Trading in my old car/buying a new one

[romanygirl]

Hi, can anybody help. I've been driving since 2005 and am still pretty ignorant about the way of the motor. I have a few questions that I need some help with, if anybody has the time. I have done some research on the net, but I'm getting very muddled.

1. My first and present car is a Nissan Micra automatic (2004). I've kept up with the services but there is a lot of body damage, and a teeny bit of rust. Its done about 55,000 miles. I want to trade it in for something new, and am trying to work out how much I'd get for it. I've looked at various websites, but am not sure how much I should subtract for the bodywork that would need doing.

2. I'm thinking of trading it in as I'm doing a lot of commuting; approx 50 miles a day, 3 times a week, then around town driving the rest of the time. So i need something good for A road driving, which is relatively small (I live on a very small road, and I'm crap at parking). I was happy enough with the Micra, but my gut feeling is that the relatively high mileage doesn't make it very happy, so I think I probably need a bigger engine?

3. IF I want to trade it in and get a new used car, do i do this at a dealership, or a car supermarket. I would have to have a finance dea (I brought the Micra outright) - I know I should probably know this all this, but I really haven't got a clue where to start.

thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide.

[lincroft1710]

RUST???? on a 4/5 yr old Micra!! What sort of body damage? I don't think a car supermarket would be interested in p/x, and cost of repairs would either mean dealer won't take it or offer ridiculously low figure. 55K isn't partcularly high for an 04. You're probably better off keeping it till it drops.

[hewhoisnotintheknow]

150 miles a week isnt high, keep the car you will only loose out when trading it in

my car has over 3 times the mileage of yours and runs like its new

[Keith]

It sounds like you need a Micra, you'd be silly to p/x

[Inactive]

Sounds like a few driving lessons wouldn't be wasted.

[romanygirl]

Thanks for answers. I had my suspicions that I should just drive it into ground. As for the comment by Inactive, Most of the damage was sustained in the first six months of driving. I was probably a bit of a crap driver at first, but at least I admit it, and i've only ever knocked into walls. No accidents involving other cars or people.:o

[Inactive]

(I live on a very small road, and I'm crap at parking).


More by luck, than judgement then.. ;)

[Hintza]

Well if it's dinged all over that will probably knock £700-£1000 off what it is worth. If your still crap at parking better keeping this one until you can park without hitting anything otherwise you will be knocking a similar amount of the next car.