Changing car

gabitzul

Even my Focus MK2 (2005) 1.6 petrol does a real 50 mpg on the motorway if taken very gently (65 mph). So your Fiesta can't be that bad, be it either 1.25 or 1.4.

Keep it, as you have already sorted it out.

I do not agree with going for PCP just after starting a job. What if the job doesn't work out? You are left with no money and a lot of debt.

AdrianC

37 miles x 10 trips per week = 370 miles.
By your own guesstimate, you're doing 260-280 miles from £40, so call it 15p/mile. Which puts your _actual_ fuel expense to £55 per week, not the £100 you guesstimated.

At £1.30/litre, that's 42.6 litres, 9.5 gall so 39mpg. Real world, not the official figures, which are usually far higher than reality.

If you want a new car, buy a new car. But don't use fuel economy to justify the purchase.

facade

Assuming like like, you have a 40mpg car that costs you £400 in fuel.

If you get a 55mpg car then your fuel bill becomes 40/55 x 400 = £290

So you save £110 a month.

Can you get a 55MPG car for below £110 a month? (including extra insurance, less any saving on tax etc)

If you can, then it makes sense, otherwise, the fiesta will last a few years now you have spent so much on it.

clayton16749

I used to an awful 35 mile each way trip along the M62/M6/M56. I have a 6 year old supermini that I don't really think of as being that economical but it used to cost me £250 - £280 a month in fuel. Are you actually spending £400 a month?


What's your driving style like? Changing how you drive - if you aren't constantly stuck in start-stop traffic - might help.

AdrianC

facade wrote: »

Assuming like like, you have a 40mpg car that costs you £400 in fuel.

Unless there's a lot of mileage that the OP forgot to tell us about, it's either a 40mpg car or one that gets through £400-worth of fuel. Not both.

facade

What i meant was:

The OP has an ostensibly 40 mpg car, that through circumstances, like the way it is driven/traffic conditions/undeclared mileage is actually costing £400 a month

Therefore I surmise that an ostensibly 55mpg car driven in identical conditions, would behave in the same way and would save £110 a month.

However, as you are hinting 37 miles each way in a Fiesta should use less than £12 a day, which for a 5 day week would be under £60 a week, or around £240 a month, so there may be something wrong with the car

harveybobbles

BJV wrote: »

I would look at PCP on a newer leaner meaner car. there are some good deals on and you can get a lot for just over £100 a month. The additional fuel economy and the lower insurance and lower road tax will mean that even after paying out for the car you should still save. The fact that it will still be in warranty means that you will not need to budget for expensive repairs.




Google car leasing what car is not bad http://www.whatcar.com/car-leasing/ but there are loads of others.


For example if you are going to spend £2000 on a car it will be an older car so you will have to budget in MOT costs and repairs. Say £40.00 per month. That means that conservatively it will cost you around 123 per month.


At the end of the two years your £2000 esp on the mileage you do will not be worth a great deal . Don't forget extra road tax, don't forget on top road side assistance.


Instead pay the £123 per month on a PCP hand it back or part exchange it. Enjoy it in the best years of its life and then hand it back.


If you have the extra £2000 burning a hole in your pocket tie it up in an ISA.


But hey that s my 2p worth.


P.s congratulations on your new job!

So thats £123 per month with nothing to show for it?

LandyAndy

BJV wrote: »

Instead pay the £123 per month on a PCP hand it back or part exchange it. Enjoy it in the best years of its life and then hand it back.

harveybobbles wrote: »

So thats £123 per month with nothing to show for it?

That is what you have to show for it.


I'm sure plenty of people would think that was sufficient.

jimjames

Foxy-Stoat wrote: »

£1500-£2000 will put you in any 1.9tdi PD engined car that will be fine for your commute for a few years. Pick one with good history and dont worry about buying a car with over 100,000 on the clock, as long as the cambelt and water pump has been changed, serviced regually. Buy from a private seller for the best deal.

Mk4 golf or Bora, Skoda Octavia or fabia, Ford Mondeo or Focus, Audi A3/4/6.

I get 600-650 miles from a full tank, £90ish or £70ish with the full 20p off a litre in my B6 A4.

Couldn't agree more.

The 1.9 TDI PD engine is great and in all the vehicles I've owned has been no problems to very high miles. My current Golf is on 245,000 miles and I use it for 30 mile commute daily plus weekly business trips of 200 miles. 50 mpg from a £700 car is just perfect! I have no doubt I could sell it for at least what I paid if I so wished.

Having said that, if the Fiesta is running fine then it may be best to keep it. Problem is that people seem to see petrol and running costs coming out of their pocket and gives impression of expenses. Monthly loan payments and depreciation don't seem to have the same impact but may be even more significant.

iolanthe07

Problem is that people seem to see petrol and running costs coming out of their pocket and gives impression of expenses. Monthly loan payments and depreciation don't seem to have the same impact but may be even more significant.

Absolutely spot on.