Debt Free by 40 Debt Diary

oakdale_minx

ahem..........don't give up the day job ZTD............


I am sooooooooooooo tired............I don't know what is wrong with me. I fell asleep before 11 last night and other than dragging my bum out of bed at 9.30 to throw the dinner into the slow cooker, I didn't get up until 11 this morning!

I've decided to think of the money that I now earn on AQA each month as money towards paying off my loan even earlier. When I re-structure it again, it will be down to 3 years left. I'm planning to cut back on AQA a little, because I'm still doing over a 50 hour week, but even if I put away £350 a month, that is over £4,000 a year. I could end up with a nice sum to maybe pay the loan off 6 months or maybe a year early.

It's all theoretical though, because AQA is my second job/self employed etc so I don't know how it will pan out long term, but that is something I think I will keep in my head and start working towards from next month.

I'm quite looking forward to re-doing my SOA next month, it should look quite healthy!

Even 4 of my bargain basement 10p a packet crumpets hasn't woken me up!!

lulu650

I should think the adrenaline rush and then the relief of finding out how much back pay you were owed has contributed to the tiredness oakdale.
Take it easy

oakdale_minx

Well, that was fun!!

It has possibly come down to two cars, both from the same garage.

Either a P reg 1997 Escort 1.6 Ghia

http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/pdfs/4879914_030207031129.pdf

Or

R reg 1997 Daewoo Leganza, 2 litre CDXi,

http://users.autoexposure.co.uk/pdfs/4879914_030207031231.pdf


both are over the Parkers book price, so room to negotiate.

Any thoughts welcome, I do have a preference, but I will see what you all say..........

ZTD

oakdale_minx wrote:

Any thoughts welcome, I do have a preference, but I will see what you all say..........

I would - knowing what I know now - go for the ford.

• It's a ford - so parts are cheap/widely available.
• They are (usually) easy to work on.
• It's only a 1.6 so the petrol consumption is going to be a lot better.
• It should also have cheaper road tax.

As usual - IMHO.

lulu650

have always had Fords. Boring but always reliable (for me anyway) and as said parts cheaper and easily available.

oakdale_minx

Have to say, that is what I am thinking. I'm a bit boring when it comes to cars and I've had both an Escort and a Mondeo in the past and liked them both. The Leganza appealed for the 'stuff' it comes with (leather interior, air con etc) but, i'm not sure about the size of it. It's not much smaller than the Carlton and my driveway is narrow at the bottom and extremely steep on the bottom half - you only get one run at it, stop halfway and you can smell parfum de clutch!

Insurance on the Escort is about the same as well and it was nice inside. Had a good old wiggle about in the seat and it felt nice.

Phoned OH and he asked how much they were. I told him the price and then the Parkers prices and he said 'nope, don't even entertain either'. When I asked why he said huffily 'too expensive'. I then explained that ALL the cars I'd been to look at I'd checked against Parkers and they were ALL over book price and that would be part of the negotiation. He said 'well they won't come down much' and I said 'well, that is when I walk away'.

I think he was miffed because I'd found something without his help and he was trying to find a way for me to decide I didn't like it after all.

What would anyone's thoughts on the price be on the Escort if I went for it and started tohaggle? It is £1295, book price at a garage is £895.

Katyusha

Ford? Yawn. At least promise to buy one in bright pink, will you?

Kat

irishwench69

Katyusha wrote:

Ford? Yawn. At least promise to buy one in bright pink, will you?

Kat

Are you kidding?!

***Anyway***

I think the Ford too OM, for most of the reasons given above. It will definitely help with regards to maintenance costs etc.

With regards to haggling, definitely start off not far off the book price! I'd have thought anywhere around the £8-900 mark. If you drop in knowing things like the book price (so they don't think you're totally clueless ), that might help!

I'd have thought £900 - £1,000 would be a realistic price to pay?

HTH

IW x

medman

I vote for the Ford too. Reliable, cheap to maintain and easy to sell on when the time comes. Daewoo depreciate very fast and have no street cred!!

Are you planning to do a PX or cash purchase. If it's cash then taking folding with you and let the dealer see it. Offer him a low opening price of say £800 there will still be some profit in it for him at that price. Then edge up and get the wad out!!

Also check what warranty he is offering and make sure it has some pretty thorough service history. Ask all the right questions: Has it been in an accident? has it been registered as written off ever. Is it free of finance? Try and see if it has been clocked. A good indicator is when the mileage is low but the seats, drivers carpet and pedals say different.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy it!!

MM

jenchin66

The Escort wont be cheep tax, 1400 and under is cheaper. Is it power steering OM? I had a P reg escort without power steering and it was a killer to drive.