My van needs a new air con condenser, £80 part, £600 quoted from my local garage as it's a bumper, headlights, slam panel etc off job, for a £500 saving I'll be doing that myself. You tube video found, probably a morning's work.
How do your propose to capture the refrigerant and re-charge it back into the system in DIY land?
Also, what idiot decided that 2-3yr old S/H cars should now be £12,000 and upwards?!
Even small new cars are £25k+ now so £12k is about right!
You need to be looking at 10 year old plus to get down to the £5k ish bracket.
Couple of examples from a dealer in my town (they've often got stuff from £2.5k)...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/366300388543
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/366253182218
My van needs a new air con condenser, £80 part, £600 quoted from my local garage as it's a bumper, headlights, slam panel etc off job, for a £500 saving I'll be doing that myself. You tube video found, probably a morning's work.
How do your propose to capture the refrigerant and re-charge it back into the system in DIY land?
On this occasion I don't need to, the gas left the chat several years ago. Common problem on the Vito, the condenser rots through behind the fans and falls to pieces.
Local garage will be leak testing and charging the system.
You need to be looking at 10 year old plus to get down to the £5k ish bracket.
for sure - i was shocked i sold my 10 year old 108 recently . 50k miles GTLine - dealer price was 7grand. i sold for 4.4k privately
in 2005 i bought a similar 1995 40k miles 1.6 Ghia Spec Escort for 600 quid.... my gast was flabbered at someone paying 4.4k for a 1.2 buzz box.
I rarely use a car for day-to-day stuff but it's really handy for weekends, spur of the moment stuff and so on.
Do I:
accept the loss of "I'll just drive to Llandegla / Dalby / etc" whims and use hire cars on a more planned-for basis accepting the occasional hire bill against the otherwise much reduced costs of not owning a car
yes! if a car is not needed don't get one, they're just money pits, if hiring occasionally for trips does the job--I did this back in the 90s for a few years when my car failed its MOT then and I had no spare £££ and learned to live without the car--it was quite liberating really, I cycled to the office and got really fit. If we wanted to head to the hills we hired for the weekend or used a train.
Think of the cost of owning a car? Several thousand pounds a year. Put that money mentally aside to use for trains, hire cars and taxis. If you do not uswe a car every day its almost certainly cheaper not to own one. Its just a mental switch to be paying taxis and hire cars as that cost seems a lot - but you just pay £100 to fill the tank or £300 for tyres / servicing without thinking of it
accept the loss of "I'll just drive to Llandegla / Dalby / etc" whims and use hire cars on a more planned-for basis accepting the occasional hire bill against the otherwise much reduced costs of not owning a car
I didn't have a car for many years, just a few years ago I got one as the osteoarthritis in my knees began to become a bit debilitating. I was a member of a car club, and used hire cars for the occasional weekend trip. each trip with the car club, hire car seems expensive, but when you work out the sunk cost of a car, the maintenance, insurance, tax and fuel etc which for me is currently about 6k a year, that's not really thought about when I just have the car ready at home.
The one thing with car ownership though is the small spontaneous trips, say going to the swimming pool on a Sunday morning when its raining and I don't fancy riding in the rain, with a car I just go, without one it would be go on public transport, the car club cars were parked about 10-15 mins walk from my apartment, which I would have to do at each end of the trip. So realistically I would just sack te day off without a car, so there are advantages to owing a car, just not as much and advantage as we are often conditioned to think.
Car maintenance. I'd love to have the time, experience, tools etc. to do my own car maintenance but realistically it just isn't going to happen.
We generally have pretty busy weekends and the thought of several hours underneath a car doesn't really appeal.
The thought of DIY car maintenance is even less appealing without a back-up car to use should the repair take longer than expected or I don't have quite the right thingummy to finish the job.
I remember helping a housemate change the brake master cylinder in his Peugeot 405 estate one weekend years ago. I think he thought it would take him half a day and was still at it well into the evening, and needed the car for work the next day. I ended up giving him a hand and we ended up working well past sunset to get it all sorted & back together with stress levels rising.
We own both our cars & so have no monthly repayment costs. I put £200 a month into a car maintenance account which covers both cars for MOT, insurance, tax and all servicing costs. It's slowly been accumulating money & currently sitting a a whisker under £5k although the Leon is booked in for a cambelt next Monday so that will dent it a little.
