Altea is coming up for 4 years old, timing belt change time.
Been phoning round for quotes and the best so far is the main VW dealer. VW are doing set price items now for cars 3-10 years, £319 for belt, or £399 to include water pump. Cheaper than the indies so far and you get a 2 year warranty on it.
Of course £400 is a lot of money to spend on a 4 year old car isn't it....... its maybe the start of things going to be breaking, I mean its done 53k miles so maybe reaching the end of its life.... and its so outdated with all that modern stuff around now........ and I am sure if I bought a more economical car it would pay for itself anyway........
Fight the urge Bobby, fight it!!!
|
Have you tried a Skoda dealer?
Cousin's husband found the one in Cambridge could service his old Leon Cupra for little more than half the price SEAT were charging. Far better customer service too.
|
What are you hankering after Bobby? Missed the boat on the Koleos. Quashqai this time?
|
Skoda, the list is endless.
Yes Qashqai is appealing, but so is ix35, Sportage , Kuga etc which are all relatively newish so if I can fight my feelings and wait another year, there should be more on the used / nearly new market.
The 1.5dci Squashy and the 1.7 diesel Koreans seem to get very good economy - but is it time to switch from diesel to petrol? My annual mileage is probably about the 12k mark and as kids are getting older, there are not going to be any more long drives to the South of France. In fact, I could probably downsize to something like a Juke if I wanted to, as long as I could get the dog in the boot.
Last 4 cars have been MPVs and I like the high up position though how much higher these cars actually are compared to say an Octavia I am not sure.
In fact, my original Scenic probably could do eveything my current car could do other than air-con. If I had kept that it would probably have about 200k miles on the clock by now, but my mortgage would be nearly cleared!
Humph quotes good mpg on his missus' Squashy petrol, probably equivalent to what I get in the Altea diesel, low 40's.
Not sure if I like the Yeti, sat in one when they first came out and it just seemed to be a compromise to me but maybe would be different if I looked again. Just not high enough for a SUV, just not big enough to compete with the ones listed above, but in many cases, it is much dearer.
I would love a nice new car, would get lots of satisfaction from it. But when I think back, the car that I probably got most satisfaction from was my diesel Saxo, 60-65 mpg and I was getting paid 25p a mile from Morrisons!
That car owed me nothing, an oil and filter change at National every 6000 miles for £20 was all it cost in maintenance. You get a great feeling driving a nice luxury new car, you get a different feeling, but just as enjoyable and maybe more smug, driving along knowing it is costing you next to nothing!
You know of any good indies for timing belt change in our area?
|
>> You know of any good indies for timing belt change in our area?
I'd go for the main dealer at £400 inc water pump. Although every time i go to the one at Bogside for parts for the Golf there's always some young mechanic abusing a car in some way or another.
Worst was a diesel passat with revs bouncing off the limiter, horrible horrible noise, while he slipped the clutch for ages up the incline in the car park into a space at no more than tip toe pace.
>> I would love a nice new car
Maybe i'm not looking hard enough but it seems like the best deals all dried up in the past month or 2 on new cars. Even Ford discounts don't look as attractive. Kia seem to be getting balshy with their pricing too.
>> Yeti ... it just seemed to be a compromise
I can't see past the Yeti, but i'm biased :-)
Sportage seems to be holding too much of a price tag still for what it is.
The Rav4 appeals to me a bit, although getting a deal seems difficult.
|
|
With an ex-VW designer in charge of design, some of the KIAs look good to me. But I'd prefer an Alfa Romeo. The Giulietta is very nice as is the 159.
|
>> Maybe i'm not looking hard enough but it seems like the best deals all dried
>> up in the past month or 2 on new cars. Even Ford discounts don't look
>> as attractive. Kia seem to be getting balshy with their pricing too.
>>
The poor value of the pound may be filtering through to import prices.
|
Yeah tried the Skoda dealer, he was dearer. All quotes so far are in the high £300s for timing belt with another c£100 for water pump.
The VW deal seems quite good actually. I could possibly get it done cheaper, especially at a guy who lives round the corner from me who works from home and always seems to have a queue of taxi Octavias to work on.
But for something this big I like to have a bit of warranty on it in case it goes wrong!
|
I delivered a car to a SEAT dealer today - big "poster" inside said "Timing belt replacement from £135"
Yeah, I know, "from £135"
And probably a long way from where you live - Huddersfield. But I wonder what they would quote you?
|
>> always seems to have a queue of taxi Octavias to work on
Probably better to get it done at a guy who does a couple of belts a week, than a main dealer that does a couple a month. My taxi Octavia covered 100k miles p.a. so needed a timing belt every 8 months/60,000 miles. I used a Bosch Service Centre, although I'd been using him for a while before he gained that accreditation.
