Smart ForFour - Economic to repair or cut my losses

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Fri 19 Sep 2014 17:22
Smart ForFour - Economic to repair or cut my losses - Disco Troll

Hi -

I'm really after peoples opinions on this (haha - opnions ain't facts but there you go...). We are talking bottom of the food chain motoring so if that offends, look away now...

I do relatively high mileage each year (around 24,000 miles) and am more than happy bombing around in 2nd/3rd/4th hand mini/city cars as I don't seem to need anything more comfortable.

My current tin-can is a 54 Smart ForFour with a healthy 165k on the clock but it's now starting to wear out some more expensive items with the latest being the need for a new clutch (this for the semi-automatic gearbox so far from cheap) and some wheel bearings. I'd hoped to have found an internet "keep-or-scrap" calculator but sady nothing has come up so I'm just after thoughts on when it's best to just walk away. I reckon the latest parts/works will be equal to or over 50% of any residual value in the car (once done) - we are talking £500 for repairs - £900 total vehicle value.

So whatdya all think? Get repairs or sell for parts/scrappage? Replacement would again be an old tin can (though probably cheaper to repair) of similar value..

thanks in advance,

DT.

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Fri 19 Sep 2014 17:43
Smart ForFour - Economic to repair or cut my losses - oldroverboy.

Hopefully you will have looked at the smart for 4 /2 forums. My niece had one and she worked in a garage where the staff are allowed to do their own work so one of the mechanics would have done it..

they said scrap it and found her another one in better nick for £1400

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Fri 19 Sep 2014 17:51
Smart ForFour - Economic to repair or cut my losses - elekie&a/c doctor

I think you have under estimated the cost of repairs .The parts for the clutch are around £300 alone.Time to say good-bye.

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Fri 19 Sep 2014 18:02
Smart ForFour - Economic to repair or cut my losses - Disco Troll

I think you have under estimated the cost of repairs .The parts for the clutch are around £300 alone.Time to say good-bye.

Haha - I know - I was just trying to put a positive spin on things! ;-)

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Fri 19 Sep 2014 20:34
Smart ForFour - Economic to repair or cut my losses - tony g
Sell the car for what you can get ,e bay prices as spare and repair are usually better than scrap prices .a small town car that's done 165K has reached the end of its viable life .
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