I have an 2004 VRS, 115,000 miles. I do around 30,000 miles per year, 90% motorway driving. The VRS is perfect for my needs: economical, implied sportiness, the limited (but always fun) torque surge, and the fact that its slightly different.

The car is in good shape inside and out and is running well. The seats are bright and clean, its black but full of scratches (easy fix) and the paint is peeling off the spoiler (easy fix). Most important of all is that I like it.

However its booked into the garage on Monday to check out a droning noise at speed (possibly wheel bearing),this sparked a dilemma. In terms of my normal car cycle I am due a change and nearing 120,000 miles has got me thinking about whether I should change it soon rather than drag it through its old age. My normal replacement car value is the trade in value + £5000 cash. However this is cash that I could really do with not spending for a at least a year and half.

My concern is that going from 115,000 miles up to 150,000 may be expensive in terms of maintenance. Possibly wasting money compared to getting a lower mileage replacement sooner. I know these TDIs run for a lot longer than 150,000 miles, but I'm concerned about the worst case costs that could rack up over the next year or so such as another cambelt change, turbo, clutch, suspension related bits etc.

Even if it racked up £2000 worth of repairs its still less than £5000, but that is £2000 that could be put towards a replacement.

What would you do in this position?

Keep it as it'll probably be ok

or

Sell it as it could be wasting money on an old car

Edited 26 March, 201115 yr by iamrcb

The thing with buying another car is that you can't guarantee you won't have to spend money fixing that up. At least with the one you have you know what the problems are.

My mate got an octavia 1.9 tdi 51 plate and it's done 280 odd thousand miles (one turbo) and it's in pretty good nick.

I bought mine last year in may with 49,000 on the clock and plan to keep it up to about 150,000 miles myself but I'm very confident it will make that with ease.

I'd keep it if you like it, not that many cars out there better built than a vag.

Edited 26 March, 201115 yr by Fabla

why not see what you could sell yours for, then put £500-1000 in and get one with lower miles?

Iv taken my car thru exactly those miles. Turbo went, £250 for low mile replacement fitted, clutch was replaced when I mapped it to be on safe side. Drivers side wheel bearing went too. Apart from those things, only general maintenance needed flys thru mot's and has aged well. (IMO)

I say keep it

Matt

KEEP IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

False alarm on the droning noise it was only a tyre problem. The left passenger side tyre isn't round! There's a flat spot tucked away on the inside, not worn down but flat, as in NOT ROUND. I just didn't expect it and it sounded like it was coming from the other side, hence the guess at wheel bearing. I've ordered two uniroyal rainsport 2s from mytyres, £72 each delivered.

I've decided to keep the car for at least another year. Thanks for the advice.

Next costs are:

MOT

Cam belt at 120k miles

Repaint spoiler

Brake discs and pads

Possibly add paint correction

Edited 28 March, 201115 yr by iamrcb