Do people resent spending any money on their cars?

[Bear]

I love spending money on my cars.

 

Just wish I had enough to spend on them

[PiperCub]

I was bought up with a preventative maintenance attitude so spending money wisely on cars etc. and doing it all myself means I get the best of both worlds, reliability and reasonable cheapness. 

 

But the problem with many folk is that because so few actually get their hands dirty any more and/or do not understand how cars work to any extent (if at all).

To give you an example, if someone pays £300 for a new mobile phone, they can see what they've just spent £300 on sitting in their hand. It's a physical thing, but if the same person is asked to pay £250 for a service/parts on their car, if they don't know anything about cars, unless it's a visible repair (bodywork etc) they will not see any difference so don't have any tangible evidence for that £250.

 

That's what many can't get their heads around, so they object to paying out on such things, it's a bit like income tax, you get it deducted every month but you never quite see exactly where it goes! You know it goes into a pot but where from there?

 

As ignorance of cars grows and fewer people getting stuck in to fix them, expect this problem to increase. Especially as cars are now becoming (thanks to PCP etc) more like a household appliance rather than a possession to be looked after and to a degree, cherished. 

[alcyonecorporation]

I feel like scum for using tyres down to 2mm before changing them now. 

[gordonbennet]

I was bought up with a preventative maintenance attitude so spending money wisely on cars etc. and doing it all myself means I get the best of both worlds, reliability and reasonable cheapness. 

 

But the problem with many folk is that because so few actually get their hands dirty any more and/or do not understand how cars work to any extent (if at all).

To give you an example, if someone pays £300 for a new mobile phone, they can see what they've just spent £300 on sitting in their hand. It's a physical thing, but if the same person is asked to pay £250 for a service/parts on their car, if they don't know anything about cars, unless it's a visible repair (bodywork etc) they will not see any difference so don't have any tangible evidence for that £250.

 

That's what many can't get their heads around, so they object to paying out on such things, it's a bit like income tax, you get it deducted every month but you never quite see exactly where it goes! You know it goes into a pot but where from there?

 

As ignorance of cars grows and fewer people getting stuck in to fix them, expect this problem to increase. Especially as cars are now becoming (thanks to PCP etc) more like a household appliance rather than a possession to be looked after and to a degree, cherished. 

 

Astute observations.

 

Suppose my early days were influenced by the tightest twat of a boss as ever walked this earth on my first job, the Transit vans and Ford D series we ran were so neglected that one memorable (nay shocking because it happened at all) day it was decided to service a twin wheeled Perkins engined pick up Tranny, engine hot sump bung removed, nothing, had to poke about in the sump breaking up the nutty slack to find something liquid to drain.

 

I ended up working for a different bloke who ran a van haulage fleet and had entirely the opposite idea, his Trannies often got monthly oil changes, his first van as an owner driver it was sometimes weekly, those vehicles ran and ran despite being thrashed to buggery and back.

 

Later after i started on the lorries, similarly one outfit had bodgit and scarper maintenance, Jesus wept, later on i ended up at the complete opposite, probably the best maintained fleet in the county and one of the best in the country.

In house serviced overspecified all British fleet, biggest engines that could be ordered, usually Cummins, high geared, oil changes every 15k, gearbox and drive axle oil changes every third service so 45k, chassis shot blasted and painted every other year, cabs usually repainted half way through life, coach hand painted for most of my time, result well roughly 7 years of constant 70 mph running without a bit of bother and a queue of small hauliers and owner drivers waiting to buy them.

 

I know i overservice my cars, obsessive about brakes and staggered at the crap state of many of even main dealer serviced brakes i encounter, faddy about oil servicing and tyres too.

 

The chap who owned the lorry fleet didn't piss money about, he always said good oil and servicing is cheap, down time and repairs are not, haven't found any reason to change what i've been doing so far, and the days of internet shopping have brought the cost of self servicing down so cheaply now it's almost criminal to do the opposite.

