crazy people. their money. car choices

Matt82

Matt82

Matt82

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Joined
13 Mar 2004
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on this board we get a lot of people asking about whats the best to buy/pay for a car, and if you find it annoying take comfort in the fact that they're actually asking!

A friend of mine with a whole world of money issues has just taken out an agreement on a hyundia veloster. The main justification being cheaper mpg and tax compared to her aging a3 and no more maintenance (about a year ago she had a faff doing rear bushes) and might have done one oil change since then. All in all the car has been really good

Now she has a monthly payment paying off the car to massively offset the tax and mpg. The only other saving grace is the "bumper to bumper" warranty but shell have to pay normal servicing cost to keep the warranty in tact, which wouldn't be a problem for most but this person is so unbelievably cash strapped

They'll do 5-6k miles a year, they'll be paying through the nose in terms of cost per mile. People obviously do this all the time but its just a bit more shocking when its someone you know!
 
Matt82 said:
on this board we get a lot of people asking about whats the best to buy/pay for a car, and if you find it annoying take comfort in the fact that they're actually asking!
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The asking doesn't annoy me in the slightest. What annoys me is when people say "What do you think of xxx?"; then you suggest "It's not that great, what about yyy?" and OP turns round and is like "yyy is stupid, I already bought xxx because it's way better". Almost every thread in here about buying new cars is like that...

But you are of course right. Paying three-figure sums per month for a new car to save two-figure sums in fuel and single figures in tax, it never makes sense.
 
andrewdodd13 said:
The asking doesn't annoy me in the slightest. What annoys me is when people say "What do you think of xxx?"; then you suggest "It's not that great, what about yyy?" and OP turns round and is like "yyy is stupid, I already bought xxx because it's way better". Almost every thread in here about buying new cars is like that...

But you are of course right. Paying three-figure sums per month for a new car to save two-figure sums in fuel and single figures in tax, it never makes sense.
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There are other reasons why people buy new cars...
 
andrewdodd13 said:
The asking doesn't annoy me in the slightest. What annoys me is when people say "What do you think of xxx?"; then you suggest "It's not that great, what about yyy?" and OP turns round and is like "yyy is stupid, I already bought xxx because it's way better". Almost every thread in here about buying new cars is like that...
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I agree to some extent, but at the same time sometimes people just want opinions on a specific model.
Then they throw their toys out of the pram when regulars on here go off on a tangent.

It can be annoying when you just want an answer to a specific question, rather than suggestions of other (read: better) models.
Although I think that the tone on here of the regulars can be taken the wrong way and it can come across to be very aggressive at times.
 
A wealthy acquaintance of mine with his own successful engineering business drives a Kia 4x4.
He's had it from new and will run it into the ground.

To some people cars are just an appliance in the same way a fridge is.
 
Wife of a friend of mine bought a new 12 plate Audi A3 because she wanted a 12 plate.

Her and her husband already has a 54 plate 2.0L petrol Audi A3 (had it from new only done like 55k miles), they also have a work van which my friend (the husband) drives most of the time and she has the A3 . She bought the new car with cash (her own) outright and after driving for a week she told the husband "can I take the old A3 this weekend? The new car is a bit loud on the motorway"

No kidding, she replaced the old 2.0L with a 1.6L!

The husband said "sorry, I've sold it now".
 
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Raymond Lin said:
Wife of a friend of mine bought a new 12 plate Audi A3 because she wanted a 12 plate.

Her and her husband already has a 54 plate 2.0L petrol Audi A3 (had it from new only done like 55k miles), they also have a work van which my friend (the husband) drives most of the time and she has the A3 . She bought the new car with cash (her own) outright and after driving for a week she told the husband "can I take the old A3 this weekend? The new car is a bit loud on the motorway"

No kidding, she replaced the old 2.0L with a 1.6L!
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I would be absolutely astounded if the noise in the cabin of a 2012 A3 1.6 was appreciably louder than that of a 2012 A3 2.0, especially by enough of a margin to make her perfer the older one. They would be fundamentally identical - infact if there was a difference I'd expect the older car to be noiser due to wear to the weather seals etc. In theory sure the 2.0 probably revs a bit lower but I doubt you'd be hearing that on the Motorway in a fashion that makes itself heard despite the fact it's a brand new box fresh car.
 
[TW]Fox;23145607 said:
I would be absolutely astounded if the noise in the cabin of a 2012 A3 1.6 was appreciably louder than that of a 2012 A3 2.0, especially by enough of a margin to make her perfer the older one. They would be fundamentally identical - infact if there was a difference I'd expect the older car to be noiser due to wear to the weather seals etc. In theory sure the 2.0 probably revs a bit lower but I doubt you'd be hearing that on the Motorway in a fashion that makes itself heard despite the fact it's a brand new box fresh car.
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Noise as in engine noise, it's running at higher revs.

Anyway, that's what my friend said. The fact of the matter is she bought a new A3 for the plate when it is basically the same car.
 
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I can see why people buy new cars, especially for the comfort of a long warranty period and (most likely) not having to foot any repair bills for years. But as well all know, to spend 15K on a new car when a 5 year old example could be had for say 5k to save ~£500 a year on fuel and ~£150 a year on tax is pretty silly and shouldnt be the only reason that you want a new car.
 
but if youre having to pass on your ageing a3 because petrol, tax, a set of rear bushes in the last year and one service are deemed too much, lumbering yourself with an ongoing and relatively much larger monthly payment, isnt the way to go

the audi had a super common tyre size but the car ended up wearing second hand cheapo tyres, imagine the cost of tyres on a new car which will most likely have 18s at a minimum

if you have stacks of money and cannot be bothered with car-hassles and really dont care much about what car you drive, then go right ahead, it will be hassle free and you can afford it

nevermind, im obviously just jealous because my newest car is 12 years old :D
 
Raymond Lin said:
Wife of a friend of mine bought a new 12 plate Audi A3 because she wanted a 12 plate.

Her and her husband already has a 54 plate 2.0L petrol Audi A3 (had it from new only done like 55k miles), they also have a work van which my friend (the husband) drives most of the time and she has the A3 . She bought the new car with cash (her own) outright and after driving for a week she told the husband "can I take the old A3 this weekend? The new car is a bit loud on the motorway"

No kidding, she replaced the old 2.0L with a 1.6L!

The husband said "sorry, I've sold it now".
Click to expand...

Sounds like time for a divorce to me. Too much stupid.

Back on topic though, it amazes me that people do these things and are simply unable to do the basic math to look at what something will cost them, then I remember most people are stupid and carry on.

Hawker
 
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