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A cambelt which has never been replaced on a car having done around 120,000km. Is this a "walk away" situation?

Thanks.

No not really. Most cambelts must be replaced at 100,000kms or 5 years which ever comes first. Its also recommended to change the waterpump, idlers and tensioners at the same time. Because of this the cost of this maintenance can get expensive ( around $1k). It's best to ask your local mechanic for a quote for the job on the particular model car and use that as leverage with the seller, i.e ask them to drop the price by X amount . If they're willing to do this you're on to a winner, if they don't drop the price that's when you should look at walking away

Hope that helps

PB

The cam belt replacement cost can be anything from around $600 to over $1000 depending on what needs replacing and the type of vehicle. You could negotiate with the current owner to get the cam belt replaced as part of the deal or a reduction in the sale price. But you should try avoid driving the vehicle, or at least not far, as the cam belt can fail at any time and could cause serious engine damage.

You should also check whether the other maintenance items have been replaced recently - items such as engine oil and filter, transmission oil, engine coolant, brake fluid, spark plugs, air filter and fuel filter. A good service record will help in the long run.