So is a 2 year old car a sensible buy?

phoebe03cat

We are just getting through an expensive repair bill for our avensis & its also due a big service soon, now about 6/7 years old. Like the make,good dealers -husband now hankering after upgrading to T4 avensis instead of sticking with old car. We would need to finance this although obviously NOT from dealers.
We do need a VERY reliable car. He seems to think that a 2 year old version is the optimum age to buy. Would welcome any comments please from anyone who can steer us through some of the pitfalls of buying from a dealer. Also any info regarding best age to look for or optimum time to trade in etc. Sorry for niavety of question, just trying to feel a bit less like a lamb to the slaughter! :rolleyes:

alanobrien

2 or 3 years is good especially if it comes with a 5 year warrenty. I would also need to see < 25,000 miles on the clock.

For me it must also have the appropriate main dealer service history and an AA report on its condition.

Not sure on how these places report anymore but going in at the end of the month is probably your best bet for keen pricing.

You may also get a better deal by selling your existing car privately rather than trading it in, it all depends on how deperate they are to sell you the car you want to buy.

headcovers

Few things I learned (the hard way) from buying from a dealer, apart from the obvious like service history, etc.

• If there is anything wrong with the car that the dealer agrees he will fix at a later date - get that agreement in writing before you hand over any cash
• Give the car a complete going over - check everything..air conditioning, electric windows, electric mirrors..make sure everything works as you would expect. I mean it - check everything, radio, heating (even in summer). If it doesn't, get them to agree to have it fixed....in writing
• Don't take an HPI check from the garage - get your own done.
• Try to get as much in the deal as possible, free mats, free tank of petrol, or any extras relevant to your particular vehicle.

golddustmedia

Having just bought a 1 year old Vauxhall Meriva (newest I've ever owned) I would agree that "recent" cars are a good option. The car I bought cost £6000 which is HALF it's value a year ago!!!

It still has warranty etc so I think has all the reassurance of new without the cost and VAT implications.

Having said that there are bargains to be had with older cars, certainly I would say the quality and reliability of the manufacturer is FAR more important than age.

For example, I still own a 1997 Volkswagen Passat which is the most reliable car I've ever owned (and is the 4th VW we've had), despite its age I've found it to be far more reliable than newer alternatives of lower quality. I had a brief ownership of a 4 year old Ford focus and will not make that mistake again.

If in doubt search the internet for reviews of any make/model you're considering so you know what to look out for on 2nd hand models, and remember ITS A BUYERS MARKET. If you have even the slightest doubt about 1 car, leave it as there are literally thousands of 2nd hand cars available so be choosy!

tempuscat

We've bought our last two family cars. . .

In the first week of January. And from car supermarkets.

The timing's crucial because virtually no-one goes out to buy a car two weeks after Christmas. The location's crucial because car supermarkets have low, low, low sticker prices -- their profits actually come from unnecessary extras and finance deals and insurance and breakdown cover etc which they hope the gullible will sign up for.

Obviously, the age of the car's crucial, too: not more than two years old. We first did the January / car supermarket purchase for our son, and saved £000s on dealer prices (we bought an old-style Mondeo one year after the new-style came in).

Then in January 2004 we purchased a Vauxhall Omega CDX, first registered October 2002 and owned by Vauxhall. It had 15,000 miles on the clock and the balance of Vauxhall warranty through to September 30th, 2005. The car's list price (in the form we bought it) was £23,500 new. We paid £9,995. We also got £2,250 PX for our Toyota Corolla, which was only £250 less than our own smooth-talking but downright venal Toyota dealer offered against a 12-month old Avensis costing £15,500.

We chose the Omega because Vauxhall had just ceased production of this model, and because the car was always an outstanding buy if you could live with the badge (we're not badge snobs) and the horrendous depreciation (which is why we'd never have bought one new). In fact, buying a recently-replaced model is always a good bet -- if the price is right!

The supermarket salesman did the deal on the basis that we were happy to go along with everything he said, until it came time to read his print-out of 'extras' we hadn't ordered ( like new number plates: oh yeah, why?) Breakdown cover (why?) We knew we'd be pressurised to take all this plus finance, health insurance and whatever else was being puished at us but we just smiled and said no, we'll take the car, thanks. Nothing else. At which point the salesman looked distinctly unhappy. No matter, a deal's a deal, we paid the deposit by cheque then did a bank transfer to complete the balance and collected the Omega the following week.

The Omega was faultless and has remained so. We know it will continue to depreciate, but then, at 34,000 miles on the clock, it's good for many a year yet -- and parts / servicing costs are absurdly cheap compared to the kind of costs BMW and Mercedes owners have to endure. But then. . . they do have a posh badge.:rolleyes:

Time and circumstance mean that not everyone can be fortunate enough to buy an almost-new car that's (a) just ceased production and (b) do so at the precise moment when the car trade is flat on its bum immediately after Christmas, but where money saving is concerned, it doesn't get much better.

In your case, OP, I'd recommend you follow the advice of an earlier poster and sell privately, because the PX you'll get from any car supermarket will only be what you'd get privately anyway.

Then I'd buy whatever car you had in mind from a car supermarket -- NOT a dealer -- making sure first that it's (a) one owner (the salesman will show you the log book if you insist -- so yes, insist!) and (b) it has at least 18 months of manufacturer warranty still to run.

By all means, let the salesman witter on about extras etc etc but when the moment comes to do the deal, turn 'em all down: you came to buy a car at the price advertised, not spend a lot of extra money on providing the car supermarket with the profit they 'lost' through the sticker price.

Good luck!

Sumostar

Hi

Don't forgret that diesel engines are generally more reliable than petrol engines because they don't have spark plugs & all the HT electrics that go with them.

Savvy_Sue

Honest John.