Learning about cars is expensive!

tres · 2 Dec 2013 at 11:02

Recently bought a cheap student car (spent all my life driving company & hire cars). Don't know much about cars. Didn't have anyone around here to ask, so just went and bought one.

Running pretty well, a few bits here and there.
Found out it's overdue for a new timing belt - £200
Thought I'd better get a full service done at the same time - £100
Turns out it needs rear brakes redone, brake lines, and loads of other stuff that flew over my head - £300.

That's more than the car cost! Haha. Oh dear.

NoNameNoNumber · 2 Dec 2013 at 11:04

You could buy a bag of spanners and a haynes manual for that!

wingman · 2 Dec 2013 at 11:13

OP buys a car without consulting anyone in the know.

OP spends cost of car again on repairs.

tres · 2 Dec 2013 at 11:22

wingman said:
OP buys a car without consulting anyone in the know.

OP spends cost of car again on repairs.

OP lives hundreds of miles away from his family and friends who might know

OP is foolish

OP is learning!

wingman · 2 Dec 2013 at 11:23

What car did you buy?

sovietspybob · 2 Dec 2013 at 11:23

That sounds fairly reasonable for the work you had done, buying a car so cheaply will mean almost by its definition that stuff will be very worn out hence you'll have to get things fixed and replaced.

Cheap to buy does not mean cheap to run! Bangernomics only works if you do (almost) all the work yourself and do the leg work in sourcing all the parts as cheaply as possible.

Orionaut · 2 Dec 2013 at 11:36

sovietspybob said:
That sounds fairly reasonable for the work you had done, buying a car so cheaply will mean almost by its definition that stuff will be very worn out hence you'll have to get things fixed and replaced.

This, I have always held that you don't get a Car for under a Grand. More recently I might be inclined to up this to £1500.

What this means is that if you buy one for less, expect to spend the difference making it roadworthy.

(Even if you do buy for £1500 you might still need to spend out on it, but for less than that it is almost certain)

This doesnt mean cheap cars are a bad buy, on the contrary, buy a cheep car in good physical condition (Bodywork/interior/ not obviously knackererd engine etc) and do the repairs and the car might well prove reliable for years.

Bangernomics only works if you do (almost) all the work yourself

This. I can afford to run vehicles I could never hope to buy anywhere near new in my wildest dreams because I can do all my own stuff (And I choose carefully to ensure that this is possible. IE as little techcycrap as possible)

NoNameNoNumber · 2 Dec 2013 at 11:41

I bought a £650 Passat estate on 150k and did a 2300 mile road trip around France in August

Bargains can be had!

bledd · 2 Dec 2013 at 11:55

You can always ask on here. Some very good advise given out for free

Orionaut · 2 Dec 2013 at 11:56

NoNameNoNumber said:
I bought a £650 Passat estate on 150k and did a 2300 mile road trip around France in August
Bargains can be had!

They certainly can be. Old VAG group cars are a very good place to start too (Especially mid 90's ones)

Though I would have given it a full service, check-over and cam-belt change (#)before driving to France! (Or anywhere for that matter)

(# On a vehicle that age/mileage the cam belt hasn't been done until I have done it!

)

SB118 · 2 Dec 2013 at 13:36

What car?

"andy" · 2 Dec 2013 at 14:59

must people who buy a £500 car will either

A) not care
B) do the work themselves

A) consists of just running them till they break . might go a few months , might do years. the closest they will get to fixing it will be smothering brake pipes in grease before MOT to hide their roadworthyness. they will play timing belt roulette and a ,service will be blowing leaves out the air filter and some supermarket engine oil if feeling flush

B) would fix all your problems above in a weekend or on their day off for £100 or so

what car is it ? as an example timing belt kits for VAG cars now in the £500 range can usually be had for £30 ! , the service stuff is pocket money too and both could be done by yourself if you have tools a manual/guide and are at all interested . its only the brakes id say let an expert either fix or give a second opinion on. i guess it all depends if you are interested or not.

you also have to think that if you bought another £500 you could have the same or different problems. whereas if you get these problems fixed then it 'should' be good for while

lemonade · 2 Dec 2013 at 16:23

If you ask me it's a good way to learn and often how many learn ,the knowledge and experience you clean from it will help you in the future if you get your hands dirty properly as well.

tres · 2 Dec 2013 at 17:18

wingman said:
What car did you buy?

Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec 16v thing. 1999.

bledd. said:
You can always ask on here. Some very good advise given out for free

Yes, finding it's my new favourite forum here!!!

Well, I got it all done.

Supply & fit new timing belt kit
Supply & fit auxilary belt tensioner
Supply & fit auxillary belt
Carry out antifreeze drain & refil (excessively low on arrival)
Supply & fit rear brake shoes (contaminated)
Supply & fit both rear wheel cylinders (N\S\R burst + O\S\R damp in outer dust covers)
Carry out brake fluid flush
+ full service

Plus a few advisories - clutch bite is "high"!

Sigh. Definitely reading up on lots so I can avoid this rookie mistake in the future!

Liquid_Entity · 2 Dec 2013 at 17:28

I bought a £950 Mondeo 52 plate. Ended up spending £600 on sorting out the brakes. However I could have only fixed the actual issue but instead I opted for full discs and pads replaced all round as well as having 2 new rear hubs which one of those was the original fault. I've had a fault with the Air Con being always on but managed to get that fixed for £39. I spent £250 on 4 new tyres. Other than that the car has been perfect. Passed the MOT back in May with no advisories so hope the same next year