Replacement car dilemma

iamnotasoldier

My wife is looking to replace her 12 yr car. It's an old diesel & has done 110K+ & isn't used a lot, which is part of our dilemma. She is retired so only uses her car a couple of times a week but it gives her freedom when she needs to go places without me (I used my car most days for work) & when we visit her parents/relatives, who stay 300 miles away. She was looking to spend 15K  but it seems a lot of money for a car that sits around most of the time, which has caused some issues in the past. 

Any suggestions, things to consider, previous experience etc ? 

JGB1955

Why not keep the current car? My husband's diesel has 250K on the clock and still chugs along. Much cheaper than replacing it (less than £1000 p.a. to maintain).

iamnotasoldier

Why not keep the current car? My husband's diesel has 250K on the clock and still chugs along. Much cheaper than replacing it (less than £1000 p.a. to maintain).

Yeah this is being considered but one reason for getting rid of it is the introduction of the ULEZ in cities near us - the car isn't compliant so would be liable for high fee. Also it does look it's age - sitting around hasn't been kind to it !

Herzlos

Unless you go into the city with the ULEZ regularly I wouldn't change car over it. You'd be cheaper just using a park and ride or taxi or something.

If you want something new I'd just look for something she likes with a smallish petrol engine. Diesel wouldn't be worth it for that kind of usage.

£15k will get you a new Dacia Sandero which is a pretty decent little car if you're not too concerned about the badge.

Bigwheels1111

Don’t do it.
Keep the car for at least 2 more years.
Prices are so high due to supply and demand.
How many trips into an Ulez before you spend 15k.
Im only doing a max of 3k a year, it’s a euro 6 diesel so Ulez not an issue.
I live on the boarders of a zone, but not entered it in over 2 years.
I thought about changing my car as I can afford too, but the car I want has jumped up in price by 7k in the last 3 months.
Plus the wait time is 9 - 18 months.
Plus if the price goes up again before it’s supplied I have to pay more.
No thanks.

iamnotasoldier

Thanks for comments guys - confirmed my thinking ! The timing is wrong for getting a used car - market is high - esp when she doesn't urgently need it.

I also forgot to add that the ULEZ isn't being enforced until July 2023, even this ain't an issue currently. 

We will keep an eye on the market & thanks again for input.

Grumpy_chap

iamnotasoldier said:

I also forgot to add that the ULEZ isn't being enforced until July 2023, even this ain't an issue currently. 

Current ULEZ zones are being enforced.  Expansion to all of Greater London may be next year.

iamnotasoldier

Grumpy_chap said:

iamnotasoldier said:

I also forgot to add that the ULEZ isn't being enforced until July 2023, even this ain't an issue currently. 

Current ULEZ zones are being enforced.  Expansion to all of Greater London may be next year.

Sorry it's actually in Scotland, so this is for Glasgow, Edinburgh & Dundee. 

Ergates

iamnotasoldier said:

Grumpy_chap said:

iamnotasoldier said:

I also forgot to add that the ULEZ isn't being enforced until July 2023, even this ain't an issue currently. 

Current ULEZ zones are being enforced.  Expansion to all of Greater London may be next year.

Sorry it's actually in Scotland, so this is for Glasgow, Edinburgh & Dundee. 

Edinburgh has a good park and ride system in place, near the airport.

Not sure about Glasgow park and ride, but you the LEZ boundaries are just the city centre, so it would be easy enough to park up in one of the nearby towns and get the train in (which would cost about the same as parking in the centre)

No idea about Dundee.

iamnotasoldier

Sorry it's actually in Scotland, so this is for Glasgow, Edinburgh & Dundee. 

Edinburgh has a good park and ride system in place, near the airport.

Not sure about Glasgow park and ride, but you the LEZ boundaries are just the city centre, so it would be easy enough to park up in one of the nearby towns and get the train in (which would cost about the same as parking in the centre)

No idea about Dundee.

Yeah not so sure about Glasgow, as city is much more spread out, but Edinburgh's Park & Ride is excellent. Use it often.

Ergates

It's quite spread out - but the area covered by the LEZ is pretty small - mostly walkable from Central or Queen's St stations.

I'd also forgotten, there is a park and ride linked to the Metro - to the S side which is outside the LEZ, so there's that too.