Car for 9 months - Short term lease or buy?

tombomb84

Advice needed!

I'm moving back to the UK to work for 9 months from November onwards. I have a wife and three children and we have family to visit spread around the UK so we need a car for weekends and trips here and there (no commute). I want to get a Ford S-Max as our three child seats fit nicely into the back and we have had one before here in Norway

My two options are:

1. Buy a used S-Max for around £10k (cash) with 50k+- on the clock. After the nine months sell it on with around 10k extra miles on the clock + tax + maintenance costs.

2. Short Term lease at £485 for the 9 months with 10k miles + tax included. With the lease it'll be around £4365 for the 9 months.

Trying to decide what would be best. I don't mind the hassle of buying but selling is something else. I've had a look on webuyancar.com and tried to play around there and the car would depreciate around £2k over the nine months. Then i'm thinking will I be unlucky and have öne or two garage bills totalling £2365 etc. etc.

Tell me what you think and what you'd do in my shoes!!

Cheers
tom:beer:

w211

Leasing looks less hassle. You have the pleasure of driving a brand new car, then handing it back no problem. It will be under warranty, no servicing required, tax or MOT.

forgotmyname

What about insurance? Is that price inclusive?

If not maybe hiring one long term? A quick search showed a Zafira on 6month+ hire at around £400 a month.

With insurance it may work out slightly cheaper?

Hintza

If you are going to lease look for the deal and not the car.

Draw up a short list of cars that meet your criteria and then pick the one that is not selling as well, you will be more likely to get a deal.

tombomb84

The leasing rate of £485 does not include insurance. I've got 7 years no claims from Norway but doubt i'd be able to take it to the UK.

I've had a look at long term car hire but a lot of the rates are exclusive insurance.

Leasing does sound appealing and it also saves time.