Auction or not to auction

System

imo it would be a much better idea to spend a wee bit of money keeping what you have until it throws up a large bill, than spend (someone else's) money on an unknown 6k auction car that could just as easily throw up a bill or two...

sort_me_own_yard_out

TradePro wrote: »

Yeah, here's some great advice - you are being ridiculous, sorry.

You have bankrupted yourself (maybe by buying 'flashy' stuff?), and your Dad is being good enough to give you a lifeline, and you plan to go and blow it on a million-mile moneypit at the auctions!?

You have to totally forget what the car looks like, and find something that will do a good honest job for you, rather than bleeding you dry.

I'm not particularly a Ford fan, but your Dad is wrong about them. They are pretty good nowadays, and certainly a safer bet than a high mileage Audi or BMW. A Civic wouldn't be a bad choice, but again go for maybe an older lower mileage one, rather than the one that 'looks the part' but has visited Saturn!

Hope that helps.

I think my original train of thought has been lost in translation and the fact i wrote i was a bankrupt. I only wrote i was bankrupt as a way of saying that the only way of obtaining a car would be my father buying one for me to use.

I have never spent money of flash items that is not why i am in the situation that i found myself in. nor is is it relevant. My choice of cars isnt a lifestyle choice i genuinley thought i would be better buying a high mileage, ex fleet vehicle that had been serviced regularly and looked after by a company at an auction where i thought it would be cheaper than buying an average mileage car from joe bloggs who had done his own repairs and not been cared for. that i thought were my choices. hence coming here for advice.

I now have a few more options and a bit more thinkng to do.

As for Ford there is no way he would buy one, his brand new one had to have a new engine in it within the first 6 weeks and was never right and after a lot of fighting and heartache ford changed it for another car and he still wasnt happy!!

motorguy

sort_me_own_yard_out wrote: »

Apologies in advance if this is long winded....
At the moment I drive an 06 Megane. It is overdue its cambelt by 19k miles and 2 years. I know this is not a good move but money has been very tight (now bankrupt) it also keeps cutting out when I slow down and go into second gear, rather dangerous when committed myself at give way junctions. It has a rattle when in a low gear that makes people turn and look when i drive past, and its fan has packed up for the second time which i can live with opening windows in the summer but defrosting the inside of my car in winter is a nightmare!

I need a family size car for transporting myself and two children around an on the rare occasion my dog.My dad at the weekend offered to buy a car up to £6k so debating whether or not going to auction would be the best move for me. I do around 15k miles a year and thought about a high mileage ex fleet diesel car. Qashquai, BMW 1 series or 3series, Audi A3 or honda civic all on my wish list and although I could be punching above my weight normally thought an auction may make my money go further.

Can anybody offer advice on my situation.

thanks in advance

Your car has reached the state its in because of lack of funds and neglect. What has changed that makes you think you will look after another car any better?

That renault should last years yet. Unless your dad is a millionaire and £6,000 is loose change to him, let him keep his hard earned but ask him if he would make good the essential work on your current car. I would say £600 would go a long way.

If he really really must buy you a car, get as young a corsa or fiesta or hyundai diesel as you can - probably from a car supermarket - and look after it. If you dont think you'll have the money to look after it, buy something cheaper and ask your dad to help you maintain it with the difference.

sort_me_own_yard_out

the_r_sole wrote: »

imo it would be a much better idea to spend a wee bit of money keeping what you have until it throws up a large bill, than spend (someone else's) money on an unknown 6k auction car that could just as easily throw up a bill or two...

I am going to get in touch with the local garage that put it through its MOT for me he is a good honest man who will tell me straight but ultimately its my dad's choice if he dont want me and my children in that car he wont help me pay for the repair bills. stubborn!!!

sort_me_own_yard_out

motorguy wrote: »

Your car has reached the state its in because of lack of funds and neglect. What has changed that makes you think you will look after another car any better?

That renault should last years yet. Unless your dad is a millionaire and £6,000 is loose change to him, let him keep his hard earned but ask him if he would make good the essential work on your current car. I would say £600 would go a long way.

If he really really must buy you a car, get as young a corsa or fiesta or hyundai diesel as you can - probably from a car supermarket - and look after it. If you dont think you'll have the money to look after it, buy something cheaper and ask your dad to help you maintain it with the difference.

yes Paul it was lack of funds that meant it didnt get a good service each year. my situation has changed as much that i i am now able to budget £30 a month towards the service and MOT each month. a corsa would be too small in all honesty. do you not pay more for the cars from a car supermarket?

motorguy

sort_me_own_yard_out wrote: »

a corsa would be too small in all honesty. do you not pay more for the cars from a car supermarket?

Car supermarkets tend to ex lease cars and take the 'stack em high, sell em cheap' approach - thats not to say theyre always the cheapest but they could be a good yardstick to judge other car dealers prices against. Customer service tends to be low but its going to be a 'safer' environment than buying from auction.

15K miles a year is probably boarderline for needing a diesel. Mid life costs can be quite high with a diesel, with unexpected big bills a possibility. Offsetting that though is much better fuel economy.

arcon5

I had a Vectra a few years back now, let the cambelt change go over the schedule by about 1k miles - it snapped and destroyed my engine. They phoned to quote me for which I thought he said £550, turns out I misheard him and he said £950 - we met in the middle(ish) at about £780.

Afterwards the garage said they would have only charged about £200 for the cambelt kit & fitting.

You're running a major risk at the moment.

sort_me_own_yard_out

motorguy wrote: »

Car supermarkets tend to ex lease cars and take the 'stack em high, sell em cheap' approach - thats not to say theyre always the cheapest but they could be a good yardstick to judge other car dealers prices against. Customer service tends to be low but its going to be a 'safer' environment than buying from auction.

15K miles a year is probably boarderline for needing a diesel. Mid life costs can be quite high with a diesel, with unexpected big bills a possibility. Offsetting that though is much better fuel economy.

Thanks for the advice i have been just having a nosey around today and have been offered £750 px for my megane and saw a 61plate pazaz (what possesed renault to call it that) which from what i could work out is the one in the middle so has air con (good) but trims rather than alloys (suits me fine, I am a woman i cant park!) so the same spec as what i have now. 1.6 petrol 10k on the clock £6400 so with my part ex makes it £5650 before i have started to barter!!

fivetide

sort_me_own_yard_out wrote: »

how much money do you throw at a car before you say enough is enough.

To be fair to your Megane, even given the fact it is French, it doesn't sound liek you've thrown any money at it which is why you are in the situation you are now.

If you want a solid, reliable car that will get you from A to B don't forget the stuff like Kia and Hyundai.

sort_me_own_yard_out

fivetide wrote: »

To be fair to your Megane, even given the fact it is French, it doesn't sound liek you've thrown any money at it which is why you are in the situation you are now.

If you want a solid, reliable car that will get you from A to B don't forget the stuff like Kia and Hyundai.

my megane has served me very well indeed. new starter motor is all that has failed on it in the past. This january it needed new tracking rods and discs and pads for its MOT. it has been a work horse. I had a dealer service each year until its last service 2 years ago. but now its starting to fall apart!