What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

The clutch needs replacing in my 20 year old car - should I just trade it in?

I have a 2004 Toyota Yaris. It's done 133,000 miles but needs the clutch replacing and a few other things too. Is it worth having the work done or should I trade it in?

Asked on 19 May 2023 by Judith Daley

Answered by David Ross
Running an older car on a budget frequently means trying to balance the cost of repairs against trading it in for something else. We would start by getting an estimate for the repairs that are required and looking online to see what your car is currently worth. It can feel like a waste of money ploughing money into a car that is not worth a great deal already, but it can be a case of 'better the devil you know'. A different car could come with a host of new problems and may not be as reliable as your current car.

If your Yaris has been reliable, it suits your needs and has been well-maintained, there is no reason why it could not go on for several more years. Clutches are a consumable part so will always wear out eventually, so should be considered part of the cost of ongoing maintenance, although once done it should be good for another 100,000 miles.
Similar questions
The gears are not engaging properly on my 2005 Seat Alhambra 1.9 TDI. The bite has become lower on the clutch pedal and no gears could be engaged. However, after starting her up a few hours later I pulled...
Has road tax increased for LGVs and HGVs in the 2017 budget?
I own a 2005 Audi A4 Convertible 2.0 TFSI, the one renowned for the problem with oil consumption. My Audi garage repaired the piston rings and, I think, got Audi to pay for it. Since they did the repair,...
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer