Spec me a New Car possible scrappage banter!

Docaroo

Docaroo

Docaroo

Soldato
Joined
27 Jun 2005
Posts
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Location
Aberdeen, Scotland
Hey guys,

Next month I'm going to the bank to sort out a load as I have a graduate account and get a pretty good deal on it... should go through so assuming it does:

I'm looking to get a new car! Fed up of student type bangers and stuff so now I'm in stable employment I'd like a new car! I currently have a R reg astra that qualifies for the Scrappage scheme, so obviously I'm considering this.

But I know there are brilliant deals on nearly new/year old cards so I would consider that too.

At the moment I''m loving the new Fiestas - thinking 1.4 TDCi Zetec (S) would be nice! Important things for me are economy and low tax (Fiesta is up around 70mpg i think with £35 tax). That should give you an idea of my direction of thought - would also consider anything similar though tbh!

I have also been thinking about getting a Mini but haven't looked into it much. I once drove a Mini Cooper and absolutely loved it - any thoughts on this route?

Thanks in advance for your great pool of car knowledge! :)
 
Think about where you will be in 3 years time and the financial commitment that a new car will bring. Wave goodbye to buying a house as it will knock loads off what a bank will lend you.

Going to be paying a sizable chunk of your income for several years if you buy a new car.

Do you rely on the car to commute to work (do you work?) how many miles a week do you do and what type of driving?
 
Berger said:
Think about where you will be in 3 years time and the financial commitment that a new car will bring. Wave goodbye to buying a house as it will knock loads off what a bank will lend you.

Going to be paying a sizable chunk of your income for several years if you buy a new car.

Do you rely on the car to commute to work (do you work?) how many miles a week do you do and what type of driving?
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Ok, no offense that post is a little less than helpful - although I notice this always happens in car spec posts. This isn't a financial advice post!

I have a stable job, I already know the loan size, payments per month and it is all budgeted. I am in rented accommodation with my girlfriend and given the housing market we won't be buying anytime soon. I use the car for commuting, it's around 10 miles although I don't know how this is relevant?!

Should have said: Top end budget is around £10-11k (Fiesta Zetec with scrappage is around this) although as with everything cheaper is better. Obviously a nearly new car ignoring the scrappage stuff is also available for the right deal!
 
Do yourself a favour and buy a petrol engined Fiesta. Why put up with a terrible diesel for the sake of saving £70 a year?
 
Can I ask what an £11k Fiesta is going to do for you that a £6k Focus won't? Presuming finances aren't the issue then you are buying a boring boring boring car for £11k. It will new for 6 months. Then it'll be a second hand Fiesta. That is costing you a lot of money a month. If you're spending £11k on something 'not a student banger' then buy a proper car. A Fiesta is at best a woman's shopping trolley and when it gets a bit older, it's a....student banger.

If you want something like that, a 2nd hand 3-door Focus will do the job admirably - better than the Fiesta and it would stop you throwing £000's away. If you want to spend £11k on a car, buy a nice one - BMW/Merc or something sporty. £11k on a Fiesta because you get a couple of grand off for your Astra and it only costs £35 a year to tax is a government smoke screen tbh.
 
Kitchster_uk said:
Can I ask what an £11k Fiesta is going to do for you that a £6k Focus won't? Presuming finances aren't the issue then you are buying a boring boring boring car for £11k. It will new for 6 months. Then it'll be a second hand Fiesta. That is costing you a lot of money a month. If you're spending £11k on something 'not a student banger' then buy a proper car. A Fiesta is at best a woman's shopping trolley and when it gets a bit older, it's a....student banger.

If you want something like that, a 2nd hand 3-door Focus will do the job admirably - better than the Fiesta and it would stop you throwing £000's away. If you want to spend £11k on a car, buy a nice one - BMW/Merc or something sporty. £11k on a Fiesta because you get a couple of grand off for your Astra and it only costs £35 a year to tax is a government smoke screen tbh.
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Which is why I said I'm not bound to go for scrappage if I can get a good deal on a decent nearly new car!

Your last sentence basically sums up what I already know... so therefore Focus is your suggestion then?
 
You can't deny that some of these new superminis on scrappage deals represent good vfm. The depreciation on these kinds of cars is very low, if you buy right and can finance it well it can be economical.

Panda 100HP +1 btw. Fiestas are for girls. Current scrappage price for one if you walk into a FIAT dealer is £8395 which is a lot of car for the money.

Personally I wouldn't do it because I like big old fast cars but if you want new with low costs then it seems a sensible route.
 
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A Panda is hardly the car for the mans man is it? :p

Anything small is normally marketed to girls who can't park :)
 
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Docaroo said:
Which is why I said I'm not bound to go for scrappage if I can get a good deal on a decent nearly new car!

Your last sentence basically sums up what I already know... so therefore Focus is your suggestion then?
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My suggestion for a 10 mile a day commute would be a BMW 330i if you like driving and must have 4 seats, an S2000 or a Boxster if you don't need back seats or a £5-£6k focus if you don't/missus won't let you have anything faster.
 
I picked up my 2002 passat PD130 with 89k on the clock. It is practically brand new inside, there is no wear AT ALL. some scratches on the outside, but thats all.

It cost £3k.

It would be highly stupid to buy a brand new car on finance for 5 years when you can buy such bargains. You would probably prefer driving the 3k car anyway, more room more mod cons, quicker, better mpg, etc.

Dont be stupid, Please!
 
Janesy B said:
Do yourself a favour and buy a petrol engined Fiesta. Why put up with a terrible diesel for the sake of saving £70 a year?
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You really ought to drive a good one before you come out with "put up with a diesel".

I always hated diesel too, untill i drove one, so much effortless torque and dont need to use the gears. Yes its not a 11000rpm screamer for fun, but neither is a fiesta.
 
twoblacklines said:
You really ought to drive a good one before you come out with "put up with a diesel".

I always hated diesel too, untill i drove one, so much effortless torque and dont need to use the gears. Yes its not a 11000rpm screamer for fun, but neither is a fiesta.
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I think he was probably implying that the diesel in the Fiesta is terrible and that the petrol is the better option, not that they're terrible on the whole.
 
twoblacklines said:
You really ought to drive a good one before you come out with "put up with a diesel".

I always hated diesel too, untill i drove one, so much effortless torque and dont need to use the gears. Yes its not a 11000rpm screamer for fun, but neither is a fiesta.
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The 1.4 diesel is horrid, get a 1.6 diesel if you absolutely have to have an oil burner. If I don't want to change gears myself I'd simply buy an auto.
 
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