Hi,

I've had my Fabia a little over a year now. It's a 2001 elegance 100hp.

It's done 66k, the last 10 of which have been with me. It's had,

Power steering pump,

coolant sensor

timing belt

brake light switch

Full service

MOT

Now it needs 2 new front bearings and 4 bushes.. however, there's a small story about these.. My Mechanic recons that the front assembly has been removed and dropped down at some point.. then, reassembled with the wheels and suspension hanging down and torqued up in this position.. hence, car back on the ground and all bushes under pressure by default! One bearing went of natural causes (66k).. but apparently the hub nuts that have to be removed to change the bushes are on so tight (to much sealant) that they'll need heating to be removed (I can believe this seeing as the wheels had been put on so tight that when I tried to rotate the fronts for the back I took out all 5 bolts and still couldn't remove the wheel!.. My Mechanic snapped the neck of his socket so the whole car seems to be over tightened).. anyways.. heating this nut will destroy the seal on the bearing, not a problem on the drivers side, it needs doing anyway, but the passenger, though a little noisy, prob would have gone a bit longer before needing attention..

So, another £400 at least then... on top of the £400 full 60k service with belt... and the £800 steering pump..

This cars getting very expensive.. should I get rid of it after this repair?.. Ken (My Mechanic) always tels me I should keep it, it's a nice little car and will be fine once this is sorted.. but he's told me that twice now..

I can't think of anything else to go wrong now he's been all over the front assembly.. belts, coolant system, electrical system and tyres. He tells me the brakes are absolutely fine.

Should I Part Exchange, or keep it with the hope that this really will be "a nice little car" now?

Thanks guys.. I know this was more of a vent then a post.. would be interested to know if I've just got all common failures with in one year though?

Thanks rob.

I think that you have to break the costs into two.

On the one hand you have repairs which you should count against the capital of the car and look to recoup against its general market value. I would include things like the steering pump and maybe the bushes in this.

On the other hand you have the running costs of the car. You'd have to include the servicing in this and probably the wheel bearings too (even if 66k is a *bit* early).