Don't buy a volvo either. My folks are about to sell out 400quid for an ABS pump replacement. Known fault. Ridiculous.
Any car can be a dog. It's all just a risk. My passat was 1500quid 3 years ago.
I've spent 100quid on a front suspension kit (the OEM VW part snapped on me !!), a further 30quid on replacing TRE's wearing out.
60 on a timing belt. 20 on misc belts. 20 on consumables, air filter, pollen, etc.
Rear bushes have been about 80, and brakes and pads all round were about another 120quid.
80 quid for a recon alternator with higher output.
Had to bypass the cluster to get the alt charging a there is some silly electronic fault I CBA to diagnose. Broke a stepper in the process and had to shell out 20quid for a spare cluster to swap the motor out of.
Oil change every 3-5K cos of the veg. Then various other veg related mods like heaters, insulation and a changeover valve to a diesel tank for starting/stopping.
So it's not been unreliable. Just a PITA to work on compared to my Hondas which are in comparison a doddle.
Slightly expensive to insure too on a typical policy as a standard car (but mine is on a modified policy) - verses something else of the same engine size like a pug 1.9TD estate...
What I like about it is the air con and it looks much better than my Astra which truly was a beater. - due to veg spillage when refueling I sanded the area down and resprayed as was easier than cleaning it.
I dunno your circumstances or ability, but I'd just say don't give up.
Better the devil you know. If those are the only problems then it's a couple of hundred for a working car, verses something that might have been overlooked at MOT time and you find out a year later.
And if the new car comes with 12 month MOT, don't forget, you can swap parts onto a car to pass an MOT and then take them off again. I did that last week with one of my Honda's !!! (needed the ticket before modding to make my life easier for the next 12 months).
It doesn't sound like a big list. I've honestly been faced with worse.
On my astra the fail sheet came to two full pages one time.
After it passed my MOT guy told me not to bring it back next year as he'd refuse to test it.
Hence the passat (he is a VW fanboy)
Any car can be a dog. It's all just a risk. My passat was 1500quid 3 years ago.
I've spent 100quid on a front suspension kit (the OEM VW part snapped on me !!), a further 30quid on replacing TRE's wearing out.
60 on a timing belt. 20 on misc belts. 20 on consumables, air filter, pollen, etc.
Rear bushes have been about 80, and brakes and pads all round were about another 120quid.
80 quid for a recon alternator with higher output.
Had to bypass the cluster to get the alt charging a there is some silly electronic fault I CBA to diagnose. Broke a stepper in the process and had to shell out 20quid for a spare cluster to swap the motor out of.
Oil change every 3-5K cos of the veg. Then various other veg related mods like heaters, insulation and a changeover valve to a diesel tank for starting/stopping.
So it's not been unreliable. Just a PITA to work on compared to my Hondas which are in comparison a doddle.
Slightly expensive to insure too on a typical policy as a standard car (but mine is on a modified policy) - verses something else of the same engine size like a pug 1.9TD estate...
What I like about it is the air con and it looks much better than my Astra which truly was a beater. - due to veg spillage when refueling I sanded the area down and resprayed as was easier than cleaning it.
I dunno your circumstances or ability, but I'd just say don't give up.
Better the devil you know. If those are the only problems then it's a couple of hundred for a working car, verses something that might have been overlooked at MOT time and you find out a year later.
And if the new car comes with 12 month MOT, don't forget, you can swap parts onto a car to pass an MOT and then take them off again. I did that last week with one of my Honda's !!! (needed the ticket before modding to make my life easier for the next 12 months).
It doesn't sound like a big list. I've honestly been faced with worse.
On my astra the fail sheet came to two full pages one time.
After it passed my MOT guy told me not to bring it back next year as he'd refuse to test it.
Hence the passat (he is a VW fanboy)