None of this £70/110 piss taking worth of engine oil the garage put in when it's retail priced, i can get 5 gallons of bloody good fully synthetic premium stuff for that.

 

I feel sorry for those youngsters who fall for the must have new car for first car fashion, they never learn how to fix the things and forever will be at the mercy of garages and fast fit joints for their whole motoring lives.

[beko1987]

Amy - "Why do you need to change both rear pads, you said one was fine for a while yet"

Me - "facepalm"

 

It'll get fronts too even though their only just over half worn, I want the caliper apart to clean and grease the sliders anyway, may as well chuck some new pads on and I don't have to bother about it for another few years..

[gordonbennet]

No don't do that Beko, be like me slip the new front Brembo pads in that i'm testing on the Mrs' Scooby on Tuesday afternoon, forgetting completely that you've ordered new sliders for those self same calipers, which turn up first thing Weds morn, oh bollocks, i'll slip those in when i change over to the winter wheels come Nov/Dec then shall i, bloody memory's shot.

 

Went to Brancaster beach again with the dogs yesterday to let them act the fool, those Brembos bedded in and yes, a big improvement in feel and progressive lighter braking.

The difference feels like when i used to fit standard Ferodos back in the 80's.

[Lankytim]

I'll spend money if it's needed but I like my money's worth out of a component. I don't see the point in replacing a set of pads if they still have 40% of their life still in them. Same with tyres etc. I just see it as a waste of money.

[Bobthebeard]

I spend whatever I can afford on what is needed. Also get a bit carried away in spending a lot that I can't afford on what isn't actually needed, but desirable.

[paulscavalier]

I always have tried to keep up with the servicing schedule on all my cars regardless of age. Mrs cav used to work in the service department at a Vauxhall dealer in the late 1990s and insists on all services being done properly. She bollocked a garage for not doing a brake fluid change on her polo when she had it as it should be done every two years and they didn't do it. Needless to say the car sold very quickly when she put it up for sale as she had every receipt since she owned it.

[Justin Case]

It would appear that terminal cluelessness is now reaching epidemic proportions I would not be surprised to find out that quite a few folk take out PCPs because 'there is no depreciation' as well as thinking that  cars don't need servicing for three years because that's what the MOT is for and in any case they go and get shafted again before they actually need one.

[Bobthebeard]

It would appear that terminal cluelessness is now reaching epidemic proportions I would not be surprised to find out that quite a few folk take out PCPs because 'there is no depreciation' as well as thinking that  cars don't need servicing for three years because that's what the MOT is for and in any case they go and get shafted again before they actually need one.

In my experience most folk don't look after anything hired or rented. Cars, vans, houses or tools. Probably goes back to the invention of renting/hiring.

PCP cars are no different.

[Sloth in a bowl]

On my Skoda I get the serving done every 9,000 miles, which is a bit under the recommended. I go no where near the long life service plans.

I got the brake fluid and coolant changed at 3 years (45,000 miles) and asked them about the cost of a gearbox oil change.

 

Them, 'We only do fluid changes for 4x4 or auto boxes' was the reply, 'yours is sealed for life'

Me, 'Well my car has is torque limited not by what the engine will do, but by the limit of the gearbox, so if I have no oil changes what is the life of the car meant to be? In 5 years time, I don't want to be buying a reconditioned box for £1000 when a £70 oil change now, would save me the grief'

Them, 'We'll speak with Skoda UK and find out what specification oil you need and how much.'

 

End result, at my next service, I will be getting a gearbox oil change.

To be fair to the boss, he knew why I wanted a box service and went and found out how to do the oil change on a VAG group 'sealed for life' gearbox, but it surprised me that they argued against work that I was throwing at them.

[Bobthebeard]

Ha! Sealed for life.

Your life? The life of the car? The life of the gearbox? The life of the car once the gearbox breaks?

Meaningless really.

Just get the oil/fluid changed every now and again as per Sloth.

