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greenspaces4peace · 31/08/2023 03:27

In my experience once bits and bobs start to “go” it’s like a death by 1000 cuts.
i’d trade but stick to a solid brand, where I’m from that would mean Toyota, something like new but maybe 1 yr old.
When you’re fully responsible for a family you need a reliable vehicle.

Thinkingofbankruptcy · 31/08/2023 03:33

Jelllibeans30 · 31/08/2023 02:52

I have a car which is paid off and about 7 years old 80,000 miles…it’s recently started to have costly repairs and I’m about to get the timing belt re done

I’m a single mum of 2 so only one car in the family. Is it worth trading it in and committing to finance on something newer or should I drive this until it dies, if I got something now then I can afford the finance with what I have been offered as part ex but I will have to strictly budget

Over years and years every car I’ve had has fallen to bits about 100k.
Merc, BM, Audi. All of them. My mechanic says they’re designed to flunk out about then.
sell it and move on

Original poster

Jelllibeans30 · 31/08/2023 08:18

greenspaces4peace · 31/08/2023 03:27

In my experience once bits and bobs start to “go” it’s like a death by 1000 cuts.
i’d trade but stick to a solid brand, where I’m from that would mean Toyota, something like new but maybe 1 yr old.
When you’re fully responsible for a family you need a reliable vehicle.

That’s what I’m thinking, I’ve only ever had a vw but even with a decent part ex part price it’s still quite an expensive monthly payment so might look around at others like you mentioned, literally I’m not bothered about fancy, just want reliable

OP posts:

BarbaraofSeville · 01/09/2023 04:26

It's hard to know. It could be that you've now paid for a few expensive things and once the belt is done, it might run for a couple of years without costing so much.

Or it could be that there are other bills to come.

Have you had it serviced every year? How much will the monthly payment be? Even if its a couple of hundred a month, that's nearly £2.5k pa, so even if you spend £1k pa repairing your current car and a bit on taxis or hire cars when it's off the road, that's way less than payments on a newer car.

So if you hung on for a couple of years you could save money and a 7 year old car is still quite new so its not like you're having to put up with driving a banger.

mishmased · 01/09/2023 04:42

We've only just gotten rid of our trusted 15 year old Subaru Impreza at 190k km. We've had it since 2010 and sad to see it go. Like pp said it could be you've done the expensive fix and it could last another 5-6 years. We had an expensive fix in 2017 that cost around €800 but nothing else apart from tyres and service. Finally had to get rid for the simple fact that it kept failing NCT (mot) for emissions.

Original poster

Jelllibeans30 · 01/09/2023 08:54

BarbaraofSeville · 01/09/2023 04:26

It's hard to know. It could be that you've now paid for a few expensive things and once the belt is done, it might run for a couple of years without costing so much.

Or it could be that there are other bills to come.

Have you had it serviced every year? How much will the monthly payment be? Even if its a couple of hundred a month, that's nearly £2.5k pa, so even if you spend £1k pa repairing your current car and a bit on taxis or hire cars when it's off the road, that's way less than payments on a newer car.

So if you hung on for a couple of years you could save money and a 7 year old car is still quite new so its not like you're having to put up with driving a banger.

I see what you mean, I think it’s the unknown! I’ve just got a new job also which involves regular travel on a daily business within the county so that’s on my mind too. Since January the car on repairs alone has been £1500, i have some savings (not a lot) and keep them specially for any car issues and anything with the house. The timing belt is going to be another £500

I would feel more at ease if I wasn’t a single mum and there was another car in the household

OP posts:

BarbaraofSeville · 01/09/2023 09:14

What does it say in your contract about using a car for work (do you have to provide one or could your work get hire cars?). Will they be paying you 45 p per mile for using your own car? Will you get a car allowance?

If you expect the job to be permanent and you'll be getting a car allowance or 45 p a mile for a decent number of miles, then you will receive a decent amount of money, which you could possibly use to pay towards a newer car.

But if they don't require you to provide your own car, or don't fully compensate you for using it, ie the cost of petrol, and a contribution toward depreciation, maintenance etc, which is what the 45 p a mile is supposed to cover, then I'd be asking work to provide a hire or pool car, certainly for any time when my car is off the road.

Original poster

Jelllibeans30 · 01/09/2023 09:36

BarbaraofSeville · 01/09/2023 09:14

What does it say in your contract about using a car for work (do you have to provide one or could your work get hire cars?). Will they be paying you 45 p per mile for using your own car? Will you get a car allowance?

If you expect the job to be permanent and you'll be getting a car allowance or 45 p a mile for a decent number of miles, then you will receive a decent amount of money, which you could possibly use to pay towards a newer car.

But if they don't require you to provide your own car, or don't fully compensate you for using it, ie the cost of petrol, and a contribution toward depreciation, maintenance etc, which is what the 45 p a mile is supposed to cover, then I'd be asking work to provide a hire or pool car, certainly for any time when my car is off the road.

Thankyou so so much for replying, they pay 45 pence per mile

OP posts:

Original poster

Jelllibeans30 · 01/09/2023 09:37

Jelllibeans30 · 01/09/2023 09:36

Thankyou so so much for replying, they pay 45 pence per mile

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It’s a permanent job

OP posts:

Augustus40 · 01/09/2023 09:39

I no longer have a car but over the years Fords were always reliable.