Letting go of a Financial black hole

[Zedjay]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

I find it odd that you "can't get tyres" for a 1983 car...My '82 Celica has period Supra wheels on it, which are supposed to be fitted with 225/60-14's...you can get them, but they cost a fortune, so I looked up a tyre size comparitor calculator on the net, and found that there was only a few mm each way difference between that size and 215/65-14 tyres which are still commonly available for good prices.

There was no such thing as run-flats back then, so I also find it odd that the wheels would need replacing...although i do remember using the excuse to my old man when I was 17 that my Mazda Capella needed a set of alloys because "the tyres are wider and safer"...

the tyres he is on about will be metric...very hard to get these days...
the FC or FD LTD had the same problem..

[irish2]

Originally Posted by jphanna

Plus an engine is never the same once they have been repaired. I walked away, and used my XE Fairmont every day, from that point on.

How is and engine changed after changing a head gasket?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

I wish I had realised this before I sold my Toyota Now I'm lumbered with a car that leaves a trail of parts everywhere it goes and returns 14L/100 km I would have been better off fixing my old car for $1k.

Experience is a hard teacher but it also allows you to find that true bargain next time around...

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by irish2

Originally Posted by jphanna

Plus an engine is never the same once they have been repaired.

How is and engine changed after changing a head gasket?

if it's not done properly it can lead to further breakdowns. if the engine and head are kept clean during the rebuild, there shouldn't be any 'change' afterwards (it's not like an accident frame repair)

[jphanna]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

if it's not done properly it can lead to further breakdowns. if the engine and head are kept clean during the rebuild, there shouldn't be any 'change' afterwards (it's not like an accident frame repair)

i had a few let go, and i know of others with same results after they have been repaired. they run slightly lumpy, if only the head is repaired. i am not a mechanic, but when my first one went (torana) my then mechanic told me that if one or two pots have been running with water in the mix, then unless the block is rebored as well ($$$$), then how can you have equal compression? most head gasket repair jobs are only top end.

[trippytaka]

I did some basic maths late last year...

My AU Falcon had cost me $1500 in servicing last year (things were starting to go). It was costing abotu $70 in petrol per week. Rego and insurance added on top.

Then I worked out the cost of buying a brand new car on a novated lease. For less than the weekly cost of running the AU I am novating a new car.

Makes so much more sense in the long run!

[mik]

i don`t care for the repairs vs market value rule, i think you can recycle an old car if you like it, and it can be a very good banger as long as the body is good(worthwhile), and if it`s refurbished properly,............... and i`ve always enjoyed the refurbishing myself, even though i`m slowin down a bit in my old age :(.

[cs123]

Originally Posted by trippytaka

I did some basic maths late last year...

My AU Falcon had cost me $1500 in servicing last year (things were starting to go). It was costing abotu $70 in petrol per week. Rego and insurance added on top.

Then I worked out the cost of buying a brand new car on a novated lease. For less than the weekly cost of running the AU I am novating a new car.

Makes so much more sense in the long run!

Are you comparing apples with apples? I can't imagine how financing a new vehicle, plus fuel and maintenance would be cheaper than keeping your AU on the road. The AU would have cost you around $7K last year on those figures. Lease payments alone on a $35K car would exceed that.

I've leased new cars for a while. I am having trouble justifying it now, especially with the new FBT laws.

[Bearman]

My old BA XR6 was fast becoming a money pit. In the last 2 years of owning it we've shovelled quite a bit of money into it on things that either went wrong or preventative maintenance on known issues with this model, in addition to servicing every 10,000km.

At the time of trading in it still needed:
1 set of tyres.
Seat repair, worn and torn bolster upholstery and foam leaking out.
Front end and suspension work (got a quote from Pedders that nearly gave me a heart attack).
Rear window tint bubbling badly, needed to be redone.
Lots of condensation recently at the base of the windscreen. I took it as a bad sign.

Next due service at 210,000km it was going to need full brakes front and rear.

Even halving the Pedders quote we were still looking down the barrell of having to spend plenty on it.

I was going to keep it until it was completely shagged but after discussion we decided to cut our losses and trade it.

[aualright]

Funny you speak of the Mazda 929's head gasket. I had a '77 model in the late 80's that went through head gaskets like there was no tomorrow. Was the 1800cc too.

Re repairing cars. I have held onto to my AU XR8 because it is such a solid and enjoyable car. Just put a reco LSD diff in and it feels brand new. No more diff clunks and whines and great power delivery once again.

Will need a new clutch soon but after 200,000km I won't hesitate in keeping it 'maintained' rather than upgrade to a new or newer car.


At the end of the day it costs me bugger all and is a known entity having owned it for 8 years.

****

[ebxr8240]

Some of you guys are complaining about general maintenance..
Sheesh ....
I do most repairs / maintenance myself though....

[GTP-03]

yes. :0)