How much would you spend on a new car?

Davesnave

jimjames wrote: »

Same here. Just bought my new car and it was exactly £500. Absolute bargain and drives brilliantly. Secret is finding an unpopular car and getting a great example of it for very little money. This car has opened my eyes a bit as it's such incredible value. I find it rather amusing that my car cost in total what others are paying each month for theirs and still gets me from A to B reliably in comfort.

I paid a bit more in real terms, but two unpopular cars I remember buying which did large mileages without problems were a Renault 12 estate and, much later, a Nissan Primera estate, both one lady owner with low mileage.

My biggest mistake was seeing garden woman Carol Klein driving a Volvo 240 estate and thinking, "She must know what she's doing, attending events all over the country..."

She didn't!:rotfl:

ffacoffipawb

bowlhead99 wrote: »

I bought my current car in 2014 at three years old for £32k (new would have been ~£66k).

Can you tell me what that was, it seems a bargain for a prestige car.

motorguy

ffacoffipawb wrote: »

Can you tell me what that was, it seems a bargain for a prestige car.

Most top end BMWs, Mercs, Audis, Jags will be around that at best at three years old.

ChumLee

ffacoffipawb wrote: »

Can you tell me what that was, it seems a bargain for a prestige car.

I know someone who bought an A8 V8 for £18k three years old, first Mot was done when he got it. I think the list price at the time was 65k.

[Deleted User]

jimjames wrote: »

Same here. Just bought my new car and it was exactly £500. Absolute bargain and drives brilliantly. Secret is finding an unpopular car and getting a great example of it for very little money. This car has opened my eyes a bit as it's such incredible value. I find it rather amusing that my car cost in total what others are paying each month for theirs and still gets me from A to B reliably in comfort.

What is it?

bowlhead99

motorguy wrote: »

ffacoffipawb wrote: »

Can you tell me what that was, it seems a bargain for a prestige car.

Most top end BMWs, Mercs, Audis, Jags will be around that at best at three years old.

That's true. Prestige brands can hold their value but the top end versions with the biggest engines (especially petrol) are not what the middle manager / sales rep wants to buy second-hand - he's happier in a brand new 320D (or maybe these days, an XE) ; and they're also not what the wealthiest buyers want -they'll buy the big car but just buy new, and hand it back to the dealer after three years to rotate into another new one.

So, if you want a three year old super-saloon, you can invariably get them at half price or less. In my case, XFR.

enthusiasticsaver

Thanks for all the feedback folks and very interesting and some great suggestions. I have done a bit of research over the last few days and have come to the conclusion that the type of car I want - medium sized family saloon, is just too expensive to buy brand new at usually around £25k-30k!


My OH has always had company cards or leased cars from new and usually spends around that amount but I do not think it warrants me spending that much as although I do a fair number of motorway journeys up to London to see my mum I do not do a lot of mileage otherwise as mostly local. My convertible (now 5 years old) has depreciated a lot as we thought it would but it was my once in a lifetime car and I am glad we got it when we did as I can see that carrying grandchildren in it in the next five to ten years would not be possible.


It seems as if I can get a fairly low mileage volkswagon golf or mazda 5 around 1-2 years old for around £12k which is affordable and would still be reliable. I also need to look at the Renault megane, Vauxhall astra and ford focus. I do not want to get anything which needs to be constantly in the garage and as I do motorway journeys every month I want something comfortable. It also needs to be able to transport a young baby and on occasion 2 80+ year olds!

Ozzuk

I always said I'd never had a brand new car due to depreciation in first few years. I've had nearly new a few times. Then I found out the new Mustang will be RHD and so ordered one last December. Still waiting for delivery and the depreciation will be eye watering but don't really care!

jimjames

Deleted_User wrote: »

What is it?

Ford Puma. 60k miles, FSH with all paperwork and immaculate. Not the biggest of cars but fantastic to drive and perfect for journeys with 1 or 2 people in the car.

gonzo127

hyundia i30 - plenty of 2-3 year old automatic ones both petrol and diesel for under £10k and still have 2-3 years of manufacturers warranty - just be careful as 2012 was the switch over point to the newer version, which is better