Very good point. I guess it’s better the devil you know
Not just that - you're likely be spending a relatively small amount compared to buying a 'new' (to you) second hand replacement car (never mind a brand new car) where prices are around a third higher than the pre-Pandemic era historical norm.
As long as your Astra is otherwise structurally sound (not starting to badly rust, including underneath, noting that a bit of surface rust there isn't an issue) and otherwise reliable, then it's a good idea to put £1k into a car worth that much if it then lasts another 5 or likely 10 years.
My Mazda3 (also a 1.6 petrol with VVT, Mazda's version and chain driven) is in a similar condition, but is 4-5 years older, so with a bit of TLC and luck, your car should keep going for a decent amount of time. Wear and tear will obviously cost a bit, but nothing like buying a new or new-er second hand car.
My dear old dad is now realising this, having PXed his 08 plate basic Fiesta 1.25L 82PS petrol (which, aside from a few minor issues and the engine 'not sounding right' [but which never seemed to be an issue when I was a passenger and he never had looked into, etc]) for a 70 plate Fiesta 1L Turbo 125PS upper spec model where he is finding it very difficult to get to grips with all the new tech and different driving style.
He spent £15k to change, when I'd venture that it would've cost him about £1k - £1.5k tops (probably less) to have any problems looked into and fixed. Ironically, he complianed about the ride quality in the old car (shod on 195/50 R15 tyres) and the new one comes on 205/45 R17s, and its just as firm, especially on the local badly surfaced roads.
You have the benefit of bothering to seek out opinions before deciding on what to do. He didn't, and is now experiencing serious buyer regret, after likely being 'played' (IMHO) by his local dealership who phoned him on spec to invite him to a 'special sales event' for 'valued customers' (mugs, in other words), playing on his ego / laziness and naivety to think they were doing this for his benefit and to not ask for advice from others first.
The daft thing is that he is probably 5 years from giving up driving and indicated he won't be doing any long distance (which to him is above 30 miles) driving any more, negating the need for anything other than a 'cheap shopping car'. It's not as though my parents are that well off either and can easily afford this change.
IMHO it's only worth buying a replacement car if and when:
1. Your needs change enough that the current one isn't suitable and no alternatives can be found other than changing it;
2. The existing car is badly and irrevocably (and expensively [for bodywork replacements etc) corroding, especially structrally;
3. The existing car has a lot and/or very expensive (I mean £5k and up) parts replacements needed and on a regular basis - parts failing that really shouldn't, even in older cars. Most engines should really last the physical lifetime of the car is well designed and made.
This doesn't include the need to replace several 'wear and tear' parts in a short space of time (suspension bits, tyres, PS pump, etc) which would probably just be bad luck to all come at once and likely then won't have to be replaced for a good number of years afterwards
4. Replacement parts and skilled labour to maintain for the car crucial to its operation are very hard to come by (e.g. a car from a make no longer in businessor a very old car ) and thus are expensive or require the car to go a long way to be maintained.
Even with Vauxhall now part of PSA/Stellatis and maybe slowly 'winding down' its sales and operations like many former GM stablemtaes (Holden in Australia being one notable one), you'll likely have not not worry about that, especially as your car is one of the most common Vauxhalls around, and not a complex model either.
The above issue might more be for the Rover car owner or somone owning a TVR or some other 'specialist' car with a decreasing pool of mechanic experise.
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