When would be a good time to buy an 11-plate used car?

littlesnuggy

This may be a question that nobody can answer, but thought someone may have some experience (I have none)

OH & I need to replace our 03 reg Corsa as it's started to have things go wrong on it (handbrake cable & rear & centre exhaust boxes changed in the last 2 months). We (he) has narrowed his ideal replacement down to one particular model and I've been checking Autotrader, Ebay and all the local dealerships. He has also done lots of cost/benefit analysis taking into account road tax, insurance, fuel economy, depretiation etc to demonstrate that this is a sensible option.

When I put our search criteria into Autotrader (diesel, 5 door, under 40k miles, maximum price) and select up to 2 years old, there are only 6 cars listed, half of which are Category D. When I change it to up to 3 years, there are 72.

For various reasons, we'd prefer an 11-plate or newer, so when could we expect more of these to come on the market? Do fleet cars automatically get sold once they're 3 years old or anything along those lines? As I understand it, 11-plates would have been registered between March & August 2011, so are we more likely to find more on the market if we wait until after March?

Sorry if this sounds like a ridiculous question, and I fully understand if the answer comes back as 'how long is a piece of string?'!

[Deleted User]

In about 7 years when you can pick one up for a grand or so...

GAZ237

Fleet cars tend to be 3 years old.

Why are you so specific about wanting a 2011 plate?.

You would still be paying a lot of money and depreciation would still be a fair bit.

forgotmyname

When its 5 years old. And the previous owner didnt run it to the last day or mile for the service intervals and even took it in for minor fixes.

At 5 years old its still reliable and most of the depreciation has been done.

With the low mileage and your budget only showing CAT D cars shows your budget isnt enough.

72 cars in your budget at 3 years old, Shows thats what your going to get really. Unless its something with a poor past history.
Damaged or neglected cars.

Buy something older but in a better condition.

As above most are 3 years old, Some maybe even 5 years.

My car was 5 years old. I only paid just over £2000 for it. That was in 2009.
Still going strong.

littlesnuggy

GAZ237 wrote: »

Fleet cars tend to be 3 years old.

Why are you so specific about wanting a 2011 plate?.

You would still be paying a lot of money and depreciation would still be a fair bit.

We'll we're planning on keeping it for maybe 5-6 years and OH thought that would work out best in terms of re-sale value & minimising maintenance costs whilst we have it. We also have a private number plate in mind that could only go on an 11-plate+ car but this is a completely stupid reason and very un-MSE and I'm not sure it's a very good reason!

GAZ237

littlesnuggy wrote: »

We'll we're planning on keeping it for maybe 5-6 years and OH thought that would work out best in terms of re-sale value & minimising maintenance costs whilst we have it. We also have a private number plate in mind that could only go on an 11-plate+ car but this is a completely stupid reason and very un-MSE and I'm not sure it's a very good reason!

If your keeping it for 5-6 years, forget resale value.

As for the plate, being an 11 unless its something unusual. it will be costing you much more than its worth (is it initials or similar?)

forgotmyname

Category D or TAX band D ?

Check the price of an 8 year old car and a 10 year old car, Not a huge difference. You will lose far more on the newer car.

2003 cars from £800, 2006 cars from £1300.

Ultrasonic

littlesnuggy wrote: »

OH & I need to replace our 03 reg Corsa as it's started to have things go wrong on it (handbrake cable & rear & centre exhaust boxes changed in the last 2 months).

Have you had lots of other problems, or just those? If just those, with a MSE hat on I'm inclined to suggest you don't need to replace the Corsa...

littlesnuggy

Thanks all. Yes, I'm inclined to agree that a slightly older car would be better value.

What sort of mileage would you consider when buying a used car? Initially I was looking at under 20k, but I increased this to 40k when I saw the huge mileages that some seem to get to before being sold on. Our current car has only done 45k (it had about 8 on when my parents bought it for me in 2004), so we don't do big mileages ourselves.

I'm sure we could keep running the Corsa for another few years but I've been told it will need new brake pads & discs and probably new rear tyres next year, so I think it's time to replace it. We can afford a new (to us) car and would be buying it outright.

Oh and yes, the number plate was to spell out a name. Which is a totally non-essential purchase and I can't see us actually spending £400 on.

GAZ237

littlesnuggy wrote: »

Thanks all. Yes, I'm inclined to agree that a slightly older car would be better value.

What sort of mileage would you consider when buying a used car? Initially I was looking at under 20k, but I increased this to 40k when I saw the huge mileages that some seem to get to before being sold on. Our current car has only done 45k (it had about 8 on when my parents bought it for me in 2004), so we don't do big mileages ourselves.

I'm sure we could keep running the Corsa for another few years but I've been told it will need new brake pads & discs and probably new rear tyres next year, so I think it's time to replace it. We can afford a new (to us) car and would be buying it outright.

Oh and yes, the number plate was to spell out a name. Which is a totally non-essential purchase and I can't see us actually spending £400 on.

You know the full history of your old car and its low mileage.

New brake pads, discs and rear tyres will get you change from £250 max including labour and parts..

For the miles you do, buying a newer car is just throwing money away.

I really can't fathom your logic?.

bob_a_builder

"also have a private number plate in mind that could only go on an 11-plate+ car"
how so ?