New used car or keep current one

five_by_five

Hi,

I am looking for some advice. I currently have an 07 mini cooper (75000 miles) which meets my needs. However, i am considering selling it as it has become fairly expensive in maintenance bills. It cost over £1000 in bills, including servicing and mot, this year. Apparently the average maintaince cost is 300.

For some context, I don't use the car much. Do less than 10,000 miles a year and its just used for leisure. I am not, fussed about the image of a car too much, aslong as it works. I ended up with the mini as a neighbour sold it to me with a huge discount a few years ago.

There are several options I've considered.

1) is to keep the car, and hope the bills for next year are less taxing

2) buy another used car, assuming there is likely to be a significant difference in maintenance costs

3) I would like to get a hybrid in an ideal world, as am concerned about the environment. Aware that batteries are likely to go in older models, so considered leasing/renting as i am not willing to get into debt. Looked into and it seems costly.

I am no car expert, so any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

DUTR

If you are that worried about the environment, then don't get a car.
Yes it may seem impractical but so is your small contribution to the environment.
Wait until the next service n stuff and consider if the bills are high whether to get rid of the current vehicle.

k6chris

The best thing you can do for the environment is not to drive. Failing that, don't buy a new car, even an EV. Keeping you existing car until it drops dead is by far the most environmentaly friendly thing to do. EV and hybrids are great for reducing tail-pipe emissions, but you still have the impact of manufacture, supply chaind, decommissioning etc.

19lottie82

I’d keep it until the next MOT and see what the costs are looking like then. If you’re buying another second hand car, it could really be a case of better the devil you know.

JGB1955

You've just invested £1,000 in your current car...why sell it?...see how far you can make that £1K go.

Richard53

five_by_five wrote: »

2) buy another used car, assuming there is likely to be a significant difference in maintenance costs

And that's a big assumption.

tonyh66

what is YOUR average maintenance costs so far? £1000 this year, £100 the 5 years before is less than £300 per year, look at the bigger picture.

Scrapit

1000 pounds on repairs and maintenance vs what, 5 plus k on a new motor?

Jackmydad

Unless the present one really is on it's last legs, I'd keep the one I had every time.
I've had two or three real bargains over the years where people have obviously had all the "consumable" stuff done to a car, and then sold it because it was "costing a lot in maintenance".
Sierra cost me next to nothing in the 5 years I had it apart from an exhaust and brakes.
Passat I had for 14 years. Had brand new brakes on it when I got it.
Both were about 7 YO when I bought them.

foxy-stoat

Keep it, no point in selling as you have done some expensive maintenance/repair work.

five_by_five

Its not been that great over the last few years. £700 last year and £600 the year before.