Will extend the 'life'.

[gordonbennet]

You only have to peruse ads or forums for Range Rovers and BMW X5's to find that sealed for life means at any point around 100k the auto box will shit itself to the tune of about £4k.

 

Don't even think about keeping a twin clutch box and not doing periodic oil changes, well actually don't even think about a twin clutch box out of warranty would be closer to the mark.

[sierraman]

It would appear that terminal cluelessness is now reaching epidemic proportions I would not be surprised to find out that quite a few folk take out PCPs because 'there is no depreciation' as well as thinking that cars don't need servicing for three years because that's what the MOT is for and in any case they go and get shafted again before they actually need one.

Spoke to someone the other day, they'd got a PCP over 24 months because it had a 24 months or however many miles service that he admitted there was no way he'd be able to afford on top of the payments.

[adw1977]

Spoke to someone the other day, they'd got a PCP over 24 months because it had a 24 months or however many miles service that he admitted there was no way he'd be able to afford on top of the payments.

And you know that in that 24 months they won't open the bonnet once!

[New POD]

My post disappeared, so here goes.

 

1) Until recently, I resented spending money on anything, because I had none, and therefore serviced my own mundane cars in order to avoid larger bills later. Whilst skint I came to the conclusion that it was better to avoid depreciation by buying cars that were not ready to become classics.

2) My own ability is the limiting factor, although that ability has been limited by failure to invest in the right tools.

3) Now the limiting factor is my time. If I'm only home at the weekends, do I want to spend the day fixing my wife's car. ? Hence this week her car has been having the suspension tops replaced by a back street place.

4) Now, the final bit of the jigsaw is the value of the car.

 

Take the MV6 - Without being rude to JohnK, I probably paid him a little more than it's actually worth. (Not a lot, and maybe a 3.2 should be more expensive) . I was probably wearing Rose Tints, from the day I saw his advert.

 

The truth is that the extra petrol costs since I sold the 1.6 astra and got the Omega far exceed the value of either, so the price pales into insignificance.

 

The problem is that it has required some time and money and skill thrown at it.  By the time I've bought new coil packs and cam cover gaskets, (which are going to need doing) and added that to the wishbones, and brakes, I will have spent almost twice what it cost me. I kind of think, "well I could have bought the lowest mileage one on autotrader, for what I've spent" but who knows what that might have needed. 

 

Anyway, I get my head around this by saying to myself : It's an expensive car, and it is the top of the range. The Carlton Gsi of it's day. It's on the cusp of being a classic and if I'm lucky and spend money on it, I might get see just how many miles I can get onto it.  At this rate, It will have 200K on the clock by Christmas 2018. If I want it to survive into 2020, I need to understand that it will be pushing 220K. If I don't I shouldn't have bought it, because nobody will be interested in buying it, with such high miles. So I need to NOT skrimp, but be one step ahead. Lots of parts are becoming difficult to obtain, so I need to be on the ball and start stock piling.  

[steveo3002]

hard for these types to see any value or gain from maintence - buy some glittery tat from argos and they can sit and admire it , but the car still drives the same to the average mong with the old oil in it , 100k cam belt and caked in winter salt etc

 

then theyre the first to pipe up xxxx cars are shit it cost me £800 to get an mot 

 

always looked after my stuff regardless of what it costs , havent had much by the way of breakdowns in 25+ yrs driving

[oman5]

I don't skimp on maintenance on the Volvo 940, it's my work car. If it doesn't go I can't get to work, so no money!

It only does about 6k miles a year, consisting of a 40 mile motorway journey 4 times a week, but the thing is, we KNOW that these old brick volvos respond well to TLC and just keep going. So it gets a full service with semi synth oil every January. It's still running on the mid range tyres I put on it 3.5 years ago, no cracks and the tread is around 5mm.

It will need a set of pads as they're getting low but I'm putting that off until i can pull it off the road, it has a sticky calliper that I think is going to be non-cooperative.

