Car leasing Yay or Nay?

[DCUK6]

Diesels are generally a no no for short journeys as most have DPF's fitted. (Depending on brand some 15 year old ones have got them). Short journeys mean the car never gets hot enough for the DPF to do what ever it needs and they get clogged and give you big bills.

What he said.

 

If they are paying for the fuel then a smaller petrol engine. Great fun, still miss my little metro, 1.1 gutless engine but that made it fun and it was light. Stuck like anything to the road.

 

Still fancy a old honda civic but its hard to find a unmodded one these days. Reliable though.

 

Wouldnt lease though for a works car especially if moving equipment. Your going to get a few dents.

 

If you want a nicer Diesel that isnt so bad on shorter trips then a old Fabia vRs (No DPF), or a octavia vRS (will have to check on this one).

Edited June 4, 2015 by DCUK6

[DCUK6]

Nowt wrong with a Peugeot or Vauxhall.... it all depends on the user

 

I think there is a rule with Peugeot cars though that your genitalia has to be on your forehead to own one.

[abillybob]

Nowt wrong with a Peugeot or Vauxhall.... it all depends on the user

 

Not in my experience had 99 problems with my Peugeot but my Honda ain't 1.

 

A couple of my family members have had vauxhalls also, and they always had 1 problem or another going wrong with the thing, even a brand new Corsa that my nan owned was going back to the shop every other month because something was wrong with it.

 

As always I'll leave this statement here: Once you go Jap you'll never go back.

Edited June 4, 2015 by abillybob

[Miscbrah]

If anyone wants a reliable car I've got a rust-free Calibra with a Scania/Saab B204 turbo engine in it! That's my daily, coming up sometime. Car on 137k, engine on around 75k with previous full Saab history. I serviced it a few weeks back. For a Frankenstein's car it's proven incredibly reliable. Needless to say, much much power and absolutely HORRIFYING if driven hard.

 

I'll post it up here when I finally get to selling.

[Joanne]

We are leasing a VW passat at the moment. It was the only way that we could afford a car of that calibre. We're planning on giving it back after 2 years and buying a banger.

 

Go into a dealer and have a chat with them and see what they can do.

[Boredguy]

I think there is a rule with Peugeot cars though that your genitalia has to be on your forehead to own one.

 

As an owner of 4 Pug's I'd dispute that generalisation

However yes only get a Diesel if you have some long runs on a regular basis. A small petrol engine car should be fine for the limited distance you plan on doing

[witch]

Oh please

Not the old "I had some problems with that make of car and now I spread doom and gloom about the whole brand" thing

 

I bet we could find someone who has had endless problems with pretty much any make of car.

We have had Peugeots for many years and they have had few problems. Prior to that we had a couple of Vauxhalls which were reliable and long-lasting. I now drive a Jap car but it hasn't been without issues.

 

So get whatever suits, and don't listen to the naysayers

[Oaktech]

If I had to get a vehicle to do what you need, I would certainly not be buying a diesel (for all the reasons above) What I'd be buying is this...

 

SUZUKI CARRY VAN - 53 PLATE - 1300 - 163k - Reliable good runner - MOT Jan 2016 - | United Kingdom | Gumtree

[Miscbrah]

Not in my experience had 99 problems with my Peugeot but my Honda ain't 1.

 

A couple of my family members have had vauxhalls also, and they always had 1 problem or another going wrong with the thing, even a brand new Corsa that my nan owned was going back to the shop every other month because something was wrong with it.

 

As always I'll leave this statement here: Once you go Jap you'll never go back.

 

Yes Vauxhalls into/post the XE??XEV era always seem to have some sensor going or something. Wiring on Corsas gave cause for concern too as I was tempted to go for a 3 cylinder next car, because you can pretty much pick the engine up by hand! Hmmmm... still might! Only caveat with Peugeots is old Peugeot diesels. If you have one that's been around long enough to get old, that will go on forever.

 

As far as Japanese cars go, or at least in my era of (slim) experience around the late 90s, yes reliability is truly impressive. Honda built something like 5 million vtec units with NOT ONE going wrong.

 

Once looked after a '96 1.8 Celica ST that'd been run for donkey's years without a service and had a smear of metallic black marmite for oil. Was with a veteran mechanic at the time and, upon asking him how it'd even survived such neglect, got back a knowing glance and "it's Japanese."

