It's going to cost a fortune to repair my car - what to do?
How's this for an early Xmas present? I've just picked up my 2008 Ford Mondeo 1.8 TDCi from my dealer where it was in for its annual service. As usual they were giving me a report on how the service went and unfortunately they had to advise me that I'm going to need a lot of work done to my car, which I wasn't expecting.
Because of rust, repairs have to be made to the fuel tank, exhaust system (including a new catalytic convertor), the timing belt and a few other bits and pieces. All in all it's going to cost me over €3k. I've been with this dealer for a while and any work on the car was always done through them, so I trust them when they say the work is urgent. As the car has 193,000km on the clock I was expecting the timing belt to need replacing in the near future, but the other repairs have floored me. The car has always been dealer serviced. I had been planning on changing the car later this year, but now I'm not sure what to do. I could repair the car, but that will push back my plans to change the car and I'm taking the risk that nothing else would go wrong, while my car would continue to lose value.
Alternatively I could bring forward my plans to change, and hope the €3k in repairs that would have to be discounted against the trade in value by the dealer would still leave me in a position to do a deal. Any advice you could give would be appreciated.
Just to give you a good laugh, the weekend before I got the car serviced, my wife had ordered a new MINI Countryman to replace her Ford C-Max. We can't back out of that deal now. Had I gotten the service a week earlier, we could at least have postponed changing her car to replace mine! Timing is everything, I suppose...
Martin (Meath)Dec 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Martin,
There's little else worse than getting unexpectedly bad car repair news, and we all know how it feels. Now, as you point out, you have, essentially, two options here. One is to trade in the car without the work done and get something new. Now, that's a very tempting option and one that would at least put you back under a warranty and give you reasonably predictable monthly repayments etc, all of which is good news.
The thing is though that your Mondeo is only six years old and to my mind there should be an awful lot more left in it. I would be tempted, especially as you've also just upgraded your wife's car, to take the €3k on the chin and keep yours going for a while yet. You're at a point in its life where the value isn't going to sink all that much more anyway, so keeping it an extra year or 18 months isn't going to have an enormous impact - with the age and mileage already on it, it's going to be at the lower end of the value scale anyway.
One thing worth considering: rust doesn't happen overnight. If, as you say, this car has always been serviced to schedule with the same dealer, ask them why the problem wasn't flagged up sooner. You may be able to use that as a bit of a stick to beat the price down a touch.
Let us know how you get on
Fuel-stretching killed my BMW - what will I do?
Hi, we have a 2005 BMW 116i that ground to halt last week and turns out to be its dodgy petrol that caused the problem (i.e. petrol stretching ). We have been quoted anywhere from €1,500 to €4,000 to fit a new engine. At this stage would we be better to try and sell it as is or try and get it fixed as it has been a very problematic car.
Also thinking of buying a2006 Hyundai Coupé: what do you think?
Ruairi Mc Carthy (Mullagh Co Cavan)Dec 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Ruairi,
I hate to say it, but selling it as it is might not garner you very much. The second hand market is about reliability, reliability, reliability so any car that's already got a troubled history is going to be hard to shift.
You might actually make more money breaking the car for parts, given the high cost of new parts to BMWs.
As for the Hyundai, it's a fine car but you might find it a bit impractical after the BMW. Would you consider a nicely-specified Golf instead?
My Toyota Avensis won't start. What to do?
My 2008 Toyota Avensis diesel has just 75,000 miles on the clock, is fully serviced and running well until a week ago. It now will not start and my mechanic cannot get into the diagnostics to find fault.
What now?
Joseph Mcgowan (Donegal)Nov 2014 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Joseph,
It's impossible to diagnose such a thing from afar I'm afraid. Any decent mechanic should be able to try several things without having to resort to diagnostics. I'd suggest you take it to another if your current one is giving up...
What should I do about my faulty Meriva?
I bought a secondhand Opel Meriva (2005, 1.4) last year. Its history shows that, just before I bought it, the steering column had been replaced. There was a power steering "issue" last year (failure making turning impossible, EPS light flashing). Diagnostics were run and seemed to pass all, nothing more was done and the problem only appeared again over the past week with the power steering failing and the EPS light coming on.
When this happens on a motorway it's a very scary thing! The car is under warranty until end January 2015 so obviously I want to get everything done that's possible prior to that expiring (and the NCT will be due then too). Of course the dealer I bought this from is fobbing it off as not a big deal, but I can clearly see from wider reviews that this is a major problem in Merivas dating 2003-2008. In some cases I see that even when the steering column is replaced it doesn't solve the problem, but in any case I think better to do this anyway as a first step.
