Car Buying Advice

ahmjt

Dear Forum members I would appreciate if you can help me out with my car issue. Currently I have a Nissan Alemra 1.5 automatic (1996). Low on mileage but quite old now. Driving it since 2007. It was very good for the first 3 years but since last year during every servicing a long list of repairs are being suggested by the garage. The car now worths less than this year's repair cost - hence thinking about changing it.
Requirement:
-Automatic transmission.
- space for a family of 2 adults, 2 kids , so will require buggy space on boot.

My driving style - daily 2 to 6 short (2-3 mile long) urban trips, monthly 2 (30-40 miles long) motorway trips. Annually driving less than 5000 miles. I have not set a budget yet, but probably would go for around 5k.

My choices are at the moment (but not limited to)

- Toyota prius
- Honda civic hybrid

Are used hybrids OK? Do they have high repair costs (like changing batteries etc.)? Based on my driving style I am thinking hybrid is the way but my knowledge on cars is very little.

Suggestion for non-hybrid cars are also welcomed. Put the same question to "Honest John" website and had a reply to search for Nissan Note 1.6 which is a car I like as well.

Thanks for your help.

crrussell

for £5000 should be able to pick up a good second hand kia that would still have some of the 7 year warrenty left. in my opinion hybrids have still got alot to prove in terms of lasting the course of time ( but im an old fart who doesnt like change )

rev_henry

Before you start thinking about new cars, what exactly is wrong with yours? They're good, solid cars so may be worth repairing, or someone may know how to do so on the cheap.

rdwarr

Sometimes it's best to find a car that matches your requirements before you set your budget. You'll be surprised how much you caould save. I don't think you're doing the mileage to "risk" a hybrid.

UsernameAlreadyExists

I agree entirely with rev_henry. jumping from a serviceable (albeit at a cost) old workhorse, to a 5K debt is a massive undertaking. Even 5K+ cars require maintenance every so often and will more often than not cost you something each MOT (unless you are very lucky).
Why not try to keep the old girl going ... better the devil you know etc.

banner188

Almera's are bulletproof, surely it only needs wear and tear items? Just take it on the chin and fix it, likely it probably will be sound as a pound for ages after. Every car has a big mot now and again.

ahmjt

Thanks for all the inputs.

My 2 pence: It is not that I do not like the car. A generic profile of Alemra owners are they do not care about the look of the car, they just need somethign reliable to take them from A to B. I am like that.

It is just the case that last year I had to spend £860. This year I have already spent £200 for MOT + required service, the garage gave an estimate for aditional repairs of £750 which I am yet to do. Last year I did not go through the hassel of selling + buying the car as we were expecting new family member then. This year I have no obligation like that. The car is worth probably around £500 now. So I am not exactly if I should commit to repairing this car or not.

I really appreciate the views of forum members here suggesting about thinking twice before commiting to 5k debt. Also the comments about hybrids are valuable. Thanks also for suggesting a Kia.

forgotmyname

Repairs cost more than its worth so you buy a car that is 4x more expensive. Then the repairs are only 50% of its value?

Hybrid's are not as cheap to run as the green gremlins will have you believe.

Does your car need a lot of repairs because you dont care for it as well as you should? Low mileage cars need servicing more often.

Older cars are cheap to maintain. Goto a Ford dealer for a clutch on my Mondeo will see a bill for over £1000. Injectors brand new are £600 each. or £600 for a set of 4 reconditioned ones. Then it needs coding to the engine another £80 or so.

Newer cars have lots of little bills like this just waiting to happen.

ahmjt

forgotmyname wrote: »

Repairs cost more than its worth so you buy a car that is 4x more expensive. Then the repairs are only 50% of its value?

Hybrid's are not as cheap to run as the green gremlins will have you believe.

Does your car need a lot of repairs because you dont care for it as well as you should? Low mileage cars need servicing more often.

Older cars are cheap to maintain. Goto a Ford dealer for a clutch on my Mondeo will see a bill for over £1000. Injectors brand new are £600 each. or £600 for a set of 4 reconditioned ones. Then it needs coding to the engine another £80 or so.

Newer cars have lots of little bills like this just waiting to happen.

When it comes to car repair I unfortunately know nothing. I give it to the garage once every year for servicing. Cleaning is something I kind of forget to do.

I have decided to keep the car, and probably do the reapir works one at a time.

The learning from this post and replies:
- Buying a newer car does not mean worry-free MOts and yearly servicing.
- Hybrids are costly and not suitable for my style of driving.