Beamer or Banger

Redbedhead

My H has always been one for fast cars. When we met he had a Focus ST and I had a Puma. Once we moved in together we quickly decided to downgrade one of the cars for something more sensible. H wouldn't change his, so I got a Fiesta diesel which was a year old.

H took on a job a few miles away and kept having to borrow my car to get there as his was so expensive to run. Gradually he realised the error of his ways and part exed his Focus for a Fiesta petrol. Within 6 months he took a job in London and the car was sat on the driveway for most of the week - so that has now been sold as well:T

When we had his Focus it cost us about £225 per month finance, £800 per year insurance, £150 per month petrol, £175 tax.

My fiesta will be owned within a few months but we are currently paying £115 per month finance, £300 insurance (I have business cover as well though), £50 tax and £100 diesel.

We have agreed we will keep the fiesta for ever (or basically as long as it lasts) as once the finance is paid, the annual costs will be in the region of £650 (£300 ins, £50 tax, £300 maintenance) and then there is the diesel on top. The car is economical on diesel doing about 450 miles on a £32 tank.

Every once in a while my H comments about getting another car and I remind him how much his Focus cost us and he shuts up:rotfl:

We may be getting a family car in the future and he has already started looking at something that is economical to run and doesn't cost the earth.

He is gradually learning the MSE way!

freebird65

My last car was a 3 yr old Rover 416 which I bought for £5K and in the 5 years it actually moved (it's now dead and worthless in the garage....must get rid) annual repair bills always topped £1K, :mad: insurance of £400 a year etc etc.....

This time round I've got a Vauxhall Corsa.....fantastic!!! Bought 18mths old a year ago for £7K, cheaper on road tax, great on petrol, soooopah at parking in tiny spaces and with a little tweeking has a surprising amount of oooomph! If it wasn't so small I'd have it forever.

Best of all there's no finance on it.....bought for cash (by OH....I was still dealing with my debts) so not a penny owed!

I think with a lot of cars it's the luck of the draw - some old cars go on forever and some don't......likewise new ones....so may you all get lucky!!

halifox

Don't buy an Audi

X reg A4 water pump disintegrated at 72,000 miles ripping teeth off cam belt & damaged all the pistons (apparantly) needing £2000 :mad: & then another £1000 :eek: to do the job properly at specialist; completely ripped by first garage that AAman recommended. Was going to change cam belt at 80K as per audi recommendation not knowing that I should've changed £26 water pump at 70K.:mad: :eek:

Bought car as employer demanded I buy one using car allowance; trains, cycling & occasional hire-car not flexible enough for them.

Now I have to keep the car to 120K hoping nothing else goes, to get value back on expenditure; but am thinking too big a risk must try & sell it; was going to get a Prius or keep to policy of 1 yo car & replace every two years within warranty.

Moral: cars cost - audis not as reliable as you'd think - go without & get fit by bike.

(Tempted by classic Quattro - DSG, how did you get new brakes & cam changed for £600¿)

gorebrush

Just bought a 6 month old Seat Ibiza... Borrowed £6500 (car was £10K, eek!)

Does 55-60 to the gallon though, so fuel bill is cheaper. Planning to keep it till its dead.

GreyPilgrim

GreyPilgrim wrote:

We paid £240 for a ford fiesta after Mrs GP passed her test so she could practice and grind away for a few months. For the price it's been great.

She called me tonight to say she was filling up the oil and put anti-freeze in there instead. Suddenly the car isn't running that well....

All sorted now, and oddly enough, it seems to be running a lot smoother and quieter....

genius149

I've always driven bangers and used to fully subscribe to the bangernomics theory. However, the need to commute 94 miles a day meant I decided to bite the bullet and get a luxury car. It is a true moneysaver though as I bought a 1994 LPG converted Lexus GS300.

Being a Lexus (Posh Toyota!) it is ultra reliable and has given me 16,000 almost trouble-free miles. The only problem was a dodgy set of spark plugs when I bought it, but I the local stealership diagnosed it as a burnt out valve (cos of the LPG) so it also had the head skimmed and the valves re-ground and a new head gasket at the same time. This was all done for a very reasonable £750 at the local engine centre. Since then only service items needed.
Fuel costs are under 10p a mile as I fill up at Morrisons (42.9p/l) and get a fiver voucher every few weeks.
Oh Yeah, the car only cost £2,700 paid in cash, has done 122k (now) and has more gadgets than most cars.
New oxygen sensors will mean my mpg will hopefully improve if I ever get round to it.
The best advice you can get for car buying has got to be internet forums, always a bit biased but look at the "problem pages" to see the weak points of the car your interested in.

akadruid

£1300 vectra from ebay.

Lessons learnt:

- Ebay is a buyers market if you have the guts for it.
- But always check your seller has filed their slip. Its dodgy to remember, cos of the waiting period.
- My dad was right, american cars do have low running costs. Wish I didn't prefer my old Golf.
- Find an honest back street 1-man-band mechanic. Its difficult cos they don't need to advertise, but just keep asking everyone you know.


Our mechanic replaced the whole exhaust, front-back, for £70 parts+labour. Also, he will change lightbulbs for less than the bulb costs in halfords.

2Princess_Mum

I've had my 1994 Vauxhall Corsa for 7 years, and I can't give this car a bad name. I learnt to drive in one, which swayed my decision to get one as they are nice runners. The only problem I've had more than once is the wheel bearings (and that's only because of how I negotiate speed humps ). The only reason I plan to change is because I have a family now and have pretty much outgrown it, but it really has served me well over the years.

funky-footprints

Marisan wrote:

My neighbour has just taken possession of a brand new Audi,with all the trimmings including an irritatingly-voiced Sat Nav.All the neighbours have been round to the viewing,to ooh and aah.Four weeks down the line it hasn't been off the driveway.Duh!

its his money tho ... got to admit though i find dh's Audi a huge extravagance that we could do without, i do find it extremely comfortable to travel in, his sat nav is invaluable (and you can always switch it off ) and all the extras just make journeys luxurious ! having had 3 Audi's I must admit we will probably buy a 4th and when my people carrier days are over .. I will most definately be getting another one. just need to get rid of the kids first ! approx 18 years to go !!! lol !!!

tomstickland

I fill up at Morrisons (42.9p/l)

How is that?

I'm never going to buy another front wheel drive car unless I have to. So that limits my choice to old BMWs, MX5, Sierras, Smart Car, Elise, kit car. Enough choice anyway.