I figure when we replace my Wife's Ibiza, we can use a chunk of the savings to put towards the replacement.
For me, having some kind of savings to pay for car maintenance means it takes the sting out of any unexpected bills.
Think of the cost of owning a car? Several thousand pounds a year. Put that money mentally aside to use for trains, hire cars and taxis. If you do not uswe a car every day its almost certainly cheaper not to own one. Its just a mental switch to be paying taxis and hire cars as that cost seems a lot - but you just pay £100 to fill the tank or £300 for tyres / servicing without thinking of it
I agree. I was even doing the maths on my lads paying for a taxi contract instead of buying cheap commuter car. It is surprisingly close run...
But, the convenience of having a car for nipping out to social events, heading out to countryside at weekends on a whim won out.
Put that money mentally aside to use for trains, hire cars and taxis. If you do not uswe a car every day its almost certainly cheaper not to own one.
Holds true if you live in a city. I know a few folk who manage just fine on this basis. Not an option for everyone though.
I've been without for a while, six weeks when the gearbox died, a couple of months unable to drive due to a broken arm, currently in the garage again as it's got a hydraulic leak. Right pain in the bum. Trying to sort this weekend away out at the moment, got to ride fifteen miles with all my kit and then stay over at my friend's house to get a lift, so that's an evening gone, albeit quite sociable in this case. Any savings on not driving have been more than wiped out by not having a van to stay in and having to get accommodation. Running a van actually saves a fortune in accommodation costs, especially on days when I really, really don't fancy a tent
Trying to sort this weekend away out at the moment, got to ride fifteen miles with all my kit and then stay over at my friend's house to get a lift
I'd reconsider the "friend" status if they won't pick you up at just 15 miles away!
For me, having some kind of savings to pay for car maintenance means it takes the sting out of any unexpected bills.
Your entire post says you absolutely consider maintenance bills to be expected.
Your entire post says you absolutely consider maintenance bills to be expected.
Yeah, exactly. That's the point of having a savings account specifically for car maintenance.
Not being funny, but I must have missed something as I'm not sure what your point is?
Put that money mentally aside to use for trains, hire cars and taxis. If you do not uswe a car every day its almost certainly cheaper not to own one.
Holds true if you live in a city. I know a few folk who manage just fine on this basis. Not an option for everyone though.
No hire cars and taxis in aviemore? 🙂
Topped up the van's tank today as I figured fuel is only going to get more expensive in the foreseeable.
72l cost me €170... €2,36/litre. Bit of a shock.
I'm not complaining though. Had not moved the van in the last two and a bit weeks choosing instead to ride the 10km to the supermarket or 6km to fetch water with the Bob trailer.
For those that need to use their motor daily that's a big hike in price.
For those that need to use their motor daily that's a big hike in price.
In the past it's been pretty much the only way to reduce car usage and speeding. It's incredible how quickly folk adjust their driving habits when fuel prices spike or when fuel is in short supply. I do wonder how all the people in massive pick-up trucks and SUVs are viewing this big spike in diesel prices.
On the other hand, the increasing number of people in EVs are probably more or less unaffected.
The ridiculous thing is that so much of this could have been avoided with different Government policy. Cameron's famous "cut the green crap" rhetoric on energy was catastrophically stupid and short-sighted (like most of what he did), successive government policies around net zero, renewable energy, cutting fuel duty, tying the UK into ever-more dependency on imported gas has just been insane.
It's like no-one in Government ever once thought - hmm, at some point petrol and diesel and gas are going to massively increase in price, we could probably do with preparing for that scenario.
And inflation is inextricably linked to fuel prices and everything else is affected by inflation (apart from your wages)...
Yeah, I filled up my car this morning, 2.20 a litre, it was 1.70 before the orange man baby needed to escalate his Epstein distraction by killing brown people.
At least we are heading towards the time of year I can spend more time commuting by bike instead of the car. But I wouldn't be surprised if these price rises don't settle down until autumn, maybe even longer.
On the other hand, the increasing number of people in EVs are probably more or less unaffected.
We are heading to a world of serious energy poverty if governments don't start getting real about renewables. It needs the ability to invest in solar and electric vehicles that many of us can't afford, yet another cog in the machine of furthering inequality..
wouldn't be surprised if these price rises don't settle down until autumn, maybe even longer.
same here, I suspect it's the 'new normal' as far as fuel prices are concerned :-/
Not being funny, but I must have missed something as I'm not sure what your point is?
