Not so reliable
We run around in a 1994 Vauxhall Corsa 1.5 TD GLS, previously owned by Kathy’s dad. When we got it, in 2001, it had clocked up 139,000 miles. To date, it has done about 178,000 miles. Apart from a bad year in 2001 (alternator, radiator and who knows what else went wrong) it has been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned. It always starts first time, apart from yesterday, when it started second time.
This in itself should have triggered warning signs, but this morning the air vents were blowing cold, even when the car was warmed up. Then when I was sat idling (the car, not me) outside our local refuse amenity site (or, in the vernacular: The Tip) waiting for it to open, the engine temperature got a little too far in the direction of overheating for my liking.
So I took the car to the garage, which was only a quarter of a mile away, and left the car to be looked at. I got a phone call later on, saying that the head gasket might be gone, and the head itself might be cracked. Worst-case-scenario: £1000+! Bearing in mind that the car itself is only worth about £900, it seems a little stupid to spend that much: it’s a "money/old rope" scenario.
I guess it’s our fault for getting the car fixed at the Vauxhall main dealer, rather than some back-street grease-monkey place. The thing is, I attribute the reliability of the car to the fact that it’s been maintained by a main dealer. I guess there’s no two ways about it: a ten-year-old car with a reputation for head gasket problems and nigh on 200,000 miles on the clock is going to let us down at some point.
Why did it have to be now?
Update
We already owe the garage £279.36. If we get the car repaired the total bill will be £1067.33. It’s depressing; I think we’ll be looking for another car.