[sippo]

If I had to get a vehicle to do what you need, I would certainly not be buying a diesel (for all the reasons above) What I'd be buying is this...

 

SUZUKI CARRY VAN - 53 PLATE - 1300 - 163k - Reliable good runner - MOT Jan 2016 - | United Kingdom | Gumtree

 

Reminds me of the days I had to drive one of these from swindon to bristol on the m4 on a daily basis.

 

The engine is right under the drivers seat, so was a nightmare!

[Oaktech]

Reminds me of the days I had to drive one of these from swindon to bristol on the m4 on a daily basis.

 

The engine is right under the drivers seat, so was a nightmare!

 

 

Oh, I don't deny that they aren't very nice things to drive - but if it is only ever used for short journeys to move kit between sites, this is the most ideal thing in the world. You can even drive it down footpaths!

[witch]

I don't see why you should use your own vehicle anyway - and then there is the insurance issue, surely?

[m25man]

My lodger got charged about 1k after leasing a car because of 'stone chips' which were not classed as wear and tear. That totally put me off ever leasing a motor!

 

Interesting point and it is exactly why most professional footballers whom all lease their toys have them wrapped.

 

I've seen a beautiful Bentley and an Aston in our car park in Camo Wrap!!

[Miscbrah]

and then there is the insurance issue, surely?

 

Yes indeed. Putting business use on is essential if travelling to more than one place of work, though check your policies. I think it only costs me a tenner a year to do so though.

[TechMonkey]

I am leasing one at the moment. I fouled up and didn't check the paperwork though. It was meant to cover everything so I had one monthly payment and then only insurance, tyres and fuel to worry about but they left the servicing out and I only noticed, even though I repeatedly asked for it, when I went for the first service. Of course both the manager and sales guy had moved on in that year so I didn't have any recourse. Apart from that, it is nice but I do worry about any damage, have to be a bit prissy about it which isn't really me and the thought of just handing it back. Also you are stuck for the period, which doesn't sound a issue until something unexpected comes up in life. You get a better monthly payment than any finance option and you hand it back at the end of the term and all the hassle is off. My mind may change is they are overly fussy on the inspection though.

[Oaktech]

then there is the insurance issue, surely?

 

I've been with the same insurer for nearly 10 years (Chaucer Direct), they always seem to come out within about £50 of the cheapest quote on the comparison sites and they include £20,000 of locked load insurance, which is massively important to me. Most contents policies only extend to a pair of sunglasses and your sat nav.

[bossman]

I used to work with a guy who believed spending good money on a car was a worthless waste, he used to buy a secondhand car for around £500 which had a full years tax and MOT on and then just run it into the ground, he would then purchase another and so forth, you will be amazed at what car you can get for £500 and that to me is very cheap motoring.

 

Far cheaper than leasing as you won't get anything decent for less than £150 per month which equates to £1800 per year, a real no brainer if ever there was.

 

You pays your money and you takes your choice!!

[Miscbrah]

I used to work with a guy who believed spending good money on a car was a worthless waste, he used to buy a secondhand car for around £500 which had a full years tax and MOT on and then just run it into the ground, he would then purchase another and so forth, you will be amazed at what car you can get for £500 and that to me is very cheap motoring.

 

Far cheaper than leasing as you won't get anything decent for less than £150 per month which equates to £1800 per year, a real no brainer if ever there was.

 

You pays your money and you takes your choice!!

 

Yes indeed. Banger-nomics we used to call that. Less of a bargain now tax can't be transferred BUT if buying pre new tax rules you can pick up some stellar cars. Though you may get VERY sick of feeding that bargain BMW 740 you picked up for £500!

[Patrick]

I have the 1.0 fiesta Zetec s 125bhp. It is good on fuel but the official facts and figures on fuel consumption are wrong, ford say it will do 65mpg but I get 43mpg. Point is take all the facts and figures manufactory says with a pinch of salt, and if you are buying a used car, find the owners club website and see what common faults there are to look out for.

[Chris_]

Interesting point and it is exactly why most professional footballers whom all lease their toys have them wrapped.

 

I've seen a beautiful Bentley and an Aston in our car park in Camo Wrap!!

 

The camouflage mustn't have been very good if you could see them!

[VeryPC_Colin_M]

If your employer requires stuff moved between sites, why are you expected to buy them a car??

 

What he said! Also you'll to ensure you have the right insurance if you're using a personally owned and insured car for work purposes, even if it's just dropping off bits from one site to another.

