Car advice

[deej]

Looking for some thoughts from the PnB collective.
Had my car for a good while now, it is an old yin, a 54' plate Nissan Almera which has never caused me too much bother over the years (I've owned since 2010). It only has 78,000 on the clock, not much for a 13 year old car I gather. That said, central locking doesn't work anymore, paint work is shagged, airbag warning light been coming on for a while which I've ignored as had plenty of time to fix (no longer the case). It has never failed to start and never broken down on me and I love it and haven't really been preparing myself for the day I'd have to let it go. I don't use it all that often, but couldn't do without a car as I occasionally drive for work and such like.
I was driving it home the other day and the oil pressure warning came on. Was only about 0.5 miles from home so got it back and checked the dip stick, right enough it was low on oil so planned to get a carton to top up and get it seen to later on (MOT is due before 3rd October). I came down to it yesterday and noticed a large wet patch on the ground next to the drivers tyre etc - so in fact it was a large oil leak, not just low on oil.
As mentioned it is getting on, and MOT due within next month. I am now of a mind not to even take it to a garage as I think the work that will need done (leak repair and air bags) plus possible other work needing done to get it through MOT that isn't currently known about, will exceed what it is worth, as in all likelihood it might not last the year even if it does get through MOT etc without excessive costs.
Have looked into it and of those within my rough budget, I know Vauxhall and Ford are currently running scrappage schemes that would land me around £2k for the car in its current condition - far more than it would be worth to privately sell and with MOT date looming. No government sponsored scrappage scheme yet which would open up a wider range of manufacturers for me, although it is rumored one is in the offing.
So apologies for tl;dr post, but what are people's thoughts? Should I take it to garage to get a quote for the work and then make a decision on whether I feel it worthwhile and take the risk it lasts through? Or take advantage of scrappage deal through Vauxhall/Ford and get a new car. Or is there a better 3rd option I am perhaps not aware of?
Help appreciated.

Have you tried putting the windows down and heating on full blast?

[Scary Bear]

Looking for a 5 door, low tax, low fuel consumption motor. Big enough for a family of 5, but only really gets used for the trip up and down to the train station each day (2 miles) and running kids about to clubs and school.

 

I will be sure to check the heater has not been turned up full and the windows have not been wound down. I will definitely purchase no cars with the radio turned on full blast. I will be sure to kick all 4 tyres.

 

Any recommendations for good cars or cars to avoid would be appreciated.

[Shandon Par]

48 minutes ago, Scary Bear said:

Looking for a 5 door, low tax, low fuel consumption motor. Big enough for a family of 5, but only really gets used for the trip up and down to the train station each day (2 miles) and running kids about to clubs and school.

 

I will be sure to check the heater has not been turned up full and the windows have not been wound down. I will definitely purchase no cars with the radio turned on full blast. I will be sure to kick all 4 tyres.

 

Any recommendations for good cars or cars to avoid would be appreciated.

18k. Seats 12. 

https://tanks-alot.co.uk/product/ot-64-skot-8x8-armoured-personnel-carrier/ 

[Scary Bear]

18k. Seats 12. 
https://tanks-alot.co.uk/product/ot-64-skot-8x8-armoured-personnel-carrier/ 

Parking could be an issue.

[Shandon Par]

Just now, Scary Bear said:

 

Parking could be an issue.

 

You could park wherever the f**k you wanted.

[Scary Bear]

Plus, £18k! I'm not made of money. Well seen you live in Edinburgh. You've changed.

[supermik]

Get my new 67 plate tomorrow. It's getting delivered in a covered lorry to my house at 6 in the morning. 

and yes, I got it for a steal 

[Shandon Par]

9 hours ago, Scary Bear said:

Plus, £18k! I'm not made of money. Well seen you live in Edinburgh. You've changed.

You could probably get it on a PCP deal. 

[John Lambies Doos]

Looking for a 5 door, low tax, low fuel consumption motor. Big enough for a family of 5, but only really gets used for the trip up and down to the train station each day (2 miles) and running kids about to clubs and school.
 
I will be sure to check the heater has not been turned up full and the windows have not been wound down. I will definitely purchase no cars with the radio turned on full blast. I will be sure to kick all 4 tyres.
 
Any recommendations for good cars or cars to avoid would be appreciated.

Depends on your budget i guess. Average budget then get a meganne estate diesel. Decent tax and very very economical plus spacious

[John Lambies Doos]

You could probably get it on a PCP deal. 

 

Or a TNT deal. I hear Clarks are doing some explosive deals. Prepare to be charged more up front mind

 

 

 

[welshbairn]

On 30/08/2017 at 15:48, Super_J said:

Looking for some thoughts from the PnB collective.

Had my car for a good while now, it is an old yin, a 54' plate Nissan Almera which has never caused me too much bother over the years (I've owned since 2010). It only has 78,000 on the clock, not much for a 13 year old car I gather. That said, central locking doesn't work anymore, paint work is shagged, airbag warning light been coming on for a while which I've ignored as had plenty of time to fix (no longer the case). It has never failed to start and never broken down on me and I love it and haven't really been preparing myself for the day I'd have to let it go. I don't use it all that often, but couldn't do without a car as I occasionally drive for work and such like.

