Heart or head new car
 

My 2nd car is just over 9 years old. No problems with mot only ever had to change tyres wall cracked ,and replace batteries twice , mileage to low ( 9000 + miles) . Heart says get a new one, head says why ? Only used for very short trips . Your thoughts , if change what small car ?:D

Re: Heart or head new car
 

I am not a driver but from what you have told us, I would stick with what you have. It's a reliable little goer, you know it's history, gets you from A to B and very low mileage, what's not to like?
We have had our Rover 25 for 17 years, has just passed it's MOT, we only use it 3 times a week hence 41,000 on the clock. It's going to be our last car, wouldn't part with it. Plus the amount you would spend on a different car, you will probably need to pay your next fuel bills etc. IMO:D

Re: Heart or head new car
 

Just have 1 car? You can't drive 2 at the same time...

Re: Heart or head new car
 

I hope you're using E5 fuel on that old rover as there is no data on whether that car is ok on the newer E10 fuel?]

Re: Heart or head new car
 

What would be the point of a new one ?

I'm also curious why you have a "2nd" car ?

Re: Heart or head new car
 

You've got me puzzled SnoopZ, E5 or E10, does it say on the pump what it is? :dozey:

Re: Heart or head new car
 

Yes it says on the pump, E10 is now the cheaper regular unleaded, E5 costs alot more but won't damage the engine of older cars.

There is no data on Rover on whether E10 can be used but it may have a Honda engine so you might be able to find out, as using the wrong fuel will seriously damage an engine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_200_/_25

https://www.honda.co.uk/cars/owners/e10-fuel.html

Re: Heart or head new car
 

I'd stick with what you've got. 90000 miles is nothing!


Run it until it costs more to repair than to replace. Then at that point get another car.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

This summer I’m moving house and will be less than 2 miles from where I work. My Berlingo, which has 85k miles on it over 9 years, is now going to spend a lot of time on the driveway as I’m planning to ride a bike instead. I will probably now also keep it a fair bit longer - I was thinking I’d have to change it in the next 18 months but actually I could quite possibly hold on to it for at least another 2-3 years, at which point I hope there will be more choice, better prices and improved range in the electric car market.

I would say, with the cost of living going up as it now is, that if you don’t have to change your car, don’t change your car.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

I've got three cars, because I like them and want them.

If I could afford a certain fourth, I'd buy that too.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

I got rid of my old faithful 05 plate 1.8 Avensis, 122k on the clock, didn't cost me much in repairs over the years, very reliable.
Sadly knackered knees and an arthritic back meant getting in and out was becoming 'problematic' :(

When I retired, we sold that and the daughters car (daughter took over the wifes Peugeot 207) and we bought a 15 plate 1.2 Qashqai - the one with cameras all over the place to help the wife park it ;)

It's . . ok . . too many clever electronic 'safety' features for me though, drives well enough, comfortable, too soon to talk about reliability, wife loves it.

If it wasn't for my mobility issues I'd still have the Avensis to be honest.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

2nd hand prices are high at the moment. New cars often delayed because of supply issues.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

I bought my '95 Skoda in 2000 for £5k with 5k on the clock. 22 years later, with 47k on the clock, she's had:

A set of tyres as the side walls cracked with age
A new exhaust
A new battery
An exchange alternator (cheaper than a strip and rebuild)
A starter motor brush exchange
A complete change of front brake system (pads, disk and calipers)

I went looking for a replacement, but, as a couple of mates found, the price of second-hand cars has gone ballistic due to the pandemic and oil crisis. Small, economical cars have jumped the most. One found a few he liked in the morning, came back in the evening to find they all had jumped around £1.5k.

A big reseller here also lifted the prices of small cars by £1.5k, but was offering £1k over market value for any part-ex. If you part-exed, he still got £500 extra. No part-ex and he gained £1.5k.

My car cannot use E10, so I have to pay extra for E5 (which is getting hard to find) but with her tiny annual mileage, that only adds a couple of quid to the fuel bill (so far). I only need to fill up about 4 times a year.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

I have no problem getting E5 but it is pricier.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

Tesco have it as an option on every pump here.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

No need to change so why change? Stick with what you have.:)

Re: Heart or head new car
 

Our local Tesco had no stocks for over 2 weeks, blaming the run on E10 and diesel requiring all tankers.

Only one other place stocks it, Sainsburys on the outskirts, but stocks have been spotty there too.

So much for Boris' promise that stocks would be available for 5 years.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

If I travel any distance , ie France, across UK etc . Need to move things , I want comfort . Hence my big car. To go to local shops doc, dentist etc I use the toy car ! :D Hyundai i10 v GMC Yukon no contest

Re: Heart or head new car
 

It depends really. Do you enjoy cars and / or driving? Or is a car just a tool to get from A to B?

Second to a home, a car is probably the most expensive thing people will buy during their lifetime. If you're going to buy one for form and function alone, don't bother - what you have does the job. If you want a car because there is one you really want, and you'd love to own and drive it, get it. If you don't really enjoy driving, but there is a car you would love to own, again, get it, because it might be the car you drive that is what you dislike, rather than driving itself.

Most people work hard all their life and if you find yourself in a position to buy something really nice that you really want, you should. You can't take anything with you when you go, but you can enjoy it whilst you're here. And if you die in debt, you've made a profit! :) Just make sure you can pay the important stuff first that won't leave you in a desperate place.

Even if you only drive the car on a Sunday, but that car makes you really look forward to the weekend, it's completely worth it. For a lot of people, cars are about smiles per mile (myself included). If you own a car you really love, it changes every journey you will make in her.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

Thanks for your thoughts .cost isn't really the question , l find it hard to justify to spending money on anything ,only brought a smart phone recently . Having listen to good as sliced bread on radio 4 it's killed of any thoughts of getting an ev . Tax is putting me off new car , only pay £35 a year at the moment . Yes l can / could easily pay but my head would explode at thought :shocked:

Re: Heart or head new car
 

Smiles Per Mile, my friend! Treat yourself. Buy something you really want for you to enjoy! Being frugal is all well and good, but if you don't spend that money, all it will do is sit in a bank account and get used by the banks to make themselves richer off your hard earned money. Get this for you, if you can afford it. The fact you are even questioning whether you should or not tells me you want to. Put a smile on your face and enjoy a new car. ;)

Re: Heart or head new car
 

Well worth a listen if you can find that programme on BBC sounds.

Sheds a whole new light on the costs of changing to an EV.

Re: Heart or head new car
 

Re: Heart or head new car
 

I understand and spend plenty not a problem , Yes could easily buy another new car ,GMC is a 22 plate , how ever there is nothing wrong with the i10 just it's old ,however 8000 on the clock. Sails the mot . So no real need :dozey:

Re: Heart or head new car
 

Whatever you do don't he tempted to get a convertible. Drivers of these are blissfully unaware of their w****r status from what I've witnessed today. Usually mid life crisis balding 'men' with small 'personalities'. They magically appear this time of year.....

Re: Heart or head new car
 

The problem has sort of sorted it self out ,model I would buy is on a six month waiting time !!!:erm:

Re: Heart or head new car
 

And refer to it as the "beemer" :)