Spec me Advice / Sanity Check thread

[ShiWarrior]

Spec me Advice / Sanity Check thread



When your dad says “I think you need to think about getting a newer car” you know you need a new car
But I am not asking “what car?” as I know what I want/like etc already



So I am asking for advice and my sanity checked instead


Current car I paid 5K, 5 years old and done around 50K miles, petrol and manual (its now 15 years old, and I’ve had it 8 years)


We all know at the moment, prices are a lot higher at the moment

But If I look on AT , at another 5 year old Focus,, same situation as when I bought mine 8 years ago, I can see they are around 9K, they are ST-lines , not zetec?

Then I know the ecoboost ones need cam belts doing and that adds another 1-2K on top? (wet belts)

Which then pushes upto at least 10K?

But this time I want to change to an auto (not going to discus why, so anyone asks gets a ban

Automatic Focus is around the 10K mark

Another but, if I’m getting something decent, id love to go top spec (I’m dead set on getting HIDs and parking sensors this time!)

So if I look at a 5-6 year old car, auto, titanium X, they are around 13K +

If I look at other “brands” , one in particular I’m looking at, are around 14K, for a facelift 2017 highest spec , which appeals to me MORE than another Focus

Do I just get something older and therefore less money?

Or do I get “what I want”?

Or do I even try and keep what I have for 1 more year in the hope of prices coming down?



I am a bit confused at the moment with these silly prices, and not wanting to spend this sort of money really, not sure what to do

 

[HangTime]

It's hard to judge this. Everything is more expensive AND you have the usual problem of there always being something better you could get if you spend more money.
As for "getting what you want" it really depends on your mentality. For some people, they will always want something better after a while, so even if they buy "what they want" today, in a couple of years they will have itchy feet. I get the impression you don't fall into this category if it's your dad telling you to upgrade though. Given that implies you are likely to stick with a new car for some time, I would suggest getting what you want. That way you won't be sat there for years with remorse thinking "why did I get another Focus / older model, what I really wanted was X "

One thing I don't understand though "5 years old and done around 50K miles, petrol and manual (its now 15 years old, and I’ve had it 8 years)" - if you got it 8 years ago and it's now 15, surely it must have been at least 6 years old when you got it not 5?

 

[ShiWarrior]

Thanks HangTime

I bought my car in October 2014
It's a February 2009 registration

So I've had it 8 years now

Sorry 13 years old

 

[kmax86]

Anything mechanically wrong with the car that prompted what he said? Maybe it just needs extra TLC in interior/exterior?

I usually get the same thoughts with my 2010 civic. Its old and time for a change. I just get it valeted to get the 'new' feeling.

 

[ShiWarrior]

Its starting to cost too much