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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> My Car Exploded!!
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 06/19/2007 05:13:21 PM · #1
On Friday, my car decided to throw the water pump pulley and took out the Cam belt at the same time.

The result, a dead engine and a £1350 bill.

The choice, do I get it repaired? The bill is $2500, the car is worth $2500. It is a sound car and used to be a great runner. If I spend that money on a replacement, I could get a heaper! Get it repaired, and I keep running what is a good car.

With that money, I could have bought a K10D and new lenses?

I am so confused.
 06/19/2007 05:14:19 PM · #2
If ya can't find a good car in that price range, fix it...

06/19/2007 05:15:56 PM · #3
Buy the camera and lenses and get a bike :-)
 06/19/2007 05:41:42 PM · #4
Originally posted by formerlee:
On Friday, my car decided to throw the water pump pulley and took out the Cam belt at the same time.

The result, a dead engine and a £1350 bill.

The choice, do I get it repaired? The bill is $2500, the car is worth $2500.


Which is it? 1350 or 2500?

R.

ETA: if you can fix it for 1350 and it's worth 2500 after repairs, that's a no-brainer.

Message edited by author 2007-06-19 17:42:45.
 06/19/2007 05:50:34 PM · #5
Not sure what kind of car this is, but in this case, it really means little. I have this kind of conversation with customers all the time, and it comes down to:
1) Do you like the car? If not and are looking for a reason to get rid of it, now is the time. Once the attitude of nop longer liking it/wanting it is there, keeping up on it becomes secondary and will be a source of nothing but frustration.
2) If you had no car, would you buy that one for £1350? What are they worth? (not stated value, real-world values as in what to they sell for normally.
3) What are your plans for it? Plan on keeping it for a while to re-coup the repair costs, but still cheaper than car payments. Older models are less on insurance typically, as are the registration fees.
4) If you "threw away" the car now by selling for parts, scrap, auction, etc how much could you get for it?
5) If you got rid of it for say £150, then add the £1350, what could you get in it's place?
6) Determine the history and repair records to date. If maintenance has been nothing over the last 2 years, plan on more going wrong, and when that happens, you won't be able to simply walk away from it then, as you just invested £1350 in it now.
 06/19/2007 05:51:17 PM · #6
Originally posted by Bear_Music:


Which is it? 1350 or 2500?


Both ;-)

£1350, $2500 USD

ETA: Here in the states, it is sometimes cheaper to find a good used engine from a wrecked vehicle than to rebuild the other engine. Problem there is that you really never know what shape the used engine is in until you are already committed. Your best indicator is mileage, which can occasionally be deceiving.

Message edited by author 2007-06-19 17:53:57.
 06/19/2007 06:01:17 PM · #7
Originally posted by Brad:
Not sure what kind of car this is, but in this case, it really means little. I have this kind of conversation with customers all the time, and it comes down to:
1) Do you like the car? If not and are looking for a reason to get rid of it, now is the time. Once the attitude of nop longer liking it/wanting it is there, keeping up on it becomes secondary and will be a source of nothing but frustration.
2) If you had no car, would you buy that one for £1350? What are they worth? (not stated value, real-world values as in what to they sell for normally.
3) What are your plans for it? Plan on keeping it for a while to re-coup the repair costs, but still cheaper than car payments. Older models are less on insurance typically, as are the registration fees.
4) If you "threw away" the car now by selling for parts, scrap, auction, etc how much could you get for it?
5) If you got rid of it for say £150, then add the £1350, what could you get in it's place?
6) Determine the history and repair records to date. If maintenance has been nothing over the last 2 years, plan on more going wrong, and when that happens, you won't be able to simply walk away from it then, as you just invested £1350 in it now.

1) I like the car, it has been reliable.
2) I could buy one similar for that sort of price, but may end up buying into a bad one. This one has Traction Control, Air Con, sport mode etc. Once repairs are done, should last three/four years as it is.
3) Spares or repair would get £400, but garage would charge £200 for repairs done so far.
4) If I got rid of it and spent same amount on a replacement, I could end up with a Heaper!
5) I have had the car for 2+ years and cost nothing more than a couple of tyres and a new alternator.
So, I guess I answered my own question, I get it fixed and hope it runs for another couple of years. With a rebuilt engine and 74,000 on the clock, I think it may work out cheaper than a replacement.

Message edited by author 2007-06-19 18:02:31.
 06/19/2007 06:04:25 PM · #8
well if the car is very old and you can change it, well change it! when the car is old there will be £50 today,£75 tomorrow nad £xxx another day.... but with £1350 you will find only another old car and you don't know his history...... therefore repairs the machine but from a good mechanic :)
 06/19/2007 06:07:21 PM · #9
This thread sounds much more interesting than it actually is.
 06/19/2007 06:08:38 PM · #10
What kind of car?

Reason I ask is that, is on some engines, if the cam belt breaks, the pistons and valves can hit, bending the valves, and thus the repair would be to pull the head and do a valve job. A valve job is a touchy job, as debris & carbon can get lodged in the rings if the technician isn't careful in his clean-up work, and that will lead to high oil consumption. Many engines are non-interference and will not sustain damage. A blown-up engine is more expensive to repair than it is to have a lower mileage used engine installed, and when /if that is done, make sure the used engine is getting new oil seals front & back, a new camshaft timing belt, water pump, valve adjust (if adjustable), fluids, filter, tune, etc.

