Prolonging the enevitable?

[Volksy]

So do I?

 

The 306 is dying, so far faults that have materialised are as follows...

 

BAD:

 

Clonk from rear suspension. Bust shocker and subframe mounts.

 

Front Wheel bearing, when cold, sounds like a Cessna on full chat.

 

Timing Belt required, other belt squealing

 

Juddery, stuff clutch.

 

Smells a bit.

 

Instrument panel failing, rev counter has a mind of it's own and when you switch the lights on some random relay clicks away.

 

Sill bent and crusty

 

GOOD:

 

Supremely comfortable.

 

Great speakers.

 

Goes like stink (in the old Vauxhall 8v 'last swansong' kinda way).

 

Does 600 miles on a tank of fuel.

 

No-one will park near it.

 

 

 

I'm hoping it'll last till payday, so I can either bodge it up for another six months, or scrap it and buy something else.

 

Thoughts?

 

[saucedoctor]

It's a shame when you get to this stage, especially if it's a car you like. I'm afraid I have nothing more constructive to offer, especially as I recently spent nearly 600 quid on a car that's worth £400, and am about to sink another grand into it.

[mrbenn]

Question is - do you like it?

 

If yes then I'd say keep it going as long as is reasonably feasible.

[Volksy]

It is indeed. It does everything I could ask of it, given it was solely bought for my 70+ mile commute up and down the M1, then being abandoned in an industrial part of Rotherham for several days at a time.

[Volksy]

It is royally f*uked though.

[mrbenn]

When is the MOT up?

[wackywacerwill]

Buy pugcraft 205 immediately.

[The Moog]

Heart or head car? Head take it to the bridge. Heart why you asking in between - buy cavcraft 205 with money back warranty*

[HillmanImp]

I would not fancy a pretty long commute in a 1.1 205 so don't see Cavs Pug being an option, nice as it is.

 

How is RobTs gti on fuel?

[D-Dubya]

Our 306 got to the similar stage, too good to bridge, but too fucked to carry on for our changing demands of a second car and not worth chucking money at it. Was a shame we part ex'd it in the end as it wouldn't sell. It then, a month later appeared at a second hand motor dealer all shiney and straight with an over inflated price and was sold within a week. I don't think they'd have fixed half the stuff up with it but main stuff would have been done. Gonna keep tabs on how long it appears taxed for out of interest as it was 14 years old when we binned it.

 

Unfortunately the only spare parts I now have left over is an entire interior threats half leather and for a five door

[londonm]

Don't throw good money after bad, set a limit to what you're willing to spend on it. I had one of these, they are good cars and very very comfy.

[cort16]

When there's t&td stuff like this around for 350 quid I'd take the 100 from the scrappy and move on.

 

 

 

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/166687/astra-cesaro-bedford-350-swap

[Asimo]

Buy another one for what it would cost to put yours right and keep the current one for spares.

[Cavcraft]

Oh, dear God, that Astra is utterly brilliant, why did you have to post that up?

 

I'm going through that 'expensive 306 fail' moment myself right now. How can a seemingly ordinary, dull no apparent attraction car drag you in like this? It's a bit like that plain, late 40's bird up the street who you just want fill with your population paste everytime you see her, but your mates would laugh if they found out.

[babydriver]

I was in the same situation with my Xsara until  the Gods made the decision for me, which I am glad about as I loved that car and was the only ever car I have kept for 5 years +, mot was due plus cam belt, drive shafts, no heater, letting in water and lots of little bits but all forgiven due to being so reliable and quite nice to drive. Replacement car????? Love it!!! nice to have a change and all for £450 which is all the Xsara was worth in fine fettle.

[mercrocker]

Is the car structurally worth repairing?   Can you  find another  good 306 these days?    A lot of the stuff that you have listed is usual 3rd/4th hand car nausea which you might well have to go through again anyway.   I check every bill for my cars and promptly bin them then forget about the money.   Think  too  hard  about money and you  end up leasing a Vauxhall Adam or something......

[Volksy]

In total it probably needs about £250 and a long weekend of my time spending on it to prolong it until the MOT in October. The problem is that I just don't have the time, new job is hectic, working away most of the time, but when the 306 is needed it is for blatting up and down the M1. I can't think of a more perfect car for the role, hence my reluctance to bin it and buy the next available snotter that turns up. I bought it to save me killing the 205 CTi by doing the same thing, but that hasn't now been used in a month and the MOT is due.

Maybe I should sell the CTi and do the 306 up, that is what my head is telling me, but an early morning blast in the CTi with the roof down is something I really enjoy.

[mercrocker]

Indeed the time factor can be the killer, its a big part of the Shiter's formula.....

[dollywobbler]

I think this is why I regularly change cars. To try and avoid these decisions. Cheap motoring often feels more like prolonging the inevitable rather than preservation. The Sirion is ultimately f¥cked, but still plan to throw money at getting it welded up. This makes no sense.

[Cavcraft]

Sell the CTi. To my son.

[Jim Bell]

Negative.

 

Sell Cti to me for £400.

[CortinaDave]

I'll be in a similar situation with my ZT in July. It's paid me back the grand I paid for it last aug with 25000 miles and only a couple of hundred spent on repairs... But it's gonna need a fair bit spent at mot time and with 155k on the clock will the spend buy me another year or do I bail out while the goings good ?

 

Trouble is I really like it. Usually I get shot if an expensive mot is looming.

[cort16]

That's a toughey with the ZT as you'd probably still get 700-800 quid for it with a couple of months T&T on it. Thing is if you seel it and buy something else it might be a right shed at least you know where you stand if you spend the money on the MG.