any reason a new engine can’t just be swapped in? bit of a gamble, but they appear to be <£1500 second hand

Plenty apparently. I need relaibility so I’m happy to get shut. My kast car was in and out of the garage, this one was faultless for 6 years until last week.

The chain went on my van a couple of years ago – sold it to a lad at the garage for £300.

The engine wasn’t too badly damaged – the parts plus his labour time to fix it would’ve cost me the best part of £1700 which was about what the van was worth should I have sold it.

£750 to do my Vauxhall chain, luckily wasn’t stuffed though so got it done and ran it until I could organise a long term replacement.

Doesn’t sound like an option for you but good luck.

Not worth prolonging the situation or chucking more money at it. We’re going on holiday and need capacity for 6 people at the end of May. Without a vehicle it would cost another bucket load to rent a car. It was 2 weeks before the engine guy could even look at it, then it could have taken another 2 weeks or more. Not worth the risk.

If it had happened a week earlier I would have saved myself the expense of an MOT, tyres and brakes. But shit happens.

Time to cut my losses.

The new one has DAB, stop/start, cruise control and electric seats too 🙂

I presume you will still Chuck the carcass of the Smax on eBay?

Painful for you.

If it’s any consolation, I had a Nissan Primera that was about 7 years old with the “bullet and bomb-proof” cam chain engine. Problem was no-one shot at it or tried to blow it up, but the chain snapped one day – car worthless. AA man said, “That never happens”. I said, “Thanks for that”.

Coincidence, I also had tyres changed just before for an MOT…also had the exhaust hanging off within a month.

Must have spent more than it was worth in a little under three months, got about half back when I traded it in for a Volvo…never looked back.