>> for something this big I like to have a bit of warranty on it in case it goes wrong!
If it works alright when you pick it up from having it done, it will carry on working alright :)
And if the belt or water pump lets go (highly unlikely) you'd be straight back there to take it up with him.
|
|
Mini Countryman, just for a laugh. Someones got to.
|
Wouldn't the re-sale value be higher if you could say 'It's just had a new cam-belt and water pump'?
I know I'd be impressed if that was the motor I was looking for and had done the research.
|
I think the man maths is if he gets rid of it before it needs the work it's a saving. But he'll get it done and therefore logic says you ought to keep it to benefit from that outlay.
At 12000 miles I'd be looking at a nice petrol turbo car. If the emissions were lower on the Passat CC with the 1.8T and it was available in GT spec I'd have seriously considered it. Being a company car emissions is key and therefore it would cost more than even the 170PS diesel.
|
>> Mini Countryman, just for a laugh. Someones got to.
>>
There are TONS of them around here, in the style and fashion conscious Home Counties. I swear I see more of them than Mark VI Golfs.
|
Alanović >>Tons of Countrymen (sic?)
I think they're quite cool actually. One of my colleagues has one, and it always makes me smile when I see it.
|
>> Tons of Countrymen (sic?)
>>
Yes. I quite like them too, despite myself. Wouldn't buy one though, premium branded cars don't (often) offer value for money in my book.
Our next cars will probably be another Galaxy and a Focus, but I can't see us replacing the Golf IV unless it catches fire or gets smashed up beyond repair. It's such a great little car I intend to just keep on fixing it if and when anything goes wrong.
Likewise the Galaxy to be frank, it's pretty much perfect for us.
|
D'you know, I'd almost fancy one myself. But too small, and I like cheap and unfashionable things (cars anyway).
Gosh, praise for a VW.
|
|
When I booked my Octy in for its belt and water pump the garage couldn't fit me in for 3 weeks, as they purposely only book one belt change a day so that they can take their time and do it properly. Only cost about £300, but mines a petrol so probably not a comparable job.
|
Bobby, you must be completely insane (no offence, and purely on trying to justify this financially). The Altea is just about run in, and presumably just paid for? You have at least another 100k miles or six years of reliable driving to go before you really have to consider whether to hang onto it any more (although I am going for the light second in mine).
In the meantime, you have, what, at least £350 every month that you are not paying on finance? That's a lot of money to go in the new car fund every month. Or to pay off the mortgage. Or to have a fancy hotel break *every* month. Or to put towards occasional repairs.
Seriously, if you want to change the car then go fo it, but the last 30 months of driving has been the cheapest motoring ever for me. Nothing other than routine servicing and consumables, and £439 straight into an ISA every single month as a result. A new car is nice, but (unless you're changing because you want to), there's often something much nicer you could do with that cash.
|
Statto, everything you say makes perfect sense!
But sense doesn't always come into it!
But you are right, there is no logic to changing just now, I just wish I could have the same viewpoint on cars that I do with clothes ie. until they are full of holes and totally threadbare, they still fulfill their role!
|
>> Of course £400 is a lot of money to spend on a 4 year old
>> car isn't it....... its maybe the start of things going to be breaking, I mean
>> its done 53k miles so maybe reaching the end of its life.... and its so
>> outdated with all that modern stuff around now........ >>
This is tongue-in-check/man-maths justification, right?
|
>>This is tongue-in-check/man-maths justification, right?
yes! :)
|
|
Listen mate, you got no chance in getting this idea past the FD, specially not after you failed to buy her the Iphone 4 she wanted....
|
|
Quick question, if a main dealer gives you a quote to supply and fit genuine Seat Timing belt and water pump for a price of £275, is there anything that I might be missing that I need to be sure of that they are doing?
|
I have the same problem, I've worked out the Panda will need about £350 worth of servicing in the forth year, plus no doubt at around 20k it will have then it will start needing things like front pads. It all adds up.
As much as I really want to get rid of the burden of a car loan it is great not having the burden of repair bills, and it is tempting in three years time just to buy another new car. I am going to try and be sensible but I am a a big fan of man maths.
As I do city driving the service manual states that my cambelt needs replacing at four years old, but since it causes no damage when these snap on the FIRE engines I am tempted to leave it till year 5. Although most the quotes on the Panda are only around £140 because its a very quick job.
With regard to the cambelt on the SEAT on some cars you should also replace the pulleys as they have a habbit of snapping throwing the belt of with it. I would check if you need to replace the pulleys too.
|
>> Quick question, if a main dealer gives you a quote to supply and fit genuine
>> Seat Timing belt and water pump for a price of £275, is there anything that
>> I might be missing that I need to be sure of that they are doing?
