Thoughts on a car deal

OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2006
Posts
11,423
Location
Derbyshire
Hi all.
I was planning to purchase a newer car this summer, when I could get a personal loan to purchase a car. This would be when my 6 month probation was up on my new job. My Focus is not dying, but is 8.5 years old with 124,000 miles on it.

I have noticed this deal:
http://www.northernmotors.co.uk/new-car-offers/gtc-16-reg-offer/

The colours vary in price, but the red one would be £13,180 + £199 admin fee. The interest rate is poor but you get £500 added to the cost if you don't use it.
Now, I know this Astra was never a class leader, but I am seriously considering this car. Obviously I would drive one first.
If I planned to keep it for 3-4 years, surely this would be a good deal when I do 22,000 miles per year. This is pre-registered 16 reg with a 3 year 60,000 mile warranty.
I was planning on getting a new marque Astra, Focus or Leon at ~12 months old, but even motorpoint's prices don't come close to this.
 
The reason why this car is cheap is because it is the discontinued model and they are trying to get rid of it. Provided you understand this, then it's not the worst deal ever, but you are buying the old car.
 
Isn't that now the old model, making it far less of a supposed deal? Albeit it doesn't really look poor value tbh, what are they worth 3/4 years old with the mileage you'll put on?

Edit - about 7-8k asking so say £6k ish trade or private. Seems OK for the mileage
 
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I am 100% sure that this is the outgoing model, but given the price I can't see how I'd get a better deal on a new car elsewhere.

The value in 3-4 years is not really a concern, as I'd fully expect it to depreciate like a bomb, but then it has already a lost a serious chunk of value already, hence the price. My 40 mile wach way commute is 95% dual carriageway. I have the mx5 for fun.
 
Are you going to be happy that a brand-new car isn't the new model though? Surely that's at least part of the reason to be buying a brand-new car to begin with?
 
TheVoice said:
Are you going to be happy that a brand-new car isn't the new model though? Surely that's at least part of the reason to be buying a brand-new car to begin with?
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I'd much prefer the new model, but the 1.6 biturbo (which will be far better than this. Lighter car too) won't be £13,000.
The reason for buying a brand new car is also for everything being....well....new!

rodenal said:
It is important as your cost of ownership still matters. Looks decent anyway
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I agree. I suppose my viewpoint is that as I will be slapping some miles onto it then whenever I do get rid of it then it will have depreciated like a Vauxhall with 70-80k on, new model or old model. This purchase would be to use as a commuter with warranty, not a toy or investment.
 
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So it's actually a £14k car then by the time you have the colour, admin fee and not take the £500 deposit contribution. So somewhere around £255 per month based on compare the market at 3.4% APR.

So not quite as cheap as £12k, but still seems like a decent enough deal for a new car. Of course, the new model is £3300 more expensive (Broadspeed), and about 30 BHP less (albeit with the smaller 1.6L 136BHP engine, or £2700 more if you go for the 110 BHP, but why would you? Apart from for economy reasons, but even so, the 1.6 will likely be better than the 2.0 here).

Of course, when you are finished, the new model will be worth more. How much more, I dunno, probably half that extra cost.

So then, if it was me, and I was seriously considering it, I'd be weighing up the option of spending ~£1600 more for the new model over the old model. And probably "some" fuel savings too with the newer, smaller engine. And with you doing 22k per year, that could add up (maybe not the full £1600 though, but you see where I'm going here).

It doesn't seem, to me at least, as fantastic a deal as the others appear to be making out. Not if you could drive the brand new model for an extra ~£800 or so over 3-4 years. Maybe even less if there is a significant difference in VED.
 
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[TW]Fox;29337707 said:
Normally yes but to be fair its 12 grand!
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True, but 12 grand also gets you various used or potentially nearly-new cars that aren't 6-7 year old models.

It's a cheap enough way to have a 15 on the plate though.
 
If you take the rubbish Apr on offer then pay it off via personal loan a few months later you'll still earn the contribution and will be able to negate most of the rubbish interest. Do the sums but I'm sure it will work out favourably.

That then gives you an additional £500 for the comparison above, though I would also seriously consider the new car if that's the kind of realistic ownership difference you're looking at
 
TheVoice said:
True, but 12 grand also gets you various used or potentially nearly-new cars that aren't 6-7 year old models.

It's a cheap enough way to have a 15 on the plate though.
Click to expand...

Warranty counts for a lot, complete peace of mind for 3 years(generally) is extremely nice, hence my new vehicles.
 
I'm with Fox on this, £12k for a new (albeit out going model) 162 BHP car is decent value and I can't think of a cheaper new car with the same output myself.
 
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