New Job - 50 Miles Commute - Car Lease?

Magic_Dragon

Hi Everyone

I have just been offered a new job 50 miles away. Its an easy enough drive either down the motorway or an a road. About an hour ish commute. Is a good job with a decent salary and prospects

I am trying to calculate if its going to be worth the hassle though due to the costs of petrol and maintenance of a car

We currently have 52 plate Pug 106 1.5 Deisel which is fine for now and about the next 6-12 months) but wont last forever.

I had a quick look at leasing a car, but this seem really expensive for the amout of miles I would need (about 30000 a year) I wouldnt like to buy a new car and make it depriciate even more by having high millage. We dont have the cash upfront to buy another car anyway. I need a car that is going to be reliable enough to do the journey every day though!

Is leasing a feasible soloution? Can anyone point me in the direction of a company that would be able to provide a high milage lease on a comfertable deisel car?

zeon999

Yeah leasing should be ideal for you by the sounds of it, normally there is not a large difference in prices between 10,000 miles a year and 30,000 miles a year like £20 a month depending on the value of the car.

I always use Total Fleet Services for vehicle leasing now I have used them for ages and they look after me well.

http://www.lease-hire.co.uk

As you dont sound like you have your mind set on any particular car this is great for getting the best deal possiable on a leasing vehicle cos you can see what they have on special offer and get what suits you from what they have on offer. Rather than having to try and find somewhere which is a deasent place to get your car from which also happens to have the car you want on a good deal.

Magic_Dragon

Thanks for the info will look them up!

I dont have my eye on anything in particular but obviously something with a decent mpg would be preferred . . . . .

epninety

If it doesn't already have starship mileage, why not keep your current car and run it until it drops? Find a decent local garage (not main dealer) to maintain it. Get a good recovery policy if you feel you need it. Keep the car well serviced, stick the lease money in the bank. Draw from that for the odd hire car as required if yours is being repaired.

If/when the garage presents you with a large quote for repairs, consider getting a new car instead at that time. Most cars will last a lot more miles than many people seem to think.

'52' is still new enough not to be an embarassment in the carpark for a few years yet, if thats an issue :rotfl:

Magic_Dragon

Yes I know it will be fine for a good while yet! DP currently commutes 70 miles 8 times a week and it has been very reliable (exhaust fell off once though!). We look after it well and keep it serviced. I have found this a bit of a flase ecconmy though!

We sold his brand new Golf GTI to get this "runaround" for his commute. It cost £3000. We have had to replace tyres, brake pads and discs, clutch, full exhaust and box, cam belt and it needs servicing every 10000 miles

We have had it just over a year and it has cost about what the Golf would have in car loans for the same period of time.

We have always had brand new cars and got the the 106 to save money, but it hasnt really worked that way (other than on fuel). Plus you just never know when it is going to be unreliable. I really dont want the hassle of having to sort our car repairs frequently. Which is why a brand new lease car is appealing to me

I will be using the 106 to begin with anyway and see how it goes

I have just had a quote for a Mini Cooper D (72 mpg) 2 year lease at 30000 mpa - £314 - ouch!

zeon999

Is that quote with or without maintenance included?

Normally lease cars doing that kinda milage your better of getting maintenance cover with it then you dont have to worry about servicing costs or anything.

Thunderbird_2

Magic_Dragon wrote: »

It cost £3000. We have had to replace tyres, brake pads and discs, clutch, full exhaust and box, cam belt

It seems in a very good condition now after doing all of the above work to it and these things should not need any attention for the next two years.
I can't see keeping and maintaining it cost anything near that £314/month for the coming two years at least!!

it needs servicing every 10000 miles

Most cars will be on this service interval!

Keep the little girl for another two years and save the lease cash! (And insurance premiums difference)

Hintza

Good advice better waiting and seeing how you get on in the job for 6 months anyway before going mad on expediture (you might hate it), you have paid the money on the pug so fingers crossed it should be ok now.

Magic_Dragon

Yeah very true - I know it will run alright for a bit yet . . .

I suppose I am jsust not looking forward to spending 2 hours every day in it! Its not the most comfertable of cars and makes a right noise! I will just have to put up with for a bit I suppose. If I am happy with the new job then I will look into getting another car. We can afford to pay for a lease - we are not scraping by

The mini quote was without maintenace. Seeing as I am not fussy about the car I am sure I could get something chepaer than that though