Decision time - scrap or fix

[DrRog]

Hi guys,

My battered '96 2.1TD failed its MOT today. Suspension rubbers and a mid exhaust box. It also needs the rear brakes sorted and a bottom radiator hose.

The main thing is I have already bought its replacement, a 2003 MPV which arrived Saturday. The old workhorse is just taking up space.

Also I am booked up till Christmas, I can barely find time to take it somewhere.

Is it worth bothering or is it a good choice for "spares or repair". Mileage is under 135k, smoke was 1.44 (pass is 150). Engine and gearbox are sound. Body is tatty but they don't rust .

Your opinions are appreciated.

[Ares]

Well,i dont see to many job concerning fixing it,i would MOT it anyway,it was faithfull all this time, right.
selling it without MOT wouldnt bring you much cash anyway so putit if you have some spare space and keep it at home.

I have a soft point on any car so my vote goes to fixing it.

[lozz]

With that amount of work need doing (little)
id Get the jobs done,

even if you are selling, it wouid increase the Sale value By -Alot, (As already mentioned Above,)

[plod]

Whack it on the bay, and see what you get for it - ain't it only pay fees if it sells at mo???

Kinda the situation i'm in
The plodmobile has had shed loads spent on it, but it need work, and i've already got the replacement, and no space to store - i'm allocated one parking space only
Can't do anything with it whilst I applied for V5 for mondingo so I could speed up plate transfer, which is in the process at the mo

[steve_earwig]

I reckon the biggest problem will be that bottom hose because I think it's that one with a metal section that goes round the engine and they were hideously expensive last time they came up - around 100 quid on Service Box, and if you get a second hand one there's then the worry of these stupid fittings corroding. The rest should be fairly straight forward (unless it's the rear brake back plates you were talking about...) so do-able but I guess the bottom line is the content of your wallet, I don't suppose it's worth a hell of a lot as a goer, would fixing it make it worth it or would you end up loosing?

I have a soft point on any car so my vote goes to fixing it.

But over here it'd still be worth a few thousand euro, over there probably not very much at all. At the end of the day it's just a big lump of iron doing its best to turn back into iron oxide.


Oh, and they do rust

[jonsowman]

I got a second hand but only one year old bottom hose for mine for £20 posted from eBay. They do turn up from time to time, but are indeed about £90 from your friendly local Pug dealer.

A trick that a few people have done is to get a top hose from a scrapper (the fitting doesn't corrode on the top hose since it's further from the road), and chop the fitting off. Cut the corroded fitted off your existing bottom hose and attach the fixing from the top hose with a couple of jubilee clips. A total bodge but a cheap and effective repair

I reckon it's worth fixing, there's not a lot wrong with it on the whole

[Ares]

Yes Steve,back here in Croatia,that car would be worth few thousand euros,specially because its a diesel engine,can be fitted for veggie oil

Let it sit for a while until you figure it out what you gonna do with it.
It aint a piece of metal,every car has a soul,you just need to listen carefully

[DrRog]

Thanks guys, the point about the bottom hose is a potential clincher.

I think the rubbers are cheap and a quick job, the exhaust and bottom hose expensive, the brakes an unknown.

I think I will have to put it on the bay - and maybe this forum

If I needed it it would be less of an issue, but I don't and I have not had it long enough to be sentimental.

Shame, it has a full tank and a fresh tax disk

[Doggy]

Shame, it has a full tank and a fresh tax disk

Well, that's got to be the thick end of £300 worth, (if it's 12 months)....
plus say £150 if you were to weigh it in, (guessing).

[DrRog]

You won't believe this - or maybe you will.

Its booked in with a mechanic for mid week.

My "new" Espace lasted two weeks before it broke down and the computer won't tell the "technician" what is wrong.

I am pootling about in a brand new rental Renault scenic that is totally pants, a gutless lump of a car that is more noisy and with inferior steering and ride that the 406.

So if the mate of a mate can fix the issues for a reasonable sum I shall get it back on the road and use it for my "dirty jobs", general runabout and spare car until the Espace "clean, tidy but thirsty bus" is demonstrated reliable.

Unfortunately it will have to go eventually as its a bit big for my daughter to learn to drive in, even if I did loose the extra seats in the boot.