Keep my car or Change it for newer model.

[BorderCollie]

My 2008 Elegance estate has now covered 105,000 miles and is economical (52mpg) and reliable and has never let me down (only a headlamp bulb) other than wear and tear. The bodywork is excellent other than minor rust on sills and it has been main dealer serviced since new. I am shortly going to be able to afford a newer car at around £15,000 and rather fancy a Skoda Scout or similar as 4wd is kind of useful when it snows on us. I've also got ongoing arthritis and was thinking about an automatic car. I really love my 1.9pd estate but it's due a timing belt change later in the year and I've no idea of how long things like exhaust system and clutch (or other things) last. I don't want to have to spend lots of money in the future on repairs and renewals. Any thoughts on this....keep or change?

[Anddenton]

Better the devil you know.

[john999boy]

32 minutes ago, BorderCollie said:

 4wd is kind of useful when it snows on us. I've also got ongoing arthritis and was thinking about an automatic car.

 

Don't forget that a 4WD car won't be as economical as a 2WD one and when you try a DSG car you'll wonder why they'd previously passed you by (slightly worse for mpg too).

[amwphotos]

Keep it!

 

Winter tyres are plenty for when it snows unless you live up a really steep hill! I live in rural Wales and really there is very little need for 4wd with winter or all season tyres on. Clutch depends on how heavy you are on them. My last renault megane clutch lasted 230,000 miles.

[gav_is_con]

Presume this is one of the last 1.9pd engines unless it's a 1.6CR. I am sure you have read they go on forever. Winter tyres or if you don't have space and ability to swap, Cross Climates or some other all season tyres permanently mounted. Save your money for something else. The car will go on and on. Yes may need a clutch and a cambelt, still cheaper than depreciation. Less to go wrong than the modern diesel. I still have my 1.9pd. 228k. It's certainly looking tired now, but still drives fine. 

 

[DJSmiley]

Just continue driving your current car.

 

- 4x4 is consumes slightly more fuel

- DSG: Depends on the model, but its generally recommend to adjust this at a specialist, since some DSG's are known to 'switch too fast', causing additional wear on the clutch

 

As for the clutch and cambelt: These repairs aren't that expensive if you take into account the miles you're droven with it  Your current car is likely to have the 1.9PD engine, which is know to be very reliable. Spending 500-700GBP is peanuts since you know the car is running perfect. A new CR engine: Unknown whats the reliablilty of that car (you didn't drive it yourself...), newer electronics, and moreover: later emission regulations. The newer the car, the more environmental adjustments (EGR, DPF), which in reality can cause additional costs and issues.

 

With 100k miles I don't think the clutch or DMF is about to be replaced yet, on average this an 'issue' around 180-190k miles (250000km). 

 

I'll go for the cambelt change, and keep the current car (and would highly consider a conrod bearing replacement if its the BXE/BLS engine)

[ScoutCJB]

In a not too dissimilar position to you, I had a 2010 Diesel Scout that I ran for 15 months and Ioved it but for a couple of reasons I decided to sell and stepped into a 2016 Scout. 

 

In all honesty the differences between the 2 are vast.  The downside is economy.  With the Oct 3 being a Euro 6 engine and the DPF doing regens about every 400 miles (even though most my mileage is motorway) I find that the economy isn't as good as the Oct 2.  On a typical run to work I used to get 63 mpg, now it varies between 54 and 58, sometimes 60 if i'm lucky.  Additionally the clutch takes a bit of getting used to, they seem easy to stall.

 

Putting that aside though, the additional toys and how the car drives is better in my opinion.

 

I don't specifically need a 4wd, but many years ago I had an A4 Quattro (50/50 split 4wd), then I went to a company car Megane, then into a 2010 petrol scout, 2010 diesel scout and now the 2016 diesel scout (all manuals).  Its a different driving experience in a 4WD and I just prefer it - even driving down a motorway in the wet the car feels more planted. 

 

I have a set of summer alloys with Uniroyal Rainsport 3's and a set of winter alloys with Continental Winter Contact 860's.  If you plum for Winter tyres over 4WD (or both), go for decent branded tyres as there are many poor options out there.

Edited 16 August, 2018 by ScoutCJB

[BorderCollie]

Thanks for your input folks, I've got a lot to think about. I used to run an Audi 90 quattro, so I know the benefits of 4wd. I also know that with the wrong tyres on 4wd is of little benefit. I'll probably discuss the options with my physio to see if there's any benefits with Automatic. Currently, but not always, after a long drive in the country my knee, elbow and shoulder joints are very sore. I'm not just thinking of now, but in 10 years I'll be in my mid 70's and more pain and shovelling snow of a steepish drive is the last thing I want. A great deal of useful advice from you all though, thanks.