[Misc] Car advice please

[B-right-on]

For £1200 you’re probably not going to get a better used car, most at the cheaper end will have something about to break/wear out. Better the devil you know etc.

Unless you just need an excuse to get a much newer car then I would just get it fixed.

This. Even if its the more expensive quote, then it's hard to see what you can get for £1200 and you'll never know the history.

 

[Triggaaar]

How much to replace it the vehicle?

Over £10k I guess.

I think you know what you will be doing

I really don't (although the advice above has helped). We've no need to replace for something smarter (newer, less tatty etc), so I'd like to keep it, but what I don't want is to spend £1200 and then have something else go wrong which costs another chunk, etc etc.

 

[Triggaaar]

For £1200 you’re probably not going to get a better used car, most at the cheaper end will have something about to break/wear out. Better the devil you know etc.

Good advice, thanks.

Unless you just need an excuse to get a much newer car

Nope.

This. Even if its the more expensive quote, then it's hard to see what you can get for £1200 and you'll never know the history.

The truth is, we wouldn't try and get another car for a couple of grand, we'd spend over 10 and hope to have the replacement for a long time too.

 

[B-right-on]

Done, thank you (I think).

Well...
if there's a problem with the flywheel, which has caused the clutch to go, that will need replacing too. £1210!
If not £523.20

No way of knowing in advance

Is that just a case of CYA as the yanks say?

You could always ask them to take the gearbox out and if it's the flywheel then put it back without fixing anything, cost you a couple of hundred in labour if the full £1200 isn't worth it to you

Then stick it in Shoreham vehicle auctions and get a bit of cash for it or trade it in.

 

[Triggaaar]

Is that just a case of CYA as the yanks say?

I think he was being honest about the possibilities. I didn't ask what the odds were (no idea how often it's the flywheel that causes the problem, but I could ask him).

You could always ask them to take the gearbox out and if it's the flywheel then put it back without fixing anything

I didn't ask about putting it back, but it was a couple of hundred just to check.

Then stick it in Shoreham vehicle auctions and get a bit of cash for it or trade it in.

One issue is that I can't drive it, so getting it to Mr Clutch is one journey more than I want, and getting it to an auction is another problem. And I don't fancy trying to trade in a car that won't go. Is selling an old clutch-less car at auction an option?

 

[Spiros]

I had a verso until a few years ago. Had it for 10 years and was very happy with it. When I got it there were 1,200 miles on the clock. When I parted with it 3 years ago it had 150,000 on it and was still going strong. It was the petrol rather than the diesel one. Clutch went at about 110K and I had it replaced at Mr Clutch Shoreham and it was actually better than it had been before the clutch went. I only replaced the car because I was doing 20K miles a year driving to Guildford and back and just wanted something more comfortable, newer and with a bit more acceleration. As an earlier poster said the verso can be a bit dull but as reliable transport I was very happy with it. If it was me I'd have the clutch done (as it was me about 6 years ago and I did and don't regret it). Also got picked up about a year ago in a taxi that was a diesel verso from about 2007. It had over 200K on the clock and in conversation with the cabbie he felt it was good for plenty more. At 110K your car still has loads of life in it yet.

Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[Arthritic Toe]

The constant mass flywheel will almost certainly need replacing - if the clutch has gone, its rare that the flywheel hasn't. The big clutch is one of the downsides of a diesel - but when compared to the cost of a new car, well worth taking it on the chin and doing it IMHO.

 

[Notters]

Thank you

Thank you

Sorry, was there a point to this post?

Haha, just some Toyota loving!

I guess my concern is that parts may be harder to get hold of and the resale value will go down.

 

[gazingdown]

but what I don't want is to spend £1200 and then have something else go wrong which costs another chunk, etc.

But the could happen anyway (with any car out of warranty). It’s a “gamble” whichever you choose unless you buy new (or nearly new) with warranty. But that costs of course!

Unless you know the car has other impending issues then financially then cheaper option is to keep it. Toyotas tends to be built well so it’s probably as safe a bet as anything else.

 

[Notters]

Get a quote from Mr Clutch in Shoreham, I believe they give fixed prices too.. They use pattern parts rather than the expensive manufacturers but should be good for a few years and yes Jap cars are pretty solid and reliable.....but mostly fecking DULL to drive (I speak from experience as I have a 2003 Lexus and it’s hewn from granite but christ it’s boring)

I love driving but give me reliable over dull any day of the week.

