Car Decisions

peppa<3

Hi,

I'm looking at buying a Ford Zetec (Hatchback, 5DR) 1.4.

I really like the Hot Magenta colour and have seen the following;

2012 (62) Plate, 3000 Miles, £10,800.

OR

Metallic Black, 2012 Plate, 12000 Miles, £9000.

Does anyone know why there would be a valid reason that the first option is £1,800 more than the second? Is 1/2 year older, and 9000 more miles really worth that amount less?

They are from different garages, I'm wondering if I could use them as haggling tools (I would prefer the first one!).

ALSO -

Whats your opinion on buying 12 plate cars now? I'm thinking its worth spending more to buy a newer car as I'll keep it longer? My current car is 02 and I'm desperate to have one thats not old! I think if I got one I'd keep it longer, where as if I settled for say an 08 I'd want to replace it in a few years?

DUTR

Ford Focus is under £8k 2000 miles and 61 plate, so perhaps the prices do drop drastically, have a look on autotrader for similar models to what you are looking for, see if the 'going rate' is about the prices you are seeing locally.

peppa<3

Thanks. Can't believe I hadn't looked on there before! Doh! First time buying a car, my parents got me my current one! I've found Fiesta Zetec (62 plate) 1.4 with 4000 miles for £10,000. Another with 1,500 miles for £10,299. Shows the price for the Hot Magenta is a little on the high side.

TradePro

Women always seem willing to pay over the odds for items that are 'pink'.

Mobile phones, laptops, hair straightners etc etc., I would suggest you pay less for a colour that isn't going to 'go out of fashion' again.

peppa<3

Thanks. Thats what I was trying to establish - whether there was a higher price tag on it because of the colour, or simply because its half a year newer / less mileage.

TradePro

A bit of each I imagine Peppa, but primarily the colour would be my guess.

If you really fancy a 'pink' car, Kia have recently launched a great shade called 'Fuschia Blush' (metallic) in the new Picanto, a brand new decent spec one would be less than the used Fiesta, car is slightly smaller though.

DUTR

peppa<3 wrote: »

Thanks. Thats what I was trying to establish - whether there was a higher price tag on it because of the colour, or simply because its half a year newer / less mileage.

The colour may, if it is a chargeable extra, I know my next car may have paint which is £900 option (not that I expect it back on re-sale) .
It's a large price difference for a small age gap.

forgotmyname

Ford Zetec.. KA, Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo other?

Zetec is the spec.

But even though its a Zetec and will have a set standard of extras over a basic model it may also have optional extra's.

6 months older and 1 plate change back also? £1900 sounds about right.

If you buy the newer car thats how much you will lose in the next 6 - 12 months.
Then its worth another £1000 - £1500 less every year. Until it gets to about 5 years then its more about condition.

In 2009 I bought a 5 year old Mondeo for just over £2000.
£17,000 ish new? So it lost £3000 a year.

New cars just empty your wallet.

bluesnake

peppa<3 wrote: »

I really like the Hot Magenta colour

Sorry to be boring, but don't you think that when you sell this car, the colour may dissuade 50% of the market, be harder to sell, get less for the car, and have a devil of a time getting touch-up paint and wing mirrors etc.?

On the bright side boyfriend/husband will leave it alone.

DUTR

forgotmyname wrote: »

Ford Zetec.. KA, Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo other?

Zetec is the spec.

But even though its a Zetec and will have a set standard of extras over a basic model it may also have optional extra's.

6 months older and 1 plate change back also? £1900 sounds about right.

If you buy the newer car thats how much you will lose in the next 6 - 12 months.
Then its worth another £1000 - £1500 less every year. Until it gets to about 5 years then its more about condition.

In 2009 I bought a 5 year old Mondeo for just over £2000.
£17,000 ish new? So it lost £3000 a year.

New cars just empty your wallet.

I've had my car from new, a quick check on autotrader suggests I would have 'lost' £1700pa , but then I have enjoyed every mile driven in the car :cool:

DUTR

bluesnake wrote: »

Sorry to be boring, but don't you think that when you sell this car, the colour may dissuade 50% of the market, be harder to sell, get less for the car, and have a devil of a time getting touch-up paint and wing mirrors etc.?

On the bright side boyfriend/husband will leave it alone.

I suppose the OP is buying the car for themselves, when it comes to selling, it is the next buyer's worry, I certainley wouldn't buy a car in fear of what the next owner may want :eek: