Time to say goodbye?

JP_ · 12 Mar 2021

Sent my 2005 Chev Lacetti estate for MOT today, failed, corrosion, plus failed rear suspension, garage estimate to fix is about £300 welding + £200 suspension.
The clutch is also going, so guess that'll be another £300. So £800.
The bumper is cracked (never found a replacement) and pistons in boot gone, so a deathtrap when using the boot!

Time to say goodbye I guess?

I've never scrapped a car - is there a cost to scrap? Does scrap man still pay a little something for it?

No idea what to get next - have no money, and wife literally just accepted a lower paid job that she'll need to drive to. And I guess camping trips are on hold permanently (other car is a Hyundai i10!)

MOT (doesn't it update quick!)

Repair immediately (major defects):

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))
Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced outer sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))
Nearside Rear Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush excessively worn top mount (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Rear Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush excessively worn top mount (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))
Parking brake lever has minimal reserve travel

Burnerman · 12 Mar 2021

A bad move to pour money into this one, I’m afraid.....a scrapper may give you a ton for it and collect it for free. Best to ring around!
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but suspension welding like this means its gotta go.
John

JP_ · 12 Mar 2021

Yeah. thought so. 2 online scrap websites say about £200 (£199, £206) so that seems pretty good.

Struggling to find something else. This car has been so useful - I can get 2.4m floorboards in it! Lucky house renovation almost complete.

Need something quick, wife has new job starting in 4 weeks ...

Old Salt · 12 Mar 2021

You have to ask “do I put £800 into this one or towards something else”. There is an 08 lacetti estate on the bay for £990 with 11 months mot so it would seem to be a no brainer. At least that would get around the question of what to replace it with

. Mind you it had new cambelt 1k miles ago so why are they getting rid?

troutybrown · 12 Mar 2021

Was there any advisories about the rust in your last MOT

alan333 · 12 Mar 2021

Phone a couple of scrap metal merchants (not car scrapyards). A couple of years ago you could get more for your car by weight as scrap metal than from a car breaker. You simply drive it over their weighbridge and they give you cash for it.

Stivino · 12 Mar 2021

alan333 said:
Phone a couple of scrap metal merchants (not car scrapyards). A couple of years ago you could get more for your car by weight as scrap metal than from a car breaker. You simply drive it over their weighbridge and they give you cash for it.

I would be surprised if that were to happen because it still needs a car breaker to de-pollute it.

JP_ · 12 Mar 2021

troutybrown said:
Was there any advisories about the rust in your last MOT

No

sxturbo · 12 Mar 2021

Not sure on whether your next car will be new, nearly new or not, but before scrapping, see if any dealers are doing scrappage scheme,

JP_ · 12 Mar 2021

sxturbo said:
Not sure on whether your next car will be new, nearly new or not, but before scrapping, see if any dealers are doing scrappage scheme,

cheers

New car will def be second hand, unless I win the lottery this weekend.

frutbunn · 13 Mar 2021

I've scrapped loads, I treat them as disposable items, tend to buy cars for anywhere between free and less than £250 though my present one cost a whapping £320 2 1/2 years ago spent £30 on it so far to repair an EDU. In recent years I've got anywhere between £20, £50, £70 and £120 depending on model, scrap steel price, whether I drove it in or had to be picked up, or if I've pulled the lump out for spares etc.. I recetlyish got £120 for my Proton bought for £250 a year and a half earlier other than spending an hour welding the exhaust never touched it.

Time to say goodbye?

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