Today my little red Seat passed it's MOT. It's an old car ..F..with low mileage 40,000 and it's only used a couple of times a week for a bit of shopping and the yearly trip to the seaside and back, sometimes a cruise around town or family visits. Anyhow, I didn't think it would pass but it did and there is my problem. I thought that when it failed then I would get a new car. I had set my mind on a nice little green one, a Fiat, L reg, low mileage only £995. My faithful little Seat was, or so I thought, on its last legs. Not so, said the garage man. It is, mechanically excellent. I think he was telling porkies. When I start the engine it makes a funny noise. tappetty tap, tappetty tap. After a few minutes that noise goes and thereafter all is well in that noise department. The tappetty tapping has got louder and longer over the last six months.
What could it be? How much to repair? I cannot go over 60 mph or my arms are shaken to pieces. I have had the wheels balanced three times. No joy. Any ideas? The windows are rusted inside and won't open but I have become accustomed to that though in the recent heatwave it was at times unbearable, especially as the fan blowing cold air starts screaming after a short time and I feel I have to switch off or suffer a headache.
The radio doesn't work and I can't 'get it out' to replace it with a new one. Here's the biggie. There is a water leak. I don't know where from and the MOT man wasn't forthcoming. It seems to be when the car is hot but it doesn't appear to be spraying like the radiator in my last car did. Just a slight wet patch on the floor overnight after I have used it. The car has a few other annoying faults but they're minor and I can live with them. The bodywork is dull and dented in one place. So, Should I pretend it failed and get the Fiat or repair my old friend for another few years of happy motoring? Relevant opinions gratefully received. Best Wishes Rose