Hi folks
I am broaching an interesting subject regarding selling an old legend car after doing it's mot & some mildly expensive repairs versus just scrapping it without bothering to do any mot. The car in question is Japaneese 18 years old Suzuki alto which has been faultless but only issue invariably arises when it is brought to Mot garage. Worth mentioning that always one problem keeps on reocurring regarding its CV boot rubbers which always is found broken and it's repairs always quoted as £250. Most important to note that car never incur any other expense except aforementioned one and it is running satisfactorily. Another thing to share is that, from five years £250 or thereabouts is being spent on CV boot rubbers, and other than that no major problem ever faced except few ones like faulty bulb, windshield wiper etc. so by keep in mind above what should be more sensible: either the next mot should be considered or simply sell it to scrap people. Doesn't the scrap would be foolhardy decision because it would give very low yield.
Is it the same garage doing the MOT each year? If so, the cynical side of me says that cv boots are their go to failure to earn some extra money.
£250 is a low amount to keep an old car on the road but if you're asking why the boot covers keep failing then it sounds suspicious.
What is the VRM (numberplate) of the car.
If the CV boots do fail regularly then one has to ask where you (or your garage) are getting them from.
I only buy genuine manufacturers parts because unlike patern parts, they have to be of a high quality and made to the exact original specification.
as above, CV boots last YEARS! something is not right.
what exactly do they say is wrong with the boots each time?
I would suggest a different MOT testing station.
also £250 for CV boot change?? really? sounds steep to me.
get sone quotes from other garages.
Seems like an easy decision.
(a) How much would you get (or pay) to scrap?
(b) How much would it sell for with a new MOT, less your £250?
Compare the two and you have your answer.
IF there's anything wrong with the boot.
Quite, did you actually look to see if the CV boot was replaced? I'v known MoT examiner to have "fetishes" about certain items. We went through a spate of it in the bus industry a few years ago when a brand new coach was examiend on its first job to "the seaside" with a proper reutable operator. It was given an immediate prohibition for.an insecure carpet on the front step. One of the 4 carpet fixings at the back edge was loose, but ministry man said it was a trip hazard! One of my buses got an immediate prohibition for a staple sticking up on an arm rest by the back seat. It had been there for years, it was the top side of a paper type staple holding the armrest covering down. It had been through 5 annual tests like it and nodody had ever injured themselves on it.
Go to a different garage.
Unfortunately the area in which this duplicity is happening is east London which conceivably be happening elsewhere too. In my view, old cars are always subjected to subjective MOT test where garage owner always want to make quick cash by having you over barrel. Due to everything is recorded digitally so you usually have little escape. In my view, in my case the main problem is the actual bone/joints (steel made) which no mechanic bother to replace and they just wrap it with cheap rubber. Unfortunately most of the garages always remained overwhelmed with the sheer number of cars requiring repairs so nobody will look honestly on your old car. Maybe the best way is to sell it but who knows that the same will not happen with your replaced car.
What is the VRM of the car.
Unfortunately the area in which this duplicity is happening is east London which conceivably be happening elsewhere too. In my view, old cars are always subjected to subjective MOT test where garage owner always want to make quick cash by having you over barrel. Due to everything is recorded digitally so you usually have little escape. In my view, in my case the main problem is the actual bone/joints (steel made) which no mechanic bother to replace and they just wrap it with cheap rubber. Unfortunately most of the garages always remained overwhelmed with the sheer number of cars requiring repairs so nobody will look honestly on your old car. Maybe the best way is to sell it but who knows that the same will not happen with your replaced car.
My local MOT place operates a no pass no fee policy and won't do any repairs not even a bulb. I've taken two 18 year old and one 36 year old car there recently with no issues. They have a branch in Deptford.
I've taken two 18 year old and one 36 year old car there recently with no issues.
maybe coz they don't get paid if they fail it as you say...
no pass no fee policy
I'd take it to a different garage. When I had my last Saab Aero, I had the choice of two local Saab specialists. One did MOTs, the other took it down the road to an independent test centre. The one that did their own MOTs quoted me £1500 of essential repairs to get it back on the road. The other one £340. Its funny how the amount of failures found when the test station was not making any money out of the repairs went down...
Agree x 1
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