Have you ever bought a car on finance?

[jallsop]

As far as diesels are concerned, modern Euro IV and V emmission regulations mean they are generally more expensive to buy, service, fuel, and repair than older engines. DPF regeneration can be problematic on cars used for short, low speed trips, not to mention other diesel related problems with turbos, EGR, DMF, piezo injectors, high pressure fuel pumps.

 

Dacia use lsat gen Renault engines, or detuned current ones. I've had a wide variety of them over the past few years, before leaving the UK, and the engines were very solid, very reliable and for their size, often quite powerful. If you get a 1.5 DCI from Dacia, then as long as it isn't running 120hp, then its running well below full pelt, and should last forever. I happened upon the current owner of a 04 plated Megane i owned only 18 months ago, and she'd managed nearly 100,000 miles without any problems at all. I gave the car the first 36,000 in the 2 1/2 years I had it.

 

Modern petrol engines are getting just as complicated. With any new car, get an agreement for fixed servicing, or buy the package like you can for VW. Make sure you get a full, long term warranty, 5 years minimum now is the norm, and some do 7 or longer.

I would never buy outright for a new car. with apr at 0% for some deals, its worth thinking carefully. I used to end up spending between 3 and 6 grand on a three year old car, and then anything up to 250 plus almost every other month for repairs or new exhausts or what ever. Putting down a grand and then paying between 200 and 300 a month for the car over 3 years, with no ongoing costs almost saved me money, and certainly allowed me to never have to worry about finding money for repairs, etc.

 

Its not for everyone though, and when money is tight, the agreements can be hard to get out of.

[CAM]

Nope. I save in a "car fund", but tend to buy older machines in cash from my current acc. One day I may use the car fund..it's about 9k at the mo. However, my £2100, haggled to £1900 89k 2 owner ex-Motability Astra is still going strong. Heh.

 

That's now my preferred method..the last 2 Astras have been ex-motability machines. Both have had 2-3 owners max (including Motability), service history down to new wheelnuts (yes really, they have to), and full dealer servicing (again, terms of motability). The MK3 was £1600, and I haggled the MK4 down £200 with a full service, auto gearbox oil change, full valet and a tank of fuel, plus delivery from Wolvo to work in Telford. It helped the airbag light was on, and the engine warning light was on (loose plug under the seat (common), plus a duff EGR (common)). Both cleared down using the laptop.

 

No complaints. Yes it's a 2001 machine. However, it's reliable and it was paid off by 2 months wages, 5 years ago.

 

Ex-Motability Auctions..WELL worth it.

 

Those Astras do keep going. I've had a list of repairs as long as my arm but my S-Reg still keeps at it. It has an exhaust replacement due in Jan though and any repair is likely more then the value of the car now. Rust also making an appearance on the rear wheel arch and it is red with the old fading paint on it needing lots and lots of care.

[twin--turbo]

As for financing things generaly.

 

If there is a 0% option on anything - I Take it as long as the overall cost is not more.

 

I keep the money in my bank which effectivly earns me 4% .

 

Rob

[TechMonkey]

There's always the old adage "If it depreciates, lease it. If it appreciates, buy it". I'm leasing a Kia, paid just under £2k upfront and now paying £270 a month, with everything bar insurance in. End of 3 years I give it back and then decide what car I want next.

[Sunnyknight]

There's always the old adage "If it depreciates, lease it. If it appreciates, buy it". I'm leasing a Kia, paid just under £2k upfront and now paying £270 a month, with everything bar insurance in. End of 3 years I give it back and then decide what car I want next.

 

Never YOUR car though is it, and you're throwing endless amounts of cash into their safe, with them still knowing they have a car at the end of it.

[twin--turbo]

Yep that's nearly 10K over three years excluding the deposit!

 

 

 

 

Over the past 9 years I have spent a total ( including purchase, cost of swapping, maintenance, etc ) of £10,300 on cars.

