MarginWalker said:

Ahmett, I can't see your replacement shock absorbers listed in the spreadsheet - pretty sure I've read that your car boasts Bilstein B14s front and rear. That'll up your total even more, no?

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Yes you are right I edited it on my computer but didnt upload it!
So add 750 euros to the total = )

frupi said:

Who cares maxi? I don't, I know I've got enough money to buy the next car outright before that time comes around

Clearly you care, and I feel sorry for you.

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Because you brought up how cheap it is to just buy a new car every few years........


Why you should feel sorry for anyone is beyond me, you just don't seem to like having your opinions challenged.


My 500 is 5 years old, we've only paid for it once and it's not cost me a penny for "repairs"

Here we go again , irresistible force, immoveable object comes to mind.

306maxi said:

Because you brought up how cheap it is to just buy a new car every few years........

Why you should feel sorry for anyone is beyond me, you just don't seem to like having your opinions challenged.

My 500 is 5 years old, we've only paid for it once and it's not cost me a penny for "repairs"

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I said I feel sorry for you maxi, not just anyone :devil:

As for my opinions, I couldn't give a rats fat one what you think lol!

Didn't realise you actually had an issue with me about mentioning buying a new car every few years. I apologise for any offence I may have caused you

I know it's not a repair as such, but you are, are you not about to spend some money on your car in terms of maintenance replacing your cambelt? Or is that not classed as maintenance costs?

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/355401-1-2-fire-timing-tools.html

ahmett said:

Yes you are right I edited it on my computer but didnt upload it!
So add 750 euros to the total = )

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Yes ahmett, I've found a mistake in my own figures on what I quoted earlier too, I replaced the front brake pads on the old POP and they cost me £25, so I should have added those!

Oh, and I bought 3 pollen filters for 15 quid and I used two of them and I've still got one left gathering dust. Yep, that really is all of it!

I have a 1.4 Sport, 28 k miles, that will celebrate its 6th birthday in October and I've owned it for 18 months. Maintenance costs in those 18 months have been higher than expected (especially considering low mileage for age) but at purchase the car had got to the age where certain components were due for replacement. I've decided not to skimp on maintenance as I feel this car will be a long-term keeper.

So, in 18 months the following has been done: 2 services at a local independent (£280); 2 new Michelins at the front (£160); set of 4 iridium spark plugs (£40); cam belt and water pump replacement (£220 - seems like I paid a little over the odds here but I like and trust my independent to do a good job); 2 Bilstein B4 rear dampers (£140 plus £30 labour); replacement battery (£65). So we're looking at about a grand in total so far! Ow. Car runs beautifully though, no issues, good fun to drive, comfortable and a great motorway cruiser with the sixth gear.

frupi said:

Oh, and I bought 3 pollen filters for 15 quid and I used two of them and I've still got one left gathering dust.

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Er, that's what pollen filters do .

To be honest, I think the price you've paid for the two services isn't too bad at all. Iridium spark plugs aren't particularly cheap anyway when you peg normal ones for the 1.2 for instance at just £12 or £13 for four, dammit, I forgot to add four plugs to the old POP too! Lol, my maintenace costs for the old POP seem to have now hit about £360 over the 2 and a bit years....apologies to all for my memory lapse...again!

I think your cambelt and waterpump change price wasn't too bad either. The going rate for a lot of cars, well clearly, size/complexity dependent, can cost upward of £350.

Dampers, again, Bilstein, good price, plenty of places that can charge over the odds, so your supplier seems to be reasonable on price and the 30 quid fitting charge was a bargain.

Tyres, I'm not one for buying top end brand more the middle price area except for spares when I'll cheap it out with budget.

Wish we had the sixth gear on our little one, but got to be realistic, it is a little engine.

Overall, yes, a grand is a lot of money, but if you're keeping for a long time and you really enjoy the car, money well spent.

jrkitching said:

Er, that's what pollen filters do .

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Damn it, I've been had! Yup, feel a bit of a prat now seeing that

Yep, I was pleasantly surprised at the labour charge for the rear shocks! Mechanic said it was a straightforward half-hour job which he did at he same time as the cam belt.

I used to do my own car maintenance in the early days of my motoring life (20 plus years ago...) when I had access to a flat drive, axle stands and my dad's tools. Saved a packet back in the day but for years I've had neither the work area, tools nor the necessary expertise to work on modern cars. Cars were simpler when I started driving - my first was a Talbot Sunbeam which was mechanically simple and had the Hillman Imp 928 cc engine with about an acre of space in the engine bay. Second car was an old cortina with the venerable 1.6 cross flow engine. Piece of **** to work on and cost peanuts to maintain. Them were the days.

306maxi said:

My 500 is 5 years old, we've only paid for it once and it's not cost me a penny for "repairs"

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You still suffer depreciation on a 5yr old car and needs to be accounted/saved for or else you will not have money to replace it when the time comes.

It has not cost you a penny in 'repairs' but it has in maintenance. I am aware you have changed tyres, suspension, brakes and nearly a cambelt. All things that should we decide to exchange at the end of our finance agreement will not have to be done (this isn't the plan).

You pay your money and take your choice - if people want to replace their cars earlier than you than that is their choice. Good for them, it provides a healthy supply of newish and decent second hand cars for others to buy.

But I will suffer a lot less depreciation than others. I would say that we will have our 500 for at least 12-15 years.

306maxi said:

But I will suffer a lot less depreciation than others. I would say that we will have our 500 for at least 12-15 years.

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If i were to keep my car 15 years it would reach about 350,000 km's! I wonder if the car would last that long without being unacceptably expensive to repair.

ahmett said:

If i were to keep my car 15 years it would reach about 350,000 km's! I wonder if the car would last that long without being unacceptably expensive to repair.

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For most people the engine and gearbox will easily do that.

306maxi said:

For most people the engine and gearbox will easily do that.

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Being a Fiat, i am more worried about electronics.

306maxi said:

For most people the engine and gearbox will easily do that.

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:yeahthat: