I have an 04 Focus. It's OK at the moment, and has been a trusty steed, but I'm wondering at what age I can expect it to be more expensive than it's worth. I'm not much of a car expert, so I thought maybe some of you would have some advice

 

On its last MOT it had a few advisories:

-Brake hose slightly deteriorated Nearside Front

- Brake hose slightly deteriorated Offside Front

 

Plus the previous year's MOT advisories (which the newer MOT didn't mention)

- Oil leak, but not excessive [8.4.1 (a) (i)]

- (Both front and rear registration plate delaminated unlikely to be misread)

 

I had the cam belt renewed a couple of years ago, so I don't have to worry about that cost.

It's a bit bashed up from London life (aren't we all!), and not looking great so I don't think I'd get very much from selling it.  I'm not car proud, so not excited by the idea of buying a newer car, but at the same time I guess there's a point at which a car becomes more trouble than its worth.  Any thoughts? Thanks for any advice.

5 hours ago, glitterdebbie said:

what age I can expect it to be more expensive than it's worth

That kind of answers your own question lol. When you receive a quote for more than the car's worth you know its more expensive.

Id keep it going till something big goes like engine or it starts needing welding to get through mot every year.

Brake hoses are a pretty cheap fix.

My car is now 16 years old, and I just spent £500 on a 'service' which included lots of ancillary bits like suspension (bushes/track rod ends/anti roll bar drop links), brake discs/pads etc. To me, the car is infinitely worth more to me than the £500 spent, and I know now it is mechanically sound (it's a garage I trust implicitly for years and the quality of their work is exemplary). Many spend more than that on a month or 2 rental of their car!

Helps too that the bodywork is virtually mint!

You'll know when it's time to sell - my Celica GT4 reached that stage last year, the cost of repair was just not worth it to me...

13 hours ago, glitterdebbie said:

I'm wondering at what age I can expect it to be more expensive than it's worth.
It's a bit bashed up from London life (aren't we all!), and not looking great so I don't think I'd get very much from selling it.
I'm not car proud, so not excited by the idea of buying a newer car, but at the same time I guess there's a point at which a car becomes more trouble than its worth. 

My first car was a 1996 Ford Escort and it reached that point of costing more each year than it was worth,
Every year it was costing over £300 at the garage, I could have sold it for £200 but I scraped it for £129.
It was the same 17 years old as yours is now, although your Focus build quality will be better than my Escort was,
Once a car starts seeing Advisories on an MOT it will always have them, once over 10 years things just start to wear out and need replacing.

I'm not suggesting you get rid of it yet, if it gets the job done and your happy then keep going.
But I would suggest you acknowledge it's on it's way out and you need to start saving and start looking for a replacement now (autotrader for ideas/prices),
You might get excited about another car once you get looking, although the 'bashed up London life' doesn't sound good for a nice car lol.