I will go to my garage about this on Monday but I need this to be taken seriously by them. The two things I have going against me here however is that A) I essentially know nothing about cars so can be easily hoodwinked by jargon and B) I'm a woman - so how could I possibly even understand? ;-)
Please help me out here would you - I've a baby due in about eight weeks and it won't be good if the power steering fails on the dash to the maternity ward!
Miriam Ryan (Dublin)Nov 2014 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Mirian,
There's just nothing good about any of that. Bad enough that it happens at all, worse still that you're coming to the end of your pregnancy - as you say, you just don't need that kind of hassle.
The problem is a recurrent one on the Meriva, and seems to stem from a good old manufacturing fault. As far as I can tell it dates back to at least 2011, but in spite of repeated calls from owners and even a stinging piece on the BBC consumer show Watchdog, General Motors has failed to issue a recall for the problem.
For the moment, the best thing I can suggest is that you press your Opel dealer to give you a loan car, NOT A MERIVA, for the duration of the rest of your pregnancy, so at least you have peace of mind. Some car dealers like to try and duck the issue, but under the good old Sale Of Goods And Supply Of Services Act (otherwise known as your statutory rights) you're entitled to a repair, replacement or refund. Clearly, if the steering column has already been replaced, repairing it hasn't worked so you're looking for one of the other two.
If you feel up to tackling the dealer, then simply don't let yourself be fobbed off. Stand your ground in the dealership and don't be afraid to kick up a massive fuss. After all, can you imagine worse publicity for any business than to have a heavily pregnant woman, in tears, talking to local and national media about the issue? If they try spinning your head with tech-talk, just put your hand up and say "I don't care about the technicalities, I paid for a car that would work and I want this one to work, or a suitable replacement." Keep using that phrase and don't back down whatever you do.
In fact, let us know when you're planning to go in and perhaps one of the CompleteCar.ie team could come with you as backup. In a consumer-centric world, where recalls are in the news every day, this kind of behaviour is utterly unacceptable so don't you go accepting it.
Please do let us know how you get on.
What's wrong with my Volvo's engine?
Last year my engine blew in my 2002 Volvo S40. I had the engine replaced but since then the car will not start without giving it some throttle, it cuts out at junctions etc. and is not idling correctly. I have twice replaced the camshaft sensor, but again the camshaft fault will appear after another number of weeks. Having the faults removed will ensure smooth running for a number of weeks before reverting to the same issues. What do you think the issue could be?
Derry Mc Carthy (Killarney)Nov 2014 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Derry,
We’ve been on to Volvo to ask for expert help, but they sadly can’t diagnose a problem in a car they’ve never set eyes on. Best advice is get it to your nearest Volvo dealer for an inspection, but it sounds as if the engine replacement hasn’t been carried out correctly if it’s running that badly.
Does the Dacia Duster have a wiper problem?
I read last year in a British review of the Duster 4x4, that the windscreen wipers are seriously inadequate, too small and too slow to deal with anything more than a light rain shower. I had been considering buying one until then. I drive a good deal on the M50 and even in a car with good wipers it can be a nightmare to get caught behind one of the thousands of HGVs using that road. It is akin to trying to drive while more than half blind, since the HGV creates its own mini Niagra of water and dirt.
So I decided to forget buying a Dacia Duster 4x4. Do you know if the situation is still the same now? The British site in question take cars on a week long test, and thus have a far better idea of what they are like long-term.
Cheers, DF Nolan, Dublin
David F Nolan (Dublin)Sep 2014 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi David,
OK, a couple of points to deal with there. I can well remember my first drive in the Dacia Duster, which was a left-hand drive 4x4 model and I happened to drive it from Galway to Waterford and back on some of the wettest days of 2012. I can honestly not remember feeling that the wipers were inadequate to the task, and I'm generally pretty sensitive to things like that, so I'd say you might be crossing the car off your list somewhat unfairly. I can certainly remember thinking that the Duster felt unusually well-planted on the road and sure-footed in what were truly appalling conditions.
Incidentally, it's worth noting that we also take almost all of our test cars on week-long tests, and occasionally even longer ones. The full CompleteCar.ie team also endeavours to drive each car personally so that we can put together a fully rounded opinion on every model, and we always try to drive them in as many different conditions as the prevailing weather will allow.
