MOT fail - what to do?

[Negative Creep]

MR2 failed today on welding. Its been patched up before but not very well so has gone through. Problem is its in a hard to reach area and ive been quoted £180 which i will struggle to get together.

 

So what to do? That aside its a good car with loads of life left in it. Would anyone here be interested in taking or swapping for it as it stands? Still has mot until the 5th and tax until 31 may

[Cavcraft]

Obviously if you're on your arse then any money is a pain to get hold of, but if you can get a years motoring in a car you already know for £180 then it would seem worth it.

If you sold the car and bought another you could end up with a right old money pit and regret doing so.

[garethj]

Find someone local who'll do it for mares rates?

 

I'm free this weekend with a welder, but Bedfordshire is a bit of a trek....

[retro80sboy]

best thing is to ask about and shop around for the best quote from a number of garages, but I suppose thats stating the obvious!

[Negative Creep]

Back home from work now so a bit more detail. Garage has said the work won't exceed £180, they explained that it isn't just a case of slapping a few patches on as that's been done badly in the past which has caused the current problems. Someone also once jacked it in the wrong place which hasn't helped, and to get at the places that need attention the rear vent panels need removing. I've used them for years and have no reason to disbelieve them.

 

It would certainly make sense to repair it as there were no other failures beyond welding and only 1 advisory. Sadly mk.2 MR2s are worth pretty much fuck all, even with a fresh MOT (I'd guess £800-900). Without I guess it would be £300 at the most so unlikely to be enough to get a road legal replacement. After balancing the books I can afford it if my employer gets me on the right tax code in time for next week's pay and I spend less than £20 a week on food. Easter has come in rather handy since the garage will be closed and it won't count towards the 10 working days for a free retest.

 

Looks like I won't be able to attend the upcoming meet though

[oldford]

As you've been their customer for years is there any chance of getting some time to pay the bill?, it's something that we would consider for a valued customer and have done in the past.

[Negative Creep]

They almost certainly would. But I'll try and get the money first as I hate owing anybody money

[dollywobbler]

Yeah, MR2s are stupidly worthless. Was chatting to a bloke in the MR2 club not long back and almost fell off my chair when he was telling me the values. Sadly, one of my colleagues has one, so they're on my 'own one day' list. (His is a Mk1 though - they're still pretty stupidly cheap as well).

 

I don't get it really. People still get very excited about MX5s or MGBs so why not the MR2?

[Negative Creep]

mk.1 values are starting to creep up now and I'm pretty sure they'll increase drastically in the next few years. Mk.2 will follow but unfortunately for me not in the next 3 weeks.

 

Having owned both that and an MX5, the Mazda is more fun to drive and easier to work on but the Toyota is comfier and roomier so better for long journies

[Alexg]

Newspaper - rattlecan - another mot station

[Station]

Not sure why mk2 MR2's are so cheap. What a car for that money, RWD, mid engined, nicely built, pop up lights and not that bad looking!

 

If it just failed on one spot, why not put some blobs of filler in it?

[M'coli]

There are 4 bank holidays coming up - if you don't work shifts that already tie you up for them, there should be plenty of agency work over those 2 weekends.

[Negative Creep]

We're open as normal over all bank holidays - but for the same pay. Doesn't really bother me though as if I were off on bank holiday all the shops would be either closed or rammed

[Gompo]

 

I don't get it really. People still get very excited about MX5s or MGBs so why not the MR2?

 

They're not proper soft tops for a start, and it's not like MX5s or MGBs are expensive either. I'd not like to imagine the sort who still get very excited about MGBs, either.

[stuboy]

cant you not get a chum with a welder