Advice? (About cars)

[Catnao]

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.

Could you look around a little bit more for used cars? Maybe in areas near your parents too - after my Daewoo died my next car actually came from near my parents' - seemed to be a lot more about in Clacton than our area.

Speaking of which - thoroughly recommend Daewoo Lanos - usually fairly cheap cos the Jeremy Clarkson types hate them, but look nice and run cheaply.

Hiya gapbear This blue car is from a mechanic who is a friend of my partner's parents. I really don't know what to do now, as we really have to get it sorted one way or another this week.

Hiya

What about going on a motoring forum and getting reviews of the Rover thingy? Can Mr C get a lift to work next week if needs be?

My threshold for "scrap or repair" for a car is £300.But all my cars are worth less than this, and I get bored after about 18 months of owning a car. I blame my stepdad, who is the same.

Have they said on the "advice" bit of the MOT what other stuff to keep an eye on - that won't stop it passing now, but could be a problem in future?

The advantage of Ford is that the parts are cheaper. Unless you are very mechanically minded, don't attempt it yourself, or let anyone else have a go. You will spend out for parts, and still won't get through the MOT.

I like car auctions. You often get bargains on older cars that garages have taken as part exchanges, and then want shot of.

SO neither of you are BU

I think we do have to get it sorted this week as we are the wrong side of the county for Mr C's colleagues unfortunately. Will ask partner's parent's for the model tomorrow and look at some reviews then, that's a good idea, thanks.

I think we are too hopelessly rubbish about cars to get something that wasn't a complete crock from an auction!

Since seller is mate of the "in laws", I don't think he would deliberately rip us off.

We know the Fiesta though - oh, God, I don't know! Will try and think about something more interesting than the car situation or waste time browsing mumsnet

check out

www.mg-rover.org

Really knowledgable guys on the forum

Thank you!

We are just about to spend out £1500 on our p reg fiesta to get the automatic gearbox sorted on it.

The car only cost us £460 but it only has 53k miles from new on the clock and worth every penny.

As for a rover you couldnt pay me to have one im ford all the way when it comes to cars they are reliable and easy to fix and cheap to get parts for.

I may be wrong, in fact I probably am, as as I said I know nothing about cars, but there is NO WAY I would spend £1500 on a car that cost £460! Even if I really wanted another Fiesta - I would buy a whole new one (or two ) for that money! At the garage there was a 51 plate small Mercedes for £1995!

In my vast experience of knackered old bangers - Rovers are a nightmare and the fuel consumption can be ridiculously high.

You could try looking on Ebay - I bought my last 4 cars from there. I currently have a small Proton (had never even heard of it before I sat in it!) that was only £300 and I have got 20,000 miles out of it so don't really care if it falls to pieces.

You could also try, as others have advised, to get the parts from ebay or a scrapyard. It may even be worth looking for the same model as your current car in the spares and repairs bit of ebay - basically a car you can strip down yourself for parts. Check what is still ok and what isn't before buying it. You might be able to pick up an S&R fiesta for about £100 - then strip out the useful bits and scrap the rest!
I went through a run of Peugots years ago and whenever one expired I would strip out all the good bits (alternators etc) and use them as spares for the next car. If you get a Haynes manual (free PDF downloads online) for your current car you may find that you can do lots of the repairs yourself. I do everything bar the breaks myself although nowadays you open the bonnet and are faced with a big lump of plastic - WTF is that all about!!

I have a 2001 Rover 25. I wouldn't have got it through choice but my old Escort had to be scrapped at MOT time and I was so distraught (I was actually sobbing at the garage ) that I bought the first thing they had that was in my price range and suited my needs. I've had it nearly 5 years now and, touch wood, it's been a very reliable car and easy to drive. BUT the head gasket did go on it which cost over £1000 to repair

If your Fiesta has been a good car and you're attached to it, keep it. :)

Thanks for all rplies - will look into it in more depth tomorrow - but I think we will be getting the Rover as my partner's parents are very keen (it's their mate's garage it's coming from) and they are now going to pay half!