How good is the Ford Focus?
How good is the Ford Focus?
Charles Murphy (Dublin 17)Sep 2014 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Charles,
I've only this week driven the updated version for the first time and it takes a considerable step forward in terms of refinement, quietness and comfort, while also being far better to look at and astoundingly good to drive. The full report can be read here.
It could well be the best car in its class - we'll reserve judgement on that until we've tried an Irish spec car.
How much to fuel my BMW 320d for a week?
Is there a site where I can accurately forecast my projected fuel costs? I will be driving roughly 80km per day in a 2006 BMW 320d and would like to know my weekly costs for budgeting purposes.
Marcus Dillon (Dublin)Expert answer
Hi Marcus,
No, but we can work out a rough figure for you. The 2006 320d had a quoted combined figure of 5.7 litres per 100km (about 50mpg). Now, we know that official fuel consumption figures are basically rubbish so let’s be on the pessimistic side – the urban consumption figure was 7.8 litres/100km so let’s split the difference and say 6.8 litres/100km as the halfway point. On your 80km per day, therefore, you’re going to nominally get through about 5.4 litres of fuel per day. That works out at 37.8 litres per week, which at the current average price per litre of diesel comes to €42.90 per week.
Now, that’s an estimated figure, and everything from the traffic levels, to the type of road you use to your own driving style to how much weight you’re carrying in the car to the condition of your engine and your tyres to whether you use the air conditioning or not and so many more variables will have an effect on that figure, so consider it ballpark only.
What will I do with my two Volkswagen Golf diesels?
We have two cars at present: a 2008 Volkswagen Golf Estate 1.9 TDI diesel (low tax, 90,000 miles, does approx. 10k miles per year), which is a family car doing town trips and three days a week motorway driving 74 miles round trip on the M1 and M50. The other is a 2007 Golf Plus 1.9 TDI with 110,000 miles on the clock doing approx. 20,000 miles per year (mainly round trips of 74km per day seven days per week on the motorway). Very happy with both cars and not giving any problems, but have been told that both cars will need the dual mass flywheel changed at some point as this is often a problem with these Golfs.
Was going to change the Golf Plus for new family car worth approx. €17k - was going to get approx. €5-5.5k as trade in and a loan for €12K. Trying to justify changing car! Both cars are serviced at most 1,000km after service is due. How much is too many miles on these cars? Could I get high mileage on these cars without too much of an outlay on repairs or should I regularly update the car? If I'm to change I was going to look at a Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Octavia or a Toyota Avensis. Am I right in sticking to diesel?
Many thanks
Brian Byrne (Balbriggan, Dublin)Aug 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Brian,
Yeah, I think you're probably right to stick with diesel with those sorts of mileages. Mind you, it's worth pointing out that those two Volkswagens you have aren't on mega-miles yet and it could be more cost-effective to spend a little on getting them spruced up and fit for thousands more miles than chopping and changing.
That said, if you're in need of a good, reliable family car then I'd have a long look at a Toyota Avensis estate. The 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine is a good 'un and cheap to tax, it's comfy, ideal for long motorway runs and if it's not the most exciting car in the world, then at least it's solidly reliable. Spacious too.
Probably the most cost-effective option is to replace the high-miler with something younger and fitter and then spend a little extra to keep the runaround Golf fresh.
Let us know what you decide on.
Is there something wrong with my Volkswagen Polo?
Hi, I have a 2002 Volkswagen Polo Comfortline 1.2-litre. I bought it a few weeks ago and I have taken it for short journeys about two or three miles. It got its NCT five days before purchase, but I noticed the needle on the petrol gauge going down slowly, but on a two or three mile journey I didn't expect it to move at all? This is my first car so I'm panicking.
Thank you!
Bryan Barrett (Limerick)Jul 2014 Filed under: fault
Expert answer
Hi Bryan,
The fuel gauge should not visibly go down over such a short drive, no matter how fast you're going! If there's a fuel leak then it's a big one to cause that, so start up the car in neutral with the handbrake on in a safe location (in the dry preferably) and get out and look underneath for any signs. If there is one we recommend turning off the car and having it towed to a garage for a repair.
However, it may well be that the gauge or the sender unit in the fuel tank are themselves faulty and it could be an inexpensive fix. Either way you should bring the car back to where you bought it (assuming it was a trade sale and not a private one) and insist they accompany you on a drive so you can demonstrate the problem. If there's a warranty in place this kind of thing should be covered.
Let us know how you get on