A relative of mine has a small Fiesta sized car , it's 8 years old and done 40k miles, it's in excellent condition and only does about 3.5k miles/year. They have been told that it will soon need about £800 spent on it for various jobs and I think it's genuine that it needs doing. The problem is that the car is only worth about £2.5k as a trade in so they asked me should they trade it in and add around £5k on a newer one or have the work done and keep this one for a few more years. Any views?

8 years, low mileage, knows history and £800 is cheaper than £5k and a car that could be a money pit

as long as the £800 isn't the start of things to come.....


My mums in a similar position, 12 year old Merc A Class, no issues but a noise when at full lock, had it checked three times and they say nothing wrong/found amiss. so she feels its time to change, doesn't do loads of miles so looking at options Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I have a wonderful low mileage never failed a test never even had an advisory Rav 4 but it's 14 years old,it's reduced to scrap because of an imobiliser fault more than the thing is worth to repair and there wouldn't be any guarantee replacing the ecu locks etc would fix it. Big thank you to all at Rav 4 world who were more interested in telling me I was trying to get info on how to steal one than help.

What sort of thong does the £800 cover? If its silly stuff that would be classed as consumables, tyres, belts, service items inc things like track rod ends, clutch etc, I would be inclined to keep it. If it is for a major item that would not normally fail at 40k I might px it. FL2 Metropolis, Loire Blue, ebony/ivory

I had a similar case with tyres, head gasket, springs, then cambelt and waterpump while it's all apart and decided to move it on

It's really why it needs £800, doesn't go far, 40,000 says cambelt OK, 8 years says it's overdue, so there goes £150, couple of ball joints with arm, brake overhaul, 40K with low mileage says the discs are rusted out. couple of wipers, putting another 5K in the pot will probably end up with a higher mileage car an more problems next year. So keep it. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

Unless they fancy a new car, keep it. Sounds like there's plenty of life left in it yet.