Fix car or new car?

Juicy Jama

Juicy Jama

Juicy Jama

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Joined
3 Sep 2019
Posts
263
Hey guys,

We moved to the UK last year. Bought an Astra J 09 100k on the clock for around £2000
Its started giving some issues.

Took it to get checked out and the cost to fix all the 'issues' is around £1100. Issues are brake pads and discs need to be done. Hole in the exhaust and clutch needs to be replaced.

I'm not really keen on paying that for an old car that could and will potentially give issues a bit later on.

The plan all along was to get something a bit newer and better at some point. Not sure if I should fix it and try and save a bit more cash or just get something newer that I'd enjoy and have the ease of mind that the car is less likely to have any issues.

TLDR, what would you do, pay 50% of what you paid for a car to get it fixed. Spend a bit more and get something newer ?
 
The brakes would be peanuts for a DIY'er to do, what is wrong with the clutch.
Would probably be a good fixer-uppa for a young fella.
You could also have the same issues and running costs on a replacement car, tehy are afterall, just normal running costs of a car of 10+ years old.
It depends whether you want to upgrade to a car you will enjoy more or be more useful to you or just something similar.
 
snapdragon69 said:
The brakes would be peanuts for a DIY'er to do, what is wrong with the clutch.
Would probably be a good fixer-uppa for a young fella.
You could also have the same issues and running costs on a replacement car, tehy are afterall, just normal running costs of a car of 10+ years old.
It depends whether you want to upgrade to a car you will enjoy more or be more useful to you or just something similar.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately neither capable or have the tools to space to DIY for the brakes. Clutch has a slight shudder when the car is cold. Dont see how the clutch is going if it only happesn when the car is cold ?

I didn't explain correctly. New car will most likely be a new lease or 2-3yr old PCP deal.
 
The high cost is probably from the clutch labour work if its a difficult job, OEM brakes disc and pads aren't that bad in terms of price and a professional would be able to do it in about hour.
Hole in the exhaust can probably be cheap replacement aswell and again maybe hour or two to replace if there isn't any fabrications needed.
As for the clutch is there any signs of clutch slipping? (car revving to the moon and not going anywhere in higher gears)
If the clutch do need replacing then id recommend getting the flywheel done too at the same time, it may add the cost up though on parts but its better choice to do both clutch+flywheel same time.

If replacing car it depends on package at the end of the day.
 
Depends hows good the rest of the car is. They are all wear and tear items (apart from exhaust, arguably, but they do need replacement sometimes), so if there are no other issues, I'd be tempted to pay to fix it and continue running it, and start putting some money aside for a replacement in another few years.

It might be worth shopping around. The majority of that quoted cost will be for the clutch - I imagine it has a dual mass flyhweel which is probably causing the juddering - but depending how the rest of the quote works out, you might be able to get the brakes and exhaust done more cheaply.
 
Discs and pads - they be cheap as chips for an Astra (£120 for all four corners?) if you buy them from EuroCarParts/Ebay/Amazon. Go for Textar, Brembo or ATE. Are you able to DIY them? If not, find a small garage that'll charge probably £100 to fit all four.

Exhaust - i'd take it to a small garage and find out if they're able to weld it back up. If so, they'll charge about £30 to do this and it'll be as good as new.

Clutch - Bit more expensive and labour intensive. You'll have to see what the best price you can get for it is. I bought an OEM clutch for my partners old car for £70 and got a local garage to fit it for £180.

£1100 for repairs is steep for that. But they're quoting you to fit a brand new exhaust at around £300, £300 for discs and pads and then £500 for a clutch supply and fit. You can *easily* half that bill by being smart about it.
 
What engine?

ClickMechanic is quoting the following for an 09 Astra 1.6:

- Clutch Replacement (4-5 Hours labour) £477.16
- Brake discs and pads Front (1-2 Hours) £155.16
- Brake discs and pads Read (1-2 Hours) £128.86

- Full Exhaust pipe replacement (0-1 Hour) £273.88

£1035.06


As above though, the Exhaust is unlikely to need a full system, can probably be welded or the appropriate section replaced for <£100 at any Exhaust/Tyre fitting centre.