[afc123]

Thank for all the comments and the heated discussions!

 

I don't require a car and actually the previous guy didn't. In isn't moving a lot of equipment literally the occasional PC or little bit so they said a car would be a little easier! I think the lease option is out though only as the costs seem to be a lot of money (4-5K) for 3 years with nothing at the end of it. The horror stories also put me off.

 

I am now thinking of buying a used car from a dealer and getting the extended warranty that comes with it (5 years if possible) then if anything goes wrong I am covered.

 

Opinions anyone?

 

P.S. Car back in the garage

[Miscbrah]

Thank for all the comments and the heated discussions!

 

I don't require a car and actually the previous guy didn't. In isn't moving a lot of equipment literally the occasional PC or little bit so they said a car would be a little easier! I think the lease option is out though only as the costs seem to be a lot of money (4-5K) for 3 years with nothing at the end of it. The horror stories also put me off.

 

I am now thinking of buying a used car from a dealer and getting the extended warranty that comes with it (5 years if possible) then if anything goes wrong I am covered.

 

Opinions anyone?

 

P.S. Car back in the garage

 

What's wrong with current car exactly bro?

 

I've found dealer warranties to be, in my limited experience, a complete con. As in, I've spotted the flaws whilst in the showroom/office and not got satisfactory answers (eg one condition of someone's warranty was the car had to have been serviced every year of its life, but from its history before I'd even bought it it hadn't. He wasn't prepared to sign off on that. I wasn't prepared to buy his warranty. Or his car for that matter.) Plus, do you really want work done as cheaply and as swiftly and likely as grudgingly as possible by someone's who's desperate to make a profit from selling cars ultimately?

 

I'd say, and this is just me, that unless it's a main dealer and a manufacturer's warranty do not bother. Not all warranties created equal, your mileage may vary etc.

 

Also ignore everything the vendor says that's not factual. A car's paperwork, merits and condition should sell it and nothing else. If you've got a mechanically-minded friend bring them along or, if not, ask a local fitter to come with.

 

Buy that Toyota, join Toyota owner's forum, get socket set in. Usually you'll find fora for particular brands helpful as all hell and even if you don't know what's involved in %job%, and having found out really don't want to tackle it, at least you'll be briefed on the work needed before you take it to a garage or call someone out.

 

Personal opinions though. I enjoy a bit of a rolling project and cheaping out car-wise (matters of safety aside of course) and LOVE tinkering/fixing it myself.

 

If you've something in the region of £5k though, you can ALMOST buy new for that money! The Clio-based Sandero has LITTLE frills but cor blimey, NEW CAR for <£6k! Add a stereo yourself and a used full-size spare off eBay for about £100 and you've just saved HUNDREDS on dealer options! I don't think I'll ever want to buy a new car, but if I was the sort of person who just had to have a new automobile every few years I'd look at that.

Edited June 5, 2015 by Miscbrah

[abillybob]

Oh please

Not the old "I had some problems with that make of car and now I spread doom and gloom about the whole brand" thing

 

I bet we could find someone who has had endless problems with pretty much any make of car.

We have had Peugeots for many years and they have had few problems. Prior to that we had a couple of Vauxhalls which were reliable and long-lasting. I now drive a Jap car but it hasn't been without issues.

 

So get whatever suits, and don't listen to the naysayers

 

You can't get away from the fact that statistically Japanese manufacturers have little problems, where as vauxhall's & peugeots have more issues. You may get that one odd car that works perfectly fine and outshines your Honda and it's either a Peugeot or a Vauxhall but the facts and figures show you're much less likely to pick up a knackered Japanese car than a Peugeot or a Vauxhall.

 

He wanted something reliable and therefore people have said and rightly so that Japanese manufacturers like Honda, Toyota are the best way to go, which again statistically is correct by quite a margin.

[sippo]

Most reliable cars | Auto Express

 

May open people's eyes a bit. It's all down to opinions. Two exact people, will buy the same car at the same time, same age and even drive it the same. One may have issues, the other not.

 

For me the VAG group is the best but that's my PERSONAL opinion after hearing horror stories about other brands. Saying that though, I had a Pug 206 for 10 years and had no issues whatsoever.

 

Maintenance is key. If you look after a car, it will tend to look after you.

 

And in that list there are more French cars above Honda's. So what does that tell you?!

Edited June 5, 2015 by sippo