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Dec 30, 2006 15:38:15 GMT
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OK, so I've got a Xantia estate. It keeps eating money. It's had a whole new exhaust, two front wheel bearings, all the spheres done, and now a weird hydraulic pressure regulator is leaking. On top of this it needs a diesel flap, a fuel level sender, something doing to the dashboard, a new windscreen eventually and the electrics and stays for the back door fixing.
I've seen another one on ebay without MoT. I'm halfway tempted to buy that and see what happens at the MoT. If it passes, I'll scrap the current one or break it for parts. If it fails, I'll gut the parts from it to repair mine.
The only problem is buying the regulator and fitting it would be cheaper and easier. But I'm worried that I've been chucking money at this car and it might have got to the end of its life. It's 10 years and 220,000 miles old... if I buy it a new bit, will it throw its toys out of the pram next month?
On the other hand a non-MoTed car from ebay for a few hundred could be a nightmare and I might need to repeat what I've done on this car...
So, where do you draw the line? When do you write off the hundreds you've poured into a project and start again?
Thanks
Graham
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Dec 30, 2006 15:49:44 GMT
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 Really difficult question to answer. With me it would depend a lot on wether the car had some sentimental value. A Xantia frankly isn't worth much money, but if you like it and it's safe I would keep it going if finances allow and you actually want to.
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rod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,953
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Dec 30, 2006 15:50:15 GMT
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This is the age old question for me too! Ive been there s-o-o-many times!I hope you make the right decision mate ,its a difficult one !
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Dec 30, 2006 15:54:20 GMT
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Catch 22 mate,I had to make similar decision with my old 306 td as it needed a cambelt, 4 new tyres and a few other small jobs. In the end i chopped it in for another 306.I based my decision on the fact that i'd got my monies worth out of the car so moved on. They've got great diesel engines them xantias.But if i was you i'd buy the other one try for an MOT and go from there.  |
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Dec 30, 2006 15:56:19 GMT
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With moderns, I've always maintained that once the cost of repairing it exceeds its value, it's time to wave bye-bye to it. We're in a situation now where there's a massive over-supply of 90's cars on the market which no-one wants- you can buy a perfect M/N-reg Xantia/Mondeo/Vectra from out of the local Bargain Pages or Auto Trader for £500, run it for two years, and chuck it away- not everyone's idea of automotive heaven, but a reliable hack/parts chaser that no-one will shed any tears over if it ends up in a crusher when it's earned its money.
Like others, it's just a matter of whether you're attached to it or not.
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Last Edit: Dec 30, 2006 15:57:26 GMT by briandamaged
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Dec 30, 2006 16:44:17 GMT
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Which pressure regulator is leaking its possible I might have one laid around from a Xantia I was breaking.
I think where you draw the line depends on how much of the work you do yourself. If you are only paying the price of parts its worthwhile keeping it going, if nothing else you will get more when you come to sell it.
220,000 mile isnt that much for one of those if its been serviced regular as long as its not smoking and you don't have any concerns over the clutch or teh gearbox.
Petrol Xantias fetch practicaly nothing, but diesels (especially estates) hold their money much better.
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stinkwheel
Posted a lot
Doctor Of Gonzo Journalism - One of gods own proptypes, never even considered for mass production.
Posts: 2,280
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Dec 30, 2006 16:44:57 GMT
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I don't go with i've spent this much cut my losses i go with, I've spent this much and anything else i could buy might be a much bigger headache so just get it fixed, eventually it will all be new and you are in a totally reliable car.
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1973 Citroen Dyane 6 1980 Citroen Acadiane
1992 Citroen AX 1990 Citroen BX
1997 Citroen XM 1993 Citroen BX
1997 Citroen Xantia 1977 Citroen Ami 8
1996 Ford Escort 1989 Citroen BX
1997 Suzuki RF900 1988 Yamaha TDR250
1979 Honda CB400.
'I need less vehicles'
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Dec 30, 2006 16:50:18 GMT
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There is no positive answer for this. Its like when you`ve got a car worth £500 that needs £500 spending on it, a lot of people would say bin it and get another one for £500. However, the argument against that is that the new one could be just about to need £500 spending on it, whereas once yours is done its done and it should be fine for a while....unless something else goes, then you`ll feel a bit silly.
Theres no right or wrong answer but if you`ve somewhere to keep a donor then buy this other one, then either way you`ll have a good`un between the two, unless youre really unlucky and this other one has all the same faults!
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,962
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Where do you draw the line?bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Dec 30, 2006 17:03:22 GMT
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Rightly or wrongly I've always subscribed to the better the devil you know principle.
I also run the cars I have forever!!!
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Dec 30, 2006 20:39:56 GMT
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The problem with stuff like Xantias is that there's soooo much scope for massive bills as they get old. Something like a sierra is piece of cake as the only thing that sees them off is rust. All the bits are dirt cheap either new or 2nd hand.
