Question of the week: Should I replace the clutch on my Honda or replace the whole car?

David Ross, Editor
Fri, 17 Oct 2025

Dear Honest John,

"Is it worth replacing the clutch on my 2015 Honda Jazz 1.4 ES PLUS with 82,000 miles, or should I start to look elsewhere for a different car?

The price I've been quoted for a replacement clutch is £1,350. I have recently replaced the battery and brakes and wondered can I realistically keep my beloved Jazz and what repairs will be needed ongoing?"

- TT

Dear TT,

Deciding whether to continue to invest in an older car or chop it in for something new is a dilemma that a lot of car owners have to deal with. There is no right or wrong answer - it's more a matter of asking yourself a few questions and answering them honestly.

Firstly you need to decide if your current car still meets your needs. Is it big enough? Is it too expensive to run? Is it comfortable enough for the journeys you make? You call it your 'beloved' Jazz, so it's fair to assume it's still ticking this box.

The second question is the cost of keeping it on the road. Clutches, brakes and batteries will eventually wear out and need replacement so you would have to factor this cost in pretty much whatever car you owned, although the price you've been given for the clutch replacement sounds high, so we'd suggest shopping around at independent Honda or clutch specialists.

The final question is the potential lifespan of your car. The Jazz has an excellent reliability record. At ten years old and 82,000 miles it still has plenty of life left in and could conceivably go on for another ten years and sail past 150,000 miles.

There are two points to consider with the Honda Jazz if you do decide to keep it. It may be wise to consider having the timing chain replaced - this is considered a 'lifetime' part, but that really means it is expected to last 100,000 miles or ten years. 

It could last longer than this and an inspection might give some clues to its longevity. But if you are considering keeping it for another ten years then a new chain and regular oil changes are a good idea.

The other thing is rust. If you keep your car garaged this is much less of an issue, but as it ages the potential for rust increases. You may wish to head this off by using a rust inhibitor such as Waxoyl or Lanoguard, and keeping the exterior clean and the car covered or garaged will help. Keep on top of the regular maintenance and it should provide many more years of happy motoring.