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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Advice? (About cars)

37 replies

Catnao · 23/02/2011 15:24

Our car (15 year old Fiesta) has just failed its MOT. Will cost around £300 pounds to make it right and pass test.

We have been offered a year 2000 Rover for £750 which is taxed and MOTed for 9 months.

Given that our car may well need other work done very soon and also is due to be taxed next month, and the garage said we would get £120 for it as scrap, what would you do. Money is very tight at the moment for various unrelated reasons.

OP posts:

Original poster

Catnao · 23/02/2011 15:37

The aibu bit is that I think we should try to buy new one, but my partner thinks maybe we should do the less expensive repairs, and I don't know who's right.

OP posts:

ARepleteHmmSkiNun · 23/02/2011 15:59

Dear Les,

I hope you can help me here. The other day I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't gone more than a mile down the road when my engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help.

When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was in the bedroom with a lady making mad passionate love to her. I am 32, my husband is 34 and we have been married for twelve years.

When I confronted him, he tried to make out that he went into the back garden as he had heard a lady scream, had come to her rescue but found her unconscious. He'd carried the woman back to our house, laid her on the bed, and began CPR.

When she awoke she immediately began thanking him and kissing him and he was attempting to break free when I came back. But when I asked him why neither of them had any clothes on, he broke down and admitted that he'd been having an affair for the past six months.

I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. I don't feel I can get through to him anymore.

Can you please help?

Sincerely,
Susie Fox

Dear Susie,

A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the clips holding the vacuum lines onto the inlet manifold for air leaks. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the carburetor float chamber.

I hope this helps.

Les

purplepidjin · 23/02/2011 16:05

Don't get a Rover over a Ford - the Fiasco is worth fixing. Shop around for parts on Ebay and the local scrap merchant, and get quotes from different garages for the work.

If you're feeling brave, find a car-mad teenager to tinker with it for nowt

I sold my R reg Fiesta last year, got £800 for it.

browneyesblue · 23/02/2011 16:09

I'm in a similar position, and we've decided to look for a new (to us) car. Our repairs would cost about £800 though, with no guarantee that further problems wouldn't be found.

I've been borrowing my dad's Rover, and I can't believe how much fuel it guzzles. I don't know the model, so can't compare it to the one you are looking at, but remember to take mpg into consideration. Miss my old Hyundai - I could afford to fill her up!

beatenbyayellowteacup · 23/02/2011 16:14

The Rover is a red herring, but it does highlight that you may be able to buy another car for a similar price, but one that is your choice ie is fuel efficient etc

I'd check out gumtree or something and have a sniff around.

Original poster

Catnao · 23/02/2011 16:44

Ok thanks - I know nothing about cars! Maybe will have another think then. Rats at partner being maybe right!

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QueenStromba · 23/02/2011 16:57

Some Rovers from around that time have head gasket issues which can be expensive to repair (lots of garages won't touch them) and have the potential to bugger the engine up if you don't catch it quickly so it would probably be best to avoid them if you don't know much about cars.

Original poster

Catnao · 23/02/2011 17:03

Oh - thanks very much! Now thinking Fiesta repairs may be the way forward!

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Decentdragon · 23/02/2011 17:11

What's it actually failed on?
It costs a lot of money to have someone replace brake shoes, gaiters, align headlights, etc that you can do yourself. Often only part of the work needed to overcome an MOT fail needs a mechanic.

Haynes manual is your best friend. :)

nickelbabe · 23/02/2011 17:12

IMO it's worth getting the fiesta mended - at least you know that it's then sound.

jsut because the Rover is MOT'd for 9months, doesn't mean it won't go wrong.
you also know your fiesta's history and what's gone wrong, what's new and what's old.
that makes it cheaper.

the only thing i would warn on is the door sills in the Fiesta are prone to rust - that's what mine failed on - was mechanically perfect, but i couldn't afford the cosy work.
it might be worth checking out your door sills, and if they're okay, you're okay, but if they need repair, look out for some cheap ones at the scrap heap. or learn to weld.

I would go for mending the fiesta at £300 over getting any other car.
always.

nickelbabe · 23/02/2011 17:13

cosy work ? body Work

purplepidjin · 23/02/2011 17:32

DP (car mad) says you should be able to find a better Fiesta for £300 - and *don't touch the rover with a bargepole"

southeastastra · 23/02/2011 17:35

my car usually costs that at MOT i would stick with it - also the 2000 rover isn't exactly that newer is it?

wtf is the 15.59 post about

Original poster

Catnao · 23/02/2011 17:53

I wondered about the 15.59 post too!!

OK thanks for advice everyone, will have another think. Have to get it by the weekend as will be back at work then.

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Glitterknickaz · 23/02/2011 17:58

Don't do the Rover!!!!!

Original poster

Catnao · 23/02/2011 18:42

Are Rovers really bad news then? My partner's dad has got one which he swears by! (Although as far as I know, he too knows f all about cars)

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MitchiestInge · 23/02/2011 18:45

surely would be better to push a Fiesta than drive a Rover?

roomonthebroom · 23/02/2011 18:53

My vote is keep the Fiesta and try to get it repaired as cheaply as possible.

My friend has just had to scrap her 51 plate rover because the cylinder head went and would have cost a fortune to have fixed. A friend of a friend had similar problems with hers.

As others have said, you know the history of your car and have probably spent money on various repairs recently, but you could be buying something that will need loads of work done to it in the near future. The MOT only really tells you that it was roadworthy on the day of the test, and if the mechanic thinks your car is worth fixing then I'd take his advice.

FabbyChic · 23/02/2011 18:57

I had a Rover Metro, and it was 15 years old would recommend one to anyone, you can get one on eBay for 500, they are cheap to repair and economical to run.

I got mine that was 15 years old with 27k on the clock through the MOT for £100.

The old Fiesta I had ran like a hair dryer constantly and there was nothing to do to resolve it.

Vicky2011 · 23/02/2011 19:13

I love my Rover, comfortable, reliable, and that rare combination of fuel efficient and fast. None of this says you should buy the Rover btw just wanted to say they are not all the crock of shit that people seem to assume!

GotArt · 23/02/2011 19:21

Haven't read through thread after the first response post that had me wondering WTF, but funny when I realized it was a joke. DH and I had a '88 Toyota Corolla and although ran, we never had any major problems, the floor was rusting out and it had a faint smell of mould and was not really so great on gas and because of its age, it was going to become a constant change of parts and maintenance. We shopped around and decided the best decision in this financial climate was to go brand new, but very basic. Not even power windows and went with a standard 2010 Toyota Corolla. Although we have to watch our pennies, it is so worth it for safety, insurance, gas cost.

Oblomov · 23/02/2011 19:24

H aha at skinin post. Wierd.
What exactly did it fail on OP ? Agree with dragon, if its 'this and thta', it makes it a different thing to gasket etc.

Original poster

Catnao · 23/02/2011 20:17

It failed on 5 things but the serious one was a drive shaft thing. The other stuff was headlamp aim too high and some corroded thingummy bits that require welding. The serious one is serious though, so glad we had MOT done a month early, as otherwise would be driving round in death trap blissfully unaware!

Mechanic said it was borderline as to whether it was worth fixing.

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vj32 · 23/02/2011 20:18

I would repair the Fiesta, and look around if you want another car.

You don't say what the Rover is but please please don't buy a Rover Metro - in a crash they can be crushed to nothing.

Original poster

Catnao · 23/02/2011 20:20

It's a biggish blue Rover This is how aware i am about car makes/models...

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