I think I could spot most expensive faults, so would hopefully avoid buying anything with significant problems.

[Biker Biggles]

Id get rid of it for whatever I could get then buy an old banger for 5-600 squid,but make sure it was a reliable car.I suggest an old Nissan Micra.Totally indestructable unless you crash them.

[Fallout]

I think that's gonna be the plan Mr Biggles. One of my mates never buys a car for more than 400 or 500 quid. I used to go to car auctions with her and there are bargains to be had. The one time she spent £900 was on a Passat and it all went wrong, so she has gone back to her sub £500 ways. :D

[thefallenangel]

With cars you either don't spend anything so when it does go wrong it doesn't matter or spend well £5k and then maintain well and it *should* last 10 years.

Bought a £500 106 diesel which lasted me a year and sold on for £300 and then lasted another 2 years. Not bad.

[Bluefish]

Id get rid of it for whatever I could get then buy an old banger for 5-600 squid,but make sure it was a reliable car.
Agree with this, you see loads with the for sale signs on at the side of the road for 5-600 quid, check a few of them out.

[The Idle Biker]

I've had a series of motors that were not quite bangers but definitely not good'uns. It's always a dilemma when to stop throwing good money at it and when to cut and run. I did the former on a Ford Puma 4 months ago and after spending about half it's resale value on it, the electonic timing for the ignition went and it basically imploded two weeks after paying the bill.

TBH I'd get the serious stuff done then selling it without declaring everything.
Your call. I've a mate who runs a Garage about 40 mins from you. Have pm'd you his details he might be able to save you a bob or two.

[Fallout]

Thanks for the PM mate, but going to sell as-is. Time to cut my losses I think. I bloody hate this car! I think losing money on it in the sale won't be a big deal when I finally get to see the piece of shizzle finally drive off. ;)

[GIZZY66]

Just some food for thought , vauxhall now sell a blanking plate for the egr valve for pennys , with the cam or crank sensor , if the car doesn't start its the crank sensor , if it starts an runs like a burst sofa its the cam , and finally a bottle of K seal will sort the head gasket long enough to sell it with a clear mind . ps never ever buy a car off a mechanic ;).

[metalmonkey]

One of the house I lived in when I was student, you would leave car there within a few days the local kids had stripped it and burnt it out, want to know where it is? My car got left alone, I knew the kids in the area...

[Fallout]

Gahhh, I forgot about k-seal. I even have a small bottle somewhere which I bought for a knackered old bike. The car drives fine though at the moment. The only engine symptom is you need to give it a bit of throttle when you start it if it's already warm (apart from the gunk under the oil cap). If it degrades more before sale, I may well pour that in and see what happens.

[Sir Trev]

With cars you either don't spend anything so when it does go wrong it doesn't matter or spend well £5k and then maintain well and it *should* last 10 years.

Bought a £500 106 diesel which lasted me a year and sold on for £300 and then lasted another 2 years. Not bad.

There is a lot of money to be saved if you can put up with "banger motoring". Unfortunately I have a pathetic car allowance and part of the terms are that I must have a "reasonable" car just in case I have to go to a customer site. My ten year old Astra will have to go this year even though there is nothing wrong with it and will probably last many more years. I know a lot of people hate them but mine has been reliable, fairly comfy and sits on the motorway on my 30 mile-each-way commute with no problems. The Cavalier I had for ten years before that was just the same.

Good luck Fallout.

[Fallout]

Thanks mate. Yes, the astra does the job fine. I've just always had performance cars and I prefer jap! :) Will report back to this thread when I finally sell it. I may need to recruit some org members to make my house look rough in case I upset the buyer though. :D

[yorkie_chris]

We've come to the conclusion we'll have to bite the bullet, get it repaired and keep it, no chance of new car now.

And who would have expected it to be unreliable...

http://www.reliabilityindex.com/

[thefallenangel]

I know it sounds silly but selling a 1.6 auto which struggles for 30mpg might save you some money in the long run?

[GIZZY66]

I can't be 100% sure but your car doesn't sound like its head gaskets gone , the gunk on the cap is more likely to be a blocked breather at the rear of the cam box causing moisture (very common) and the throttle to start when warm is probably your cam sensor , I would spend the hour and the 30 quid on bits for the astra before giving it away .