Lord Peter Mandelson, Uk Ambassador
News1 min ago
Aren't Vauxhall GM Spares Prices A Disgrace!?
Corsa 1.2SXI 1993
Water Pump over 100 quid! (Aftermarket part thin on the ground, or non-existant)
Water Pump gasget ... 25quid!
What's more, is that there are two pumps, which cannot be identified for replacement until the old one has been removed. Disgrace for a crappy little engine like that!
Water Pump over 100 quid! (Aftermarket part thin on the ground, or non-existant)
Water Pump gasget ... 25quid!
What's more, is that there are two pumps, which cannot be identified for replacement until the old one has been removed. Disgrace for a crappy little engine like that!
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Sorry AIBags, it's an example of the institutionalised extortion of the motoring public that's now become the norm. The last few governments allowed British motor manufacturers to be so outcompeted by the EU and Asia that they have now completely disappeared. Because so many jobs are dependant upon revenue from motorists like you, that income can now only come from parts and servicing rather than manufacture. Car makers have now so over-engineered their products and designed them to make sure owners can't do anything themselves - not even change a bulb in Audis! They now have a captive market and charge whatever they like as you've found. It keeps dealers open, fitters employed and tax for the government. Someone I know has just had a basic service (basically just an oil and filter change) done on her Corsa by our Vauxhall dealership - and it cost £440! That's such a rip off it's almost criminal.
One answer is to buy an older car. I've owned a 1984 Golf since 1987. In 2006 we drove down to Spain and back without a hiccup and last year we toured north France and Paris. All the parts are dirt cheap. It costs me £45 to fully service and the insurance is £149 per year fully comp. That's about it apart from fuel at 40+ to the gallon. I don't worry about the cost of anything the car needs and I can do everything myself with just a few basic tools. It's cheap motoring and the government get nothing out of me except tax on fuel and road tax.
Forget this rubbish about 'scrappage' and 'less old bangers'. Ignore the modern dealers and their rip-offs. You can buy a very good car for £500. It'll be cheap to run and very reliable. All the unreliable and unroadworthy cars were disposed of years ago - only the good ones are left as they keep doing the job year in, year out. Any car that's just passed a modern MoT will almost certainly be in very good condition. Take someone with you to check the vehicle you won't go far wrong.
One answer is to buy an older car. I've owned a 1984 Golf since 1987. In 2006 we drove down to Spain and back without a hiccup and last year we toured north France and Paris. All the parts are dirt cheap. It costs me £45 to fully service and the insurance is £149 per year fully comp. That's about it apart from fuel at 40+ to the gallon. I don't worry about the cost of anything the car needs and I can do everything myself with just a few basic tools. It's cheap motoring and the government get nothing out of me except tax on fuel and road tax.
Forget this rubbish about 'scrappage' and 'less old bangers'. Ignore the modern dealers and their rip-offs. You can buy a very good car for £500. It'll be cheap to run and very reliable. All the unreliable and unroadworthy cars were disposed of years ago - only the good ones are left as they keep doing the job year in, year out. Any car that's just passed a modern MoT will almost certainly be in very good condition. Take someone with you to check the vehicle you won't go far wrong.
Yep .. guys ..
I've been building, engineering, developed LPG IGS systems, also worked on cars for years.
Aware of these problems.
Manufacturers are getting more clever, in that on some, you cannot even fit a replacement alternator without introducing iut to the ECU, as it will not charge until you do.
Minor errors locking ECU into limp home mode, or affecting performance in some way (like Vauxhall can do)
Personally, I found it was no more expensive to maintain my Nissan Skyline GTR R33, than it was to look after a friends 1800 Focus.
Sad, sad, sad.
I've been building, engineering, developed LPG IGS systems, also worked on cars for years.
Aware of these problems.
Manufacturers are getting more clever, in that on some, you cannot even fit a replacement alternator without introducing iut to the ECU, as it will not charge until you do.
Minor errors locking ECU into limp home mode, or affecting performance in some way (like Vauxhall can do)
Personally, I found it was no more expensive to maintain my Nissan Skyline GTR R33, than it was to look after a friends 1800 Focus.
Sad, sad, sad.
-- answer removed --
-- answer removed --
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