I was driving it home the other day and the oil pressure warning came on. Was only about 0.5 miles from home so got it back and checked the dip stick, right enough it was low on oil so planned to get a carton to top up and get it seen to later on (MOT is due before 3rd October). I came down to it yesterday and noticed a large wet patch on the ground next to the drivers tyre etc - so in fact it was a large oil leak, not just low on oil.

As mentioned it is getting on, and MOT due within next month. I am now of a mind not to even take it to a garage as I think the work that will need done (leak repair and air bags) plus possible other work needing done to get it through MOT that isn't currently known about, will exceed what it is worth, as in all likelihood it might not last the year even if it does get through MOT etc without excessive costs.

Have looked into it and of those within my rough budget, I know Vauxhall and Ford are currently running scrappage schemes that would land me around £2k for the car in its current condition - far more than it would be worth to privately sell and with MOT date looming. No government sponsored scrappage scheme yet which would open up a wider range of manufacturers for me, although it is rumored one is in the offing.

So apologies for tl;dr post, but what are people's thoughts? Should I take it to garage to get a quote for the work and then make a decision on whether I feel it worthwhile and take the risk it lasts through? Or take advantage of scrappage deal through Vauxhall/Ford and get a new car. Or is there a better 3rd option I am perhaps not aware of?

Help appreciated.

VW offering up to £6000

[ICTJohnboy]

On 31/08/2017 at 09:58, Scary Bear said:

Looking for a 5 door, low tax, low fuel consumption motor. Big enough for a family of 5, but only really gets used for the trip up and down to the train station each day (2 miles) and running kids about to clubs and school.

 

I will be sure to check the heater has not been turned up full and the windows have not been wound down. I will definitely purchase no cars with the radio turned on full blast. I will be sure to kick all 4 tyres.

 

Any recommendations for good cars or cars to avoid would be appreciated.

 

You could do a lot worse than something like this : Low mileage, Low road tax, Excellent fuel consumption.

Very comfortable, roomy car.

https://www.arnoldclark.com/used-cars/ford/c-max/1-6-tdci-zetec-5dr/2011/ref/arnev-u-19260

Edited September 1, 2017 by ICTJohnboy

[RandomGuy.]

If you're only doing two miles a day, DO NOT GET A MODERN DIESEL. You'll find in a year or so you'll face a fucking huge bill as your DPF clogs up as it's never been regenerated. Most new petrols mpg isn't exactly far off diesels anyway.

[Stellaboz]

My car is for sale.

[RandomGuy.]

Looking for some thoughts from the PnB collective.

Sounds like it's just your sump that's leaking, you'd be aswell asking a garage how much a sump would be to replace on your car. Doubt it would be overly expensive with the age of car, and it's pretty common on Nissans.

Whens your MOT due? If the price of a sump is cheap enough, you could ask them to check it out at the same time, and get a quote for all the work.

Just what I would do, tbh, if it all comes back over a certain amount and needs done fairly quickly then I'd start looking at different options.

[Super_J]

Sounds like it's just your sump that's leaking, you'd be aswell asking a garage how much a sump would be to replace on your car. Doubt it would be overly expensive with the age of car, and it's pretty common on Nissans.

Whens your MOT due? If the price of a sump is cheap enough, you could ask them to check it out at the same time, and get a quote for all the work.

Just what I would do, tbh, if it all comes back over a certain amount and needs done fairly quickly then I'd start looking at different options.

Cheers for suggestions etc. thus far lads. I have the option of still taking it to the garage and getting an assessment of that nature done before I dive into buying a new thing so will keep that back for now. It's the oil thing plus the airbag issue that's known about, but I suspect there will be other things lurking.

I'm looking at different options and factoring in what's been said here so thanks again. Particularly the one that opened my eyes to the fact that yes scrappage scheme might get you more than part ex would for my current motor but in all likelihood it's not saving as much as opting for a larger amount off list price etc which would exceed the scrappage saving even if only getting a few 100 for the current car.

[welshbairn]

4 minutes ago, Super_J said:

 

Cheers for suggestions etc. thus far lads. I have the option of still taking it to the garage and getting an assessment of that nature done before I dive into buying a new thing so will keep that back for now. It's the oil thing plus the airbag issue that's known about, but I suspect there will be other things lurking.

I'm looking at different options and factoring in what's been said here so thanks again. Particularly the one that opened my eyes to the fact that yes scrappage scheme might get you more than part ex would for my current motor but in all likelihood it's not saving as much as opting for a larger amount off list price etc which would exceed the scrappage saving even if only getting a few 100 for the current car.

 

It's also worth bearing in mind that a 3 year old car with low mileage can be half the list price of a new one.

Edited September 1, 2017 by welshbairn

[peasy23]

If you're only doing two miles a day, DO NOT GET A MODERN DIESEL. You'll find in a year or so you'll face a fucking huge bill as your DPF clogs up as it's never been regenerated. Most new petrols mpg isn't exactly far off diesels anyway.

Absolutely this, modern diesels are built for motorway driving, not about town.

[Sergeant Wilson]

7 hours ago, Stellaboz said:

My car is for sale.

Where will you live?

[HTG]

I'm considering buying a hyundai i40 - 9 months old. Looks like it's got plenty of toys for the money - heated leather seats on this version. 

Anyone got one/had on and if so how was it to own?