Budget for Repairs on a New Vehicle

scaredofdebt

I am costing out options re buying a new car and want some advice.

I currently run an old banger, but due to the mileage I do (close to 30k) it costs me ~ £410 a month all in, fuel, repairs, tax, depreciation etc.

I can get a brand new car for a repayment of £195 a month, with fuel (it would be more fuel efficient, no tax etc) it comes to around £400 a month including servicing.

My only other cost would be repairs - how much should I budget for a brand new car in repairs, bearing in mind my mileage? Obviously it won't be zero, but it should be a lot less than the ~£100 a month my 12 year old car is costing.

The warranty will last me just over 3 years (100k miles) at my mileage but I am aiming to keep the car for 4 years, due to the loan costs etc.

jimjames

It may not be far off the £100. There are more things to go wrong - have a look at the DPF/EGR threads for examples of that and you may need 3 services a year depending on the car. Things like tyres & brakes will still be needed.

Have you taken account of depreciation in your calculations?

scaredofdebt

Thanks - I was budgeting for 2 services a year but it may be a bit higher, need to check that.

I've been running diesel cars (some newish, some old) for 15 odd years now and never had any issues with DPFs/EGRs - I think it's due to my driving profile, ie fairly long motorway runs, I don't do a lot of short or stop-start journeys.

My biggest bills were for DMF and injectors, but these were when the car was well on its way to 200k so I would hope to avoid those.

To be fair the current shed (Ford CMax on 180k) hasn't had any shocking bills yet (touches wood), but the MOTs have both been around £300 for a long list of minor faults and it's had an oil seal (£200 ish), new alternator £100 odd I think) and a few other bits and pieces. I plan running this until I do get a big bill.

Regards depreciation this would actually reduce my overall monthly figure as I've not factored in what I would recoup when I sold the car after 4 years, I've just factored in the total cost of the loan each month.

EdGasket

You might save a lot by buying nearly new rather than brand new. New cars usually depreciate by several thousand pounds just driving them off the forecourt unless you can get a good deal.

foxy-stoat

EdGasket wrote: »

You might save a lot by buying nearly new rather than brand new. New cars usually depreciate by several thousand pounds just driving them off the forecourt unless you can get a good deal.

100% agree with this statement, assuming the OP wishes to drive straight out of the showroom they purchased it from and into another showroom to part exchange for another car....I hope the OP isnt going to do this!

If your buying outright a Dacia Sandero or something like that for £195 a month and you will own the car in 3 years then go for it, you shouldnt have anything to worry about apart from the normal consumerables, tyres, pads etc.

scaredofdebt

I was looking at a Kia Rio as it has good MPG and the warranty is also pretty good.

A brand new 1,2 CRDi is around £12.5k RRP. I used the Carwow website and got an offer of one at under £8k

Now I assume this will be pre-registered and probably a couple of months old, with delivery mileage on it, possibly a bit more than delivery mileage. It wll also probably come in a set colour as well that I can't choose, but at that price it is cheaper than nearly new so appears to be a bargain.

I will do some more research but I won't be buying a brand new one at anywhere near list price!

consumers_revenge

mid range dacia sandero is £89 a month and then you can also get a 5 year warranty inc. You can get a 3 year service plan for £395 all in. 2017 version will get aircon for an extra £200 so will wait for that.

EdGasket

consumers_revenge wrote: »

mid range dacia sandero is £89 a month and then you can also get a 5 year warranty inc. You can get a 3 year service plan for £395 all in. 2017 version will get aircon for an extra £200 so will wait for that.

2018 model has wheels so I'm told.

consumers_revenge

stan boardmans still got an act then?

marlot

scaredofdebt wrote: »

I was looking at a Kia Rio as it has good MPG and the warranty is also pretty good.

Look also at the Hyundai equivalent - Hyundai have a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, I believe.

gabitzul

marlot wrote: »

Look also at the Hyundai equivalent - Hyundai have a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, I believe.

I think that's the i20.

Also look at the usual suspects - Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz. All reasonable cars. Honda does not have a diesel version but does have a hybrid (as does the Yaris), which will mean the average fuel consumption will still be quite good.