That they don't understand the difference between planned maintenance (services) and unplanned maintenance (repairs and failure of parts)
Yeah, I filled up my car this morning, 2.20 a litre, it was 1.70
What are you filling it with Dom perrignon?
Can't believe nobody has pulled OP up on the horrible AI-generated writing.
But that aside, it's true workers have been getting shafted for years. Particularly since 2010 and labour have sadly only carried on the attacks, but the real damage is done by right wing rhetoric which convinces people we can't tax the rich or big business, leading many workers to actually vote for this very outcome.
Where it all ends I don't know but surely the squeeze on workers can't go on for much longer. Surely people will wake up and see that they're being taken for a ride soon.
HAHA Guilty as charged.
What are you filling it with Dom perrignon?
I am in Germany, fuel and energy costs are more expensive here than the UK.
As an expat I’m appalled by what appears to be average salaries in the Uk for skilled professionals. Here in the lucky country a position that pays GBP 30k in the UK pays around GBP 60k equivalent. Even with cost of living difference taken into account, that’s grim reading. Uk just doesn’t pay.
£10.80 for a bacon roll and cappuccino this week🫣
Here in the lucky country a position that pays GBP 30k in the UK pays around GBP 60k equivalent.
What is this lucky country?
I know what you mean though, I was looking at salaries in Australia for my job when I was over there in 2022, it seemed about a third higher for not much more cost of living. Although equally, they seem really shafted by the Iran stuff at the moment.
I was looking at salaries in Australia for my job when I was over there in 2022, it seemed about a third higher for not much more cost of living
We were there in 2019 - the prices were *significantly* higher for most stuff – we were staying with family so we cooked a few meals for us all and just a "meal shop" was costing us £60-£80 for ten of us. Alcohol was silly money. And that same family, when in the UK, hit our shops for clothes and stuff because it's significantly cheaper (they particularly like Sports Direct).
The Ford Stealership wanted north of £500 to fix 1 switch (electric parking brake switch) on my motor.
With half an hour on YouTube, £20 of clip remover pliers, and half an hour (took my time so I didn't break any of the plastic trim panels in the car) it was a £30 repair with the part 2nd hand from the Netherlands.
£450 saving (and the time I used was less than what it would have been to take the car to and from the Stealership). Seems a pretty good value for the effort.
Disc brakes (EBC) all round, £450, maybe £500 tops with cans of cleaner etc. The Stealership wanted over £1k.
I had a job offer in Oz in 2015.
I went over with the wages on offer in mind to find somewhere to live. I worked out of a staff house for 6 weeks and shopped in the supermarkets etc and lived as I would in the UK....IE not hitting restaurants/pubs/clubs etc .
I quickly realised that the wage although it seemed good on paper and consumerate for the going rate in my industry in the region was terrible in real terms compared to what my income / outgoings in the UK were for the same job.
I didn't take the job.
The difference is that since 2015 incomes have continued to grow in Australia.
I’ve been here 20 years and had regular trips “home.” Every visit to the UK things seem more expensive and also more dilapidated. My wages automatically go up 3% annually.
My parents are insulated from it having been (sometimes embarrassingly) frugal all their lives and lucked out with pensions and property prices etc.
My sister and her kids have much less fun. Three smart kids with great school grades, a first class design degree, all unable to afford to leave home and working warehouse jobs. Living a long way from husband’s work because of affordability.
My mates mostly seem to be trudging through middle age with epic mortgages, tied to stressful jobs - one a former chief of staff at one of the most well known addresses in England - but not really getting ahead.
I’m not gloating. It just feels like my timing was fortunate and it’s sad seeing them apparently trapped.
My wages automatically go up 3% annually.
And what's inflation and cost of goods gone up by
What's 3% in real terms?
I think I usually see people talking about wage growth "in real terms" not the % difference from one pay slip to another.
The beeb have a recent article on pay growth https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0z0x82r00o
Earnings - excluding bonuses - grew at an annual rate of 3.8% in the November to January period, down from the previous figure of 4.1%.
