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.