fix it or bin it?

[legrandefromage]

Fix it or bin it:

2001 VW Passat TDi SE 130

Faults:

turbo knackered

will need new discs & pads soon

plus a few other odds & sods

181,000 miles

Plus points:

interior still good,

body good,

engine sound

Recent repairs:

front suspension fully refurbished

new clutch fitted

new oil seals and sump fitted

Cambelt & water pump replaced

I put 89,000 miles on this in two years without many problems other than daft electrical faults but, since whacking the sump back in October, its seems like its all gone wrong.

Now, with an average of 45,000 miles a year, should I think about replacing it or spend £700 repairing the turbo and overhauling the brakes?

Lots of ancillary parts yet to go such as steering pump or the alternator etc.

Its my work so cant afford to keep what feels like chucking money down a hole.

But, I cant really afford to replace it just yet which is frustrating and even if I did replace it, theres every chance the next car could be a lemon.

If you think of a Taxi as 'trigger's broom', many cars have intergallatic miles on them but are kept pretty tidy via replacement parts, so actual mileage shouldnt be a factor when considering the poll. My 2001 Mondeo reached 420,000 miles before it was demolished by another driver, original turbo and engine too.

What do you think?

 

[cyfa2809]

thats a real tricky one

do you think it is wear and tear on the parts that need replacing? if so maybe the car isnt upto what you want it to do

or is it that its just the way of cars and when its all sorted you will be good for a fair while

:?

 

[silverclaws]

I never trusted turbo engines, heard too many bad things and just the whole concept of it says to me, things running faster which means more wear and with that cost. But you have a turbo, so can the motor be run without it, if so and the vehicle is good, reliable, it's a keeper, as you say buying something else could be a lemon.

 

[konaman1]

l'd say its definitely worth doing the work, the brakes you'd have to do anyway, general wear and tear. what with the clutch, cambelt and suspension work recently done, it sounds too good to bin.

 

[IDB1]

Get pattern parts for discs and pads and DIY.. .shouldn't cost much.. and a turbo is just a basic plumbing job afaik.. source a recon, with a rebate for returning your old unit and bob's yer auntie.

Should be do-able in a day (even referring to a Haynes comic if you have to)

 

[GT-Steve]

How much will it cost to put all the bits right? And how much would you get for the car if it were a) spares/repairs, or b) fullyfunctional.. ??

Do the maths and it'll give you your answer. If you won't get your money back for the repairs then seems a false economy unless you're planning on keeping it and putting another 80k miles on the clock...

Picking up a replacement will be easy if you're looking at getting the same again, as they're two a penny...

 

[sylus]

it's a ..awww stuff it kinda a car or better the devil you know

 

[Mr Panda]

After two years you know the car's foibles. If you are happy and can live with them, keep it and spend on the turbo. If you secretly hanker after a new car, probably best go for it but as you point out, any replacement car could be a lemon.

Obviously as its your livlihood (sp?) that injects some spice to the decision

Are lease cars available for taxi-ers or are you not eligible? Some nice BMW deals around at the moment

Worst car I ever had was a Citroen BX GTi - fast enough when it was going but in the short time I owned it, approx 1 year, there wasn't a month went by without it being off the road for something.

 

[alanf]

are you 100% sure the turbo is knackerd? what do the codes read?

 

[legrandefromage]

are you 100% sure the turbo is knackerd? what do the codes read?

VW fault codes rarely match VW engine problems - 'overboost' code could mean MAP or MAF or turbo or about 7 other things. I no longer bother with engine fault codes as they seem pretty meaningless.

Turbo is definitely knackered - its bearings are gone.