I put a full stainless exhaust on it so I wouldn't have to worry about it ever again.

I forked out for a brand new milk crate battery when it started to get a bit slower when cranking from cold.

The only thing I should have done but haven't yet is the timing belts..it's a godawful job on the d24 engine and I don't have the tools to do it, and neither does my regular mechanic.

I love this car, it's the perfect car for me and I like everything about it. I want it to last, so I don't begrudge spending on it if it needs it. So far it's passed every MoT first time in my ownership.

 

As for the mustang, it's a 140 mph machine, I think to skimp on rubber would be a bit stupid even if I never drive it that fast-it's still sending a fuck ton of torque through the back wheels, so it's got 4 brand new firestones on it.

[gordonbennet]

Oman i agree with you about the 940 Diesel, wish we'd never sold ours and have kicked ourselves many times for doing so, it thrived an a bit of care and rewarded us with complete reliability, a quarter to half a turn clockwise on the fuelling screw made it a much better drive.

 

The belts don't look too bad to get at, which is more than can be said for the glow plugs one of which never did get changed, could you do it the old way by marking up the sprockets and relevant facings behind and dot marking the position of the cam sprocket to camshaft...i believe that sprocket has no woodruff key and is locked on place purely by the bolt and the taper (shit design), i do not know about the others particularly the fuel pump, whether you can slide one belt off and the other back on without disturbing the camshaft sprocket i do not know.

Don't even know where you would find a locking kit, rare engine now so in theory someone might be glad to sell or rent out their kit.

[bub2006]

Regarding costs, I think it's irrelevant. I've been huffing and puffing about the money I've spent on the c2 getting it right and a friend and the Mrs have both said the same thing, when it's done it will still be a cheap car compared to the going prices but everything will be sorted. It stands me at £270 with the sump, clutch, rear wheel bearing, front discs and pads and thermostat and flush. It's going for an mot next week then the belts are getting done. I think roughly it will owe me about 450 when I'm done but that will be with new cambelt and a years ticket plus all other bits I've mentioned.

What you spend on a car can be seen as irrelevant to a degree if you plan on being the last owner and running it till it won't go no more.

[gordonbennet]

Worth the spend Bub.

Underrated little motor, bloke i worked with ran a well maintained 1.4 HDi which he did around 120 miles in daily just for work commute, last i heard it was on 150k running spot on looked well and he was still getting nearly 70mpg at his steady 60mph cruise where possible.

[bub2006]

Mine is a 1.1 with auto wipers, ac and all bits working. Watched one on eBay, sane trim but a few months newer with 20k more on clock and 1 or two days mot sold for just over 510. Bodywork on mine has a few dings and scratches but like I said if I can get it all done cambelt etc for sub 500 with a years ticket it's a winner. Tows trailer all over the country with the bikes and lawn tractors on it very well too so I plan to just keep running it. Engines and electronics are available cheaply so if worst was to happen it will just get what it needs as it's so cheap to run insurance and fuel wise.

[Hendry]

I have heard of people trading their car in for a new one just before it turns 3 because itll be due an MOT soon, the amount of people who get rid before an MOT i found actually quite staggering. People saying "aw usually i get rid before the MOT is due so I dont need to bother with that hassle".......what hassle? its a less than 3 year old car, with 20K on it, youve serviced it annually, all you need to do is pay for a test and put it in for one. Its like some people see an MOT as the beginning of a car starting to become a hassle and start going wrong and costing them money. Or perhaps its to do with the warranty expiring and they know from now on any repairs will need to be paid for out of their pocket, but they dont think how much that car would actually need to cost in repairs before it gets anywhere near the depreciation on that car over 3 years, and then the cost/depreciation of the new one. Ive even heard people in the motor trade get shot of a car because its first MOT was due.

