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New to me car -Any advice please?
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I currently own a Mercedes benz CLC 220 59 plate with 80k miles, over the last year I have spent over 1k on various jobs. It still doesn't feel like it's running right in general plus the sun roof doesn't open and the heaters don't work. I took it to a garage with what I thought was a slow puncture and they informed me the alloy wheel is cracked in 3 places and has been repaired previously. Advice was to look for used/new replacement alloy(s)
I am now thinking to replace the car as along with the issues above, I now need 5 doors/seats family car plus ideally space for a large dog we have since adopted.
Auto trader values it at 2800 trade in value. I have 5k in savings. I don't know alot about cars and have always picked one of the forecourt for around 5k when the previous one's got to this point. I use my car for work each day (around town) and generally a few hundred miles motorway driving every 6 weeks or so. i'm getting fed up of it being off the road chucking another few hundred quid at it each time.
I have seen a mercedes GLA 200 15 plate with 40k miles for 17k so will involve a 9k loan @2.8%. Does this sound like a sensible option or should I be looking elsewhere? I don't seem to be able to get alot for 8k
Any help will be appreciated
I am now thinking to replace the car as along with the issues above, I now need 5 doors/seats family car plus ideally space for a large dog we have since adopted.
Auto trader values it at 2800 trade in value. I have 5k in savings. I don't know alot about cars and have always picked one of the forecourt for around 5k when the previous one's got to this point. I use my car for work each day (around town) and generally a few hundred miles motorway driving every 6 weeks or so. i'm getting fed up of it being off the road chucking another few hundred quid at it each time.
I have seen a mercedes GLA 200 15 plate with 40k miles for 17k so will involve a 9k loan @2.8%. Does this sound like a sensible option or should I be looking elsewhere? I don't seem to be able to get alot for 8k
Any help will be appreciated
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Comments
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Chances are that another second hand car could have other issues. An alloy wheel needing replacement isn't a reason to change car in my view. For under £100 you should be able to pick one up. Prices of used cars are very high at the moment so it's not an ideal time to be changing especially if you are borrowing money.Remember the saying: if it looks too good to be true it almost certainly is.0
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Hi JimJames, I do agree and ideally would not be buying a used can right now. my concerns with my current car are the other alloys may be cracked too (thin tyres?) Along the other issues I have mentioned. However my other main concern is it no longer suiting my needs. I need 5 doors/seats for work which my current car does not have.0
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£17,000 for a used car, 7 years old and 40k miles.
Hmm if it were me I would put badge snobbery to the side and buy 'nearly new' from a non Merc brand with a good chunk of warranty left.3 -
That was also my thoughts but trawling through auto trader made me realise the 5k-8k car that I would have bought don't really exist in this market.
My previous car was a Ford, the one prior a vaxhall before that a Peugeot and first car a Citroën saxo for 1k. I'm not sure I'd class myself as a badge snob or indeed hide the year of a car with a private plate. If anything I compare the inside as it is all i mostly see/sit on for most of the day between visits (Hence getting fed up with no heat throughout winter) Just in comparison with size, milage, road tax etc it looked a good fit. I also like the kia sportage but at 7 years would be out of warranty.
Nearly new seem to be hitting 20+k. I'm definitely open to alternative suggestions on cars/reducing the loan amount. That's why I'm here 🙂1 -
family355 said:That was also my thoughts but trawling through auto trader made me realise the 5k-8k car that I would have bought don't really exist in this market.
My previous car was a Ford, the one prior a vaxhall before that a Peugeot and first car a Citroën saxo for 1k. I'm not sure I'd class myself as a badge snob or indeed hide the year of a car with a private plate. If anything I compare the inside as it is all i mostly see/sit on for most of the day between visits (Hence getting fed up with no heat throughout winter) Just in comparison with size, milage, road tax etc it looked a good fit. I also like the kia sportage but at 7 years would be out of warranty.
Nearly new seem to be hitting 20+k. I'm definitely open to alternative suggestions on cars/reducing the loan amount. That's why I'm here 🙂
So a very quick scan of Autrader with the following search criteria
- max age 2018
- Max millage 15k
- Max price £16k
- Manufactured approved (so 1 years full warranty)
Shows thousands of Peugeot 2008, Renault Kadjar/Captur, Nissan Qashqui / Juke, Citroen C3 Aircross, Seat Arona etc etc
So, far newer cars with less milage, full backup of a manufacturer warranty and cheaper to maintain than a GLA.
Of course, set the search parameters as you see fit, lower the price and you will still see thousands of options.
It comes down to what's most important to you.
I pick and choose cars at a wim to suite me at the time. Owned a BMW X4 M40i for 18 months until a VW Caddy suited my needs better. Trousard the price difference and have no issues with no longer driving a £60k car.
Equally, my wife beats around in our 12 year old Toyota Aygo when she doesn't need to but chooses to.3 -
Thank you for this, I have been overwhelmed and definitely overlooked most of these.
Kadjar and Peugeot 2008 seem closest in to my needs/likes. I like the height of a small suv/crossover (the irony of driving a clc go cart -headlights at night when lower down are blinding)
A newer car with Warrenty should give me piece of mind. Running and maintenance costs to a minimum are higher up the list too. On reflection I'd probably be in the same position as now in 3 years time with the then 10 year old Gla car.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated.
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With a big dog you might find most Crossover style vehicles have high boot floor, which means your dog might struggle to make it up and again some might have a lower floor but a high boot lip which means your dog has to get over the lip to get in.
You might be better off looking for an estate car like the Skoda Octavia estate (if you need more room, what about a Superb estate) or even a Ford Mondeo estate.
Either of these should have a lot lower running and maintenance costs than a Merc and particularly a GLA which are prone to a host of issues and expensive main agents.3 -
I have a Peugeot 2008 (Allure Premium 1.2l Petrol), and the boot is flush with no lip, and it's no higher than an estate. Should be room for a medium sized dog. It's a nice drive, not particularly powerful. Bought it in 2020 on an 18 plate for £10.5k - no idea what they cost now, but worth a look.1
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Should you decide on an estate, how about a Toyota avensis?1
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Thanks all. The dog is quite agile for 35kg and easily makes it into my husbands (small suv) its more of a consideration than a must.
I haven't included estates either as I've always thought of them as too long but again maybe shouldn't discount.
Will be visiting garages at the weekend to see them in person
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