At what point do you scrap a car?

[Bounce]

My mum has a 16 year old car (Toyota Yaris, Automatic). She does around 1,000-2,000 miles a year just going to the local shops/town center.

Her MOT has come up and its looking like new exhaust, shock absorbers all round, new tyres all round.

We don't know yet how much it would all cost, however considering the age of the car is it worth doing? I suspect it would be around £500-600 to do this work.

At what point do you scrap a car?

Looking on autotrader they are valued at around £1,100 - £1,300 with a 12 Month MOT.

Scrap it would be worth £150?

 

[Randomface74]

When a car gets to that state it's just gonna cost similar bills every year. You'll easily be spending more than its value keeping it on the road.

Q: At what point do you scrap a car?
A: Now.

 

[bremen1874]

If the shell, engine and transmission are still all okay it's worth dealing with the rest. The items you're talking about are really consumables, especially the tyres and exhaust.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

If the shell, engine and transmission are still all okay it's worth dealing with the rest. The items you're talking about are really consumables, especially the tyres and exhaust.

This.

Change the oil and filters yearly. Check the service history to ensure the transmission fluid has been changed at the recommended intervals.

Run it until the engine or transmission need major work and then scrap it.

 

[Armageus]

Her MOT has come up and its looking like new exhaust, shock absorbers all round, new tyres all round.

Tyres are consumables that even a new car will need regularly, so can't really be considered in the equation imo.

I'd be surprised if Shock absorbers were actually needed all round, but again on cars of this age are a consumable (and would be unlikely to be needed to be done again in the cars remaining lifetime, if kept for say 5 years)

Exhaust possibly an issue (as at least one of the Yaris' had an exhaust that was only available as an expensive full system), but worth checking with either a "Fast fit" style Exhaust/Tyre center (e.g. ATS or similar), or an independent Exhaust specialist, as it may well just be a section that needs replacing (or could be repaired).


Bearing in mind that if you did change to another car, particularly with older/cheaper cars you run the risk of inheriting someone else's problems - potentially worst than those you have.

 

[Conscript]

Tyres are consumables that even a new car will need regularly, so can't really be considered in the equation imo.

I'd be surprised if Shock absorbers were actually needed all round, but again on cars of this age are a consumable (and would be unlikely to be needed to be done again in the cars remaining lifetime, if kept for say 5 years)

Exhaust possibly an issue (as at least one of the Yaris' had an exhaust that was only available as an expensive full system), but worth checking with either a "Fast fit" style Exhaust/Tyre center (e.g. ATS or similar), or an independent Exhaust specialist, as it may well just be a section that needs replacing (or could be repaired).


Bearing in mind that if you did change to another car, particularly with older/cheaper cars you run the risk of inheriting someone else's problems - potentially worst than those you have.

This. Yaris is a fantastic little car and ideal for that sort of use. My sister's 2002 Yaris is still flying through MOTs every year despite only occasional use as a backup/station car, and she doesn't really look after it at all.
£650 spent on what are essentially some consumable items - if there's nothing else wrong with the car, and it's worth it to your mum in terms of having reliable transport, I'd say it's worth paying to sort.

 

[paradigm]

When a car gets to that state it's just gonna cost similar bills every year. You'll easily be spending more than its value keeping it on the road.

Q: At what point do you scrap a car?
A: Now.

Completely the opposite IMO.

If you can't replace the car for less than the cost of the repairs, you'd be daft to not repair. You know the history of the vehicle, you know the rest of it is (hopefully) in good condition. Better the devil you know IMO.

 

[Bounce]

Thanks for the responses, she has been looking at Peugeot 107, cheap tax/insurance and a ideal for a little runaround the only problem it would cost around 4k for a decent one. She has to have an automatic as well as she doesn't drive manuals.

 

[OldKitMan]

Bearing in mind that if you did change to another car, particularly with older/cheaper cars you run the risk of inheriting someone else's problems - potentially worst than those you have.

This!

My cars 10 years old and no way would I consider buying a second hand one as it could possibly be wrecked - at least with mine I've had it since brand new so know how every mile has been driven (never thrashed from cold to allow the engine oil to warm up for the engine and turbo) and whoever eventually gets it is going to get a cracking car but the one next to it in the ads could be needing a new engine.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Thanks for the responses, she has been looking at Peugeot 107, cheap tax/insurance and a ideal for a little runaround the only problem it would cost around 4k for a decent one. She has to have an automatic as well as she doesn't drive manuals.

I’d stick with an old Japanese car that is a known quantity over an old French box of mystery.

 

[RandomMonkeH]

As has been said, those are all wear items - inexpensive and easy to replace. Providing the mechanicals are good and the shell isn't rotten, you would be daft to scrap it.
Especially as modern vehicles tend to cost more to keep on the road.

 

[telewebby]

Thanks for the responses, she has been looking at Peugeot 107, cheap tax/insurance and a ideal for a little runaround the only problem it would cost around 4k for a decent one. She has to have an automatic as well as she doesn't drive manuals.

The autos in those 107s are a computer controlled manual and they were problematic and expensive to replace, i would stick with the yaris and repair it as you know the car

Alex

 

[adam cool dude]

Rust would be the only reason. Even engine swaps are not that expensive in the grand scheme of things when at the banger end of the scale.

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

I’d stick with an old Japanese car that is a known quantity over an old French box of mystery.

This.

 

[fonzee]

I’d stick with an old Japanese car that is a known quantity over an old French box of mystery.

It's clearly a mystery to you as the 107 is essentially a Toyota in drag they are built to a budget, sure, but they are darn reliable.

Back to the OP, if the garage is a trusted one (bit odd to suggest all shocks have failed?), then just do the work. All of those repairs are wear and tear items and the yaris' are solid little cars.

 

[Howard]

Thanks for the responses, she has been looking at Peugeot 107, cheap tax/insurance and a ideal for a little runaround the only problem it would cost around 4k for a decent one. She has to have an automatic as well as she doesn't drive manuals.

Grim. They’re horrible, the Yaris is better. Fix and keep it.

 

[Iamzod]

£600 to fix the Yaris or £4k for a replacement vehicle, keep the Yaris!

Those items are all consumables, i'm not sure why you'd even consider scrapping it if it's worth £1200 to sell as you could fix it & make £600 profit still.

 

[bazzabear]

That's a particularly good point. Even if you don't want to keep it, why would you accept £150 for it when you can spend £600 on it and then sell it for £1200?

 

[Jono8]

£600 for 4 new shocks, a new exhaust and 4 new tyres seems very optimistic doesn't it (assuming all fitted by garage etc) !?

 

[adam cool dude]

I’d stick with an old Japanese car that is a known quantity over an old French box of mystery.

Old French cars are sturdy beasts as well. In the dark places of Africa there will be a Peugeot 305 or 405 still going strong. After the 106/306/406 series it just all went to pot.