Help me decide on a new car

Scania · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:27

Princey said:
Looking quickly on Auto Trader it seems my budget seems to get a 2006-2007 car, I feel that may be too old considering I plan to keep it for 3 years, it'd be close to 10 years old.

Do you feel 10years old will be an issue due to perceived reliability or resale value after the 3years ownership?
I certainly would not worry about the former, assuming its going to get properly serviced & live on motorways.

As for the latter, assuming you buy whatever with ~ 60k on the clock, you'll take a hit no matter what it is come resale time with ~120+k on the clock.

Buy something you'll enjoy, I'd prefer the 335, especially if you can keep it under warranty....

None of the others on your list would appeal - to me - for >20k p/a

iaind · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:27

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/audi/s3/audi-s3-tfsi-quattro-2008/1001566

Princey · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:32

[TW]Fox;23570558 said:
Upwards of 20k a year in a car like this is going to cost big money, especially when you consider you will take most of these cars over the 100k barrier. You rarely used the Monaro, are you sure doing big miles in cars like this will be 'significantly' cheaper than the previous setup of weekend car and diesel focus?

A set of tyres on a 335 for example is a grand e your rears won't even be lasting a year.

As for your savings, not having to do 2 Mot? Wow that's 30 quid a year saved. Not having to tax the focus diesel? Wow another 160 quid a year. Big money savings.

As for tyre savings, there are none. You can only drive one car at once and tyres on a focus are cheaper. Your tyre bill will be higher.

2x MOTs 2 chances of failures and repair costs.
The Monaro was £475 per annum to tax so with the focus it was over £600.
Plus 2 lots of insurance, servicing and finance costs.

Good job on only mentioning the smaller things regarding cost savings.

LSPIII · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:33

Princey said:
Stunning, very much so, however it's not very practical considering I'm looking at hot hatches and I'll be spending 20,000 miles in it.

I wouldn't want to spend 20,000 miles a year in mine in this country!

peterattheboro · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:35

Focus ST.

[TW]Fox · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:36

Princey said:
2x MOTs 2 chances of failures and repair costs.
The Monaro was £475 per annum to tax so with the focus it was over £600.
Plus 2 lots of insurance, servicing and finance costs.

Good job on only mentioning the smaller things regarding cost savings.

2 lots of finance costs? I thought one of the cars was a mk1 Focus? That would have cost next to nothing to run.

mjt · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:37

Ignore the 335 suggestions!

Get a GTI if you want to be sensible, or get a 130i if you want something better.

I'd get a BMW 130i personally.

Cristian · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:39

[TW]Fox;23570558 said:
Upwards of 20k a year in a car like this is going to cost big money, especially when you consider you will take most of these cars over the 100k barrier. You rarely used the Monaro, are you sure doing big miles in cars like this will be 'significantly' cheaper than the previous setup of weekend car and diesel focus?

A set of tyres on a 335 for example is a grand e your rears won't even be lasting a year.

I for one would suggest a 330d. Even if it has 18" wheels - Eagle F1s cost around £600 if you shop around, mpg should be better than all the cars listed and it's a much better place to be spending 20k miles than an Astra VXR or Megane.

Princey · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:40

[TW]Fox;23570624 said:
2 lots of finance costs? I thought one of the cars was a mk1 Focus? That would have cost next to nothing to run.

Only the Monaro had finance.

[TW]Fox · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:41

330d with monthly warranty would work well for his mileage assuming he gets a sub 60k one.

ScoobyDoo69 · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:41

You had a share in an aircraft? Is this where you used to keep the Monaro? I remember you saying something about keeping it with an aircraft..

[TW]Fox · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:43

Princey said:
Only the Monaro had finance.

I did think it was odd when you said 2X finance

Princey · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:43

[TW]Fox;23570664 said:
330d with monthly warranty would work well for his mileage assuming he gets a sub 60k one.

Thanks, putting my sensible cap it does seem like a good idea, I'm guessing it would probably be nearly as quick as the hot hatches too?

Princey · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:45

ScoobyDoo69 said:
You had a share in an aircraft? Is this where you used to keep the Monaro? I remember you saying something about keeping it with an aircraft..

Yup, I kept the Monaro at Wolverhampton Business Airport, which is were the aircraft was kept. There was 4 of us in the share.

Maccy · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:47

Discount the Megane, you won't see 40mpg, and I think you'll struggle to get one with sat nav at that budget (could be wrong though).

[TW]Fox · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:51

Princey said:
Thanks, putting my sensible cap it does seem like a good idea, I'm guessing it would probably be nearly as quick as the hot hatches too?

Consider a 330i too, 40 mpg combined due to its stratified direct injection engine. Can be iffy reliability wise but that's what warranty is for

shoes · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:57

Not sure I could bring myself to finance a car unless it was really special and they only came up for sale once in a blue moon. Why not buy something old and nice like an E39 and then spend the monthly payments on any repairs, if there are none then you're up at the end of it all.

Cristian · 16 Jan 2013 at 15:58

Princey said:
Thanks, putting my sensible cap it does seem like a good idea, I'm guessing it would probably be nearly as quick as the hot hatches too?

The RWD will compensate its bigger weight and it will definitely as quick if not quicker of the line than most of those hatches. Won't be as fun as a megane around the track but dynamically speaking it will be better than the VXR or even the GTI imo.

Princey · 16 Jan 2013 at 16:04

shoes said:
Not sure I could bring myself to finance a car unless it was really special and they only came up for sale once in a blue moon. Why not buy something old and nice like an E39 and then spend the monthly payments on any repairs, if there are none then you're up at the end of it all.

Who said anything about financing a new car?

-Ad- · 16 Jan 2013 at 16:34

Why not get something cheaper you can also enjoy a bit.

As much as I think you'll shoot me down how about something like an EP3. Cheap these days, not ridiculous to maitain, MPG can be good on longer runs and it'll give you something to enjoy as and when you feel like it.

How much more will a £10k+ plus spend on one of your above cars actually give you?