2009 New Years Resolution-MFW Diary

Tesco_points_addict

Ok being MS and not wanting to spend on a NEW car what about this one... http://www.ronskinnerandsons.co.uk/information.aspx?v=17699#TopOfImages nice girly silver too. Also in spec it says: Vanity Mirrors

• Vanity mirrors

I'm so easily led!:rotfl:
What do you think I will get in px for a 2005 old shape cronky friday afternoon focus?
Is thinking she could offset it against tax for Mystery Shopping........is also thinking she is now late for work!!

TPAx

gallygirl

Looks V nice TPA but mine is only 1.6, so insurance lower. Also mine a different spec - I have hands free Bluetooth so I can talk to girl friends about lipstick, and nice shoes seen in shop windows etc.

I've had a number of Fiats over the years. I know people slag them off but I've always found them great - reliable & cheap to run. OK, they may not hold their value as well as other cars but they are cheaper to start with & tbh as I tend to do a lot of mileage (about 25,000 a year) the residual value is always low anyway.

I worked out the other night that:20% of car cost (done on straight line appreciation, not best for a car but works for me, also assuming 0 value after 5 years) + insurance + fuel costs + service + road tax + bits & pieces (fluffy dice, nodding dog, pink cushions, fresh flowers etc.) - work car allowance - work mileage - MS mileage rebate means my car costs me 3p a mile net to run. That cost will actually drop a little by the end of year. Don't think that's too bad really .

taka

Sob... I feel all left out... I don't drive! :eek: ... must learn sometime... :eek: :rotfl:

SmlSave

Sob... I feel all left out... I don't drive!

There, there taka ........ I'm not following the car talk much myself as I'm lazy and let DH deal with it all

dice, nodding dog, pink cushions, fresh flowers etc

lol, I did buy DH a fluffy steering wheel cover but he refuses to use it!

setmefree2

SmlSave wrote: »

lol, I did buy DH a fluffy steering wheel cover but he refuses to use it!

Will it be featuring on e bay soon ?:D

Tesco_points_addict

Looks V nice TPA but mine is only 1.6, so insurance lower. Also mine a different spec - I have hands free Bluetooth so I can talk to girl friends about lipstick, and nice shoes seen in shop windows etc.

+ bits & pieces (fluffy dice, nodding dog, pink cushions, fresh flowers etc.) -

Great I need a new computer now as well as a new car, just spat my tea all over the keyboard in laughter!

GG I need a link to your spec car...please!

TPAx

StuartGMC

TPA
One question about that link to the Fiat why does it list:

List Price (New) £13805
SAVE £5506

when it is a 2008 model and so it has lost value in that time, so I can't understand this?

Typically drive a brand new car off the forecourt and it looses 20% good buys can often be had at 6-12month old or, if you do a low mileage get a 12-24month with high mileage then the average will drop.

GG running cars long distance (motorways with high annual mileage) is usually best for them anyway. Gets good conditioning of exhaust inside surface and engine is usually running nice and hot with oil keeping it turning sweetly.

Tesco_points_addict

Evening all!

Stuart I didn't even notice the 'savings quoted':rotfl:

OK I am going to get rid of faffy focus will fix it first though! Any ideas for a focus sized car.....I need your help!! What about the Toyota Auris, Seat Leon???????????Any ideas greatfully received ..... I will want to keep it for years and years so depreciation is not so much of an issue but safety, reliablity and mpg (thats miles per gallon stuart..see I do know some car related info!!:rotfl:)are important to me. Need ideas so I can start some research, cannot do this without any cars to actually look at!

Spends about 10k plus whatever I can get for my[STRIKE] skip[/STRIKE]car!
TPAx

StuartGMC

TPA
You can start with looking at the JD Power surveys; I think they used to list them on Top Gear indicating how reliable cars are.

Personally our 2.0Ghia Focus Estate on a V plate is fine (copes with Brownie pack camps etc when OH takes them away) but as you say you can get a poor car. Personally had real issues with Renault Laguna in the past where I was paying out a lot on things which failed including the catalytic converter!

Parkers Guide online is very good at giving reviews and importantly the tax level for running cost. They also give the journalists reviews and some people's comments too. http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/#

One thing to consider is that you'll want it serviced by the dealer initially (with Ford they were on par with independents and RapidFit more so, Jaguar are a *little* more expensive....:o). Think about getting the car serviced etc and whether this would be easy on a weekday (can't always be on a Saturday).

Finally, remember you can often get the larger car cheaper than the mid-size family one just because the former are sold into the fleet hire market in numbers thus pushing down resell price yet running costs can be similar e.g. Mondeo may be as cheap to have as the Focus (and I had two Mondeos before the Jag and they were great).

Ford - Focus and Mondeo (but I know you won't go for them)
Vauxhall - Astra http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/vauxhall/astra-hatchback-2004.aspx
Skoda - remember, Audi running gear and VW engines (cheap as they give you the vanity discount, yet well rated). Fabia may be too small but Octavia could do?
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/skoda/octavia-hatchback-2004.aspx

VW - Golf (but like Audi servicing costs can be high)
SEAT - like Skoda have the Audi and VW parents
etc - browse the Parkers' site is my recommendation.

Good luck

Tesco_points_addict

I thought you could get a car serviced in your local garage as long as they use the approved parts the warrenty is still valid, I remember checking this when I bought the Focus as I knew I didn't want to go to Ford for the work. Have I got this wrong?? This is an importaa
nt factor for me.

TPAx