 

I mean if you actually want to buy a new car every 3 years and you can afford it, and youre daft enough to waste all that money, fine go ahead, but just dont hide or disguise it with the excuse of expensive repairs or costs on the current car, just be open and say you just want a new car. I used to do it myself because I could afford to and got bored of cars very quickly, but I was always upfront about it. Only time I can see a point for buying a new car on the basis of the repairs on the old one being expensive is if it has a mechanical breakdown of some expensive component or is due for needing a lot of work which is going to come close to, be the same as, or exceed the value of your car. But even then you could say, my cars worth £1500, the repair bill is £1500, but with those repairs done itll last me another 5 years, buying a new car that will cost me less than that to buy over 5 years and cost me less than that in repairs isnt going to happen. Sometimes its better the devil you know than the devil you dont. I mean you pour all that money and effort into a car just to get rid and go and buy another, effectively stepping into the unknown and have to do it all again. Maybe im too OCD but i even find main dealer sourced top price used cars have always needed money spending on them when ive bought them, not mechanically but cosmetically, broken/damaged trim, scuffed alloys, scratched paint. I tried a brand new car once, thought im not paying much more than I would for a 2nd hand, this car is brand new so its perfect, I dont need to get it perfect or spend any money getting it that way, just need to be careful to keep it that way, which is impossible unless you dont drive it, so dont see the point paying a premium for a new car, and if its a used car with marks and scratches already youre less likely to be bothered about a couple more. 

[stephen01]

​spent £300 on a 50 quid car for the MOT, stupid perhaps but at 48k and immaculate condition it seemed, and has been, worth it. It's now not so clean as it's been used while I'm renovating my house and has saved me over £1000 in skips so far

 

​I have new oil and filter for it but I've yet to find the time to treat it to some new oil.

[sierraman]

If taking your car for an MOT at three years old is a hassle, then I'd suggest a quicker way of getting rid of all that disposable money you have each month, would be to chuck handfuls of it each night into the hearth. Then put your head in it cause it would burn for a fucking month.

[Uncle Jimmy]

I hate spending money on anything other than cars.

[oman5]

I hate spending money on anything other than cars.

Yes. I totally agree, Houses, food and bills are a pain in the arse.

[Partridge]

Look at the mix of high rent costs (most people rent now), living costs and general apathy and knowledge towards cars these days. It's not surprising really is it? You see way more cars with blowing exhausts and shit tyres than you used to a couple of years ago.

 

Me personally? I don't resent spending money on the Jag - because it's a nice car and it brings me pleasure. Whatever it wants it can have. Even if it means parking it up and leaving it for a few weeks until I have the readies to have it sorted (which is what I'm doing right now).

 

The Accord I've serviced, treated to half decent tyres, and fixed any niggles. But I haven't bothered with cosmetics and "wants".

 

The Laguna - that will get the bare essentials. Oil, coolant, tyres. It's got nearly 190k on it, and is nigh on worthless. Really not worth spending money on it, but I'm not sure I would resent spending money on any car.

 

If you can't afford to maintain a car to a safe standard - should you really be driving it?

[mat_the_cat]

The belts don't look too bad to get at, which is more than can be said for the glow plugs one of which never did get changed, could you do it the old way by marking up the sprockets and relevant facings behind and dot marking the position of the cam sprocket to camshaft...i believe that sprocket has no woodruff key and is locked on place purely by the bolt and the taper (shit design), i do not know about the others particularly the fuel pump, whether you can slide one belt off and the other back on without disturbing the camshaft sprocket i do not know.

Don't even know where you would find a locking kit, rare engine now so in theory someone might be glad to sell or rent out their kit.

 

The cambelt can be done fairly easily without locking, but yes - the front cam sprocket has no woodruff key, just a taper. The rear one doesn't even have a taper but relies on (a lot of!) torque holding it in place! It's a bit of a ball ache but you can do the fuel pump belt by allowing the cam to rise up at the front (remove the bearing caps). Last time I did the belt I did it this way as I was changing the head. The previous few times I've borrowed the tool from a then-local garage.