Which to choose and how to buy?

[Deleted User]

Hi all, don't usually venture into this forum but would like some opinions.

I had to hand my last car (VW Polo 1.4 TDi, loved it) back to my employer as I left the job. My new job is currently taking up almost three hours a day of my life with 80 mins of walking and over an hour on the bus! Which is ridiculous as it is only a 30 min drive away but anyway...!

I am aware that currently I am only paying for my bus fare for the commute (£1.60/day), getting my groceries delivered and various other bus fares/car rental fees when I want to have a day out (live in the city centre, work on outskirts) and the cost of running a car in comparison is astronomical. However, I love driving and suspect by the end of this year I will have bought one. Budget is likely £6-9k.

Question 1- I'm looking at the Suzuki Swift and the Renault Megane Coupe. I'm aware that they are not very similar, not in the same price bracket and Renault's servicing costs/maybe running costs?! are a lot higher. The Suzuki is my "head" choice and the Renault is my "heart" choice- I think it's a lovely car. However, I am thinking that I will either get a newer Suzuki (SZ3 or 4) for that price, or an older Renault (1.5, diesel again). Currently I have not test driven either so this may change but what are people's opinions on/experiences with these cars? I am currently thinking more along the lines of getting the older Renault and just running it until it won't run any more! I think if I got the Suzuki I'd probably want to change again sooner as the Renault has better kit.

Question 2 - finance! Not so important really- as this is more of a "want" thing than a "need" thing I intend to save up to pay cash- should take me probably the best part of a year but I can see me having the money sitting there and suddenly not wanting to spend it all on a hunk of metal!! However, if the commute starts really doing my head in, I gather 0% finance from the dealer is NOT the way to go? Would aiming for a personal loan or (prob unlikely these days) a 0% credit card be the way to go on top of as large a deposit as I can manage?

So, am I being stupid here in some way folks? Should I just settle down and enjoy the daily entertainment of the bus drivers road rage and Tesco always screwing up my order?? :rotfl:Should I be considering something else? Cheers for any thoughts.

forgotmyname

Finance on a car is usually a bad idea. When it needs repairs will you have the extra funds without missing a payment.

I presume you have zero no claims so insurance could be £2000 or more? If you have an accident and pay in installements they may ask for the full policy price. Budget for that.

Dont forget parkiung charges. Seems to be big business these days. I avoid the city centre £2.40 for 20 minutes..... They are Joking? ( NOT )

Save the cash buy something for half the amount saved, That way you have enough to repair it or worse case buy another.

I couldnt be without my car and have to make sacrifices for that. £2000 for a car thats less than 5 years old and in good condition, Fairly high miles but that keeps prices low.
I will keep it for 4 or 5 years and sell for approx half what i paid.

Buy wisely and it will be less than £200 a year to keep it running sweetly.

[Deleted User]

forgotmyname wrote: »

Finance on a car is usually a bad idea. When it needs repairs will you have the extra funds without missing a payment.

I presume you have zero no claims so insurance could be £2000 or more? If you have an accident and pay in installements they may ask for the full policy price. Budget for that.

Dont forget parkiung charges. Seems to be big business these days. I avoid the city centre £2.40 for 20 minutes..... They are Joking? ( NOT )

Save the cash buy something for half the amount saved, That way you have enough to repair it or worse case buy another.

I couldnt be without my car and have to make sacrifices for that. £2000 for a car thats less than 5 years old and in good condition, Fairly high miles but that keeps prices low.
I will keep it for 4 or 5 years and sell for approx half what i paid.

Buy wisely and it will be less than £200 a year to keep it running sweetly.

Thanks for your reply.

I agree that finance is definitely to be avoided. Any payment I theoretically had would be at most about 20% of my current disposable income after bills, mortgage etc but who's to say what's around the corner?! Having thought about it more since yesterday there's no way I am even going to entertain a loan, finance or a 0% CC- as I said before, a car is a want and not a need for me and so I don't see the point of getting into debt for one at all, I'd rather pay off my mortgage!

With regard to your other points around running costs, I am aware of what these will be. I have 5 years no claims and have costed insurance at about £420 p.a. for the highest insurance group of cars I've looked at- this includes my learner driver bf and my mum who is a pensioner and so is at that point where she may push my premium up rather than taking it down! I also have free parking both at home and work so only parking considerations are for when I'm visiting somewhere. It is likely though that my street will soon have permits enforced (only a matter of time I feel) so I have been including a contingency of about £130 p.a. in my budgeting thoughts.

I am not taking this decision lightly- I have had very bad luck with running costs of cars in the past. I had my first car for a year and a half before I sold it to take a cheap lease through my work. I lost £1,600 in depreciation and had almost a grand in repairs in that time and it was only a 4 year old Polo!! The battle between having the extra thousands a year to save to move house and the joy of car ownership is raging and I think the house will probably win!