Head or Heart, hard to decide...

[bikerdude666]

I've reached the point where if I'm going to keep the ZT, it needs to be up the standard it was when I got it. Unfortunately, pricing that up comes to £2500, £3500+ if I do everything I want to. I love the car, and it's done me well, but there's still some common failures that Haven't happened yet, so need to budget for them in the near future, that's another £600+. Spending that sort of money on a 17 year old, 200,000+ mile car, that I'd only ever get no more than £1000 for seems silly.

I really like the look of the Jaguar XE or Mazda 6, I also liked the VW CC, but have read too many problems with them.

My head says replace the ZT with something newer, more efficient, cheaper tax, and a better starting point, as in, everything being in good condition to start with. My heart says keep the ZT, at least get it to it's 20th birthday, it was our wedding car, but I can't keep seeing it in the state its in, so would have to spend a serious amount on it. Tricky decision, and I think whichever way I decide, I'll regret it.

[edwardmk]

It's an interesting dilemma. I tend to prefer 'the devil I know'. Some of the stories about new cars just out of warranty needing large wads of cash to fix them are worrying. Coupled with eye-watering rates of depreciation on new cars, and there's a lot to be said for biting the bullet and spending £2-£3k on the car you already own, especially considering the sentimental value. However, the increasing pressure to 'go electric' has definitely muddied the waters. If I was in London, I'd probably go electric/bike/public transport. Here in Cornwall, I can wait another year or two unless they move the goalposts again. Good luck with your deliberations.

[BRG75]

I notice that you are throwing this up in the air, for debate, as opposed to looking for an actual answer.

That is good: only you, and all things being equal, your wife; can make your final decision.

May I suggest the following, for your consideration :-

Is it important to either of you, to keep up to date, or up with the Jones’s?

Does owning a future classic appeal to either or both of you?

£3,500, and a further £600, is a lot of money to spend on a 17 year old car.
But it’s more than a 17 year old car. It’s an old car, with memories, and by the sounds of it, at least some sentimental value.

Have you ever sold a car, and later regretted it?
I have, and the money involved “dissolves” in both time, and your regrets.

I was (still am, at heart) an engineer, so not a bean counter.
No disrespect here; I’m grateful for the companies that employed me, and needed strong financial controls to survive.

I doubt if £4,000 plus is enough to buy a (near perfect) modern 2nd hand replacement for a quality car.

But, by your calculations, it is enough to recreate a (fading?) Pride and Joy.

Regards

Mike

[roverbarmy]

As long as you are fit enough and able to run what you like, you should do it. I had to give up my Rover and miss it like crazy every day!

[SCP440]

As I have put on here before new cars can be a nightmare if and when they go wrong. Software updates, faults that even a main dealer cant fix and the depreciation on a newer car can be eyewatering.

Yes they look lovely on the test drive and yes I am sure the road tax is less but how often do you need all those gadgets they all now seem to have and what happens when these gadgets fail and have to be fixed because there is a warning light on and it wont pass an MOT with that showing.

The one that is bugging me at the moment is electronic handbrakes, a total useless device and complication for the sake of it, a cable and a lever has worked for a 100 years and if it does go wrong costs £30 for a new cable. I am helping a mate with a car on Monday with such a device, I am borrowing a device to hopefully wind the shows back and if that does not work the dealer will be taking half a weeks wages off him to do the job.

Stick with what you have as long as its structually sound and even if you had to spend the amount it would cost to replace it with a modern car you will be still be better off long term.

As a buy the way, modern cars rarely do the MPG that is claimed unless you drive like a NUN in perfect conditions. If a modern car does 10% more than a car made 15 to 20 years ago you are lucky.

[BillyMG]

Why don't you just buy another ZT that doesn't need all that work doing??

The thing with MG Rover is that everyone thinks the head gasket is going to go no matter which engine you have and they also think you can't get parts any more because they've gone bust. Neither is true and that's what creates value - when everyone else thinks something is rubbish but you have some insider info which tells you it's not. Let's face it if the sills have been done and you regularly service them, our cars are pretty reliable, easy to work on and fantastic value.

[polinsteve]

"£2500, £3500+ if I do everything I want to. I love the car, and it's done me well, but there's still some common failures that Haven't happened yet, so need to budget for them in the near future, that's another £600+"

It's a lot of money. However, what would another car cost you? I'm 99% sure that a Jag XE would cost you more to maintain. Also you say, "the things you want to do". Why not concentrate on the must do first? If all goes well, work through to the wants. I defected to Jags 2 years ago and spent a fortune in addition to the purchase price. I'm hoping that my disel Connie will now last me until I hang up my gloves, (or boots).

[Dallas]

Originally Posted by bikerdude666

My head says replace the ZT with something newer, more efficient, cheaper tax, and a better starting point, as in, everything being in good condition to start with. My heart says keep the ZT, at least get it to it's 20th birthday, it was our wedding car, but I can't keep seeing it in the state its in, so would have to spend a serious amount on it. Tricky decision, and I think whichever way I decide, I'll regret it.

When you find yourself using the Head VS Heart scenario, it's only a matter of time until you get rid. We've all been there and done that, and we all end up there again and again.

Can you not keep the old girl as a hobby car?

[Herbert75]

Originally Posted by bikerdude666

I've reached the point where if I'm going to keep the ZT, it needs to be up the standard it was when I got it. Unfortunately, pricing that up comes to £2500, £3500+ if I do everything I want to. I love the car, and it's done me well, but there's still some common failures that Haven't happened yet, so need to budget for them in the near future, that's another £600+. Spending that sort of money on a 17 year old, 200,000+ mile car, that I'd only ever get no more than £1000 for seems silly.

I really like the look of the Jaguar XE or Mazda 6, I also liked the VW CC, but have read too many problems with them.

My head says replace the ZT with something newer, more efficient, cheaper tax, and a better starting point, as in, everything being in good condition to start with. My heart says keep the ZT, at least get it to it's 20th birthday, it was our wedding car, but I can't keep seeing it in the state its in, so would have to spend a serious amount on it. Tricky decision, and I think whichever way I decide, I'll regret it.

Herbert 75 here I can only say in my experience which now I’ve reached the age of 58 with many British cars under my belt sort of speak , is when you’ve a car such as this with its memories as this has then it’s irreplaceable and as such you will always regret the decision You can always earn more money or in the future you could have the means to improve the motor car. Once it’s gone that’s it