Car purchase - bottom range new or top of range old?

BarleyGB

Hi all,

Ive been saving for a long time to buy myself a nice car. Putting aside discussions about the merits of car purchases, depreciation etc im looking for some opinions re the merits of:

Bottom of the range:

Pros - shiny and new, would be the first new car id ever bought and from the outside looks are the same as better models, reduced running costs

Cons - depreciation, small engine, not many toys


Top of the range:

Pros - big engine, acceleration, power, lots of extras e.g. nice wheels, sat nav, cruise control etc, forecourt to road depreciation priced in

Cons - running costs, repairs etc (not really an issue for me)


Realising the same amount of money would get me a brand new bottom of the range model has got me wondering whether ive thought about it enough. I think ive made my decision but wanted to see what other peoples thoughts/preferences would be?

benham3160

100% an older higher spec' model.

People shun them, makes it cheap for me to buy them!

Big engined petrols with all the trimmings usually terrify people, they forget you've got to burn A LOT of fuel to counter the higher initial price. Also I like buttons and comfort in my cars, haven't bought a povo spec' car for years.

As cars age and slide down the Glass price the spec' makes less and less difference, on older cars there is litterally zero merit in not buying a high spec' model, often they end up costing the same.

oldhand

Im thinking if your intending to keep the car for a while the top of the range oldie would be best.The depreciation has happened on it and if you keep it for a few years it will be worth (pro rata) more than the new car which regardless if you decide to sell within 3 years will still loss in depreciation except in that case you will have paid for the depreciation.
Also the oldie has all the goodies,always a good thing at resale time so im on the side of the oldie.....:)

Avoriaz

Top of the range old every time.

Let someone else take the big initial depreciation hit.

=rizla=

I've got both sitting on my drive, my old car with heater seats etc, and the family new car. What do I use, the old one, I don't worry about the odd car park ding, its nicer to drive, and at 150k miles I don't worry about adding miles to it.


You said repairs(not really an issue for me) so i'm guessing with an old car servicing / repairs will be DIY, factor in the dealer servicing's.

BarleyGB

Thanks a lot for the replies, you all share my opinion. Seeing a few newer (low spec) models around lately made me wonder why people buy new cars.

Anyone who'd a new plate !!!!! can always put a cheap private plate on.

EssexExile

I buy new cars because I can get exactly what I want, not just what's available. I also don't have to wonder why the last owner is getting rid of it. I keep them about 10 years or until they start going wrong, whichever comes first. There is debate about whether "new car" depreciation really matters if you keep it a long time.

forgotmyname

I got for the big engine model, But not the sporty flashy one.

So it looks like the basic model, But goes better than the posh one because it has the same engine but weighs less.

N9eav

Not all top spec models have big engines.


I bought the top of the range Hyundai 4x4. Same engine, but loaded with toys and comfort. Its a joy to be in it....


I go to work and drive the new low spec Vauxhall and know why I answered your question the way I did.

Hintza

I wouldn't be that bothered about bottom of the range spec (apart from being nice to have bells and whistles). I would be more worried about the smaller engine being underpowered and possibly being a bit more expensive to run in real life.

You want an engine that will do 80-90 without sounding as you are hammering it with result that at 70mph it is pleasant to drive on the motorways. Buy something that doesn't have excessive cabin noise too.

colino

Go to Autotrader, type in Bentley and say a maximum of £8000, roughly the same a lot of people will pay for their horrible, basic, white-goods transport and see what you can get for your money.
Thankfully a lot of people chase new plates and badges and end up with a miserable, poverty spec version of a good car. Its what helps the car trade go round.
Go beyond those criteria and take account of higher annual tax, phenomenal thirst but to save costs, be handy with the spanners, you take bangeromics to a new, wafty level.