Downshifting the motor Car Tax/Fuel Cost Advice please

MikeyMacbeth

Hi,

My car tax is due end of August and I've started wondering if it's worth trading in for something cheaper to run, in terms of the tax band, insurance and petrol costs.

Currently I have a 56/2006 reg Skoda Fabia Elegance 1.4 manual with 30,000 miles on the clock and good service history. It's not had any accidents and has a good service history so checking on Parkers I've got an approximate price guide of around £3600 for a private sale for what it might be worth (anyone confirm that Parkers is a reasonable guide for price?)

Has anyone any thoughts what to look for to replace it with?, bearing in mind that I've no budget above what I get for the car (lets take a worst case and say I get £3000) The objective as I say is to drop down the tax band a level or two, cheapen the insurance and costing less to run - i.e. better mpg.

I don't want a "smart" type car - basically 3/5 door manual hatchback with good reliability, similar mileage and year and I don't give a darn about the colour;)

I'm not mechanically minded so maintenance over checking the tyres and oil is beyond me (will be taking someone who is with me when I do go to buy to give it the once-over)

citykid5

audi a2 tdi,£30 road tax,you'd have to go for a older model probably 53plate,but there actualy incresing in value and the more fuel costs rise,so will the value

pitkin2020

any smaller diesel should bring road tax and insurance down. Pug 206 1.4 HDI would be in budget, £35 PA road tax, very economical too.

lincroft1710

Given the car's mileage it's probably not that worthwhile changing.

forgotmyname

You wont get something the same age, smaller and cheaper to run for the same money you sell yours for.

You may need to put an extra £1000 towards it. So your unlikely to recoup your money. Insurance on small
diesels can be higher. I changed from a petrol to a diesel and the nice company charged me an extra £60.

MikeyMacbeth

forgotmyname wrote: »

You wont get something the same age, smaller and cheaper to run for the same money you sell yours for.

You may need to put an extra £1000 towards it. So your unlikely to recoup your money. Insurance on small
diesels can be higher. I changed from a petrol to a diesel and the nice company charged me an extra £60.

I suspected as much... unfortunately haven't got any money to put towards it (hence the need to reduce motoring costs)

Why they'd want more money for insurance on a small diesel is a puzzler!? (wonder if it's because they're more used as commercial vehicles or tend to be higher mileage users?)

Way it's going cost-wise may have to ditch the car altogether but with a family of four and the flexibility it gives us it'll be a b*&^*r to lose it!

Just wish I could have seen the future when I bought it...:(

Thanks to all anyway:)

s_b

Just wish I could have seen the future when I bought it.

you would have bought a lottery ticket though, not a car that is sought after:)

MikeyMacbeth

s_b wrote: »

you would have bought a lottery ticket though, not a car that is sought after:)

10 out of 10 for the clear thinking there!:D

Kilty_2

You've already got a car that's cheap to run - so even buying a very small very economical car will not save enough for you to bother.

The only real alternative you have is to buy a car for less (much less) than £1000 and pray to God it doesn't throw a massive bill at you quickly, thus pocketing at least a couple of grand from the sale of the Fabia. You'll probably see an INCREASE in VED, Fuel and Insurance in doing so though.

bigjl

Why not convert it to LPG?

I don't think you will find a car much cheaper to run than the one you have, if you sell it then buy somethign else then there are two profit margins to finance if you go to a dealer, which means you will end up with a worse car.


Unless your RoadTax is £460 and it does 20mpg I can't see the point changing from what you already have in all honesty.

p1tse

it's an already economical car, you know it works so just keep it.

i looked at a2 but only 2 seats in the back