Why Changing Your Car Regularly Is Essential.
What is black and makes a droning noise? My one-hundred-and–one-thousand-mile Honda Prelude, that’s what. The so-called ‘bullet-proof’ car that is meant to ‘run forever’ has a mystery fault that is giving me quite a headache – every day.
I first spotted it about a year ago and got it straight into an independent Honda specialist. He couldn’t find anything wrong and couldn’t even hear it. His advice was to, “let it develop, so it would be easier to spot.”
That’s right ‘let it develop.’ Like it is a good idea.
I rang a few other Honda specialists and described it to them. To a man they said, “Well, that’s very unusual on a Prelude. Probably better to let it develop a bit.”
Six months later, I took it to my local garage and asked them to fix the drone. They agreed that there was a drone, which had developed very nicely in fact, but hadn’t a clue as to what was causing it.
And this is when it happened.
I had one of the most depressing realisations a car owner (let alone a car nut like me) can have. It is a realisation my parents had before me and one that hundreds of motorists face everyday too.
My options were:
1. Start changing parts that could cause a fault like this, one at a time.
2. Change the car.
3. Live with it (and see just how mature this drone can get).
Only they were not my three options; I didn’t have three options. If you have ever been at a low fiscal ebb, a bit strapped for cash, or are just tight with your money, you will know where I am going with this.
I am only driving an old car because for the last few years I have not felt I could justify spending a big chunk of money. It would be economic-suicide to start changing parts and running up labour bills in a methodical pursuit of the truth. This isn’t a crash investigation.
Theoretically, I can change it for a car of similar value that doesn’t have a fault.
But hang on, it has never let me down, I know it is service history and this car is in very good condition. I have lovingly waxed it every few weeks and had it regularly serviced.
Yet it is only worth £1,500, without the drone. With the drone, I am not going to sell this car for more than £1,000. £1,000 will not buy a car that I can be certain will prove more reliable – even with industry contacts.
I can put more money in and buy a newer car. Oh no, hang on, if I thought I could afford to do that I would have changed it yonks ago.
Can you feel it? The crushing pain that comes from realising my only sensible option is… to live with it. I am not looking for pity; this is just a car problem. But it’s a really irritating and frustrating car problem.
I remember as a boy, when times were hard for my parents and their Vauxhall cam belt just kept braking and smashing the engine to bits. It always happened at the worst times and as a young family living in the countryside, we needed a car. Trying to change it seemed like taking a risk at a time when our luck was out.
I have a friend who is working really hard to come back from a difficult financial period and someone ploughed into the side of his car. It is technically an insurance write-off and the cost of repair is as much as the cost of the car. But again, he feels his only safe option is stick with the car he knows for a bit longer.
So here is my advice for car owners on a budget: Prevention is better than cure. If you possibly can, change your car every 18 months. Even if it means making a lot of side-ways steps that cost a small amount of money each time.
I know it’s a hassle and when there is not much money about, changing your car seems like the wrong thing to do. But it means you will always be driving cars of the same value, mileage and hopefully, reliability.
Words: Matt Tumbridge