To scrap or not to scrap my car?

[Marx]

I have a 55 Plate Zafira that has done 160k miles. I recently spent the best part of £500 on new brakes all-round after spending £400 to get it through its test last March. It then developed an intermittent misfire. I spent over £200 getting the plugs and coil pack replaced, having been assured that this would fix the problem.

 

I am now told by another Vauxhall specialist that the ECU is the problem and £180 will fix it. However it now needs a new handbrake and two front tyres. Otherwise it is in good condition. The engine has been compression tested and it good, despite the miles it has done.

 

Do I spent the £300 or so to make it good again until the test in March or do I cut my losses and scrap it for £200? What would you do?

[cgksheff]

I would also look at mpg and how many miles you travel per year.

 

You might save a fortune with a newer model.

[Marx]

I would also look at mpg and how many miles you travel per year.

 

You might save a fortune with a newer model.

 

I can't afford a newer model! I have just bought a diesel Xantia which will be more economical and is cheaper to insure. I only do about 6,000 miles at the moment but the load space in the Zafira is useful. I get 5 miles per pound from the Zafira so it ain't great.

[cgksheff]

So you have two cars?

 

Go figure.

[Marx]

So you have two cars?

 

Go figure.

 

Go figure what?

[El Cid]

Do I spent the £300 or so to make it good again until the test in March or do I cut my losses and scrap it for £200? What would you do?

 

Only £200, but it wouldnt go for scrap, someone would fix it. What colour is it, I always wanted a Zafira.

[tlangdon12]

How much could you spend on a new car? My thinking is that if you can only spend £1000 or £2000 then saving £300 by not repairing the Zafira won't get you a car that is not also likely to need £300 spending on it in the near future.

 

Whereas, if you can spend more than £3000 you should be able to find something that will be markedly more reliable than the Zafira.

[Marx]

Only £200, but it wouldnt go for scrap, someone would fix it. What colour is it, I always wanted a Zafira.

 

Silver. Vauxparts, who offered me the £200 would probably break it. I doubt it would be worth more than £450 to sell if everything was fixed as the Test is running low.

 

---------- Post added 31-10-2017 at 23:28 ----------

 

How much could you spend on a new car? My thinking is that if you can only spend £1000 or £2000 then saving £300 by not repairing the Zafira won't get you a car that is not also likely to need £300 spending on it in the near future.

 

Whereas, if you can spend more than £3000 you should be able to find something that will be markedly more reliable than the Zafira.

 

I spent £550 0n a 2001 plate Xantia that was owned by a Citroen mechanic. It drives lovely but does not have the space and flexibility of the Zafira. The wife has a Renault Scenic which is pretty spacious but it needs brakes all-round at £200 and this is my dilemma; which car to lose.

 

---------- Post added 31-10-2017 at 23:30 ----------

 

Whereas, if you can spend more than £3000 you should be able to find something that will be markedly more reliable than the Zafira.

 

The Zafira has never let me down in two years. It is reliable but it also misfires. If I restart the engine after a couple of minutes, the misfire vanishes.

[tinfoilhat]

The gamble is whether this £180 eCU will fix it, and whether it can still definately be fixed. A mate had the same problem on a Laguna and he could never get his hands on the right one. If it does fix it, hang on to it. As tlangdon12 says, if you buy another old car for a grand it's likely only a matter of time before you'll be forking out money on it.

[mickey finn]

Go figure what?

 

Go figures cgk's image as a hit and run poster.