I'm having impure thoughts

[gunman]

Guy's I dont know what to do here. I am faced with a decision whether to break my S2 avant or spend money on it big time

Basically I bought the car 2 and a half years ago as a weekend toy, family changes meant I have used it daily for the last 2 years and it is now a little tired. The suspension is tired, there is a clunk from the rear end somewhere, there is a bit of backlash in the drivetrain and the bodywork has the odd rust spot here and there.

The engine is runnig well but seems underpowered (possible boost leak which I cant find).

I am left with the descision to spend £1000's on rebuilding the suspension, new mounts etc and some bodywork or break the car and cut my losses (financially the better option probably). Question is what do I change to? The sensible option is a diesel I suppose

I suppose this is a decision that has been faced by many before and is why there is less and less of these left now.

[Christophski]

Well please dont break it. Not another avant disspeared.... Not many at all left these days. Maybe get a cheap run around and do the avant up? Would be my answer or what I would be doing. I will be doing something similar later in the summer with mine. I will use something else as my daily and will be doing all the jobs that need doing to the avant on the driveway. Includes engine out work....

[gunman]

That was my plan too, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm wise. My wife has an 80 cabby which is going on the road over the summer (as her fun car) so I was plannig on 'borrowing' that for a while I take the S2 off the road and overhaul the suspension. That and I have a Tiger Cat E1 Kit car (my now fun weekend car) which I could use if I really wanted some fun.

Just counting up tho, I'll probably spend more on the car than it's worth to have it perfect again and it'll still be a daily driver.

[Christophski]

Thing is even when you service an older car you are losing money so you can argue that is not worth doing either yet we all know its the right thing to do. If it was me in your position I would sell on as a whole to someone else or do the work and keep the car accepting that you wont get your money back but you will get a massive smile on your face from it being nicer to drive and different to other things on the road. (second is what I am doing) Just my two bobs worth.

[herald]

Hang on, if you drive a car (with very few exceptions) you are spending money. Depreciation or maintenance. So if you enjoy the car then spend the money doing it up. You could always go and buy a nice nearly new something and do £250 a month, ie £3000 a year, depreciation. I bet your S2 doesn't cost you £3k a year every year on maintenance and it's much more of a conversation piece.

[slacky]

Hang on, if you drive a car (with very few exceptions) you are spending money. Depreciation or maintenance. So if you enjoy the car then spend the money doing it up. You could always go and buy a nice nearly new something and do £250 a month, ie £3000 a year, depreciation. I bet your S2 doesn't cost you £3k a year every year on maintenance and it's much more of a conversation piece.

exactly

[simon20vq]

Agree with herald on this AND just think what the S2 will be worth in another 5 years time? Its lost all is money now and even if you bought a new car there would still be routine maintenance! Stick it in the garage and it will be better than money in the bank!

[Error404]

Hang on, if you drive a car (with very few exceptions) you are spending money. Depreciation or maintenance. So if you enjoy the car then spend the money doing it up. You could always go and buy a nice nearly new something and do £250 a month, ie £3000 a year, depreciation. I bet your S2 doesn't cost you £3k a year every year on maintenance and it's much more of a conversation piece.

Owning a car costs money - full stop. whether its maintaining an older car or depreciation on a newer one you can't avoid it.
My GF has lost 15k in the last 5 years due to depreciation of owning "new" cars, I have spent probably around £10k refreshing and modding my coupe, it's swings & roundabouts.

[RustyNut]

Spend money on it. You'll only be dissappointed if you go elsewhere.

[gunman]

Ok, cheers guys. Just what I needed to hear I think.

So plan of attack, first get the boost issue sorted, then this summer I'll rebuild the rear suspension with poly bushes. Do the diff mounts as well. Front end may have to wait a while longer. TBH the bodywork doesnt bother me too much and a polish would work wonders on it.

I need to find where the clunk is coming from from the rear end, any ideas on the most common area? It has to be prop, diff or driveshaft. If I drive along a straight road slowly in 2nd, lfit off and on the throttle I hear a clunk from the rear end. I also hear it when I put the car into reverse and start to move.

[Christophski]

Glad to hear it. I will be with you on the polly bushing this year....

Dont quote me on it and no doubt someone will be along soon but alot of people moan about gearbox mounts being worn and getting a thud when changing gear??? Sure someomn will correct me soon though.

[andy10v]

I would buy a £500 80 tdi, you can work on it, its dirt cheap to maintain, you probably have spares already. It gets more than double the s2 mpg commuting. (I average 19-22mpg in the S2, 50mpg in the TDI filling them neck to neck) You will also really appreciate how awesome an S2 is after the 80 tdi!

It will pay for itself in a few months, the money you then save can be used to re bush the s2 over 6 months and you have an S2 to use again. Don't go concourse, just get a nice driveable car.



Alternatively;
Fix it as you drive it/when it breaks
That is painful, jobs are rushed, it will never be "right" constant drip feeding

Take it off the road and go nuts
That will cost a lot of time and money

Look at what people pay per month for finance cars, Also how much will it cost/what will you replace it with for equivalent performance and how much will that cost to maintain. S2s are relatively cheap for the performance/reliability.

A word of warning though, I have replaced all the drive line bushes;360 snubber, engine, gearbox, all rear diff, the centre prop, tried 3 different rear diffs and still have driveling shunt. Accumulative play in gearbox and shaft joints. Its really annoying after to still be there after all the work.

Ultimately its your choice/money, and they are now old cars, but if you just want a nice functional one then bang for buck they are very hard to beat!

[newsh]

Check the rear diff mounts, particularly the one in the bolt-on alloy housing.

[macspring]

Gunman,

Here’s the blunt version.

Focus your resources.

1. Get rid of the kit car - a needless diversion of you S2 budget.

2. Allow your wife to drive her Cabrio - You’ll suffer less interferance from her as to what you are doing with your cars.

3. Buy a B4 Avant as a daily - Saves money and pays for itself, and is essentail to have as a back up car when you own an S2 as a daily driver.

4. Take the S2 off the road and do what you do to it right. "Measure twice and cut once”.

5. Do a list of jobs in a order of priority and work through it, and be sure and enjoy the further motivation of doing the next thing on the list by crossing out the item on the list you’ve just completed.

6. Be ready for more grief and expense that you expect / anticipate, but it will be worth it in the long run. Set a decent budget, and then at least double it.

7. To help you remain motivated and to make your mind up fully, you need a drive in a tight, fresh ABY car. Go to the Irish meeting on the 29/03/12.

HTH.

If it doesn’t, buy a new Focus.



Best wishes.