Completely Torn - advice please!

Just_a_person

If your getting the Evoque then lease it. That way somebody else foots the bill when it breaks down.

DD265

Does it have to be one of those two? If current car is fine/you don't have to change I'd keep that, but otherwise, there's loads of cars on the scale between a Focus and an Evoque.

Saying that, deep down I wanted a Tiguan and whilst I researched a lot of cars, sat in many and test drove a few, the Tiguan felt like home when I got in it and there was no considering anything else then. Not the new one mind, a 2015 model. You might find when you get in an Evoque that it feels perfect, or you might not like it at all.

Might be some great offers around after lockdown, people are going to be desperate to sell cars.

The_Rainmaker

OP whatever you do, do not go changing your car until this crisis is over (and then some).  You could find yourself out of a job even with the safest strongest company.

fred246

True money saving would start by asking what is wrong with your current car. I have been in your position and wondered about changing car. 10 years later and I'm still driving the same car. 100% reliable. Occasional tyres, exhausts, brake pads. Your car has done it's big depreciation and is worth little. Do you need to buy another car only to see it massively depreciate? A new car may be not be as reliable as your current one.

[Deleted User]

Range rovers have an image problem as well as reliability issues. I think you would regret getting the evoke and start resenting the costs after a while. Personally I would be looking at a Golf as that would give you a premium feel with lower costs or even a brand new or nearly new Polo as they are best in class and almost as big as the Focus. Look at reviews on YouTube for family cars. 

HHarry

I was able to go and buy my dream car in January, an F-Type, having dithered over it for a year. It ended up being a bit of a disappointment.
 It was a lovely car, but it wasn’t better than what I had (an SLK) - different, but not better.

 I didn’t begrudge the money exactly, I’d saved up and had enough to buy and run it for 2 years, but I didn’t feel like I was getting ‘value’.  It cost 3 times as much to run, but I wasn’t having 3 times the fun!
When it developed a fault, I rejected it, got a full refund and went back to my SLK.

I’m not ruling out buying something similar in the future, but I am aware that fundamentally it’s just a tin box!

mark55man

the best and worst car decision I made - a while ago but still a bit older than you) when company cars were a thing was get a Jag X-Type (you know the one that was a mondeo underneath).  I had so much fun in it (and I'm not a petrol head) - BUT even as a fully paid company car it cost so much in tax that I was so glad to be rid of it.  in your 50s you will regret wasting cash more than you will have enjoyed the car

in your situation, especially you are already worried I would buy a nearly new or heavily discounted car (I got Astra 1.6 new with 30% off in 2015) to give you a bit of a buzz.  but don't resent it, just say with covid and Brexit all on the cards I wouldn't be stretching myself.  

your kids will fit in a smaller car we've had 4 adults in the Astra for long journeys, but a bigger car will come in handy when they are 6th form/uni age.  Nothing wrong with a nice car as a pipe dream, but I think save the dream for the car after next (or the one after that).  although it sounds like you are pretty sorted financially you're not established in that position so deffo wait

if you absolutely must must have one, I liked the suggestion about a plan to get one for a newish one for a year (to get the pleasure) and take the hit in depreciation when you sell

JoshRH93

Thanks for your comments everyone. 

I think now after reading all comments and hearing both sets of opinions it’s made my mind up, as I’m still young I have plenty of time (hopefully!) to get the Range Rover, I don’t want the guilt of owning a car that prevents a holiday a year (or equivalent) for my kids because then I’m likely to resent it anyway, even if I love it also! 

I’ll remove the ‘saved search’ for Range Rover from my autotrader app and look at Focus’ and similar. Someone mentioned watching reviews on family cars which is a great idea, i’ll do that. 

Ultimately though, I will be spending half the amount I would have on a RR and I think it’s the right decision even if it is a little sad because I’ve been waiting for a long time. 

Thanks again for everyone’s input, it’s been very helpful.

Scrapit

JoshRH93 said:

Thanks for your comments everyone. 

I think now after reading all comments and hearing both sets of opinions it’s made my mind up, as I’m still young I have plenty of time (hopefully!) to get the Range Rover, I don’t want the guilt of owning a car that prevents a holiday a year (or equivalent) for my kids because then I’m likely to resent it anyway, even if I love it also! 

I’ll remove the ‘saved search’ for Range Rover from my autotrader app and look at Focus’ and similar. Someone mentioned watching reviews on family cars which is a great idea, i’ll do that. 

Ultimately though, I will be spending half the amount I would have on a RR and I think it’s the right decision even if it is a little sad because I’ve been waiting for a long time. 

Thanks again for everyone’s input, it’s been very helpful.

Save the money and get a proper range rover, not a rebaged freelander. Good plan.

greyteam1959

Money pit from start to finish.
Servicing costs around £1400 for a basic service.
Main dealer labour costs around £140 per hour.
Bas*ards  to park in Aldi car parks !!