>>
Are they money laundering? :-) That seems too cheap. What else could they bump it up with?
- Coolant refill
- New tensioner definitely included?
Can't think of anything else they need to touch to do the job that wouldn't just go back on afterwards.
|
>> Quick question, if a main dealer gives you a quote to supply and fit genuine
>> Seat Timing belt and water pump for a price of £275, is there anything that
>> I might be missing that I need to be sure of that they are doing?
I assume its the full timing belt kit, and includes new coolant?
|
OK, phoned the main dealer back and that price was for the timing belt and water pump but did not include the full timing belt kit, pulleys etc.
Including that , the price jumped to £421.
So far I have
Skoda dealer £480
Seat dealer £465.65 (who phoned me back to price match the VW deal)
VW Dealer £399
Seat dealer £421.20 (which is my current dealer and I would get 10% off meaning £379
Indie £300
Skoda, have you heard anything about www.deutschtek.co.uk ?
They are quoting
"The cost of doing the timing belt kit, including all the idler pulleys and tensioners along with the water pump is £300 including the VAT. This is using the genuine Seat kit."
Now I have phoned a parts supplier and for the genuine kit and water pump I am being quoted £200.91+vat. I assume the indie may well get a trade discount off but that isn't leaving a lot for labour is it?
Are there any more questions I should ask them to make sure I am getting all that I need?
|
What about the ancilliary belt ? Is that included/required ?
Tensioner(s) as already mentioned...
|
Cam belts are one job that i believe in getting a responsible and reputable workshops to fit, preferably a good main dealer who will guarantee the whole job properly, not just the parts supplied.
Should the thing fail the consequences are very serious, and you really want back up.
As for changing, unless someone puts a can't afford not to deal in front of you, i wouldn't either.
The final payment of that mortgage is the sweetest feeling.
|
I wouldn't trust a dealer who thought they would just replace the belt, It would end up in one of two ways (and they know it)
1/ When the pulley fails and the belt comes off and the engine is wrecked = "Not our problem mate, you only asked for a belt change"
2/ RING RING "Sir we have your belt off and found it needs new pulleys, that will be an extra £XXX.XX"
|
Of course if you bought a Qashqai 1.6 petrol or 2.0 diesel neither would have a timing belt to change in due course...On the basis of man-maths this alone could justify the purchase.
:-)
On a serious note, I'd get the Altea fettled and chuck the money at the mortgage for the next four years. Based on your current mileage it'll only have just gone over 100k miles even then.
|
You guys are all getting too sensible in your old age!!
I remember days of old when a post like this would have been hit with replies of you only live once, shrouds don't have pockets, get yourself a sports car etc etc.
Instead we have all became rather sensible in our old age, all joking aside, probably a reflection on where we are with the economy just now and the sheer amount of uncertainty there is around it.
And I include myself in that because I am going to get my car booked into the Indie for his belt and pump change and to do its MOT at the same time. I will then give it a good spring clean, take a day for claying, washing polishing etc and try to start loving it again.
Hey, I might even buy new mats for it ................... ! Mmm , that reminds me of another old thread in a previous place.....
|
|
Bobby, get the speakers changed. The Head unit is actually quite good, but the speakers are truly appalling. Upgrade the ICE and its like having a new car for not much money.
|
I read a bit on one of the forums saying the speaker change wasn't that easy (especially to someone of limited ability like me?)
Last speakers I changed on a car were prise off the cover, unscrew speakers, remove spade connections and then reconnect.
If memory serves me right the Seat wasn't as straight forward though I would probably need to check that out again.
|
|
Its a little faf, needing to slightly modify a speaker mounting ring, but not that bad. Get an ICE shop to do it. It really is worth it.
|
>>Its a little faf, needing to slightly modify a speaker mounting ring, but not that bad. Get an ICE shop to do it. It really is worth it.
You better not be telling me you got it done to yours and then left it in the car when you handed it back??
|
>> You better not be telling me you got it done to yours and then left
>> it in the car when you handed it back??
Well.......
|
>>Listen mate, you got no chance in getting this idea past the FD, specially not after you failed to buy her the Iphone 4 she wanted....
Zero, the true Scotsman came out in me.....
Instead of buying her a gadget so that she can track how long she has walked with the dog, I have offered to walk beside her and use my phone app to work it out.
Is that not clever? Free and it gets me brownie points for keeping her company!!!
And what she doesn't realise is that once we have covered the half dozen or so standard walks, we will know all their distances and then I won't need to walk along side her....... :)
|
If you're going to clean / detail it that'll do 50% of the new car feel.
