Budgeting for cars?

JoeEngland

k6chris wrote: »

So it seems to me the 'secret' of low cost car ownership is to keep your car for as long as possible and look after it. The starting point of that cunning plan may vary, but actually if you keep it long enough, a sensibly priced new car is not as stupid as 'common sense' might at first assume. Keep the car as simple as possible to minimise expensive bits going wrong. Mind reset required!

Financially buying a new car is not commonsense when you could buy a one or two year old with 10-15k miles for several thousand quid less. Buying new is a matter of personal preference more than anything else.

Sea_Shell

JoeEngland wrote: »

Hmm, 8k every 5 years seems extravagant to me!

That's what we're budgeting for.... doesn't mean we'll actually spend it!!;)

Our current car's 4 years old and only done 15000 * miles (bought at 1 year old for £12k), so we'll probably keep it (alot) longer. We polished it last week and it looks like it's just left the forecourt!

TBH we can't see anything we'd prefer at the moment as it ticks all our boxes. Until then we'll just keep rolling over the budget.


* Don't worry, it's a petrol!!

westv

OldBeanz wrote: »

Another thing to consider is buying an automatic. In another 10 years all cars will be automatic(electric) and a favourite way for oldies to demolish walls is by getting pedal confused. Some recommend learning to drive an automatic in your 60's rather than 80's.

I really am not looking forward to the day I have to drive an automatic.

shinytop

westv wrote: »

I really am not looking forward to the day I have to drive an automatic.

I haven't had anything else for about 15 years

shinytop

What miserable bunch of old skinflints we are with cars (myself included). Hasn't anyone blown a large chunk on something exotic?

cfw1994

westv wrote: »

I really am not looking forward to the day I have to drive an automatic.

LOL! They have changed massively in recent years. I’ve driven a few in the past (& lots in the US), & like you, hated them. Slow, thirsty, clunky: just awful!

Then came the new world of 8+ speed gearboxes....

I was also conscious of older relatives struggling with gears, and didn’t want to make the shift too late (as OldBeanz suggested, albeit I was just coming up to 50!)

My XC60 has a silky smooth 8-speed: I took a bit of a punt as there were none in the country when I ordered, and the older 6-speed was pretty agricultural.
I’m converted.
Especially with the adaptive cruise control: long runs are a pleasure, and around town it is a doddle.

Also meant now we have the KonaEV, we are fully auto. Nice vehicles!

shinytop wrote: »

What miserable bunch of old skinflints we are with cars (myself included). Hasn't anyone blown a large chunk on something exotic?

I still have a sporty (*cough*!) little Nissan Figaro for sunny days......the fam won’t let me sell him, even though he does under a thousand miles a year....I know, not very MoneySavingExpert, but he always puts a grin on people’s faces!.....could that count? :rotfl:

westv

For me part of the joy of motoring is being in control of the gears.

k6chris

shinytop wrote: »

What miserable bunch of old skinflints we are with cars (myself included). Hasn't anyone blown a large chunk on something exotic?

I am currently seem to be blowing a large chunk on my 12 year old Volvo S80, which is why I asked the original question :rotfl:

nigelbb

Triumph13 wrote: »

If only we could reset the minds of the manufacturers to stop making things too stupidly complicated! Things like electronic handbrakes and keyless ignition replacing things that worked perfectly well with something that means you can't even tow the car to the garage when it goes wrong. Grrr.

In an earlier age my late father felt the same about such innovations as electric windows ("just another thing to go wrong") & sunroofs ("putting a hole in the roof is just a way of guaranteeing a leak").

nigelbb

k6chris wrote: »

So it seems to me the 'secret' of low cost car ownership is to keep your car for as long as possible and look after it. The starting point of that cunning plan may vary, but actually if you keep it long enough, a sensibly priced new car is not as stupid as 'common sense' might at first assume. Keep the car as simple as possible to minimise expensive bits going wrong. Mind reset required!

As mentioned I am in favour of buying a quality car at 8-10 years old for about £2-4K. I bought my current Range Rover for £4K eight years ago when it was 10 years old. It would have cost about £50K when new. My previous Audi A6 which I ran for 6 years cost £2K & was about £40K when new. I enjoy driving around in leather & walnut but wouldn't dream of paying for all the depreciation on an upmarket car.

My other car that I use for commuting is an 8 year old Smart Brabus that I bought 2 years ago for £4K which is my upper limit for any car purchase.