Thinking practically about getting a new(er) car.

[Mike_Amiga]

The way I see things my car has just been fixed for the MOT and so I'll most probably be keeping it at least another year. However before my Dad waded in to help me I was potentially facing a massive £400 bill for this years MOT.

As it turned out my father sorted out some quite tricky new suspension bits for my half beaten to death X reg Fiesta for which I'll never be able to thank him enough as it bought my final repair bill to a more manageable £117 for some welding on the sills, and £95 for parts.

So I've been thinking to myself, seeing as cars are money pits anyway, should I get a new car?

My shortlist are all Diesels so I'd appreciate any advice on the models I'm interested in. I've had a look at honestjohn.co.uk but I'm worried he might be slightly biased towards Fords judging from his top 10.

Ford Focus
VW Passat
VW Golf
Skoda Octavia
and scraping the barrel...
Vauxhall Vectra

[Tension]

Definitely don't buy a new car!!

You lose a few grand just by driving it out of the showroom.

If you insist on buying a new car, get one thats a few months old and had all the niggling problems fixed.  You would save a fortune, and may still get some good deals with warranty etc.

Get a Volvo 850R.

Beautiful and you'd get a mint one for 2 grand.

[Cammy]

Cars surely are money pits! When I moved closer to town, I got rid of my car and got a bicycle instead. Cycling is way more rewarding.

[Kronos]

Definitely don't buy a new car!!

I wouldn't say that so strongly.

If he's looking for a big car (upwards of the Golf) your probraly right, but with small and very small cars things can be different.

Not sure how the situation in GB is (did you also have some sort of cash-for-clunkers program ?), but real prices for new cars (read after you negotiated a 10-20% rebate) are at a alltime low around here, while younger used cars still cost about as much as as some years ago. A new car means full warranty, mabe lower taxes and insurance and better resale value later on (as it's still younger and will have only 1 previous owner).

Small cars by reasonable brands can be had for as little as 10k these days, how much cheaper must a 3 year old be to make sense ? I'd say atleast 5k ....

If your looking for an older car you need 4 things:

Expertise, luck, more luck and even more expertise

[Mike_Amiga]

When I say New(er) I mean just that, I'm not going brand new as after paying for the car the whole of my savings would be spent. I was thinking 4k-5k at maximum. for an 04-05 plate something or other. Obviously with things like BMW and VW I'd be talking more 02-03 plate but with any luck the car is better made having had a higher initial cost.

It would have to be a moderate size cos I just like that size of car and should be more economical. However most MOTs with my Fiesta have had something wrong with the suspension. I blame all the stupid speed bumps in the area. If all the roads were smooth like they're supposed to be I'd be saving a packet on repairs.

[the_leander]

I blame all the stupid speed bumps in the area. If all the roads were smooth like they're supposed to be I'd be saving a packet on repairs.

Nah, you'd probably have to pay more in insurance premiums thanks to all the cars that are stolen and smashed by boy racers.

[Mike_Amiga]

Nah, you'd probably have to pay more in insurance premiums thanks to all the cars that are stolen and smashed by boy racers.

I don't think so, I'm over 30 now and while new drivers would find it more expensive I don't see why I would.

Seems new drivers are already paying retarded prices just to get insured on small engined (but popular) cars. A work colleague is paying just over £800 and that's the cheapest they could find for a ford fiesta 1.2 at the age of 20.

As was shown by one of our younger idiot drivers who smashed up his car, repaired it then completely wrote it off. Some people are just stupid and will do stupid things. The car he ended up with from the insurance pay out is nowhere near as flash as his original car so what the hell he was playing at I just don't know. Gladly he's long since left us.

[Super TWiT]

My shortlist are all Diesels so I'd appreciate any advice on the models I'm interested in.

Finally, someone who agrees with me that REAL cars are diesels. I get sick of people buying these cute little cars that are lucky to even last 100k. I mean come on diseal is much more reliable. And, they are better on the environment, and have more torque. You can get 500k out of a good diseal. People say they are noisy and that they stink, but my response is I am noisy and stink and you seem to be okay with it.

[Tension]

Finally, someone who agrees with me that REAL cars are diesels. I get sick of people buying these cute little cars that are lucky to even last 100k. I mean come on diseal is much more reliable. And, they are better on the environment, and have more torque. You can get 500k out of a good diseal. People say they are noisy and that they stink, but my response is I am noisy and stink and you seem to be okay with it.

get a volvo 850

[the_leander]

get a volvo 850

Because the world needs moar set-squares

[Mike_Amiga]

Aren't Volvo 850s the old brick shaped estates? I'd have to google images to confirm... They're too old to be on my list, and besides I don't tow caravans!

[Tension]

Aren't Volvo 850s the old brick shaped estates? I'd have to google images to confirm... They're too old to be on my list, and besides I don't tow caravans!

They're the last of the 'Proper' Volvos, made before Ford bought them, raped them, and sold the carcass to the Chinese.

Beautiful.

[Pyromania]

I have had a 2000 VW Passat since 2004 and it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned.