should i fix or should i let an old warrior die gracefully

[b16dlg]

Evening all

It is with regret i write that I am considering sending my 94m plate dragon green 8v gti to another home.  After owning the car for about 5 months, after the previous owner had (well I think he must have) abused the car, the head gasket has now gone.
since having the car I've fixed the power steering, new alternator belt, cleaned throttle bodies and sensors etc all to finally have to admit that the fault with sloppy running and lack of power (yes 16v drivers I know the 8v isn't the quickest machine) probably lay with a leaking head gasket all along although had no overheating or gunge till last week.

The quandry I have is the car doesn't have the best body work either it has 2 rust patches around the nearside rear quarter panel a rust patch between this area and the door bubbling around the front windscreen and a small area around the offside front light cluster all patches so paintshops want to charge a fortune to repair.  Oh and the windscreen needs replacing and brakes need doing before the MOt runs out in march.  Not much work I guess to able DIY mechanics which sadly I am not.

I suppose i need to know other peoples experiences with repaired rust spots and headgaskets please as I don't want to spend a fortune (has just been christmas and all) and end up with recurring problems on the car or do I look to sell the car on to someone who wants a project and cut my losses??

anyway any one who can either laugh at my misfortune or can make me laugh about please feel free to drop a reply also anyone with anything constructive please reply too think i just need cheering up and & a reality check to my situation
cheers Damion

[Deano2711]

Hi Buddy     Don't think anyone on here would laugh at your predicament. Whereabouts are the rust spots??  Surely if you like the car the work is worth doing. I know this sounds a bit silly but the more you do to your own car the more enjoyment. The gasket would not cost too much to get done. Do the brakes yourself it is that easy. There are guides on here to do most things anyway.
The sensor and throttle body cleaning are just routine maintenance for these cars and everyone on here has to do it Mate.  It all depends on your budget and how much you like the car really but these problems would not put me off mine!!!!!!!     Cheers     Deano

[FOREST GREEN]

Sorry to hear of your troubles matey!!

Do you have a project near you where young offenders are trained in mechanics/bodywork? Or even a local college that runs that type of class? If so, they will gladly take your motor off you, and repair the head gasket/rust patches etc free of charge. It will probably take them 8 weeks, but if you can live without the car for that long, you will get it back all fixed, they will even do the the brakes etc (although you will have to pay for the parts) ready for the MOT.

Go on line for Young Offenders Rehabilitation Class's in your area, or just contact the local College.

I did that a couple of years ago with an old Porsche 924, It failed its MOT on brake pipes/discs/pads, floor pan rotten, tappets knackered, the list was endless. I gave it to a Young Offenders Class, 7 weeks later they gave it back and it sailed through the MOT. It also meant that some 16yr old joy riders got a better start in life (I hope)

Anyway, if that helps mate, great, if not, sorry

Toby

[Rmachines]

Well.. put it this way, whats old to one is new to another, i have just purchased a 16v GTI with rust patches, needing MOT, brakes... Heater matrix.. I plan to do the work and enjoy the car.  as you have had the car any enjoyed it, it depends how much you want a change of car etc..  but personnaly i would think about doing the work,  the head gasket is pretty easy on the 8v,  get the head tested properly..  will be good for the life of the car then.  Brakes.. everybody has to do them at some point, and rust, thats the only downer on a car as paint aint always cheep, but your doing the world a favour by getting it looking A+ again and probably wont be nearly as bad as you think  

[devolute]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but I'm in (almost) exactly the same situation.

The head gasket on my My 1.8 SE has started leaking and getting it started is sometimes a problem. Performance is okay, for now, but it's only a matter of time.  Body work on the car is great, but I've been quoted 400 quid to get the head gasket replaced.

Does that sound about right?   My quandary is whether to get it fixed, it is after all only an SE.

[Deano2711]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but I'm in (almost) exactly the same situation.

The head gasket on my My 1.8 SE has started leaking and getting it started is sometimes a problem. Performance is okay, for now, but it's only a matter of time.  Body work on the car is great, but I've been quoted 400 quid to get the head gasket replaced.

Does that sound about right?   My quandary is whether to get it fixed, it is after all only an SE.

Shop around a bit Mate....400 seems a bit high really.

[justalex81]

400 quid seems about right to me. although if you're mechanically minded you could do it yourself quite easily. the 1.8 engine is so easy to work on

[b16dlg]

thanks for the words guys i do feel the problem should be rectified but i have a very tight budget and have to way up all considerations so I have to ask if I were to try to sell the car what would it be worth as it stands? anyone any ideas please, MOT til march tax till end of april.
Sorry to ask but need to look at all posibilities.

In response to the rust questions the rear quarter is around the top of the bumper on the back and side, the spot on the side of the space between door and boot is above the trim in middle of car, the bubble on the roof windscreen is drivers side near the corner of the windscreen and of course the offside front light is around the base of the light.

Thanks in anticipation of your responses

Damion

[Deano2711]

M reg 8v Gti with short(ish) MOT and tax and blown head gasket, shot brakes and bodywork issues would probably be in the region of about 200/250 really Mate. Whereas to spend a few hundred on it would get it MOT'd for another 12 months and get more value really. What could you replace it with for a few hundred quid??

[b16dlg]

Right so it makes sense to everyone & me to keep the car and get the repairs done, yes appreciate it would make it worth more but if i'm repairing i'm keeping )

So apart from head gasket, skim the head and timing belt so long as no piston damage has occured is there anything else i should be looking at doing, maybe water pump too if it is showing signs of wear? pls.

Just makes sense to do what i can afford to do to get through the MOT even if it means sorting rust spots later, i actually like the car i just wanted to know if they remain solid when fixed obviously depends on who does the fixing lol.

I will later in the year colour code the seats dash and door cards to match the etxerior or compliment the exterior may as well try to make it look proper.

thanks again everyone