Help & Advice please?...

markymark07

Hello All!

My wife and I need all the feedback and advice we can get on this one...

Ok so our current car needs 1k spent on it to get it through its MOT in March so taking the opportunity to weigh up our options we looked at p/x'ing for a newer car.

So we looked at some initial figures for a PCP and they came up with this:

We would get £3500 for our car and would only need to put in £500 to the PCP with 48 payments of £185.00 and a baloon/GFV of £2976 after the term at 13.1%.

Still with me - here's the tricky bit :mad:...

We currently have a credit card and by doing some basic maths and by taking out the PCP we would release and pay off the majority of the credit card (reducing the credit card payment by £190p/m)

So on paper we would be £5 better off. The car we are looking at is far more cheaper to run, tax and insure, so basically we just want to get some advice as weird a bit wary of committing to 4yrs on the PCP but on the other hand have just paid the interest on the cc for the last 18months and feel like we are chasing our tails.

Thanks in advance if there is anything ive missed let me know as after a weekend of figures i'm baboozled! )

waynedance

Out of interest what £3500 car needs 1k spending for an mot?
What is wrong with it?

markymark07

Its a Suzuki Swift Sport - Needs a new Catalytic Converter and Discs and Pads all round plus TAX due also in March at £210. I have shopped around and even have a friend who is a mechanic the part is £500 plus vat alone? Even tried scrap yards etc.

Horseunderwater

markymark07 wrote: »

Its a Suzuki Swift Sport - Needs a new Catalytic Converter and Discs and Pads all round plus TAX due also in March at £210. I have shopped around and even have a friend who is a mechanic the part is £500 plus vat alone? Even tried scrap yards etc.

Suggest your mate is pulling you on this one.

Cat convertors not so expensive these days - £500+VAT is very high.
When is MOT due? You have upto one month prior to actual date to input it and if it fails, you can still drive under current MOT till then. Meanwhile you find and track down parts - some of which anyone who can read and follow simple instructions can change brake pads and discs themselves. Internet can and does provide good guides.
We have done them on my Berlingo and that is a very odd car.
First let us know exact date of car reg and year. Exact model and CC of engine. Ebay is often a very good place to begin. My Cat is hard to come by as it is for a 1.8 petrol berlingo and for its year, the parts are not patent, which means I have to source from overseas. Usually Poland/Germany. Cost was £64 end of last year, however, still not been fitted as exhaust was weldable. So for moment not needing to be fitted. It was simple to do for welder, they popped bit of steel pipe slightly smaller inside exhaust pipe, re closed gap and welded it up. No more leaks for now and it passed MOT 3 months later. Cost £42 labour only. They happened to have a bit of odd pipe cut off lying around. Who looked at the brakes? If it was kwik fit or similar, they will often tell you something needs doing when it may not. If pads are not metal to metal and some pad still left, it should be advisory not fail. Are you able to remove front wheel and have a visual look at for yourself? Internet, can give you a guide in how to do a pre MOT look for yourself. The MOT for brakes tests the %age of power to stop the vehicle on a rolling road normally. It will do all brakes and handbrake too. Is there any squealing or screaming noise when you brake vehicle? If not, may get past MOT and can then be repaired say a month or so on, thus spreading cost out.
Initially pay for 6 months Tax, that too will help if money tight. Try and find a small independent car repair place, often found on quiet ind estates in smaller towns, ask around taxi drivers or lorry drivers if you know any, they often have mates who will do stuff at less cost and it is spread word of mouth business. If someone or several someones use a certain garage and they have not had a problem, it is always worth asking that person for the number. Was how I found the one I now use. £40 lab per hour £45 MOT and parts at cost +Vat. And if I ask them to get something done, they actually do it. And they are based on a quiet ind est near to Tesco. A full service with them for OH's car last year £182 which included full set of new filters and oil change and brake fluid etc His MPG went from 35mph to getting on for 85mph - just by going there. Prev used a Ford main dealer to get a service. They had not done what they were meant to do and all for a higher price too. Was very obvious to current garage. Hope this helps give you confidence to go and get it sorted.

markymark07

Thanks for the helps guys although we have been looking to change car now for a coupleof years and just feel maybe its time to change. It more about whether to buy or not to buy really