Thoughts on new cars

Zelandeth · Post by **Zelandeth** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:16 pm

Okay, for the first time (possibly ever), I find myself actually realising that I really do not have the time to work on a classic, and am honestly not likely to do so for quite some time - likely a couple of years at least. Will probably be at least that until I have a place with a garage as well - which if I had a tidy, rust-free Lada I'd really want.

The thought has occurred to me, that I think that I can actually afford a new car...getting toward the new reg period and with the credit crunch, the delers are doing all manner of deals to get you in through the door and to get you to take the keys.

I've got my own thoughts and have done quite a bit of research myself - but thought I would see what people here thought first.

If you needed the following, what woud you be looking at?

1. Something pretty small.
2. Needs really to be new - half the attraction here is not worrying about MOTs or the like for at least a few years!
3. Must be economical - the more so the better.
4. The cheaper the better. Budget is including insurance, I'm looking at £200pcm.

...Based on running the Saab, a 50mpg car I'd end up saving the best part of £100 a month in fuel alone!

I already have one option lined up, which aside from needing to quadruple check the math to confirm I can afford it, I'd all but gone for. i want to see if people here come up with options I'd maybe missed.

Once things settle down and I get a garage, things will change...but as it stands now, "project cars" are really not a viable option. Things like £35 a year road tax and group 1 insurance start to sound very attractive after a while. Especially when you find a car with these attributes which is actually pretty nice to drive!

I should point out that I know that it makes no financial sense to actually buy a NEW car from a depreciation sense of view etc (I worked in a used car dealership for several years!), that to be honest, isn't a worry. I'm buying here for practical reasons, not as an investment.

nitro_warrior · Post by **nitro_warrior** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:25 pm

I wouldn't bother with a brand new car, you would be as well burning your money, the depreciation will be horrendous. Even if the monthly instalments are OK I can't help but shudder the about the money being lost in the big picture.

Personally I would stick to a car 3-5 years old. Any new car problems will have been sorted out, sure you'll have MOTs but you would be pretty unlucky to have to fork out anything major. It's been unacceptable for a new car to be anything less than uber reliable for the last 10 years. About a year ago I helped my GF get a car, went for a nice '03 Fiesta just over £3k, (It was probably ~£10k new) it's been sweet as a nut. Also we got it from a local Kia dealer who do a 1 year any fault garauntee, that was honoured to replace the heated front windscreen that was missing a couple of elements.

In terms of what car, any modern car will be good, make a short list of the ones you like the look of then go find the best deal.

Zelandeth · Post by **Zelandeth** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:30 pm

Thanks for the info there.

The main problem I face really is that coming up with more than about £500 or so in one lump is nigh on impossible thanks to only just really starting to accumulating savings. The only reason I was able to pick up my Niva was that it was a friend selling it who was willing to let me pay him back over a few months.

The Colt sounds a little bigger than I really need, it's things more in the range of Ford Ka, VW Fox, Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo/Peugeot 107, Daewoo Matiz, the sub-sub-sub compacts in other words.

Out of that lot, the Peugeot 107 stands out as the most obvious choice, and thus far has stubbornly refused being knocked off the top spot by the competition.

VW Fox falls miles behind in terms of economy, doesn't perform as well despite 400cc more engine to work with, and is stupidly expensive. You're paying a lot extra for the name.

Daewoo ...Sorry...Chevrolet...Matiz - have driven one, wouldn't touch one with a very, very long stick as a result. Horrible little cars.

Ford Ka falls into the same trap as VW's offerings did, too greedy and too expensive.

The Peugeot 107 however at the moment is the only one which is managing to come in around the £9K figure with all the toys I want added, and ticks all the boxes on economy, insurance, tax etc, and the dealer actually seemed to be a nice chap who didn't pressure me at all, letting me ask the questions and just answering them. They've also got some very attractive finance options there at the moment.

GadgetBoy · Post by **GadgetBoy** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 6:51 pm

Fiat 500.

Neil Chowney · Post by **Neil Chowney** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:24 pm

You told me you hated them!

New Smart CDI. 90mpg, no tax, two seats, decent good boot

.. only drawback is you will have to talk to Mercedes Benz cretins...

I'm going to chop my Smart in for a new one in summer.

excossack · Post by **excossack** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:37 pm

I'm going to chop my Smart in for a new one in summer.

With an R1 conversion or the Brabus version?

Neil Chowney · Post by **Neil Chowney** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:52 pm

Don't go there.... i've been praying for my engine to blow up.......

anyways back the the plot.......

GadgetBoy · Post by **GadgetBoy** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:05 pm

I do hate them - in the same way I hate new Beetles and the (cough) Mini.

Fake nostalgia aside the 500 is a cracking little car. Lowest emission class and starts at £9100 list so I reckon you could haggle at least £2 grand off that.

Neil Chowney · Post by **Neil Chowney** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:32 pm

Debs has just read your comment on the MINI........

excossack · Post by **excossack** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:39 pm

The new mini...BMW 0 series.

GadgetBoy · Post by **GadgetBoy** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:41 pm

If it was called a BMW 2 series I would be quite happy but .....

IT'S NOT A F*CKIN' MINI!

Neil Chowney · Post by **Neil Chowney** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:57 pm

s'funny, it's got a badge on the bonnet that says MINI..... hang on i'll check..... yes definitely a MINI...

If Debs says its a MINI, then it's a MINI..... unless you want to take it up with her .......

GadgetBoy · Post by **GadgetBoy** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:13 pm

A Mini is the spirit of British innovation.
It is a shining beacon of engineering excellence.
For it's nearly 50 years it is still one of the best handling cars made.
It was cheap to buy and maintain with simple tools and basic knowledge.

A Mini is pork pies and baked beans.
A Mini is Real Ale.
A Mini is the Union Jack and Elgar.
A Mini is Royal Ascot.
A Mini is the Lake District or Atlantic waves crashing on the granite coasts of Cornwall.
A Mini is Britain.

A BMiniW is none of the above.

Neil Chowney · Post by **Neil Chowney** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:35 pm

Agreed! i'll go and burn it immediately and I apologize for wasting the forums' time....

jiffyman · Post by **jiffyman** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:41 pm

THIS is a Mini!!!

(mine on the right.......)

The other one wears a badge because BMW bought the MINI brand name (basically!!)

The BMW version is WAY too big to be Mini!!!!!