Car buying - age vs mileage

[ladymuck]

My car is 21 years young and has about 95k on the clock. Current issues pending my attention are a rusting rear wheel arch and a broken air conditioning compressor. Recently had to sort a wheel bearing, roll bar link, and some play in the steering rack.

[woody1]

My car is 21 years young and has about 95k on the clock. Current issues pending my attention are a rusting rear wheel arch and a broken air conditioning compressor. Recently had to sort a wheel bearing, roll bar link, and some play in the steering rack.

Even if it averages £1-2k/year to keep it on the road, it will be less than the annual depreciation on a 3-5 year old one.

Some replacement parts from the manufacturer are very pricey. For example, I recently had to have the ABS pump replaced on mine. £2k from Audi but I picked up a used part from a breaker on eBay for £79 and got the local garage to fit it for just over a hundred quid. You can also get parts like this reconditioned for a few hundred quid.

However, according to the local garage, in recent years manufacturers have wised up to this and, on newer cars, many parts are paired with the ECU. Fitting a used one from another vehicle won't work. Yet another reason for hanging on to an old banger.