Hi Guys - was referred here via Whirlpool, looking for some advice :)

As per the title, I have a TF Advance, auto. What the thread title didn't describe is
- I just recently notched up 202,000 km's
- I'm entering my second winter without a heater. I had a good dose of coolant on the floors last year, and my mechanic has bypassed the heater under the assumption it's a leaking core.

I bought this car in late 2002 with just under 90,000 km's on the clock. It has served me very well, with regular servicing by the book and minimal fuss. Actually, apart from one busted belt on the road, I've never had a breakdown.

As I freeze my arse off in the mornings to work, I wonder what to do. Spend dosh to have the heater core replaced, or go out and purchase a new car*. My concern with spending the money on the heater is that the car is getting somewhat old now.

So really my two questions are:
- Assuming a leaking heater core (which will probably require the dash off to prove anyway), what sort of cost am I looking at here? My mechanic won't do it, but he thinks an air-con place would be around $1,000 with parts.

- Now that I've clocked up 202,000 km's in this car, am I starting to get into that dangerous territory where I might be up for more regular expenses if I choose to hang onto it. Hell, I haven't even opened the glove box to see how major my next service (203,000) is going to be. As Magna experts, how is the longevity of the TF?

*And to sneak a 3rd question in, if I was to upgrade the car I could probably squeeze in a sub $20k purchase pretty quickly. On my list of options are a quite new Lancer (08-10) or one of the 380's, which seem to have depreciated beautifully for a used-car buyer. With a 380, being discontinued am I likely to run into servicing/parts issues? I read the Lancer has a minor engine/road noise issue. How would the 2.0l new'ish lancers get-up n go compare to my old faithful TF?

Thanks for reading, and in advance for any replies! (no pun intended!)

To be honest mate take care of her and you have at least another 200,000 left in her. .

You could put it on the market but at the Km and with a leaking heater core you won't get much buyer interest, check eBay and gumtree for some asking prices.

As a DIY Magna fanatic, my suggestion is "fix it, already!"

380 Question: USA still has the same model, so parts are not going to be a problem.
Lancer: surprisingly zoomy, ultra reliable, more interior noise than a Magna, good on fuel. Wife has 2004 2L non-mivec Lancer, bought new.

As a DIY Magna fanatic, my suggestion is "fix it, already!"

380 Question: USA still has the same model, so parts are not going to be a problem.
Lancer: surprisingly zoomy, ultra reliable, more interior noise than a Magna, good on fuel. Wife has 2004 2L non-mivec Lancer, bought new.

Cheers - re the DIY .. hah, with my handy-man and auto skills it would be a catastrophe. I'd have to add the cost of towing to a real mechanic to any projected expenses :P

Seems I can pretty much get a same year 380 for just a smidge more than the Lancer. ho hummm... :hmm:

It really depends on what you want. Take the heater issue out of the equation for the moment, does the car function well generally anyway? I had a camry in a similar position at 200,000Km's. I decided it wasn't worth selling given the low prices, so my option was to drive it into the ground and when something major went, it was time to say goodbye. That happened only a month ago at 251,000Km's and the gear box went. So my point is, I still sold it with a busted box for $1,500! So in my opinion, if you get $3-$4000 now, why not just hold onto it and thrash it till it dies, could be 300,000 Km's and then worry about a new car then.

One things for sure, is when something big goes, everything else usually follows, but given this car of yours is only a 98 model or so, I am guessing its around 12-13 years old, and could do a few more years without any major hassle.

Shop around for a heater fix, might not be that much to fix, lots of the guys here could probably recommend some people that may do the work for a good price for members.

See how you go, personally I'd persist, unless you just need an excuse to upgrade. But going from a 3.0 litre to a lancer will be a power step backwards IMO.

Shop around for a heater fix, might not be that much to fix, lots of the guys here could probably recommend some people that may do the work for a good price for members.
See how you go, personally I'd persist, unless you just need an excuse to upgrade. But going from a 3.0 litre to a lancer will be a power step backwards IMO.
... and somebody here has recommended someone to do the work, so fix the heater I shall!
Will hopefully buy me a couple more years to chip away at the mortgage and save for a better new car when the day finally does come.

Would be awfully nice to be able to use the heater and not air-con to defog windows on a cold winters morning.