Question about a potential new car

OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2006
Posts
11,505
Location
Derbyshire
Evening all,

I have a 1.0 2000 Micra and have had it for 6 years. It has no rust, it starts first time every time and has given me very few issues in the time I have had it.

However, it is now old and I am now longer at 6th form, I am now doing my postgraduate now and realise that my car is old and could throw up a big bill (in respect to the value of the car) with ease, despite the car being worth far more to me than the £700 value. I barely use the car tbh and don't need it for work, but it hasn't even got modern basics like air conditioning.

My dad is looking to buy the new Focus within the next few months and has asked if I want his current Focus. It is a 57 reg (pre-facelift) and he has had it since 6 months old (drives it like a Grandpa - not sure he knows what a red line is). It has done 70,000 miles and is in very good condition, but there is a small chip in the windscreen where a crack was filled and the alloy wheels are getting horrible white bits on them and could do with a refurb, but have not been kerbed.

This car would be sold to me for a very good price (nothing stupidly under market price though) and I would know exactly what I am getting, as there are no unknowns with the vehicle. However, it isn't exactly the best colour and I don't particularly want (or need - I do <3000 miles per year) a diesel.

The car is very much like this one - Same trim, colour, engine.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...radius/1501/page/2/postcode/st148xy?logcode=p

A few weeks ago he was offered about £4200 as a trade-in price. He would sell privately I think as that price is a bit crap, so I would be able to have it a bit cheaper.
Do I snap his hand off for a good car, in good condition for a good price, or do I say no thanks as it isn't exactly what I 'want'?

Either way, I have funding for a 3 year postgraduate and have no intentions of still driving a Micra when I finish!
 
Who says it's a good car? has the clutch been replaced? when is the cam belt due (if it has one)? what are the tyres like. If it's never been stretched then it could be that when you do it throws a spanner.

Do you need it? can you survive with the Micra until you finish your eduction? just because it's your Dads doesn't mean it's any good unless it's cheap.
 
maccapacca said:
Who says it's a good car? has the clutch been replaced? when is the cam belt due (if it has one)? what are the tyres like. If it's never been stretched then it could be that when you do it throws a spanner.

Do you need it? can you survive with the Micra until you finish your eduction? just because it's your Dads doesn't mean it's any good unless it's cheap.
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I had the Micra when I was 17 and whilst it is the only car I have ever owned, I don't want to still be driving it when it when my Doctorate is finished, which would be age 26.
The Focus has done plenty of longer trips. It hasn't had the cambelt (isn't it a chain on this engine?) replaced. I am not sure if it is the DPF version either - If it is then I would need to consider that.
When I said he drives carefully I just went he doesn't floor it :p. Tyres are fine afaik.

Begbie said:
Depends on how cheap? I wouldn't personally, but I would never want a diesel hatchback.
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Price not decided yet.
 
Assuming a price of somewhere around that trade in should cover a bit of depreciation anyway, then hopefully insurance is the same sort of price, tax will probably be cheaper, fuel maybe a bit cheaper.

Possibly you could run the car till you graduate for pretty much the same sort of coin as you are running the micra. Only issue would be you had money in a car rather than in the bank (not that you'd earn much interest on it these days)

Just a shame its perhaps not the ideal car for you, but worth running the numbers on.
 
nanospider said:
Assuming a price of somewhere around that trade in should cover a bit of depreciation anyway, then hopefully insurance is the same sort of price, tax will probably be cheaper, fuel maybe a bit cheaper.

Possibly you could run the car till you graduate for pretty much the same sort of coin as you are running the micra. Only issue would be you had money in a car rather than in the bank (not that you'd earn much interest on it these days)

Just a shame its perhaps not the ideal car for you, but worth running the numbers on.
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Indeed.
It all depends on the price and what needs doing on it i.e. It is cared for but may need new tyres in 6 months (as an example - I have not checked the tyres).
The road tax is the same as the Micra and the fuel would be better, but these are just pennies in the grand scheme of running the car in my situation.
Getting circa £4500-5000 together isn't an issue as the postgraduate funding pays well as I am an Undergraduate Hall Sub Warden so get a free flat.
Whilst a 2.0 TDCI Focus is not a car I 'want' it is only 4 years old and has nothing to dislike about it really. It is an all round decent middle sized car that has a decent trim level and a decent engine.

