1.6 Astra Sporthatch
The story is as follows...
I bought the car in July 2013 for £2495, its a 1.2 MK3 in Monaco Blue and a 55 Plate. I bought it from a dealer called FCS Trade Sales in Rainham, and before that it was owned by a woman who did very little miles, less than 30k between 2006, and 2013. The car looked like a great buy, a fairly low price that would leave me some money to fix any issues, just had the belts changed, new service, had 6 months tax and 6 months MOT.
Since I bought it;
I found out the belts hadn't been done and had to get those done. (Garage paid)
I found out the service hadn't been done and had to get that done including brakes. (I paid)
I found out the tax disc wasn't for the right car (I checked before I paid in the office and it was, so must have been changed by someone as I was paying...)
I keep finding white mayonnaise type substance on the oil cap (Head gasket? or common fault?)
Gearbox is very notchy and is very difficult to get into first or second (feels like you're pushing against something that then suddenly gives and it falls into gear, was told it could be mounts by a very nice guy on here (Alot of thanks owed to Matt@codered and MartinR for their opinions as well as anyone else who has ever replied to my threads!) but the mounts all seem OK to me, no play and they don't look worn.)
UHC fault I think as the headlights often won't turn on until after alot of attempts and sometimes go really dim and won't turn on or off.
Exhaust sounds like there might be a mount loose possibly as its gotten a bit raspy recently.
Right rear arch has some kind of annoying rattle and the front right has some kind of annoying squeak. There's also a draught in the passenger foot well I'm told.
Paint is going weird on the roof with a spiders web effect.
Whats on my mind is the car to me feels like there's just never ending faults, I sort one thing, and something else just needs sorting straight away... I know owning a car requires maintenance and alot of this is just that, and I was prepared for the maintenance but having all the hassle with the belts, the tax, and the service just made me hate the car, and now finding white stuff on the oil cap that people keep saying is the head gasket, and the gearbox going notchy with first and second so you can barely change down into those gears has just made me hate it more.
Now, whats on my mind is what should I do? Should I keep the car, spending I imagine alot of money sorting the gearbox and all the niggly problems out until I'm finally happy with it, or do I just save up some more money, sell the car and buy another one from somewhere decent with warranty etc?
Sorry for the moan, just after opinions really guys
I bought the car in July 2013 for £2495, its a 1.2 MK3 in Monaco Blue and a 55 Plate. I bought it from a dealer called FCS Trade Sales in Rainham, and before that it was owned by a woman who did very little miles, less than 30k between 2006, and 2013. The car looked like a great buy, a fairly low price that would leave me some money to fix any issues, just had the belts changed, new service, had 6 months tax and 6 months MOT.
Since I bought it;
I found out the belts hadn't been done and had to get those done. (Garage paid)
I found out the service hadn't been done and had to get that done including brakes. (I paid)
I found out the tax disc wasn't for the right car (I checked before I paid in the office and it was, so must have been changed by someone as I was paying...)
I keep finding white mayonnaise type substance on the oil cap (Head gasket? or common fault?)
Gearbox is very notchy and is very difficult to get into first or second (feels like you're pushing against something that then suddenly gives and it falls into gear, was told it could be mounts by a very nice guy on here (Alot of thanks owed to Matt@codered and MartinR for their opinions as well as anyone else who has ever replied to my threads!) but the mounts all seem OK to me, no play and they don't look worn.)
UHC fault I think as the headlights often won't turn on until after alot of attempts and sometimes go really dim and won't turn on or off.
Exhaust sounds like there might be a mount loose possibly as its gotten a bit raspy recently.
Right rear arch has some kind of annoying rattle and the front right has some kind of annoying squeak. There's also a draught in the passenger foot well I'm told.
Paint is going weird on the roof with a spiders web effect.
Whats on my mind is the car to me feels like there's just never ending faults, I sort one thing, and something else just needs sorting straight away... I know owning a car requires maintenance and alot of this is just that, and I was prepared for the maintenance but having all the hassle with the belts, the tax, and the service just made me hate the car, and now finding white stuff on the oil cap that people keep saying is the head gasket, and the gearbox going notchy with first and second so you can barely change down into those gears has just made me hate it more.
Now, whats on my mind is what should I do? Should I keep the car, spending I imagine alot of money sorting the gearbox and all the niggly problems out until I'm finally happy with it, or do I just save up some more money, sell the car and buy another one from somewhere decent with warranty etc?
Sorry for the moan, just after opinions really guys
