Has your car being sat on the drive made you rethink what you’d buy next?

SharkMoney

I currently have a BMW and is costing me £250PM on a loan. I have this desire to change the car because the media technology isn’t great and I’d like a 5 door this time. I had an amazing deal last time, it’s an M Sport with extra packages so i have all the nice things on it (except apple carplay which is my main requirement now).

I have only driven 3k in the last year and my job is home based ordinarily with client site visits but obviously with COVID there has been no client visits and I have no idea when that will start again.

But it feels like i just “want” a new car rather than actually needing it. Given such low mileage am I mad to keep a nice car or spend more? Have you decided to get a fully loaded Kia or something instead?

Grumpy_chap

Well, I previously did a very high mileage and was thinking of upgrading the car at the beginning part of 2020, didn't and then COVID.  
Since the start of 2021, I have so far covered less than 1k miles, so won't be changing the car for anything else unless some kind of need starts to arise.
It sounds like you are in a similar position, so changing the car seems like an extravagance.  For such low mileage, hiring a car when needed would make so much more sense.

I have been surprised to see the local car dealer's forecourt so busy and wonder who the purchasers are given my experience making a car purchase absurd.

Oneye12

I have a 14  yr old Astra (the one with the shortened tailgate). Used to manage 8,000 mile/yr until retired; now does less than 1500 mile/yr.

My son put in an offer for it few years ago for £650 on a Police auction and got it ! - no keys no paperwork and accident damage on front steering. Repaired it himself, used for a while but soon became surplus to requirements.

It's a bit tat but still performs like a Vauxhall. Passes mot without too much fuss. I look at it on the drive and think it will do for now.

Oneye12

Forgot to mention - total mileage 55,000. Son found this to be genuine as it apparently spent years in the Police compound. Mileage now up to around 70,000.

MovingForwards

I've a 51 plate picanto. I'm not using it much as I'm WAH, with occasional office attendance. My OH used it for commuting until he lost his job at the start of this year.

Now it's mainly used for day trips and shopping. Due to the size and it still working there's no point swapping, it also costs less than £850 + petrol each year to keep it on the road. One day it will get scrapped and replaced with another old car, I've never replaced a car just for the sake of it, but then I've also only ever paid cash for mine.

Ibrahim5

Certainly a Kia would be more reliable and have a much longer warranty than a BMW 

billy2shots

SharkMoney said:

I currently have a BMW and is costing me £250PM on a loan. I have this desire to change the car because the media technology isn’t great and I’d like a 5 door this time. I had an amazing deal last time, it’s an M Sport with extra packages so i have all the nice things on it (except apple carplay which is my main requirement now).

I have only driven 3k in the last year and my job is home based ordinarily with client site visits but obviously with COVID there has been no client visits and I have no idea when that will start again.

But it feels like i just “want” a new car rather than actually needing it. Given such low mileage am I mad to keep a nice car or spend more? Have you decided to get a fully loaded Kia or something instead?

Depending on the year and Idrive version you may be able to get a software update to add Apple Carplay.

nirajn123

I am in a same situation, over the last year or so I realised that the very expensive car I have got was only brought for vanity reasons, I'd rather have that money and not the car - miles driven in 2020 was about 300 miles - spent more time charging it than driving it. 

Car was sold 3 months ago and while I don't need the car, I'd like one just in case - no zip car or the likes nearby so may have to buy one. All previous regular use of the car no longer apply, and I'd be lucky if the car is driven more than 3K a year.

I am really at wits' end as to what car I should buy,  I guess I am bit spoilt but know I really don't want to spend stupid money on it, yet I keep gravitating towards nicer cars every time I look online. So far I was delaying it until the vaccination is all done and things to open up properly - running out of reasons to delay it any further. 

In the past I always had some sort of aspirational car I wanted to buy, it is no longer the case, how do one even decide - far too much choice and prices seem to have gone up quite a bit due to ULEZ extension in London too.

AdrianC

If you're doing that few miles and ULEZ is a factor, do you live inside the circulars? If so, why on earth do you need a car at all? Public transport is utterly superb round you...

nirajn123

AdrianC said:

If you're doing that few miles and ULEZ is a factor, do you live inside the circulars? If so, why on earth do you need a car at all? Public transport is utterly superb round you...

Just outside, yes - don't strictly need it, although I must say public transport isn't ideal for all sorts of local trips I use the car for. Something like Zip car would be an ideal compromise but it isn't available - nearest one is about 2 mile walk.

AdrianC

nirajn123 said:

AdrianC said:

If you're doing that few miles and ULEZ is a factor, do you live inside the circulars? If so, why on earth do you need a car at all? Public transport is utterly superb round you...

Just outside, yes - don't strictly need it, although I must say public transport isn't ideal for all sorts of local trips I use the car for. Something like Zip car would be an ideal compromise but it isn't available - nearest one is about 2 mile walk.

Gawd bless Londoners.

My nearest bus stop is five miles.