Cost effective way of buying a car on finance?

forgotmyname

The best way to learn is my making mistakes. Plenty of cheap cars out there to practice getting something else wrong.

I learnt early on that loans for cars are not a great idea.  Can you afford a full service and replace the brakes this month and
then replace the clutch next month whilst still paying the loan and saving a bit?  Because the month after you may need
new tyres.

You cross your fingers with a used car, but you need to budget for the unexpected.

JustAnotherSaver

forgotmyname said:

The best way to learn is my making mistakes. Plenty of cheap cars out there to practice getting something else wrong.

I learnt early on that loans for cars are not a great idea.  Can you afford a full service and replace the brakes this month and
then replace the clutch next month whilst still paying the loan and saving a bit?  Because the month after you may need
new tyres.

You cross your fingers with a used car, but you need to budget for the unexpected.

I know exactly what you're saying.

I said i'd look in to it for her, which i have done here. Overall i don't actually think it's the best thing in her situation.

She's saving to buy her first house (with an unknown date to do that by - it'll happen when it happens kind of thing). Her job is not the best paid and she's constantly moaning about it.

I'm not convinced that her relationship is the most stable. They've been together a while but from what i've heard through my brother & mother i have my doubts.

I manage her banking (but obviously not spending) and as such i can see what she saves a month. It could be worse but it most certainly could be better when she's saving towards a house.

She's 29 but a very green 29.

I personally think she'd be better off P/X her existing car against a N/A car in and about the £2k range but that's just my opinion.

[Deleted User]

There are 2017 models of Ford Focus with 50k miles at Titanium spec on Autotrader for £7k, I'd be looking a bit more carefully at the choice of car, I know it is a turbo but that one factor shouldn't be putting your sister off turbo cars. All the cars I've had in the last 20 years have been turbo and never had one fail, most reached 150-200k miles. 

Always found personal finance a better deal, unfortunately garages offering good finance packages with low or 0% interest simply build the profit into an inflated car price.

Herzlos

JustAnotherSaver said:

fred246 said:

It's sad that you have to consider buying a car on finance just because your mechanic is incompetent at repairing vehicles. I know it can be really hard but it's better to do some research and if possible find a competent mechanic.

It's bad enough anyway, never mind for a female.

I've seen it claimed that women may find better service if they bring a guy along too even if he knows less about cars than them. That really shouldn't be the case, though.

JustAnotherSaver said:

Hard work finding honest interested people these days.

Sounds like you're not looking in the right places; there are plenty of decent garages out there (the majority). You just want to look for one that seems relatively busy (1) and a bit grubby/oily (2), for extra bonus points find one where the owner is a stubborn grumpy old git (3) . If you're not sure, then ask around for what's recommended or where the taxi's go (4). If nothing turns up, have a drive round the industrial estates and look for units with loads of cars outside.

(1) You don't want somewhere that's deserted, busier places are usually busy for a reason.
(2) That way you're paying for the mechanics and not the "free" tea and fancy waiting room.
(3) Because they are less likely to be lying to you about stuff.
(4) Because taxi's are budget conscious and can't afford down time.