Car for short commte - new vs nearly new vs old can't decide

rexmedorum

Looking for a 2nd car for a short commute (5 miles each way). It's only really got to carry 1 person and a backpack to work the other car can do the rest.

Have been looking at new (Ci/i10/Alto) and they seem good value and relatively low depreciation (for a new car). Could just about afford one without finance but only just

Have been looking at nearly new at up to 3 years old similar cars coming to about 4.5 to 5k which is a lot given new prices.

The other line of thought is: we don't know how long we'll live here (depends on work contract renewal which is up in 18 months time) so also considering something much older, corsa/yaris/clio/fiesta etc. of about 10 years old between 65k and 120k miles on the clock.

I'm just a little unsure about older cars & potential issues.

any thoughts?

BeenThroughItAll

rexmedorum wrote: »

Looking for a 2nd car for a short commute (5 miles each way). It's only really got to carry 1 person and a backpack to work the other car can do the rest.

Have been looking at new (Ci/i10/Alto) and they seem good value and relatively low depreciation (for a new car). Could just about afford one without finance but only just

Have been looking at nearly new at up to 3 years old similar cars coming to about 4.5 to 5k which is a lot given new prices.

The other line of thought is: we don't know how long we'll live here (depends on work contract renewal which is up in 18 months time) so also considering something much older, corsa/yaris/clio/fiesta etc. of about 10 years old between 65k and 120k miles on the clock.

I'm just a little unsure about older cars & potential issues.

any thoughts?

Spend a grand on a banger and run it into the ground would be my suggestion. You'd have to be mad to buy a new/nearly new car for a short commute if you're not sure what might happen in 18 months time.

Slowly_does_it..

Random idea - Electric or part electric? - an old (I hate to sway this) Prius? The new Yaris hybrid is a decent, but still fairly large car.

Foxy-Stoat_3

I would buy a small old car for a 50 mile a week trim if that's all its used for, spend as less as possible and sell in when your done with it....no point in buying new if your not going to need or use it for at least 5 years.

Herzlos

Buy an old luxobarge. The fuel for a 10 mile round trip will be the least of your expenses, and they'll have depreciated as much as they will do since no-one wants them anymore (everyone is obsessed with mpg and tax). Essentially largish petrol saloons that are about 10 years old. £5k will get you something really nice to be in too.

Failing that, buy the cheapest C1/Aygo/Pug equivalent you can find in good condition and run it into the ground. Again it'll have depreciated by as much as it will do.

Foxy-Stoat_3

£1000-£1250 will get you a small engined Yaris or something similar, maybe a Smart Car is an option as your not planning on spending too much time driving.

rexmedorum

Slowly_does_it.. wrote: »

Random idea - Electric or part electric? - an old (I hate to sway this) Prius? The new Yaris hybrid is a decent, but still fairly large car.

Electric are still quite expensive though no?

Herzlos wrote: »

Buy an old luxobarge. The fuel for a 10 mile round trip will be the least of your expenses, and they'll have depreciated as much as they will do since no-one wants them anymore (everyone is obsessed with mpg and tax). Essentially largish petrol saloons that are about 10 years old. £5k will get you something really nice to be in too.

Failing that, buy the cheapest C1/Aygo/Pug equivalent you can find in good condition and run it into the ground. Again it'll have depreciated by as much as it will do.

Hhm will be a 1st car plus the work car park is pretty tight so nogt so keen on a barge

Slowly_does_it..

Yes, they are pricey, sorry! Though I am impressed by the amount of 100 K + miler priuses on a-trader.
I was trying to think of something that would somehow get around the engine not warming up problem. Smaller engines warm up much faster.

AdrianC

Five miles each way, one person plus backpack?

Sounds like a perfect job for a bicycle to me...

wwpaddler

For that distance I would buy a bicycle. Much more MSE than a car.

rexmedorum

wwpaddler wrote: »

For that distance I would buy a bicycle. Much more MSE than a car.

tried that in fact but the other half doesn't like it so much especially when it's wet or drak (part of the route is unlit very dark indeed)