 

That's my cars & my wifes cars total 88,976 Miles.

 

Rob

[TechMonkey]

Yep that's nearly 10K over three years excluding the deposit!

 

Over the past 9 years I have spent a total ( including purchase, cost of swapping, maintenance, etc ) of £10,300 on cars.

 

That's my cars & my wifes cars total 88,976 Miles.

 

Rob

 

Fair enough if you can do that but this way I have a fixed expense each month, no surprises, no worries about reliability and get to update my car depending on what happens at the end of 3 years instead of having to worry about making enough money on the sale to pay for the next one all for cheaper monthly payments then if I were to get a loan to buy it outright.

[Sirbendy]

Those Astras do keep going. I've had a list of repairs as long as my arm but my S-Reg still keeps at it. It has an exhaust replacement due in Jan though and any repair is likely more then the value of the car now. Rust also making an appearance on the rear wheel arch and it is red with the old fading paint on it needing lots and lots of care.

 

Yep. Just had the springs replaced on mine due to breakage (hey, it's GOOD to give it a workout), and a new idler on the aux belt. Plus new rear brake lines. Some very slight rust, and the exhaust front/mid was done last year (unintentionally, as the garage tried to replace the front Flexi and snapped the midpipe/box in the process..plus they couldn't get the O2 sensor out, so that was done too.)

 

Really can't fault the old girl.

[mac_shinobi]

Yep. Just had the springs replaced on mine due to breakage (hey, it's GOOD to give it a workout), and a new idler on the aux belt. Plus new rear brake lines. Some very slight rust, and the exhaust front/mid was done last year (unintentionally, as the garage tried to replace the front Flexi and snapped the midpipe/box in the process..plus they couldn't get the O2 sensor out, so that was done too.)

 

Really can't fault the old girl.

 

I think it is just cars in general tbh ( maybe just me and my $0.02 opinion ) but I have a honda civic executive II ( yes it is from 2001 aka 51 plate and yes it is really old and had a few owners ) but I had to

 

1. Replace the timing belt / timing chains etc

2. Replace all brake pads + Discs ( which all four wheels have )

3. Replace all ball joint boots and anti-roll link arms

4. Had the 2 front wish bones replaced

 

Also had some other work done and still needs some other work doing to it to re spray paint one side wing at the front , get the air con working, new wind screen wipers and a new gear stick plus the bit or cover that goes around the gear stick but these are minor things that do not effect the working of the engine etc

 

It did pass it's MOT a few days ago with only one advisory which we are still waiting to get feedback on ( as also need to get the paperwork back from said MOT )

 

I prefer my japense type cars though !!!

[Sunnyknight]

I prefer my japense type cars though !!!

 

I just read up about the rx-9 in 2017!

 

I CAN NOT WAIT ! ! ! ! ! ! !

 

Fix a t4 kit on it, easily hit 500bhp+

[twin--turbo]

I just read up about the rx-9 in 2017!

 

I CAN NOT WAIT ! ! ! ! ! ! !

 

Fix a t4 kit on it, easily hit 500bhp+

 

And then blow the rotor seals

 

Wanted an NSU RO80 since I first learned about them 20+ years ago.

 

We have talked on the Haynes Roadster forum about using the RX7 engine in a Roadster a number of times.

 

Rob

[Sunnyknight]

And then blow the rotor seals

 

Wanted an NSU RO80 since I first learned about them 20+ years ago.

 

We have talked on the Haynes Roadster forum about using the RX7 engine in a Roadster a number of times.

 

Rob

 

RX9 allegedly has an improved engine and better seals, so hopefully no issues there, not until around 50k anyway lol

 

NSU?! WHAT IS THIS OLD CONTRAPTION! I always wanted a cossie myself, escort cossie that is. Hype it up easily to 700+bhp and track day it xD, costs too much though lol

 

RX7, only one thing i have to say about it. The only ride that works with a veilside bodykit lol. The engine is a beast though, just hassle to maintain, like the rx8.

