Two smaller cars vs. bigger 4x4

BadlyDrawnGirl_2

Evening all! I shall be making more use of these forums now that my hubby is starting on a welding course tomorrow, so for some time I'll be the only income earner in the family.

Anyway, we're going to be moving to the Rhondda in the next month or so (to save money, but also just because we're tired of living in the city!) and since the whole "blizzard of the century" debacle last month, my hubby has started talking about getting a country-driving vehicle instead of the two standard, smaller cars we were originally planning on buying. We have a Peugeot 306 at the moment and were going to get another similarly-sized vehicle so we both have our own car. The plan, once we move is that he will drop me off at the train station (I commute to Cardiff) and then he carries on to Newport, then picks me back up at the train at the end of the day. Having another car would mean that I could be somewhat more independent, but lately he's worried that smaller cars won't be able to handle the rural driving out in the Valleys, particularly if there is bad winter weather. We'd be living on quite a steep hill and although the motorway is close by, the local roads are treacherous even on a sunny day.

So, my question is, would it make sense for us to sell our Peugeot and use the funds, plus the money we were going to spend on another car, to trade up to something like a pickup or a RAV 4? It would mean that we'd only have the one car between the two of us, but his argument is that it might mean the difference between being stranded at home and being able to make it in to work or school (or even the grocery store). Do you think this makes sense, or is this just a whole "big boys toys" thing?

pitkin2020

If being stranded is your main concern I would suggest something like a snowmobile.

I think you need to look at the bigger picture like the running costs rather than the once in a blue moon bad weather scenerio. Most cars are capable of driving in the snow with a simple upgrade of Snow tyres.

dannymccann

Think of it this way, the 4x4 might well be able to go through all conditions (a RAV4 is not a proper 4x4, when you say 4x4 you are talking Discovery etc), but if the road is blocked by other cars, no matter how good it is in snow its not going anywhere!

If you can work your situation with one car then do it, if you have one car you save

£xxxx buying the car
£200 tax
£3-500 insurance
MOT Bills
General repairs like tyres (minimum £40 a corner), brakes (£100 a pair), servicing (£150 a year)
£40 or more a month in fuel

The list goes on......????

BadlyDrawnGirl_2

Hmm yes we had discussed the increased cost of owning two vehicles...of course, to me (and mind I used to live in NYC, so I am not exactly the biggest advocate of cars to begin with!) I've never seen the need for a huge, enormous vehicle - however, a lot of my friends both in America and in Australia, who live out in the countryside, say they would never part with their 4x4s. (And by 4x4 I don't mean exclusively or literally that - I just mean a "bigger" vehicle like a pickup or a RAV 4 or something along those lines. I'm not very car-savvy in case you haven't guessed haha.)

On the other hand, wouldn't a larger vehicle cost more in terms of fuel, maintenance etc.?

dannymccann

Of course, generally the bigger the car the bigger its parts are and the bigger the cost of ownership, and also the bigger the cost of running it daily (the bit you get most worried about every time you end up at the forecourt, which if you want a 4x4 or large heavy vehicle will be several times a month depending on your mileage!)

You dont say what model Peugeot you have, if its a 106, then going to a 306/7 or 406/7 would be a bigger car but the running costs will be fairly similar as they are still mainstream cars with 'normal' engines (bog standard 1.4 - 2.2).

I really wouldnt suggest a family car as a pickup, as they arent particularly comfy, and drink juice (even the diesel ones) because they are heavy and rugged. If you want a bigger car upgrade to a comfy estate or even an MPV if you feel you need the 7 seats or bigger boot options

BadlyDrawnGirl_2

dannymccann wrote: »

You dont say what model Peugeot you have, if its a 106, then going to a 306/7 or 406/7 would be a bigger car but the running costs will be fairly similar as they are still mainstream cars with 'normal' engines (bog standard 1.4 - 2.2).

Sorry, it's a Peugeot 306. But it's a diesel, which keeps the cost of it really quite low, so we would really like to stick to another diesel car if we can. But that in and of itself seems to add a couple thousand pounds to the price.

It's not really a "bigger" vehicle we want, or something more comfortable, it's something that will handle well on narrow, steep and winding roads. On one hand, I feel like our tiny Peugeot is a death-trap on those country lanes, but on the other hand, surely a huge 4x4 won't be any easier to maneuver!

dannymccann

Nothing wrong with a 306, good sturdy, proven car, especially the diesel ones (old French diesels are very reliable units when looked after).

If I know the sort of country lanes you are talking about, it doesn't matter what you are in they are dangerous full stop, so its either move or get used to them. Getting a bigger car will just make it harder when you have to park it in a hedgerow to let another vehicle past.

And yes opting for a DERV does add considerable cost to the initial purchase

AdrianHi

One single 4x4 like a Rav4 may well end up cheaper than two small cars.
The solution to your problem might lie with winter tyres (snow tyres are studded and not really suitable off the snow for long) which are better in winter even if it does not snow and give you a lot more traction on snow and ice. If the snow is really bad and gets 2ft deep you could also carry some autosocks which would certainly keep you 306 moving even through this.
I've chatted online to people in Canada who maintain that winter tyres are more important than 4x4 for dealing with the snow until increased ground clearance becomes neccessary. 4x4 really needs winter tyres anyway, father-in-laws Mitsubishi L200 4x4 got stuck at the top of a hill because he couldn't stop it on the ice down hill.

Hintza

A big 4x4 is now over £400 VED!

We found the Fiat Panda with it's skinny tyres to be excellent in the bad weather and if that is not good enough you still have the option of the 4x4 model. I might add that the Panda's only depreciate at around £500 per tyear and hold their residuals very well.

Many will slag it off bein a Fiat but apart from front shocks it has performed well in the we have had it 3 years and it's an 04 plate.

Scrappage?

AdrianHi

My brother left his Audi A4 parked in the snow and used his wifes Fiat Panda instead. The Panda comes out pretty well in reliability surveys.... much better than everything else from Fiat

Hintza

http://www.copart.co.uk/c2/onSaleResults.html?_eventId=getLot&execution=e26s2&lotId=8443860

Go and buy that for £2k fit a wing mirror and leave the rest.