My 1.8tsi M6 Octy is 11 years old & 192,000km (120k miles?). 

AC has died (Sydney summers are hot and humid).

Passenger rear winow has some issues

small oil leak.

clutch is still original

 

It's worth maybe AUD$3k (GBP1500?). 

I've decided just to keep driving until it goes bang.

 

It's a hatch but I use it like an estate.  It takes a beating

If it wasn't the high cost of replacing timing belt it would be an easier decision to make, I'd do the same as you brad. 

 

I just don't do the mileage I used to and it isn't the main family car anymore since replacing wife's car with a Tiguan.

 

But I do enjoy the thrill of the vRS!

Looking out for a cheap petrol version.

5 minutes ago, Rocketship said:

If it wasn't the high cost of replacing timing belt it would be an easier decision to make, I'd do the same as you brad. 

 

I just don't do the mileage I used to and it isn't the main family car anymore since replacing wife's car with a Tiguan.

 

But I do enjoy the thrill of the vRS!

Looking out for a cheap petrol version.

 

If the car is 10 years old, basically have a choice of changing the timing belt, or saving money and not doing it.

eventually it will go bang, but you don't know if that will be in 4 months or 4 years time

 

You have to appraise the cost of other potential repairs, guess a time (say 2 years) you can still use it, vs cost of changing now

If repair costs exceed value of car then becomes a no brainer, change it.

 

Good advice, thanks John

Car is 13 years old. 

Yeah, I guess I don't have to change the timing belt, that is an option.

Brakes can wait until winter.

Wheel bearing I'll leave until it's unbearably noisy, buzzing atm

Clutch wait until it fails.

Could save quite a lot their.

 

What's the consequence of timing belt fails? Cam / piston wrecked?

 

 

16 minutes ago, Rocketship said:

What's the consequence of timing belt fails? Cam / piston wrecked?

 

Unless you're incredibly lucky failed cambelt == dead engine.  Deceased, defunct, shuffled off this mortal coil etc. etc.

 

 

Is it possible to get a wear indication of current belt? How much life it's got left?

I ran my MK1 Octavia to 225000 miles without a belt change, the previous owner had paid for several changes but they were never done, just took his money and wrote a mileage figure on the cover with a paint pen.

 

Even then I did not replace the tensioners or water pump, €8 for a belt and it was good for another 100K miles that I drove it for.

 

I would regularly remove the cover and check the belt over its whole length as part of my maintenance regime, its clear when it starts to degrade, the cover on the BKC engine on the MK2 is simplicity itself to remove for belt inspection.

 

Do you feel lucky?

 I thought alot of timing belt failures were tensioner related rather than the timing belt directly. If I were in the ops position with a car that has just passed mot but needs improving I may ignore cambelt on the understanding if it went bang  I didnt have a great deal of capital in the car anyway. 

Thanks guys, this is just what I wanted to hear and makes a lot of sense given the value of the car now. 

Good news, timing belt not due until December 2020!  That buys me a bit of time.  Car just had a full major service and wow what a difference that's made, car running much smoother.  But brakes still need replacing and probably suspension as garage reported tyres worn irregular. 

Irregular tyre wear can poor alignment which a 4 wheel alignment might cure but there's a chance the lower & upper adjusting bolts on the back will be seized solid and require replacing as could front inner track rod ends... You could also be looking at new shockers and springs too if they've never been changed at all or not for several years 

Yep labman, this is what the garage said, I was prepared for the suspension bit, getting a quote for me.

I'd keep her going to be honest. One thing you've gotta factor in when buying a used car (in case you wanted to replace it with one) is the asymetric information. The owner will know most things that are wrong with it, but he's likely not going to tell you. You know everything that's wrong with your car, but you don't know what's wrong with theirs

 

Like the others have said, I'd probably leave the cam belt, but take off the timing cover every so often to check it's condition. Last thing you wanna do is make Piston and Valve Stew.

Yep, I'm at that decision now too. Many thanks for everyone's  advice with this quandary I had.