Advice needed - My leggy ownership days may be at and end..

[zaphy]

Hey

I knew the day would come that I'd have to make this decision but it doesn't make it any easier...

My much loved GT-B failed the NCT, not by much however, just the steering rack is worn so I need a new one. However the timing belt is due to be changed as well within the next couple of thousand km's, and the backbox is starting to get a bit rattley so that's going to need changing shortly as well. All in all I reckon I'll need to put in around 1,500Not a huge amount of money granted but for me right now it might as well be 10,000.

So it has me thinking. She's a 1996 Gt-B, I've almost 250,000 kms on the clock so repairs are probably going to cost as much as she's worth. I'm debating now whether I'll just sell her for whatever I can get, pick up something cheap as chips and bide my time until I can get back behind the wheel of a decent motor.

Is it worth putting money into a car that old or am I better off just passing her along to someone who might be able to do the repairs themselves or break her for parts whatever? If I thought I'd get another two years out of her without having to spend significant money I'd chance it. What ye think?

 

[Niallyboy]

Though one , most older cars do need a little TLC and the prob can often be once you
fix one issue another pops up.

Hard call


Niall.

 

[zaphy]

Yeah I'm torn, it's not a huge amount of money I suppose but I don't want to go spending it now and have something else go again soon.

Having said that she's never given an ounce of trouble, anything that's gone in the past has been just down to old age - rubbers/radiator hoses things like that. Apart from the steering rack she sailed through the nct. The backbox I suppose I could just put up with for a while cause it didn't cause a failure, it's just getting a bit rattley.

Any chance in hell someone here would have or know anyone with a steering rack that'd fit mine?

 

[gc8aido]

Fix her up and keep her...
I had similar dilemma recently after losing the job and thinking loadsa little bits needed to be done...Now thankfully have job again and glad i didnt get rid as now can save and no rush on gettin little bits sorted!!

Get the steering rack sorted, throw her thru the nct (always helps having nct if have to sell anyway)

Then shop around for timing belt quotes andaswell you mightnt need all pulleys changed if its been done before!!
Might only need tensioner/belt and maybe 2idlers so might not be so expensive if you get me!!

With regards backbox, bit rattley doesnt mean shes fooked!!could mean a number of other things which may not be serious and as you said passed the nct where they usually check the brackets and the backbox for holes..get it looked at and sure any of the lads on here could tell you after a quick inspection or even without looking as to whats up!!

Seems a bit drastic cutting off expecially when she hasnt given much trouble and by looks of it she aint givin major trouble...
steering rack sorted and shes still drivable unless shes in dire need of timing belt changing!!??
Shouldnt be costing you 1,500 for all that tho in fairness lad!!
Find yerself a steering rack from breakers...keithdublin got his from a breakers in england for 200 i think when subaru quoting 800!!

Stick with it, get timing belt done and the steering and keep her IMHO....Devil you know is better than the devil you dont and you know her history plus with high miles like that not gonna be easy to shift for anyway reasonable money!!

Hold onto her!!

 

[zaphy]

Now that's what I'm talking about!!!

Right feck it, I've actually been like someone who's been told a close family member is gravely ill since yesterday over this. I'm a sad case but I was even getting all down cause next weekend I'll have had her 2 years exactly. Sure I couldn't be telling her I'm getting rid on our anniversary :lol:

Cheers for the pms - sorry I can't reply back, gonna sort that soon with full membership if she stays on. gc8aido yer talking good sense there alright - in fairness she's perfect other than the rack so if I got that and the timing belt sorted I'll be grand. I might try a few breakers yards there in a bit too, I was working off getting the rack from a dealership which I suppose is the most expensive way I could do it.

Cheers for the encouragement - I'll do me damndest to keep her on the road.

 

[gretts]

Now that's what I'm talking about!!!

Right feck it, I've actually been like someone who's been told a close family member is gravely ill since yesterday over this. I'm a sad case but I was even getting all down cause next weekend I'll have had her 2 years exactly. Sure I couldn't be telling her I'm getting rid on our anniversary :lol:

Cheers for the pms - sorry I can't reply back, gonna sort that soon with full membership if she stays on. gc8aido yer talking good sense there alright - in fairness she's perfect other than the rack so if I got that and the timing belt sorted I'll be grand. I might try a few breakers yards there in a bit too, I was working off getting the rack from a dealership which I suppose is the most expensive way I could do it.

Cheers for the encouragement - I'll do me damndest to keep her on the road.

do keep her you'll be glad when ye have her all sorted we all go through bad patches regarding maintenance problems with our baby's, my head gasket went last year got it sorted then spent a fortune on her just a few months ago modifying things, and now i have decieded i will never sell, i'll park it up if worse come's to worse

 

[ckay]

Hi Mate,
If the rack is on the way I'd say it's the start of the end.
Only going on my own experience I went through 3 different racks ( second had BTW ) but the car was never right after that.
Had to get rid. Hope you don't have the same grief as I had.

rgds,
C.

 

[zaphy]

Ah man don't be saying things like that!

That's my worry though, there's some fair amount of mileage up on her now so I expect things to start going, it's just that balance of selling her for half nothing and spending the money on something else, or spending the money on keeping her going. I'll see - Dessy gt-b's checking if his mate has a rack so if that works out I might just go for it, the backbox can wait (and mightn't need changing anyway as gc8aido says) and I'm safe enough on the timing belt for another 8k km's so that'll buy me another while.

All depends on if I can get a cheap rack I suppose. I'll be optimistic, tis friday

 

[wagon dec]

Man dont worry bout the milage my last impreza had 197000 miles on it when i sold it and i only sold to buy a bugeye she was still flyin it all cars give a bit of trouble ring mc keevers he is sure to have a rack your probably failed due to lack of oil changes i had to fit one in mine and it was fine after that fix it up and keep it cause you will get nothin for now anyway and also buy some thing else you could be in the same boat imo

 

[zaphy]

Cheers for the advice I've decided I owe it to me leggy to keep her going, I managed to get a hold of a rack & a backbox for 250 quid from a breakers place. Hopefully now they'll be in ok condition.

Just in case anyone was interested he's got a HKS SS Catback as well for 450 quid off a legacy, oh if I had the bobs...

Tis japparts.ie - seems a sound fella to deal with, hope now the rack will be alright.

 

[Scoobyturbo]

thats it man keep the car i have mine 3 years its a 1999 e8500 paid for the car and spent over e4000 since then on maintenance & repairs things like rad cam seals t/belt plus pulleys etc shocks brakes and more it was heartbreaking so if you can have it bang on for that price fix it
i have fell out of love so many times with the car and at times have thought about selling it for peanuts just 2 get rid but just couldn't
i want an impreza so bad but know i wont get back anywhere near enough cash to buy a clean one.so just gona stick with it.
hope it works out for you.
Billy