Car dilemma

wendyloub

Going through a divorce at the minute, and having to buy my half the car off ex for £800 its a 2002 Renault scenic 1,4, I'm quite fancying a change and would like to trade it in for something more economical, with lower tax, insurance etc, I have no no claims, points and a couple of claims on my policy so the insurance is a killer.

I quite like the look of a ford focus, but they seem quite expensive compared to my scenic, any suggestions or am I better off sticking to wha t I have its still only done 40k miles and its reliable (touch wood)

Oh but I would like to have a car thats just mine lol and nothing to do with the ex, oh and I have three children and an occasional boyfriend to fit in lol

Hintza

Don't they suggest that you wait a year after a big event in your life before taking big decisions?

Does a car qualify for that statement?

Stick with it for a while yet.

Strider590

If the car is fine, then your not going to save any money by spending more on a new car...... Simple maths.

gonzo127

silly question, how old are the children? are they teenagers or do they still need car/booster seats? how big are your teenagers or car/booster seats - if they are anything like the car seat i have for our little one they will need a large back seat

due to these things it will mean you wont really be able to get a small supermini sized car so savings on insurance and fuel will be minimal for example according to parkers guide online

the basic 1.4l scenic does 39 mpg, is insurance group 5 and tax band H

now going for something else in the 'small family' sized cars section
the focus 1.4CL (01 plate and above) gives 42mpg is insurance group 4 and tax band G

the Astra (98-05) 1.4 Envoy 5d (AC) does 40mpg is insurance group 4 and tax band H

the Hyundia Accent 1.3GSI 5dr (00-05 plate) does 47mpg and is insurance group 4 and tax band F

so as you can see from the above figures these will not save you massive amounts of money and as ever when buying a new car you could end up with a lemon which costs a lot in repairs, therefore i would agree with the above in that you would probably be better off sticking with what you have for the time being and wait for the dust to settle on the devoice to figure out what you need and can afford

Hannah_10

My boyfriend was single and loving it (read shockingly promiscuous) before we met and I was so unbelievably relieved when he changed his car. He changed it for another the same make/model but the type was never the point for me. For me it was lovely to just know that the back seat had no tales to tell, so I can totally understand where you're coming from with wanting a fresh car. It's about a clean break from the past really isn't it.

Just remember not to go nuts, as you would when changing any car go for something you can afford to run/maintain and something you can live with, but I see from your post you're already doing that because you mention it needs to carry 5 people and lets face it a focus is hardly excessive. As a research tool try a saved eBay search (the ones that email you the results for a few days), even if you'd never buy on there. You can set it to find things by engine size, number of doors, price and type. The reason I say is because I did this and it really opened my eyes to the options out there for me. Before that I could have named about half a dozen cars I found suitable for me whereas after I ended up with a make/model I wouldn't have looked twice at in the paper, but that I am really liking.

LandyAndy

Checked autotrader. £1600 seems a fair price in a private sale.:)

I would keep the car for a while. I'm sure you'll have plenty to think about apart from buying new cars. It's only a piece of metal.

Divorces are full of things with associations, you can't get rid of all of them.

wendyloub

I think you've hit the nail on the head, I want to change everything I've redecorated my whole house since I kicked him out, but that hasn't cost me anything more than a few tins of reduced paint!

I guess I'm not going to make any great savings so I will carry on as I am for now, because knowing me I would end up with a lemon and regret it!

I think seeing that I'm not going to make any savings by looking at the differences in insurance and MPG just shows me I am being silly, as everyone tells me I am lol!

Strider590

^^

Dunno about silly, it's just that sometimes the desire to have a new care overpowers all logic and reasoning

Have a look around the forum, you'd not believe how many people come on here making excuses to go spend silly money on a new car.

Hintza

Strider590 wrote: »

^^

Dunno about silly, it's just that sometimes the desire to have a new care overpowers all logic and reasoning

Have a look around the forum, you'd not believe how many people come on here making excuses to go spend silly money on a new car.

Exactly loads of excuses on how they are going to save money or need higher mpg etc but in reality they just want a new car. :rotfl:

wendyloub

:rotfl:

Well tonight I took a cheque around to my ex for £600 for said car, after looking at second hand prices and spending £3.50 on a valuation I decided its only worth £1200. He refused the cheque and told me he wanted £800, I drove off in tears and in a real mean temper. Text my boyfriend and told him I was going to dump the thing in the river!

Calmed down, went shopping, looked again at the ford focus Y reg £1800 66k on the clock, lovely colour tried to drive off to pick up kids only to find my car wouldn't steer. Rac man came told me I've blown a sensor off and the pump or somethings bust.

We abandoned said car at garage where its booked in for an MOT in morning, I will ask for a quote then if its more than a couple of hundred quid, will inform ex its now his car and he can sort it!

His parting words tonight were that I can't leave it broken!! watch me lol!!! oh i bet he's wishing he took that cheque lmao:T

newbie007_2

You could tell him if he thinks it's worth £1600 then tell him to pay you £800 and he can have the car?

Hope you come out with a better ending.