Clutch and Brakes are both wear and tear items, and no guarantee they won't need doing soon on whatever other car you buy at this sort of price range/age.
 
Brake pads and discs shouldn't be much.

The clutch on my '07 3 series with 140k on the clock judders when it's cold....but so what? It's a cheap car that's done some miles, I can live with giving it a little more revs when I pull away in the mornings. I don't see the point in replacing it until it actually needs replacing.
 
If it were me I'd do the brakes and discs myself, get the exhaust done and pay click mechanic to do the clutch. At the end of the day it depends on the rest of the car, 1100 is going to fix it and keep it on the road for another year then its probably a better bet than a second had something else, plus its probably not worth much right now.
You seem to be saying should I spend 1100 or about 300 a month for 4 years, so really quite an odd question. If you want PCP then you want that, if you want a value car for the next year at least then fix this one.
 
mid_gen said:
Brake pads and discs shouldn't be much.

The clutch on my '07 3 series with 140k on the clock judders when it's cold....but so what? It's a cheap car that's done some miles, I can live with giving it a little more revs when I pull away in the mornings. I don't see the point in replacing it until it actually needs replacing.
Click to expand...
This is a post I was hoping to read. I cant see how it was a major issue if it only happens when its cold.I agree with you got no problem with it considering the age of the car. I was just concerned the missus might be driving it at one point and get stuck on the side of the road with that becoming worse and worse
 
peige said:
If it were me I'd do the brakes and discs myself, get the exhaust done and pay click mechanic to do the clutch. At the end of the day it depends on the rest of the car, 1100 is going to fix it and keep it on the road for another year then its probably a better bet than a second had something else, plus its probably not worth much right now.
You seem to be saying should I spend 1100 or about 300 a month for 4 years, so really quite an odd question. If you want PCP then you want that, if you want a value car for the next year at least then fix this one.
Click to expand...

I bought this car as I needed to get around and it was the closest thing with a decent price for what it was with that plan of getting something in a couple of months. It's a constant battle in my head to not waste money on a car but at the same time cars are something I enjoy so I could really enjoy a newish/more luxurious/faster one.
 
Juicy Jama said:
Hey guys,

We moved to the UK last year. Bought an Astra J 09 100k on the clock for around £2000
Its started giving some issues.

Took it to get checked out and the cost to fix all the 'issues' is around £1100. Issues are brake pads and discs need to be done. Hole in the exhaust and clutch needs to be replaced.

I'm not really keen on paying that for an old car that could and will potentially give issues a bit later on.

The plan all along was to get something a bit newer and better at some point. Not sure if I should fix it and try and save a bit more cash or just get something newer that I'd enjoy and have the ease of mind that the car is less likely to have any issues.

TLDR, what would you do, pay 50% of what you paid for a car to get it fixed. Spend a bit more and get something newer ?
Click to expand...

2k on a 2009 astra with 100k on the clock, you got ripped off.
 
Bounce said:
2k on a 2009 astra with 100k on the clock, you got ripped off.
Click to expand...

Very helpful. Have an internet cookie.

Back on the OP - they're all consumable parts, they're likely to cost on any car that's 4-5 years old with average mileage that you might replace it with. If the rest of the car is sound and you're happy to run it for another couple of years post repair then it makes some sense to get it fixed.
 
MagicBoy said:
Very helpful. Have an internet cookie.

Back on the OP - they're all consumable parts, they're likely to cost on any car that's 4-5 years old with average mileage that you might replace it with. If the rest of the car is sound and you're happy to run it for another couple of years post repair then it makes some sense to get it fixed.
Click to expand...
Thanks man appreciate the feedback
 
That seems pretty good for all round brakes.
You can get all the parts for £80 on EuroCarParts with their ever present discount. But for a garage quote including fitting, that's not too bad.
 
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