Mondeos are another example. Changing the clutch is an absolute curse word of a job as you have to dismatle the entire car to change it. Thus an old mondy is worth roughly the cost of fitting a new clutch. If it needs one it's work curse word all.
There's a saying about the ten year old car of today being loads more reliable than the ten year old car of ten years ago. It's true I think . However, the fifteen year old car of today shouldn't be touched with a bargepole whereas the 15 year old car of 15 years ago could be fixed with a 1/2" spanner and a good thwack from an FBH.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Dec 30, 2006 20:40:48 GMT
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Rightly or wrongly I've always subscribed to the better the devil you know principle. I also run the cars I have forever!!! Seconded |
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Dec 30, 2006 21:20:14 GMT
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The only thing I have to say about the idea of scrapping a not-so-old car is that today's banger is tomorrow's retro.
The reason why there's not enough retro metal to go around these days is that 20 years ago, people were doing the same thing with 1970s stuff......
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Prius T-Spirit, Alfa 156 Sportwagon, Alfa 75 TSpark Veloce, Mazda MX-5 1.8iS
Honda VFR750FT, Ducati 750SS, BMW R100RT, Hongdou GY200
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Dec 30, 2006 22:03:22 GMT
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if you've had over 200,000 miles out of a xantia i wouldn't mot it - i'd frame it .... |
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Dec 30, 2006 22:06:59 GMT
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Pah! That's nothing.
I've seen Xantia minicabs with close on 500k miles on 'em.
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Prius T-Spirit, Alfa 156 Sportwagon, Alfa 75 TSpark Veloce, Mazda MX-5 1.8iS
Honda VFR750FT, Ducati 750SS, BMW R100RT, Hongdou GY200
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Dec 30, 2006 22:15:51 GMT
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We've got an old P reg Xantia estate thats currently SORN'd, it still runs but had a gear linkage problem, if you want it for parts its yours to trailer away from Reading area |
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Dec 30, 2006 22:23:23 GMT
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Agreed that it's a tricky one. Kind of went through the same thought process with the Camry as that's high mileage and parts aren't cheap, and on paper it's not worth a great deal. Main thing was cam belt - did I want to keep it long enough to justify doing it and the inevitable water pump etc?
I decided yes, as it's a lovely thing to drive, very useful, had lots spent on it by the previous owner and I can't see anything a newer car would do any better. Unless it goes massively wrong, in which case I'll go for the 'buy another cheap one for spares' option, I'll still be spending less than a lot of people do so I'm sticking with it for as long as possible.
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Dec 30, 2006 23:02:47 GMT
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I'd say give it a good going over - a proper "checking out". If it appears it'll hang on and remain safe while you sort the niggles, then better the devil you know! That is, of course, if you like it.
As someone else said, sooner or later it'll be a virtually new car!
Funnily enough I posted a similar conundrum last winter - I MOT'd the car in question, then p/ex'd it for a mk1 Fiesta which I couldn't get on with and ended up getting another Sierra which turned out to be worse than the one I started with! Meanwhile that car I started with is still going strong with it's new owner!
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My fleet:
Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres
A borrowed Mondeo
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Dec 30, 2006 23:06:22 GMT
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I'd be tempted to sack it off. The benefit of the 'yes-car-credit, easy-finance-for-all' culture is that nothing holds it's value as even DSS scum can get a brand new car at the drop of a hat (albeit at 777% apr ) Break it, spend a few quid more and end up with something that will see you through for the next 10 years. |
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Dec 30, 2006 23:50:26 GMT
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The benefit of the 'yes-car-credit, easy-finance-for-all' culture is that nothing holds it's value as even DSS scum can get a brand new car at the drop of a hat (albeit at 777% apr )  |
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love that ad! The benefit of the 'yes-car-credit, easy-finance-for-all' culture is that nothing holds it's value as even DSS scum can get a brand new car at the drop of a hat (albeit at 777% apr ) my family were homeless for 6 weeks 18months ago and every 4 bedroom house in every run down council estate area was 'no DHSS'. they're not all scum. in this case, unless you love xantia's, id do what i do with knackered bangers. if its got mot, sell it, and scope around for a really cheap car (£100 motd cars can be had) then either search for something you like and be picky, or fix the heap of scrap you bought off ebay for £77.12 as a p/ex for less than you sold the xantia for, and thereby have a reliable car. which will likely be a favorit or 1989 polo lol or take up speedmans offer and get another xantia. fix and drive/sell |
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Really difficult question to answer. With me it would depend a lot on wether the car had some sentimental value. A Xantia frankly isn't worth much money, but if you like it and it's safe I would keep it going if finances allow and you actually want to.
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