And yes my Verso does 0-60 in about 2 1/2 hours

 

[Icy Gull]

I love driving but give me reliable over dull any day of the week.

And yes my Verso does 0-60 in about 2 1/2 hours

I’m fecked - Alfas are my car passion, have had one for the last 40 years and have gone through more than 10 and still have two. I enjoy driving too much to spend time in my dull car unless I need it for something functional

The Lexus is undoubtably the best put together most reliable car I have ever owned too, I just can’t love it but I do appreciate it.

 

[Stat Brother]

I’m fecked - Alfas are my car passion, have had one for the last 40 years and have gone through more than 10 and still have two. I enjoy driving too much to spend time in my dull car unless I need it for something functional

The Lexus is undoubtably the best put together most reliable car I have ever owned too, I just can’t love it but I do appreciate it.

I have absolutely no idea how someone can enjoy driving.
Certainly not someone living in the south east of England.

Well done you, (not being sarcastic) I wish I could see it as anything other than a completely unnecessary yet necessary evil.

 

[Weststander]

I have absolutely no idea how someone can enjoy driving.
Certainly not someone living in the south east of England.

Well done you, (not being sarcastic) I wish I could see it as anything other than a completely unnecessary yet necessary evil.

Driving on the very crowded roads of southern England, with all manner of driving, is shite.

The only people I suspect who love it are youngsters excited about having a car, or some who drive in the evenings/nights when the roads are nearly empty.

 

[Icy Gull]

Driving on the very crowded roads of southern England, with all manner of driving, is shite.

The only people I suspect who love it are youngsters excited about having a car, or some who drive in the evenings/nights when the roads are nearly empty.

Early morning at the weekends and evenings in the summer are fine. Long distance with not too much motorway is fine too. Driving on the continent is lots of fun...imo

You either like driving or you don’t. Most modern cars are dull dull dull as they virtually drive themselves so I can see why people with modern cars get bored, even if the cars are driving licence losing quick. It’s not like driving very fast is easy, safe or without risk of points. Got to be a manual too for me

 

[PoG]

If its got a full service history surely you'll get another 100k out of it, whats the clutch being quoted as? £400?

 

[Weststander]

Early morning at the weekends and evenings in the summer are fine. Long distance with not too much motorway is fine too. Driving on the continent is lots of fun...imo

It was a revelation when I started driving to The Alps, also to Spain and Austria. Empty autoroutes, and quieter other roads.

I put this down to lower population density eg France is 4x the size of England but with the same population, and also the locals avoid toll roads! Our win.

 

[PoG]

Done, thank you (I think).

Well...
if there's a problem with the flywheel, which has caused the clutch to go, that will need replacing too. £1210!
If not £523.20

No way of knowing in advance

That old chestnut, get a quote from a local mechanic.

 

[Triggaaar]

I had a verso until a few years ago. Had it for 10 years and was very happy with it. When I got it there were 1,200 miles on the clock. When I parted with it 3 years ago it had 150,000 on it and was still going strong. It was the petrol rather than the diesel one. Clutch went at about 110K and I had it replaced at Mr Clutch Shoreham and it was actually better than it had been before the clutch went. I only replaced the car because I was doing 20K miles a year driving to Guildford and back and just wanted something more comfortable, newer and with a bit more acceleration. As an earlier poster said the verso can be a bit dull but as reliable transport I was very happy with it. If it was me I'd have the clutch done (as it was me about 6 years ago and I did and don't regret it). Also got picked up about a year ago in a taxi that was a diesel verso from about 2007. It had over 200K on the clock and in conversation with the cabbie he felt it was good for plenty more. At 110K your car still has loads of life in it yet.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Thank you. When Mr Clutch did yours, do you know if he also had to do the flywheel?

 

[Triggaaar]

If its got a full service history surely you'll get another 100k out of it

Thanks. It's been regularly serviced, but wouldn't class as 'full'.

whats the clutch being quoted as? £400?

£523 or £1200, if the flywheel needs doing.

 

[Triggaaar]

That old chestnut, get a quote from a local mechanic.

Well he is fairly local. Reading the other posts on here, I don't get the feeling he's making it up.