Merc V Vauxhall

[martin_longbow]

What would you do

My wifes 1999 vx Astra 1.6 Auto (silver) which she loves has just passed its MOT with 4 new tyres and new breaks pads and shoes. She thinks its all set for another year of trouble free use as it has provided her for the last three years. Its a fine car with very few body marks, it looks clean enough if plain but she likes the car. It drives well and everything works fine. That said it has done 125,000 miles, the cam shaft has some serious wear and sounds like a Russian Sub. Its gutless and both using oil and leaking oil on the engine which you can smell burning when you are in a traffic jam. I am looking for an engine and box for the astra as I am convinced this one will go at some point and if I am changing the engine I would be as well to do both. Did I mention she loves her car and has named it Jessicar???

My mates dad is getting rid of his Mercedes C180 Elegence, Auto 1998 in white, with 85,000 miles on it. He knows my wife needs an auto and said he would give me the car for 900 quid, do us both a favor as it would save him the hassle of selling the car. The Merc is as good bodily as the Astra with one spot of rust around a front side indicator, the astra's arches are beginning to bubble.

The car is a Mercedes and she does not particularly like them, also its white. I think it makes sense to get this car now and sell the astra while it is worth something rather than being caught out if the astra engine or box does go...or stop would be more likely. I normally do all the servicing and work to my own cars, I have worked as a mechanic in the past.

When I ask her she is a little frosty about changing her car. After the discussion of the above in more detail she is saying if I tell her her car needs to be changed she will just drive whatever car I get her...and she supposes she will go see the Merc.

I think this makes sense but would you change the car for her knowing it was probably the best idea or should I just let the Merc pass and deal with the astra if it pops?

[Boro Sera]

I'd arrange for her to try the merc out for herself - no pressure sort of thing, just a drive.

If it's like any merc I've ever driven then she'll soon forget about the Astra !

[flexy7]

!

[martin_longbow]

Well she can get a test drive in it tomorrow and see what her thoughts are, just dont know if she is approaching it with an open mind

[Bizarra]

Reading what you said, she isn't happy. That means you won't be happy.

I'd say, that if she loves her Astra, let it be, & deal with problems if & when they arise.

I bought my wife, years ago, a Ford Fiesta & later one like my present Corolla. I could see that she wasn't happy with them & ended up , in both instances, getting her a Golf Automatic, which she wanted in the 1st place.

I am certainly not telling you what to do, just speaking from experience.

[martin_longbow]

Why am I in a real quandry about this?

I sold a Min that she had a number of years ago that she loved and got her a Citreon, she did not like it and we finally got her an Escort, which she did like. Now on occasion she only remembers that I sold her beloved Mini, even the kids know I sold mums favourite car without telling her first........ She dooes not recall that the mini was a rusting piece of crap that was totally unsafe and had almost no brakes. IF i did not remove the mini from her she would most probably been involved in some kind of accident the car was that bad, holes in the floor kind of thing. It was a 12.75 GT which if you are old enough to remember the original mini put it at a fast car with no structural integrity and even less braking ability

Now I will be doing the work when this Astra pops, I know it makes sense to get rid of it now, but its already beginning to soudn like you sold my mini. I would be more inclined to let the Merc pass if it was neuteral on the finances or it would only impact on her. When the Astra pops I will be called, my beloved will start using my car for everything (yes Shopping centres and the like) until I return to her a functional astra. I should stop fretting till she drives the thing I suppose and see what she says herself.

[Bizarra]

Why am I in a real quandry about this?

I sold a Min that she had a number of years ago that she loved and got her a Citreon, she did not like it and we finally got her an Escort, which she did like. Now on occasion she only remembers that I sold her beloved Mini, even the kids know I sold mums favourite car without telling her first........ She dooes not recall that the mini was a rusting piece of crap that was totally unsafe and had almost no brakes. IF i did not remove the mini from her she would most probably been involved in some kind of accident the car was that bad, holes in the floor kind of thing. It was a 12.75 GT which if you are old enough to remember the original mini put it at a fast car with no structural integrity and even less braking ability

Now I will be doing the work when this Astra pops, I know it makes sense to get rid of it now, but its already beginning to soudn like you sold my mini. I would be more inclined to let the Merc pass if it was neuteral on the finances or it would only impact on her. When the Astra pops I will be called, my beloved will start using my car for everything (yes Shopping centres and the like) until I return to her a functional astra. I should stop fretting till she drives the thing I suppose and see what she says herself.

Exactly what I was saying :( Been there , done that, Got several T-shirts

[martin_longbow]

Well she drove and likes it very much, she is now happy to see her astra off and enjoy the Merc.

Im well pleased with that one, result!

[flexy7]

!

[martin_longbow]

Its quite nice, two minor rust spots but dont think they will be a problem to sort.

I dont have one of them radical in car phone thingies in your pic though or ive not noticed it as yet.....