General What would you do?

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General What would you do?

Al D

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I've had my TA 4x4 around 18 months and it's been a lot of fun. I was prepared to spend around £550 on major service, MOT and 4 tyres. I had considered a pre reg March 17 plate 1.2 but Fiat were unwilling to send it from Portbury in a reasonable time apparently. So that's come to nothing. Now my air con will blow air to my face as directed on the dial (ordinary air con). After a few minutes it will then change to the screen instead all by itself. I've spent £000's fixing and maintaining cars and had enough. What would you do? Suggestions gratefully received.:confused:
 
Personally, I'd browse the interweb to see if there's a known solution, but if there's nothing apparent, I'd get rid. My car policy is to keep anything that doesn't cause trouble, but get rid of anything that has the gremlins in it.
 
Just my opinion, but if you feel like you've had enough of fiddling, fettling and fixing and are considering replacement, buy new with a full warranty, there are plenty of deals about, it shouldn't cost you much more.

Dealer pre reg'd are usually around 6 months old so you've lost a 6th of a Fiat warranty already and in 2.5 years it's out of warranty and due an mot.

I got to the same point, years of messing around with cars has taken it's toll and I just can't face it anymore.
Our Pop's steering rack is rattling and knocking, though it passed it's mot today and they told me what I already knew, there's a little lash in the pinion, I just can't face tackling it myself (and I'm not overly enthusiastic about taking it to be fixed, all that running around :mad:)

We got shut of Mrs Goudrons Panda Lounge as soon as it was 3 and out of warranty, it only cost us £3500 in depreciation over the 3 years as we got it on a deal to start with and it's running costs were minimum, two services at £129 each, we only got the wheels refurb'd cos the mother in law was having it.

Same sort of deal saved us £4600 on her new Vitara, it was mad not to change, though I did hope she'd like a Kia with 7 year warranty!

My TA 4x4 is now nearly 3 and a half now, but I just can't seem to find a suitable replacement which is why it's still outside.

I've had a look at the new Swift with Allgrip, but it's no real ground clearance over the standard model.
I might wait and have a butchers at the Kia Stonic and Hyundai Kona when they are launched as they have 7 and 5 year warranties, though they'll need either 4x4 or some sort of grip control for my needs.
 
By this time next week I hope to have back a fully serviced 4x4 with MOT and working heating system. Only fault ever had with it. If cost to repair too much, will get something else.
 
Car going in for a service a week today instead. But he has had a look at the air con. He says it's absolutely freezing on cold. Coldest he's ever tested. He wonders whether there's moisture in the system or it's been overfilled. Anyway that's put my mind at rest and saved me a fortune. Car should last me good while longer now. (y)
 
Panda passed MOT. Air con been regassed. The pipe was white due to the frost on it. Mechanic thinks could be air con evaparator if not sorted. £900 maximum to fix I think. 4 years old next month. Car's great though. I've owned a few Panda's, best one I've had. Though TA acquired taste.:)
 
Hi Al Glad to hear its better. I find changing is so expensive its easier to stick until your sure its time. My TA 4x4 is getting run in now and at last is delivering better economy. I am still totally unclear about the fuel mapping as there seems no logic to driving it for best economy. I have a t last decided I like the thing and am going to have cruise control and a sun roof fitted shortly. I did chase down a local Panda the other day and was suprised how well the car goes now its getting run in.
 
My new Panda arrives later this month. The 4x4 up there with Toyota Yaris D4D had in '08. I could afford another, but there's beter value cars out there. Would I have a new 1.2 every 3 years? Will see. (y)
 
Hi Al,
Its odd you had a D4D I very nearly had one myself a few years back. I could have had an Auris hybrid a couple of years back as a company car but felt that the electric part was a bit limited as the engine started up on petrol if you went off a little quickly and started anyway at 19mph. They did go very well using bith electric and petrol power though.

My plan is the 4x4 for as long as possible and to lease an EV of some sort. I have tried a Nissan leaf and they go like a rocket. We need more range at the moment so I am hoping this will improve in the next few years. Also my experience of batteries on just about everyting is they go off fast and fail before they should with no warning. I suspect there will be a mountain of first gen EV's that no one wants because of this in the the near future. From the outside it will be interesting to see. I hope the new Panda arrived soon. Regards Peter
 
Hybrids the future by the sounds. Meeting daft targets won't be drawn on. Toyota put a lot on transporters every day. If anyone can sell required number of cars it's them. New Panda less than secondhand Yaris Hybrid. Not sure what new EV batteries will cost. 6 years on, am not sure whether failed idea or not.
 
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