What about a remap (£280 for a well proven one on this engine) and a stiffer rear anti roll bar to fill in the other 50%? :-)
Total spend ~£550? inc. insurance.
|
|
Good decision Bobby. If you get really fed up with it in due course you can always park it outside "Sparky" the neighbour's house...
|
|
Ha ha there is already a dispute there regarding the parking on the street!!!
|
A little update....
Car went in today and got the timing belt, water pump etc changed and MOt'd for £350 all in.
So definitely keeping it
Honest
There I said it
|
This list might help with your next car's engine choice...:-)
tinyurl.com/6ymd6vn
|
|
Buy a decent French built car where the t-belt interval is 150k / 10 years.... :-)
|
Well I am so glad that with all your help I was able to come to terms with the fact that the best thing to do was to keep my car for another year or two.
That way, I wouldn't be in the slightest bit tempted when a colleague rolled up in a brand new Hyundai ix35 with all the toys and a fantastic saving off list price, due to it being pre registered with 20 miles on the clock.
Definitely wouldn't be tempted to check on the website and see if more were available and also to check to find that it is a chain driven engine as well, no, I definitely wouldn't have done that....
|
>> Definitely wouldn't be tempted to check on the website and see if more were available
>> and also to check to find that it is a chain driven engine as well,
>> no, I definitely wouldn't have done that....
>>
You have set foot on the slippery slope and are beyond all hope. :-)
|
There is an indefinite waiting list for the iX35 in 2.0 Diesel form due to a lack of engines/high demand.
(trying to save your from yourself here, Bobby)
|
Yeah Alastair that is the surprising thing - the 1.7 diesel is the most efficient although you can only get the AWD with the 2 litre diesel.
My colleague got the diesel 1.7.
Oh and did I mention it also comes with a 5 year warranty as well..........
|
|
Probably too late to turn back now Bobby. May as well get it bought. It'll only itch.
|
I go on holiday next week so if I can last till then the itch should pass.
Hopefully my colleague is off for rest of week so that I don't need to look at it :)
|
Where're you off to Bobby? There's a law which says wherever it is it'll be crawling with Hyundai not-proper-jeep things...
:-)
|
>> Where're you off to Bobby?
well based on his wardrobe, its nowhere classy.
|
Brilliant Z ! ( sorry Bobby, your chin was rather up for that one ! )
:-)
|
|
Humph you are probably right that there will be lots of these where Bobby is going. Aren't the iX35's made in Slovakia. He's not a million miles from there.
|
|
I am going where the civilians would not be able to afford one of these, and the gangsters would not be seen dead in something so cheap....
|
>> I am going where the civilians would not be able to afford one of these,
>> and the gangsters would not be seen dead in something so cheap....
>>
Eh? You're going to Tottenham???
|
Well, a wee update, have found my new car.
I had narrowed the new car down to an ix35, Sportage or Quashqai.
My 13 year old lad constantly nips my head for me to get a DS3, cause they are coooollllll !
I told him though that I want the SUV type of car.
And then I read this in Auto Express
www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/273427/citroen_c4_aircross.html
I want one! And not available till end of next year so time to start saving!!!
|
|
Probably a very nice car Bobby, but is anyone else reminded of Wilfred Bramble as Steptoe with his teeth out by the front view?
|
Funny you should mention that, I think the new Mondeo with its DRLs on at night with the cross-eyed dipped headlights and wide grill reminds me of this picture of James Finlayson:
t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTumiDMpxPpvlYd6frsz2dxHy5uRU2H3G_5t8N1WEmjODY5MeP6
Last edited by: gmac on Fri 30 Sep 11 at 21:23
|
>I had narrowed the new car down to an ix35, Sportage or Quashqai.
Shouldn't that be Quashquai ;-)
|
|
Jesus Wept, what's in the water up there? That's absolutely hideous.
Last edited by: VxFan on Wed 5 Oct 11 at 00:57
|
Looks like the generic Tiguan/Kuga/Qashqai/RAV/CRV if you start from the rear and look slowly along towards the front....
Until you get to the front - that looks like a goppingly awful cut'n'shut.
|
Zero, eh, Lancer????
Hmmm
|
|
I don't think Z ever applied man-maths to the Lancer, Bobby - not here at least. In other words, it wasn't made as an aspirational purchase. But that Citroen? You do know it's brown, don't you?
|
No trace of man maths with the lancer. Ruthless financial logic.
but
Must be the water, that Citroen makes the plain Jane Lancer look like a fashion model. I have not seen anything that ugly since the last Womens beard growing contest in outer Mongolia.
|
|
I wonder how you will describe the Peugeot version Z - bound to be 10x more ugly than the Cit!
|
Man Maths is starting to kick in...... - Dave_