[Pauldon56]

My son VT his Vauxhal back to GMAC last week

Today out of the blue he got a letter from Shoesmith Solicitors wanting £110. For refurbishing his alloys. We knew they were scuffed plus £178 for GAP Insurance.

He did not get a bill from GMAC or the company that inspected and took the car. Why would he not get a bill first? And why as this gone to a Solicitor firm (debt collectors)?

Anyone else had this issue ?

Help

[PotNoodleTech]

Merc c220 09 plate. Value - around £30,000 (at the time), Deposit - something around £5000 - £6000, Payments per month - around £600 a month for 4 years

 

May have been a lil more, but i put about £100 - £200 on top per month when i could

 

wow so its taking you 4 years to pay £34k for a £30k car (not including you're up to £200 per month overpayment) that's now worth £10k?

 

I used to do stuff like that when I was young too - biggest mistake of my life, should have spent in on property. Personally now - If I can't buy it for cash I steer well clear.

[Boredguy]

I purchased my first car outright (well it was only £600), but the next 5 were all on HP, either fully or partially.

My current 308 I decided to just paid in cash as it worked out that it would more cost effective, and over the 4 years I normally keep a car I'd have saved more than I'd spent.

[LincolnE]

It depends, really.

 

I've got a little Hyundai i10, picked it up brand new almost two years ago now for £7k.

I'm paying it off over 5 years, but I still expect it to be worth about £2k after that (assuming it's still in good nick), which means the real cost to me is about £1400 a year (including the interest). To me, that's worth it for relatively trouble free motoring. 5 year warrenty means anything that goes major wrong I should still be covered.

[Davit2005]

Bought 6/8 of my cars on loans the rest been lucky enough to have odd grand cash at the time.

[dry]

Bear in mind this thread is a few years old so figures could be out of date.

 

I've always bought outright. Never seen the point in investing significant amounts on something that could have a catastrophic failure and be worth £250 in scrap at a moments notice.

 

Currently running an 02 1.6 Vauxhall Zafira with 130k miles on it. Doesn't look great but does the job. Can fit a bike in the back and is very comfortable on the motorway.

 

Just completed a 600-mile round trip in it with no issues. Only thing I've had to do is clean the EGR valve out (which took 10 minutes from start to finish). If worst comes to worst I will need to replace the EGR valve at the princely sum of £22.

 

Got the car for free (from member of family) as the blocked EGR valve was causing it to cut out when idling after the engine had been running for a while, so the previous owners decided to splash £7k on a 2012 Zafira instead of investigating the fault further.

[ChickenDhansak]

My son VT his Vauxhal back to GMAC last week

Today out of the blue he got a letter from Shoesmith Solicitors wanting £110. For refurbishing his alloys. We knew they were scuffed plus £178 for GAP Insurance.

He did not get a bill from GMAC or the company that inspected and took the car. Why would he not get a bill first? And why as this gone to a Solicitor firm (debt collectors)?

Anyone else had this issue ?

Help

 

Get some professional legal advice sooner rather than later. It may cost you for the advice but in the long term may save you a lot more money & stress

[michael2k6]

Use this Fair Wear and Tear guides | BVRLA

 

As a guide to what would be acceptable for wear and tear (unless otherwise stated in a contract).

[Oaktech]

I've always been a fan of bangernomics.

 

I've never spent 2k on a vehicle, and my average spend is £600.

 

Currently I have a W plate 2.5tdi v6 Audi A6 with 200k on it. I've spent £100 on replacing 2 faulty door locks, a temp sensor and a electric window mechanism.

 

It had no advisories on the MOT, It cost me £650, I intend to keep it for 2 years and sell it again for about the same as I paid for it.

 

Meanwhile, my friend pays almost that a month on an 11 plate BMW 5 series that his wife hates and has been in the dealers more than he's had it... I know what I'd rather do.