The quandary., probably not unusual. Repair and keep. Or call it a day?

2010 on a 10 plate, HSE TD4 auto 140k.

Maintained properly by a good indy. Anything needing doing has been done. As you'd expect after 14 and bit years used every day, off metalled roads i.e. farm forest tracks 5 days a week though need for that will reduce. Still quite presentable cosmetically inside and out though I'm sure other jobs will crop up, they always do.

Needs a couple of jobs, first one not really an issue, front drive shaft and hub.

However, will need a new rear subframe to get through next test in March 25.

So what do you reckon, 2k min work there across the two jobs?

Looking on AutoTrader similar spec mileage listed around 3k and a bit.

So the dilemma is obvious. Repair or move on. The money side is not an issue. Historically have always bought new or pre reg, occasionally ex demo and kept for long term. We do have a B class hatch as an "errand" car but it genuinely cannot fulfil some of the jobs we do with the FL2.

Although ideally throwing money at it and ignoring She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed, I'd move on to a new normal estate, and repair the FL2, keep it as a winter hack or when genuine ground clearance and 4wd advisory.

Genuinely torn as to what to do.

Can already hear someone typing Dacia Duster, not looked tbh suspect would prefer a lower loading height generally hence comment about estate. Was hoping to hang on until after next budget to hear what horrors the Govt has in store for motorists before deciding direction.

I'm selling my 58 plate SE, and I'm changing the head gasket at the moment, so the next owner doesn't have the same coolant issues I had for a couple of years. Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate. The family car.
2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Gone.
2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE. Gone.
Audi A5 convertible, my daily driver.
1972 Hillman Avenger GT, the project.

The head and the heart chestnut. How does it normally play out in other subjects, if I want a quiet life I would listen to the other half. Money wise I can see the reasons for cut and run, also a replacement could be cheaper on road tax adding to the savings.

If your FL2 will be in tip-top condition for £2k and you need its versatility, then keep it.

These days £2k will not go very far when looking for a replacement car.

If your FL2 no longer meets your needs, then just choose another.

If you want a quiet life, go with your wife's wishes. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

I think that is is a very personal decision that only you can make, but key questions I would be asking myself are........
1) When repaired, will the car be "fit for purpose". Does it meet all my needs with regard to function, enjoyment and current and future reliability?
2) Do i like the car or do i hanker after something different or newer?

With regard to the cost of the repair, i have never really understood the argument often trotted out that if a repair costs as much or more than the car is worth it is not worth doing. All cars require maintenance, new or old and of course with a new or newer car you will have lower maintenance costs but although you don't feel the pain in quite the same way there is the small issue of depreciation!!
If you happened to have say £45k available to purchase a new vehicle. Left on deposit at 5% interest comes to £2250 pa

Steve

Been adding up the costs of FL2 ownership over the last 10 years.

Total servicing costs (since out of warranty has mainly been DIY and independent specialists) for our FL2 for the last 10 years since we bought it at 4 months old is £4715

(includes MOTs, routine servicing, 2 sets of tyres, 2 batteries, ERG valve, Cambelt/waterpump/FEAD belt)

Depreciation is around £17K

VED and insurance around £6k

Its done 62K miles so fuel is around £12k

Grand total about £40K

Servicing is the least cost, and depreciation the largest. Jules

One thing that a lot of people think about with older cars, if they spend a lot on it and someone writes it off by running into it. They will not get anywhere near their money back that they have spent, as older cars are written off for quite minimal damage due to their age.

Life's a gamble I guess Jules

I gambled when I took out gap insurance on my BMW. It didnt get written off so that money was wasted. Jules

Just a driver wrote:

One thing that a lot of people think about with older cars, if they spend a lot on it and someone writes it off by running into it. They will not get anywhere near their money back that they have spent, as older cars are written off for quite minimal damage due to their age.

There is a lot of people who see a car as something that does a job that’s all. Be it to get to work, kids to school, away on holiday. They are not that attached to their car, it gets washed for the mot if it’s lucky.

Car with a lower loading height than a Duster , that will cope with farm tracks , be 100% reliable , A6 size load space , 5 people in comfort all day . Real all wheel drive that will cope with the U.K. winter , and reliability that a LR could only achieve in someone’s dreams . Subaru Outback . I ran both the FL2 and Outback side by side for 5 years . The FL2 has better approach and departure angles if that’s important , but I doubt it if you’re looking for an estate . In eight years and 80 k miles the outback was 100% reliable , zero warranty . Never got stuck . I sold it 4 months ago as it was a 3rd car .. still miss it . 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

IanMetro wrote:

Just a driver wrote:

One thing that a lot of people think about with older cars, if they spend a lot on it and someone writes it off by running into it. They will not get anywhere near their money back that they have spent, as older cars are written off for quite minimal damage due to their age.

Surely the point of owning a car is to use it to travel with as much comfort and enjoyment that you can afford.

It's rarely an investment.

The only car I made money on was a 1982 Series 3 restoration - a lot of hard work over 4 years for £4K  Jules

As the saying goes, only gamble what you can afford to loose.
With a used car we know it will loose money and cost money, it’s just a matter of trying to make it as little as possible. Unless it’s a hobby car .

Wise words from 'just a driver'.

On reading this all again, I think that we are missing what purpose does the OP's FL2 (new car?) serve.

Is it used for work, if so, how important is it that it's reliable and starts day and night, or travels distance.

Is it the only car in household, or can it be kept in a less important role.

Is it worth keeping as a 'Hobby' car.

For most of my working life I had no option other to keep my car fully serviceable and ready to travel day or night, quite often a large distance, but that did not stop me liking (loving?) my Triumph Dolomite Sprint and keeping it for over 20 years. And yes it sold for more than I paid for it [ignoring inflation]. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)