Should I change my car?

Question

I purchased a Rover 200 third hand. Its a 1998 model, last year I put in a reconditioned engine and since then I have changed the head gasket twice - it looks like its going again. It's done 110,000 miles - should I change my car or the head gasket (cost me £250 5 months ago), or should I just get a new car?

Answer 1

Who ever is changing the head gaskets is probably not "decking" the head and block. Making sure they are perfectly flat unto each other. Having said that, Only you can decide if you need a new car. I personally can't stand Rovers.

Answer 2

The car has just got to go!

Rovers are not particularly good cars when they are new. For it to have lasted 10 years its not done bad. Take it to the nearest scrapyard.

If you get another car then consider something Japanese like Nissan or Toyota. Generally speaking, they are very economical and totally reliable.  They are a million miles better than Rover.

That is unless you like changing head gaskets for a hobby!

Answer 3

get another car  cos rovers are money pits

Answer 4

depends, how are you managing to blow so many head gaskets? i'm sure that isn't normal...do you check the water? or do you run it dry or what? i it is just a weekness with that car or engine you will be paying out over and over so i would personally change car

Answer 5

I'd cut your losses & sell it as it is, the car's not worth you spending more money on.

I'm not keen on the other replies slating you for running a ten year old car - the age makes no difference, a good car's a good car.

The youngest car I've bought in recent years was a low mileage, five year old Ford Mondeo - well looked after, the head gasket still failed along with a couple of wheel bearings.

Other recent cars have been a twelve year old Nissan Terrano, 143k miles, a fourteen year old BMW, 160k miles, two Citroen Xantias, both over ten years old & over 150k miles, and two Ford Mavericks, both over ten years old & both over 100k miles.

I replaced brake pads on one of the Citroens, a couple have had exhausts, two have had shock absorbers, and that's it apart from fuel & tyres - several have never had an oil change, or any other maintenance. In three years, the BMW had one bulb fail - no other expense at all. I haven't paid over £1000 for any of these cars (The BMW was a dealer trade in on the forecourt at £2,500, I haggled REALLY well! Most have been run for a year or two & sold at a profit, most have been to France & Belgium, and in the case of the 4x4's, they've towed & seen plenty of off road work.

Don't write stuff off at ten years old, buy well & you can have seriously cheap motoring.

Answer 6

get a new car if you can.

the old car always give some bad problems.

Answer 7

You should get a different car. The one you have is already 10 years old, and it probably isn't really worth all the money you are putting into it. It sounds like the car is becoming a real money pit.