Just a couple more thoughts.
 06/19/2007 07:15:27 PM · #11
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Buy the camera and lenses and get a bike :-)


Buy a brand new 2007 Mustang, and learn to draw.
 06/19/2007 09:10:29 PM · #12
I have a 1997 Dodge Caravan with over 120,000 miles on it. The body is being held together by Bondo (unpainted), and I ran into a house just this last winter with it, so the rear end is cosmetically messed up (mechanically sound, except for the rear door hatch not wanting to work without a little finessing).

I plan on running this thing into the ground. And once it's there I'm giving it to the fire department to burn up/tear apart.

It's paid off.

As long as I am paying less into it than a "new" car payment I don't really care how much it costs. My biggest concern is the yearly inspection and not being able to make all those last minute repairs (which so far are mostly rust related).

Message edited by author 2007-06-19 21:10:53.
 06/19/2007 09:27:44 PM · #13
Steve, Just fix it! You can not purchase anything worth getting for the amount of the repair. If money is not a concern, then purchase a new vehicle.

Otherwise buy all the camera stuff you can get your hands on, then buy a bike.

Leroy has it right.
 06/19/2007 09:42:17 PM · #14
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Buy the camera and lenses and get a bike :-)


Buy a brand new 2007 Mustang, and learn to draw.


But I bought a new 2007 Mustang and I can't draw?????

Steve, Fix the car, sounds like it has been good to you!
 06/19/2007 11:06:40 PM · #15
I like Leroy's idea...ditch the car and get a bike and the camera you want. Actually, it's something I really did over three years ago when my entire exhaust system fell out from under the car. I decided to just junk it and use my bike and mass transit for my transportation needs and not get another car. I save sooooooooo much money, I'm in the best shape of my life and the environment likes me so much more for it. Alright, I don't have much of a social life, but that's more to do with my rotten personality ;) lol
If you don't live in the boondocks it's a great way to get around.
 06/19/2007 11:26:13 PM · #16
Originally posted by Brad:
Not sure what kind of car this is, but in this case, it really means little. I have this kind of conversation with customers all the time, and it comes down to:
1) Do you like the car? If not and are looking for a reason to get rid of it, now is the time. Once the attitude of nop longer liking it/wanting it is there, keeping up on it becomes secondary and will be a source of nothing but frustration.
2) If you had no car, would you buy that one for £1350? What are they worth? (not stated value, real-world values as in what to they sell for normally.
3) What are your plans for it? Plan on keeping it for a while to re-coup the repair costs, but still cheaper than car payments. Older models are less on insurance typically, as are the registration fees.
4) If you "threw away" the car now by selling for parts, scrap, auction, etc how much could you get for it?
5) If you got rid of it for say £150, then add the £1350, what could you get in it's place?
6) Determine the history and repair records to date. If maintenance has been nothing over the last 2 years, plan on more going wrong, and when that happens, you won't be able to simply walk away from it then, as you just invested £1350 in it now.


makes a lot of sense. I've been fighting with trying to figure out whether to replace my 99 subaru outbacks engine (211,000 miles last I knew) or just get another car. The car is in great shape, I lent it to my brother-in-law while I'm out of country, right after I left he said it vibrates real bad while idiling (spelling?) so after many mechanics looked at it one finally said it is the pistons. They have gone bad and in turn ruined the engine. He could fix that problem for about $1800 but may still have other problems or I could replace engine for about $2200. While I was deciding, he got rid of the engine he had and now we have to find another...it's not going well and I have to have it resolved by September 8th when I return. I will be in NC and my wife in KY so we have to have 2 cars. I do use my bike for local to and from work stuff but can't drive to KY on a mountain bike...well ok you can but I don't have the time or energy. :)

If you like the car and can I say fix it, buying something else that you have not history with could just lead to other issues maybe worse ones.
 06/20/2007 12:21:33 AM · #17
Push it out into the road and light it on fire.
06/20/2007 02:39:22 AM · #18
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Push it out into the road and light it on fire.

Don't forget to take pics though!
 06/20/2007 02:25:33 PM · #19
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Push it out into the road and light it on fire.


Now things are looking up! Do it!
 06/20/2007 03:09:58 PM · #20
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Push it out into the road and light it on fire.


That had crossed my mind, as it is insured for fire and theft. But we decided to have it fixed.
 06/20/2007 03:14:04 PM · #21
My tranny(auto) feels like it's dead on my 4WD - same deal, marginal to fix given the lack of value..... It's parked on the street (I got 30 feet the other day when all the crunching started) but I am hoping the garbage truck will write it off tonight. :-) If not then we might have to have a small fire :-/

Message edited by author 2007-06-20 15:15:09.
 06/20/2007 03:25:25 PM · #22
now thats my kind of horse!

Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Buy the camera and lenses and get a bike :-)


Buy a brand new 2007 Mustang, and learn to draw.
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