Car is kaput - WWYD?

[SomethingNastyInTheBallPool]

Our 2011-reg car is seriously ill. It needs £2,000+ worth of repairs - a problem with the electronics.
Last year, we had to have a new clutch, a new cam belt and a new console.
Do we get the latest problem fixed or admit that it’s had its day and shell out c. £13,000-ish for a new secondhand car?
I really don’t know. Secondhand cars are so insanely expensive at the moment. But is it mad to keep spending money patching up a 12-year-old car?
What would you do?

We recently had this and decided to bite the bullet and get a new car. We knew we would just end up spending more and more on it so might as well put the money towards a new one now.

Personally id get a new second hand car before this eats money

The question is: how long have you had the car? Milage and what hasn't been repaired over the last 24 months (think anything from break pads to tires) ... then do the maths.

Think about the car you can afford in terms of mileage and some repair costs like tires, cam belt ect.

Valid or not I've always felt once things started failing on a car it seemed to be a steady decline, so I'd get rid.

We’ve had the car nearly seven years and there’s about 60,000 miles on the clock. It’s been great up until last year, when it suddenly wasn’t.
It’s not driveable, so I’m guessing part-exchange isn’t an option. If it were in good health it would be worth about 4.5 grand, according to Autotrader.

Would it be worth repairing and then selling?

if it’s worth scrap now (usually £250-£400) would it be worth spending 2k and then selling for £4.5k?

Personally I think I’d do that, even if it means you can part ex it and get more money off another car.

I think I’m there would our 11 plate ford. 70000 miles on the clock and it’s needing more and more done to it. Such a shame as it’s been looked after and for a diesel car not many miles.

That isn't many miles. I would be inclined to fix it. What make is it?

It’s a Ford C-Max.

If we could be sure of making money back from part exchange after repairing it, that would be the sensible thing to do. I’m just worried that the cost of repair will creep up and the sale value will come down from the Autotrader estimate, meaning it’s not worth the hassle.

How long would it take to repair? Have they given you any timescales?

I’d get a few quotes and choose the most sensible. I work in a garage - if you explain you want it repaired to sell I think they’d help you keep the cost to a minimum.

if it’s electrical, try some auto electricians as well as mainstream garages x

@SomethingNastyInTheBallPool I usually put the car into we buy any car, and add a few £100 on for a private sale to get a better estimate of value 🙂

I doubt the cat is worth £2k so I would just buy a new one.

@As476 They’ve had it since Monday and we’re looking at about another 1.5 weeks if we go ahead with the repair.
Thanks for the tip about telling them we’re just fixing it to resell - I hadn’t realised that might bring the cost down slightly.