With buying a used car I could get one from a dealer at an inflated price or get one cheaper privately, but I would be quite worried that on the drive home the steering rack or turbo would go and I would be left with an £800 bill as buying a used car often means you are buying someone else's problems.
 
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I don't really think an 11 year old Micra has the possibility to throw up "big bills" unless you're still getting it serviced at Nissan. You have one of the cheapest to run and reliable cars on the road, so I think that's not the reason to change. If you can afford to drop £5000 on a change in car, then you can handle a clutch change etc on your Micra. If you want to change as you're bored/embarrassed of the Micra, then that's fine but choose a car you actually want, not one that's easy or safe, you might as well keep the Micra then.

mglover070588 said:
With buying a used car I could get one from a dealer at an inflated price or get one cheaper privately, but I would be quite worried that on the drive home the steering rack or turbo would go and I would be left with an £800 bill as buying a used car often means you are buying someone else's problems.
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This comment fascinated me. Do you have the misconception that all used cars are on the brink of blowing up? Also a steering rack or turbo going on the drive home? Not everyone changes their car because it's about to blow up, so there are plenty of used cars out there that will give you years of motoring pleasure but they will not be as cheap to run as your Micra, very little will be!
 
i have to ask why does the OP want a newer car or have a car at all? do you really need one if your barely using it more than once a week?
just a thought.
 
i would probably keep it till it does throw up a big bill. As you say you barely use it so enjoy your life for a bit instead of wasting money on car sitting there doing nothing.
 
commited said:
I don't really think an 11 year old Micra has the possibility to throw up "big bills"...

Do you have the misconception that all used cars are on the brink of blowing up?
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I meant a big bill in the sense that if it needs two jobs doing at the same time, such as a new head gasket and a clutch then it will probably get crushed.

My parents usually are debating whether to upgrade a car, with a fault tipping their decision in favour of swapping. In 2007 upgraded her 2002 Fiesta as the clutch was starting to slip and in 2003 she got rid of her 1997 Ka as it had an MOT and there were a few 'jobs for the MOT next year' given.



NathWraith said:
I'd change the micra but not for your dad's diesel focus.
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Sone said:
i would probably keep it till it does throw up a big bill. As you say you barely use it so enjoy your life for a bit instead of wasting money on car sitting there doing nothing.
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You are both correct and this is something I need to decide.
 
[TW]Fox;20663579 said:
And I'm asking why it would go - ie, why are you concerned it might?
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It hasn't got anything wrong with it.
I am just aware that it is an old car and could, with ease, have things go on it that cost me a lot of money in relation to the value of the vehicle.
I was thinking of selling it whilst everything works as then it has some value (just got 12 months MOT and tax).
 
Why does the cost of the fault relative to the value of the vehicle make any difference provided you:

a) Still wish to retain the vehicle
b) Can afford to repair the vehicle
 
mglover070588 said:
My parents usually are debating whether to upgrade a car, with a fault tipping their decision in favour of swapping. In 2007 upgraded her 2002 Fiesta as the clutch was starting to slip and in 2003 she got rid of her 1997 Ka as it had an MOT and there were a few 'jobs for the MOT next year' given.
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So your parents change their car every time it needs maintenance outside of normal servicing? This is not a model to carry on to your life of car ownership.
 
commited said:
So your parents change their car every time it needs maintenance outside of normal servicing? This is not a model to carry on to your life of car ownership.
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Couldn't have said it better myself. Changing cars as the clutch started slipping after 5 years, madness :eek:.
 
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