Maintaining an oldish diesel

[DanceswithUnix]

When did motor mechanics get so shoddy? Last time I owned a car (another old banger) I never had any problems getting her in to the garage and getting work done promptly...

My usual garage can easily be booked for a week or two in advance, but if you are stranded they will take the car on the grounds that someone will miss their appointment and then they work on your car.

I was supposed to drive the kit car in for an MOT today, but it turns out the clutch slave cylinder had gone so I wasn't driving anywhere. They were fine with me sending it on a flatbed with more work to do.

[joshwa]

scaryjim - good luck with your car! Hope you don't end up with a big bill

On the topic of 430K mile cars - I'd want to know the history of the Skoda Octavia - how many times has the cambelt been changed? How often was the oil changed? Also, I guess regular long journeys and regular use keeps everything warm, or hot, and the exhaust doesn't end up with water lying around to rust it?

[scaryjim]

scaryjim - good luck with your car! Hope you don't end up with a big bill ...

I've got a budget at which it makes sense to get her back on the road, and above which I may as well just scrap her and buy something less ... run into the ground. Still waiting for quotes for the work.

Also, I've been told I'm not allowed to buy cars anymore. So someone else will have to choose the next one!

[MrJim]

I've got a 2005 Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD...it might be the same engine as the Scudo? Mine does tiny mileage (only 27k on the clock, so hardly run-in in comparison!), so does spend a fair bit of time outside on the drive. Sadly I know virtually nothing about engines - I get the car serviced and MOT'd every year, and leave it up to the garage to do whatever needs doing. I've had the timing belt changed once (based on the car's age rather than mileage), but I've no idea whether the water pump was changed. I'll have to check that! I have had quite a few things go wrong lately - alternator, starter motor and a broken cable to the turbo sensor (which I suspect was caused by the garage fixing the previous problems). Anyway, thanks for this thread, I've learnt a few things

[Ttaskmaster]

Still waiting for quotes for the work.

I believe that, on average, Manchester has the cheapest mechanics' rates in the UK. That's bound to make them very popular...

[Butcher]

I managed to get my car into a local garage at less than a week's notice in Manchester. I don't think they're much busier than anywhere else.

[scaryjim]

I managed to get my car into a local garage at less than a week's notice in Manchester. ...

Blimey, where was that? To be fair I'm not in central Manchester any more, but there wasn't a garage within 10 miles of home that could take the car without at least a week's lead time.

Anyway, sad to say Gonzo had the right of it. Quote's come back and just to get the investigative work done would cost almost as much as I paid for her, let alone mending any damage that might've been done. So it's off to the ecologically sound scrappage with her, and I'm not allowed to make any more car-buying decisions on my own.

Anyone know anything about the best way to scrap an old van to recover the residual value?

Any recommendations for non-dodgy used car places in Manchester?

[Butcher]

Blimey, where was that? To be fair I'm not in central Manchester any more, but there wasn't a garage within 10 miles of home that could take the car without at least a week's lead time.

Sale. Being a bit further out probably helps.

Any recommendations for non-dodgy used car places in Manchester?

When we were looking for my GF's car we ended up out in the sticks (Romiley) because Manchester itself is not great for cheap used cars.

[DanceswithUnix]

So it's off to the ecologically sound scrappage with her, and I'm not allowed to make any more car-buying decisions on my own.

Anyone know anything about the best way to scrap an old van to recover the residual value?

Good luck with the shared decision, perhaps next time you should get "a blue one"

As for scrapping, I once watched a co-worker phone one scrapyard after another for quotes for a non running (blown ECU) Zafira which was like a really slow bidding war but he got a couple of hundred for it in the end rather than him having to pay to have it towed.

Edit: But next time if you get something with an Italian badge on it, get something with an Italian engine not a rebadged French car. In fact, just avoid anything French and you will probably be OK

Another edit: A quick look on Autotrader and I must say vendors up there seem quite honest. The cheapest hits admitted the cars were going into limp home mode and in one case the clutch was shot!

[GoNz0]

Do you have room to break it and store the parts so you can list them on eBay?

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[Ttaskmaster]

On the topic of 430K mile cars - I'd want to know the history of the Skoda Octavia - how many times has the cambelt been changed? How often was the oil changed?

I believe Kersten said the owner serviced everything exactly as per the manufacturer's specified intervals, rather than roughly around the right time/mileage like most people do.
That's generally what sees other vehicles to the million mile mark, as well.

[DanceswithUnix]

I believe Kersten said the owner serviced everything exactly as per the manufacturer's specified intervals, rather than roughly around the right time/mileage like most people do.
That's generally what sees other vehicles to the million mile mark, as well.

I watched the first video, and was shocked at how shot the car was. I would say having only one working door is a safety issue, specially when it is the passenger door. I presume he was shuffling over the gearstick to get in and out. Wallowing on corners looked scary, brakes were gone, seats looked like a spinal problem waiting to happen. The MOT is supposed to protect us from having things like that on the road.

I've known people with cars around the 250K miles mark which were perfectly nice everyday drives, but that Octavia looked like it needed to be nuked from orbit to make sure it was sterile.

[scaryjim]

Good luck with the shared decision, perhaps next time you should get "a blue one"

Oh, don't - the week before I bought this lemon we had a test drive in a blue VW Touran; similar price, less miles, and would've come with at least some warranty. Smaller than I wanted, but at this moment in time I'm really wishing I had got the blue one

Do you have room to break it and store the parts so you can list them on eBay?

Sadly not; we're in a mid terrace that fronts directly onto the road and the rear access is very much foot-only. If I had space to break/store it I'd be taking mech eng courses and fixing her myself

… As for scrapping, I once watched a co-worker phone one scrapyard after another … he got a couple of hundred for it in the end ...

Best online quote so far is £350 Just waiting for a call back to confirm and arrange collection.

[Butcher]

I watched the first video, and was shocked at how shot the car was. I would say having only one working door is a safety issue, specially when it is the passenger door. I presume he was shuffling over the gearstick to get in and out. Wallowing on corners looked scary, brakes were gone, seats looked like a spinal problem waiting to happen. The MOT is supposed to protect us from having things like that on the road.

But Tt said it was mint and the suspension was fine, yet it's wallowing and only has one working door. Hmm.

[DanceswithUnix]

But Tt said it was mint and the suspension was fine, yet it's wallowing and only has one working door. Hmm.

The chap in the video said he couldn't find the source of the smell, but never said what the smell was. Perhaps it smelled of mint More likely the failed aircon gone furry though.

Edit: When I think of old cars I think more of something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaO5IrBB3NI
They stopped making those 10 years ago, and those engines can last forever if looked after. One of the 250K milers I mentioned was a 156 2.5v6, a smaller Busso unit. The aircon on that had failed as well, but he seems to let it off That car is going up in value, I can't see a diesel Octavia ever being a sought after classic though.

[Hoonigan]

My advice would be, based on what you've said, to use the more expensive fuel from a decent brand, instead of supermarket stuff, just for the detergents that help clean out your engine and try to use her at least once a fortnight.

No-one wants to go without a ride for more than that!

Also, good on you for buying a car with 185K on the clock and being arsed to get it fixed. I'd have most likely just scrapped the idea and moved on with worry of more issues in the future.

You may find this video interesting:

It's a Skoda with 432,000 miles on it.