Two Cars Needed

scaredofdebt

Sorry for the long post, it's a little complex.

We've currently got two cars, Renault Grand Scenic, probably worth around £500 max. We will be trading this in most likely. The car has lots of issues so not economically repairable but it does run. We need something bigger anyway.

Second car is a Mini Cooper Clubman diesel, probably worth around £4.5-£5k if sold privately. The car is in good condition with no issues so probably sell privately.

Above prices based on what current Auto Trader cars are listed for, I realise we may get a bit less than this.

We have £1k cash to put in as well and can get some finance if required but we are hoping to not borrow anything, or at the most a couple of grand.

We have 5 children with a 6th on the way.

:eek:

My wife will be giving up work as her commuting costs and childcare are going to be about a grand a month and even with her relatively well paid job this would be a bit silly.

She is setting up as a childminder and a larger (8 or 9 seater) car would help the business as well as helping shift our ever increasing brood.

So we are looking at getting a small, economical car for my commute etc and a bigger 8/9 seater for her business and her running about.

Total budget would be around £7k but we can stretch that a little.

My commute is 35 miles each way plus the odd longer motorway journey so diesel makes sense. My wife would be doing mainly shortish journeys so petrol I think.

The larger car is easier as there are few around, Fiat Scudo looks good (we had one as a hire car last year and liked it) I believe Peugeot do the same car with another name?

Also possible is Vauxhall Vivaro. Prices seems to vary quite a bit for these.

The smaller car is the problem, so much choice. I'd like something economical, the Mini does 65 MPG so I don't want anything too much thirstier but with the budget we probably won't get anything near that.

The small car can be anything from 4 seats up, I don't mind long journeys in a small car. I reckon we'll be spending around £6k on the bigger car so only £1k-£2k on the smaller one but as I say we can stretch it if we use finance.

Thanks for any input.

forgotmyname

Zafira? There is a dual fuel one on ebay, Slightly older but the history seems right.

harveybobbles

mini bus or tranny van?

scaredofdebt

Whatever really.

The Scudo is more like a car than a van but the Vivaro more van-like, we'll take whatever is best value.

dannymccann

Wouldn't bother getting rid of the Mini if it's in perfect working order.

If you are going to be carting other people's kids round in a van type job having some cheap thing that looks shonky will drive the punters away - think you would be better off getting something a bit newer, safer etc on finance. If she is setting up as a proper child minder the finance payments on a vehicle can be expenses for her sole trader earnings anyway (or a proportion of it if you need this van to transport your family around on private journeys too)

scaredofdebt

Doubt she'd get finance as the business is new, not many lenders will lend to sole traders without a year or two of accounts etc.

We may do that though, keep the mini and go for a £2k or so Previa or something.