Edit from Reuters https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/australia-wages-rise-08-fourth-quarter-matching-forecasts-2026-02-18/
Annual pay growth ticked up to 3.4%, from a revised 3.3%, and has been in a range of 3.2% to 3.6% for six consecutive quarters now.
But, depending on inflation that could easily be zero or a negative figure in real terms.
UK consumer confidence has ‘collapsed’ during Iran war, retail industry says | Retail industry | The Guardian https://share.google/KMVA8dKysyJcz11NW
And housing - I've seen reported that average Australian house prices are over $1m. Don't people need epic mortgages to buy a home in Aus?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9vg923vkdko
We were there in 2019 - the prices were *significantly* higher for most stuff – we were staying with family so we cooked a few meals for us all and just a "meal shop" was costing us £60-£80 for ten of us. Alcohol was silly money. And that same family, when in the UK, hit our shops for clothes and stuff because it's significantly cheaper (they particularly like Sports Direct).
Had a similar experience but with a 2023 visit to the States. Staying well away from all the tourist places, in free accommodation around an hour North of Boston. Ended up spend an absolute fortune, even just grabbing some snacks from CVS was painful. Ignoring the many other US issues, it was clear that our buying power over there has gone through the floor compared to the days of people flying over with empty suitcases to fill. Had a similar dinner experience where getting some nice bits n pieces for 6 of us to have a BBQ could end up getting near £100 without even trying
I feel skint and have for a while. It feels like we are back to the 70s and that the pace of quality of living regression is just accelerating. I can't see how this is going to turn around, I think it's a major reset. We've done the 'live for now' and now, worldwide, we are paying for it.
Hope I'm wrong!
And still it goes up....
91 is 2.59/l today.
Diesel is 3.20/l
People are queuing and taking pics and vids of absolute sausages, putting all manner of cannisters full of fuel in the backs of their cars. No static protection. Heck, it's not gonna be long before someone crashes into a car that's essentially a mobile Molatov cocktail. Or some numpty blows his own garage up.
And housing - I've seen reported that average Australian house prices are over $1m. Don't people need epic mortgages to buy a home in Aus?
Not average, median. Median house price in Aus right now is....$1,155,325 and yes you'll need a **** huge deposit. House prices are mental. We bought in a relatively rough area for $300k. 900sqm 3x1 ten years ago. Neighbour one side sold last year for 750k. Next door other side has just put board up and starting price is $867k. Ours is now also a 700k+ house. Doubled in value in ten years but everything has in the market.
Not average, median.
Only going off what the article is reporting, the source being:
I have no real interest in Australian house prices, but people comparing costs of living while leaving out the biggest cost any of us face isn't a true reflection.
Your fuel is cheap compared to Europe though, so stop whinging 😉
Your fuel is cheap compared to Europe though, so stop whinging
Not any more, Australia seems quite badly affected by the Iran stuff.
Popped up this morning in my general news feed. Maybe it's more noticeable in Aus because everywhere is so bloody far from everywhere else so further to drive!
Not any more, Australia seems quite badly affected by the Iran stuff.
He just quoted $2.60/l for unleaded, so £1.30/l. Before this crisis they were well under $2/l.
If you live in a country which has low productivity then compared to others then this is what happens. Compared to others your standard of living will drop, or at least increase less.
https://landgeist.com/2022/07/02/labour-productivity/
Out of date, but still informative. Or https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/1p06p6c/productivity_in_europe_by_region_as_of_october/
Anyone seen the update on plug in and play solar panels at last, not huge savings but it will reduce costs in the long term, available from July I think.
Yes. I saw that. Very interested depending on price, output etc. I'd be quite comfortable fixing one to our garage roof, less so about getting up to the house roof 🙂
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-make-plug-in-solar-available-within-months
Queues outside Sainsbury's in town this week as it's the only petrol station around not to have raised their prices drastically yet. The other garages have raised prices, even though I suspect the fuel in their tanks was bought before oil went over $100 a barrel thanks to dimwit Don.
My local Tesco was at £1.669 / litre for diesel where everyone else is north of £1.80. They had sold out.
Tesco near work was at £1.699 so I filled filled up. That'll do me for 3 weeks. Gawd knows where it will be then.
Driving like a nun in a sensible car I was at 15p/mile in February. With this morning's fill up I'm at 21p.
**** Trump
Don't dare to look what has happened to your pension! Early retirement isn't looking so good right now.
