Would you get an expensive car to run if it were a good deal

epz_2

Hi,

I currently have a leased car (volvo S80) that is due to expire in january, I have been looking around and quite fancy getting a subaru legacy/outback/forester as they seem very well built, good in the crap weather and for about 10k I can get a low mileage (20,000 ish) 06/07 reg.

The problem is all these good deals seem to be on the forester XT's and legacy spec b's which causes two problems.

1) insurance they are about 300 pounds more to insure, this should drop as I build back up my NCB after a low speed shunt in the snow
2) they are group M tax so about 200 pounds more road tax than normal.

Mpg isnt as much of an issue due to the distances and way I drive.

Owning these cars should obviously mean I get to enjoy the better quality performance and better parts, get the better deal on the car but obviously committing to a such a extra outlay is a bit scary.

My current logic is that if it costs 10k for car A which cost 500 more to run but car B is 12k then after 5 years it has only cost me 100 a year extra for a better car. That said what the gov does to group M tax is also a concern.

anybody got any opinions or advice on alternative cars that are built to last, good in the snow and represent value, i have looked at the big 4x4's but they dont seem to represent much value and higher maintenance costs.

forgotmyname

Better quality performance and parts? Dearer parts when it comes to repairs and servicing you mean?

I think you logic is flawed. Why buy a ford and lose 70% of its value after 3 years when you can buy
a mercedes which only loses 40%? Because the 40% you lose on the mercedes is more than the ford
costs to buy in the 1st place. Buy a focus for £10k after 3 years throw it away. Or buy a Merc for £40k
sell it for £30k... same logic??

All cars can break down, No matter how much you pay or how many awards they win on various survey's.
1 out of 1 Subaru owners surveyed said their car never broke down.

Why would you spend 10k on a Subaru because its dearer to run but £12k on a car thats cheaper to run?
Why not spend £10k on a cheap to run car and pocket the difference?

cyclonebri1

Would you get an expensive car to run if it were a good deal


No I wouldn't, this is a money saving forum 1stly, and 2ndly go for the car you want after weighing up all the factors.:money:


Why buy something that you didn't really want because it was cheap????;);););)

Gene_Hunt_2

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Why buy something that you didn't really want because it was cheap????;);););)

Cause it's money saving, like you said?:beer:

cyclonebri1

Gene_Hunt wrote: »

Cause it's money saving, like you said?:beer:

But it ain't money saving if you can't stand it, so sell it after a few months.

2 rules from my point of view, well maybe more;

Will it perform, be as reliable, and return the economy you desire??, and this is the clincher,...... over the period you intend owning it??

Residuals?, I guess no one can quess,;), depends heavilly on the initial outlay.

Gene_Hunt_2

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

But it ain't money saving if you can't stand it, so sell it after a few months.

2 rules from my point of view, well maybe more;

Will it perform, be as reliable, and return the economy you desire??, and this is the clincher,...... over the period you intend owning it??

Residuals?, I guess no one can quess,;), depends heavilly on the initial outlay.

Where did he say he'd sell it after a few months?

KonkyWonky

epz wrote: »

Mpg isnt as much of an issue due to the distances and way I drive.

Unless you do less than 4 or 5k miles a year then it will be a huge issue no matter what your driving style is. You will be lucky to get anything over an average of 30MPG no matter how light on the throttle you are.

Over 10k miles the difference between the Subaru and something like a Focus or Astra that gets you 40MPG will be £600+ in fuel.

People don't buy these type of cars to save money.....

epz_2

forgotmyname wrote: »

Better quality performance and parts? Dearer parts when it comes to repairs and servicing you mean?

I think you logic is flawed. Why buy a ford and lose 70% of its value after 3 years when you can buy
a mercedes which only loses 40%? Because the 40% you lose on the mercedes is more than the ford
costs to buy in the 1st place. Buy a focus for £10k after 3 years throw it away. Or buy a Merc for £40k
sell it for £30k... same logic??

All cars can break down, No matter how much you pay or how many awards they win on various survey's.
1 out of 1 Subaru owners surveyed said their car never broke down.

Why would you spend 10k on a Subaru because its dearer to run but £12k on a car thats cheaper to run?
Why not spend £10k on a cheap to run car and pocket the difference?

Re the parts point I have driven under 8k miles (2k of which was work funded) in the past 2 years, assuming I keep one for 5 years I dont see to much getting worn out when buying a car with 20k on it. They are pretty much a consumer cars with uprated bits, my old 7 series really had some truly epic bills.

On your example above the total cost of ownership is about 10k for both cars so in a world where interest rates are so low I can see why people buy/drive the merc which will be a nicer place to be.

Personally I have done the posh badge thing thinking I was getting a quality car, I just want a well built reliable car and Subaru seems up there at the moment.

KonkyWonky

Doing a low amount of miles does not always help when it comes to parts wearing out. Certain parts will actually wear quicker the less the car is used ie exhaust system, battery, brake discs.

This is a money saving forum and buying the type of car you are suggesting will under no circumstances save you money. If you are looking for someone to tell you "what a great idea" then you might get more luck on a Subaru forum.

BTW, if you only do 4k miles a year then why on earth would you be considering spending this amount of cash on a car, again baring in mind this is a money saving forum?

Gene_Hunt_2

£10K is a cheap car. So very money saving.

KonkyWonky

Gene_Hunt wrote: »

£10K is a cheap car. So very money saving.

You win the prize for most ridiculous comment of the day, well done