Interested to see if its just me being an ass but a friend has recently bought himself a 2004 Suzuki alto for £750 from a mechanic, who claimed it was his mothers. Only 40,000 mileage and cosmetically looked good (if you ignore the fact it's a fugly car and he is 6" 5 and about the same around, its a very comical sight!)
It also has a new engine.... I would have walked away right there , but not my friend.
My alarm bells were ringing already as this friend seems to be able to pick a lemon a mile away. £8k on a rusty P reg land rover defender which caught light and insurance voided, followed by two road legal quad bikes amounting to about £10k only to sold because they kept breaking down.
"Don't just buy the first car you see for the love of God" I plead with him afterr many hours together on autotrader and review sites... But some people just cannot be helped.
The first evening of owning it he discovers the hot air is not working so takes it to the Suzuki garage. Thermostat broken, or "bent" to be accurate, they recon it had a second hand one fitted by previous owner.
£350.
A wheel bearing starts to clunk so gets this replaced.
£300ish
He decides that although he absolutely loves the car, it just isn't big enough for him and his fishing gear so wants to pull a trailor behind it. Problem is, there isn't a towbar and it needs a special swan neck removable version fitted. He finds a mobile mechanic and has it fitted at home.
I think this cost £400ish due to the special fitting of it.
The car starts losing water faster than he can fill it - something about the "matrex" (?) Needs replacing in the radiator. But this isn't a big deal he insists, he just carries around water with him and has to stop every so often.
£££
Electrics inside the car start to act up, in particular the rear window heater and lights. Has this fixed by same garage.
££
The head gasket is suspected to have gone and car is leaking water again as it boils over. The heating has also packed up again and needs yet another new thermostat.
He has now informed me that it needs milling down and will cost atleast another £650.
All this over a space of a few months I finally say something about it and suggest that he sells the car for scrap/find a good part ex offer and find a decent car, only to be met with denial and an overall defensive attitude that the car is brilliant and its just his luck with cars and that I should mind my own business.
Today he informs me that he is looking at entire engines on thebay for £200 to replace the current one as it would be cheaper and fix all the issues.
He has had this car since May. How much more can go wrong with this thing?!
How much would you spend before you finally called it quits? For the value of the car, I just cannot understand his logic when he could buy a decent modern car by saving these frequent bills. Ironically, he bought this small car because the last few "cost too much to run"..
The prices are ones he has given me, which looking back at them, are giving me doubts on their accuracy. I think the mechanics must be laughing whenever they need him.
It also has a new engine.... I would have walked away right there , but not my friend.
My alarm bells were ringing already as this friend seems to be able to pick a lemon a mile away. £8k on a rusty P reg land rover defender which caught light and insurance voided, followed by two road legal quad bikes amounting to about £10k only to sold because they kept breaking down.
"Don't just buy the first car you see for the love of God" I plead with him afterr many hours together on autotrader and review sites... But some people just cannot be helped.
The first evening of owning it he discovers the hot air is not working so takes it to the Suzuki garage. Thermostat broken, or "bent" to be accurate, they recon it had a second hand one fitted by previous owner.
£350.
A wheel bearing starts to clunk so gets this replaced.
£300ish
He decides that although he absolutely loves the car, it just isn't big enough for him and his fishing gear so wants to pull a trailor behind it. Problem is, there isn't a towbar and it needs a special swan neck removable version fitted. He finds a mobile mechanic and has it fitted at home.
I think this cost £400ish due to the special fitting of it.
The car starts losing water faster than he can fill it - something about the "matrex" (?) Needs replacing in the radiator. But this isn't a big deal he insists, he just carries around water with him and has to stop every so often.
£££
Electrics inside the car start to act up, in particular the rear window heater and lights. Has this fixed by same garage.
££
The head gasket is suspected to have gone and car is leaking water again as it boils over. The heating has also packed up again and needs yet another new thermostat.
He has now informed me that it needs milling down and will cost atleast another £650.
All this over a space of a few months I finally say something about it and suggest that he sells the car for scrap/find a good part ex offer and find a decent car, only to be met with denial and an overall defensive attitude that the car is brilliant and its just his luck with cars and that I should mind my own business.
Today he informs me that he is looking at entire engines on thebay for £200 to replace the current one as it would be cheaper and fix all the issues.
He has had this car since May. How much more can go wrong with this thing?!
How much would you spend before you finally called it quits? For the value of the car, I just cannot understand his logic when he could buy a decent modern car by saving these frequent bills. Ironically, he bought this small car because the last few "cost too much to run"..
The prices are ones he has given me, which looking back at them, are giving me doubts on their accuracy. I think the mechanics must be laughing whenever they need him.
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