car dilemma..

[sara3]

arghh.. I don't know what to do! I have an O2 reg Alfa 147, I love him dearly. really.. a lot! the handbrake went last week and I booked it in for today, and had it serviced at the same time. the bill was just shy of £400, and they gave me a very long list of what else needs doing, which would cost about £1000 if I did it all (I am cynical over some of these things, btw).
what do I do? sell it and buy something else? I don't have a load of cash under the mattress so would have to get a loan. has its time come? I don't want to keep throwing money at it as it's not worth much money now.
also can anyone suggest a similar car, which might be loved as much as this one? I guess in the £5-7k region.
my heart is broken :o(

[boxtops]

sara, I find it amazing was garages can "suggest". When I had the Nissan, the dealers suggested to me that the hinges on the doors were very weak and needed replacing - 15 years later, the doors still hadn't fallen off by the time I got rid of the car....
Also - last year's MOT had some recommendations, none of them were actioned and none of them showed up in the recommendations for this year's MOT (same garage). Odd, or what?

[sara3]

boxy, that's ridiculous. either the doors were about to drop off or they weren't, it's hardly a matter of opinion!

there should be some standardisation. I'm surprised the government hasn't stepped in!

[Khandro]

Sara, when it was 'car of the year', it was of course new, and had a lot going for it, but Italian cars age rapidly and I wouldn't want to see you throwing good money after bad. I sometimes think they are designed to run on Italian sunny, salt-free roads. Even the Ferarri isn't imune; an acquaintance has a 10 year old one which after a internal camera inspection has been found to have some rust inside the cills, replacement cost ? £8,000 + ! so you aren't alone. Though I know sometimes in these matters you have to go with your heart as well as your head, and it may be 'worth it' to you.

[sara3]

having posted this "I love my car" thread earlier this week, some bloody woman has smashed in to it today.

:o(

[Mamyalynne]

Oh Sara what a pest, are you ok hun??

[sara3]

my heart is a bit broken, but I am okay thank you mamya. it just seems a bit unfair!

[Mamyalynne]

Very unfair, at least you are ok though.

[tamborine]

gratitude sara ! The woman crasher can now pay for all your repairs.

[sara3]

lol tambo, if only!