everytime i fix somthing on this damm car somthing else pops up
got it up on the ramps today and whats looking at me ?
that y shape chassis bit on the back rotten
gear box leaking all over (free gaskets please)
this £100 car is now £185
oh like i said just fed up will get it sorted

sorry guys just needed a winge

lol, my £67 car stands me at £700

Now stop wingieng mate

Hmm yeah know what you mean - you'll probably end up fixing problems that previous owners have neglected at first.

I imagine it'll be the diff end plate that's leaking, mac can supply a very reasonably priced gasket kit for this - Volvo don't sell it anymore.

Anyway - what's £185!?

As with anything, things do go wrong, or wear, etc, but luckily for the 300, you can often do it yourself, and fairly cheaply. Once you've done most service items on your car, you know it better, know it's been done, and when it will need doing again. Only as you get to know a car will you find out what it's really like, and how it's been cared for in the past. As problems start presenting themselves, if you do them all you know it'll be ok in the future and that that part has now been replaced, and slowly it'll reduce the amount of things likely to go wrong! You could pick another more expensive car up that goes wrong instantly and in a big way, some things are down to luck.

It's like my van, when I bought that, someone had clearly not serviced or maintained it that well. I've spent a fair bit of time, and quite a bit of money on parts and consumables, but after a good service, and sorting the problems it's now still a cost effective but reliable vehicle. As Foggy pointed out in one post, filling the fuel tank each time is often more than a 300 is worth in a bad condition! Insuring a car, it's a lot of money with very little physical return if you don't need to claim, servicing etc makes sense!

With regards to the rotten chassis rails, how bad are they? A good welder can sort those for you. It won't be pennies if it's done properly, but if you intend keeping the car and need another MOT, it's worthwhile.

Trust us, once you've found the previous neglect and bodges, sorted them, the problems will slow down and you'll have a cheap, but reliable car!

Pete

I can put you in touch with a decent and fairly cheap welder in Birmingham if required!

It's a 15+ year old car that you paid £100 for - did you really expect it not to require any work?!?!?!

You'll be feeling pretty smug when driving down the motorway for over 700 miles in a week - and the cars you see broken down are new Renaults

Or new BMW's

Mate my car cost me £123 about 3 years ago car now owes me nearly £4k!!!
The rear chassis rails join is common but not an MOT failure AFAIK, mine has had it since i got the car and gone through MOT's fine!!!
Adam

If it's the part I think it is, (pics to follow in a thread one day) then it should be a failure, as it's a structural part of the car. However, it shouldn't, but it does depend on where you take a car to how different places enfore the rules and interpret them. One of my GLT's failed an MOT on them, but they were big gapping holes, and they've since been professionally repaired.

Pete

well guys thanks for all you're help i stopped moaning now
insured the car today and it,s in for the mot tomorow will let you know how it got on
thanks