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My Mk 7 Golf has a catalytic converter issue, should I repair or get a new car?
I took my Golf in to an independent garage for its MOT and Service in Feb of this year. It’s a 2015, 1.6 diesel. The garage did not have the tool to reset the service interval in the Golf computer.
The day after I got it back the catalytic converter light came on an hour into a four hour journey from Leicester to Brighton. I limped back to Leicester and took it to a local independent VW specialist.
They gave it a look over and then reset the light. They suggested driving it and then if the warning light reappeared to come back.
Since then I have been to Austria and back and completed a number of long motorway drives. The light came once on whilst I was abroad –after 4 hours driving. But then had gone off the next day. Most recently it came on when I pulled off the drive and the car was cold but the car drove perfectly for the 6 hour motorway trip I then completed. It was still on when I drove for an hour this morning but went off when I started the car to come home!
The garage says a new sensor is circa £800 and a new/refurbished cat is several thousand. I have the money to change the car either for a Kamiq or a VW T-Roc I’m thinking. But I really like the Golf!
I’m not sure of the wisdom of spending strong money on an eight year old car or the wisdom of spending £20k on something newish to give me a car I like driving – which I have already!
The day after I got it back the catalytic converter light came on an hour into a four hour journey from Leicester to Brighton. I limped back to Leicester and took it to a local independent VW specialist.
They gave it a look over and then reset the light. They suggested driving it and then if the warning light reappeared to come back.
Since then I have been to Austria and back and completed a number of long motorway drives. The light came once on whilst I was abroad –after 4 hours driving. But then had gone off the next day. Most recently it came on when I pulled off the drive and the car was cold but the car drove perfectly for the 6 hour motorway trip I then completed. It was still on when I drove for an hour this morning but went off when I started the car to come home!
The garage says a new sensor is circa £800 and a new/refurbished cat is several thousand. I have the money to change the car either for a Kamiq or a VW T-Roc I’m thinking. But I really like the Golf!
I’m not sure of the wisdom of spending strong money on an eight year old car or the wisdom of spending £20k on something newish to give me a car I like driving – which I have already!
Asked on 1 September 2023 by Colin Hide
Answered by
David Ross
It can be a difficult decision on whether to replace a car with an issue or spend money on fixing the problem, but generally speaking it comes down to a matter of finances and how much you want to keep your existing vehicle.
If you are happy with the service you have received from the independent specialist we would suggest sticking with them - a garage completing a service should have the facility to reset your service light. You may wish to get a second opinion from another independent specialist before committing to having work carried out. You can search for one near you using the Honest John Good Garage Guide here: good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/
If you are happy with the service you have received from the independent specialist we would suggest sticking with them - a garage completing a service should have the facility to reset your service light. You may wish to get a second opinion from another independent specialist before committing to having work carried out. You can search for one near you using the Honest John Good Garage Guide here: good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/
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