Our Car R.I.P

[percival]

We've friends over to stay with us for a week - a friend of my husband's and his girlfriend. My husband and this guy practically grew up together and kept in touch. We wanted to take them to the Highlands as a special treat. Guess what - all the B&B's near Oban booked. Then, we hit on an idea: Let's drive to St. Andrews! 20 miles into that trip, my husband started having trouble braking. We were in a small town, and found a garage.

The hydraulic pump for the power steering is leaking badly and needs to be replaced. A new pump would cost as much as the car (a 1987 Audi 100 CC) is worth. A replacement pump might be obtainable from a scrap yard for 20-30 quid.

But:
- how can we be sure that the second-hand pump we get from a car there will fit?
- how can we be sure that this pump will last for another year or two?
- where can we find a garage that will exchange the pumps without charging a fortune?

Currently, the car is basically worth zilch anyway because there's a huge dent in the passenger seat door.

For ditching the car:
We don't really need a car. We live in the city, buses are frequent, we can walk everywhere. I also don't really see my husband and myself trawling the car scrap yards of Edinburgh for replacement parts. And I don't trust hubby to pick the right part when he sees it. Furthermore, the car is 16 years old. Today the pump, tomorrow something else? It would make sense for the car to start falling apart - especially since it's been parked outside for the last three years, without protection. Finally, we would save insurance and road tax.

For replacing the pump:
It's nice to have the flexibility to go on day trips. To catch an early plane from Glasgow Prestwick. And it was my parents' car. I always had fantasies of our baby being driven around in this car.

I'm inclined to let the car rest in peace and to rent a car when we need one. Buying a new car does not make sense at all - we use our car once a week and for holidays.

But even though I've more or less made up my mind, I'd be interested in hearing your opinions.

Comments

[stolensocks.livejournal.com]

We'll be in much the same position when we move ~ we'll be in the middle of a city and definitely can't justify the need for two cars any more.

I'm not sure I could go car-less completely, mostly because of the kids, and the fact that we've got friends all over the country who we visit regularly, but it'll definitely be good for us to lose one.

If you fancy an 'M' reg Volvo at some point after Christmas... ;)

[perceval.livejournal.com]

That Volvo sounds interesting ...
... but maybe my husband will start a "Rescue our Car" campaign. You never know :)

[wang1961.livejournal.com]

If you can get rid of the car, and if it won't impact 90% of the your life, you'll find other ways to make-do during the other 10%... renting or borrowing a car for example. How much does a car cost to rent in Edinburgh?

[wang1961.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't spend serious money fixing a 1987 car. The next thing could be the transmission; the head gasket; much more expensive than merely the power steering pump.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the car-savvy comment! You're confirming my suspicions ...

[jessanndi.livejournal.com]

Why not donate the car to one of those inner city projects that gets Kids off the streets and learning mechanics. They always need cars. And that way you'll know that you have done something for your community and that your car will be treated well in its Autumn years. It will know it has a purpose that is greater than being driven once a week.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

That's a great idea! I'll definitely follow it up.

Meanwhile, we might still get a replacement car because, ahem, I do not have a driving licence. And it would be good to learn in a car that has the steering wheel on the same side as the driver's training cars :)

[jessanndi.livejournal.com]

Always an advantage I've found.

[sabine10.livejournal.com]

1987, das ist schon ein gutes Alter für ein Auto. Es spielen einige Faktoren eine Rolle, ob es sich lohnt oder nicht - wie z. B. Pflegezustand, Inspektionen, km-Stand und so. Persönlich würde ich nicht dazu neigen, noch viel in ein so altes Auto zu investieren, da ich befürchten würde, dass immer wieder etwas nachkommt. Wenn Ihr nicht soviel das Auto braucht, wie wäre es dann vielleicht mit einem kleineren, gebrauchten Auto?

[sff-corgi.livejournal.com]

In Britain in general, I've noticed it's much much easier to get along without a car than it is here (at least, anywhere outside Boston-proper or Manhattan).

You could set up an experiment -- three to six months carless, and see what kind of impact it has.