New car every 3 years

[V8forweekends]

thatdude said:

I overheard someone on the train conversing about cars, and stated something along the lines of "after 3 years it's good to change anyway, things start to go wrong and it gets expensive"

I'm not certain how informed he was about the need to routinely service and maintain a vehicle

Of course, if you want to change your vehicles all the time, go for it! Variety is the spice of life etc etc

I think most manufacturers are getting pretty good at making things only last 3 years. VAG EGR valves is one example - almost everything on my Jag, DPFs, DMFs. Out of warranty 3 years+ modern cars are a minefield.

[jdw1234]

I only know a few people who "buy" a new car every few years. The majority (I know) who have this replacement cycle do some sort of lease/rental or have a company car.

I assume people think less about depreciation when it is in relatively affordable monthly payments (or they just don't care).

[Monty Python]

98elise said:

I could afford it, but I can't justfy the depreciation. I'd rather buy 1 owner 2-3 year old car for half the money.

Me too - there's no way I'd have spent £42k on my car brand new, knowing that in two years it would lose £17k.

[siovey]

Back in the day, when i worked for a well known bank which is now mostly owned by the taxpayer, i used to get ridiculous deals on brand new cars on pcp. My budget was £250 max pm with no deposit
My last 2 cars were a 182 cup then a focus st2. 10k miles, 2 years, no deposit, £220 p/m inc maintenance. No brainer!!

[C.A.R.]

I run a shed which I can barely afford to run! I'd rather spend the money on maintaining that and put the rest towards spending quality time with my family by going out than to stump up a big monthly payment. I could probably afford something like a basic mid-sized hatchback with a very undesireable engine and cloth seats if I really wanted to waste some money.

Last year I spent less than £600 maintaining and keeping my car on the road and I'd rather keep it that way...

[saabster14]

I like older cars and given the choice I would drive a different car everyday, be that a cheap little number or anything else, I'm not too fussy tbh.
I like buying cars and I like the thrill of hunting down something I fancy, sad I know. I buy mainly privately or at auctions, and I like the negotiation game when privately buying.

Buying new cars is alien to me. I'm extremely fortunate that I could buy new but I doubting would get the same thrill from just ordering something I wanted, something would be missing from the experience IMO. I like to buy a car that may have been expensive new for a fraction of the price.... I know that there are drawbacks to that, rust, mechanical issues etc, but I also love restoring cars and fixing problems too.

If I bought new I think it would feel underwhelming, irrespective of the financial aspect. Just a personal feeling.

Having said all that I am grateful that there are so many who do buy new otherwise there would be hewhaw second hand market for me to choose from.

So please please please could everyone buy new so I'll have a nice supply of second hand motors to choose from in a few years

[Vladimir]

Totally depends on the car; if it's good, we keep it for several years, if not or there is an issue (e.g. Our R32 Golf suddenly became Bristols main crime magnet) we get shot after a year or so.

I guess the three year change is to keep a car in warranty; people pay a lot for that piece of mind even if it's often a bit hollow.

[saabster14]

C.A.R. said:

I run a shed which I can barely afford to run! I'd rather spend the money on maintaining that and put the rest towards spending quality time with my family by going out than to stump up a big monthly payment. I could probably afford something like a basic mid-sized hatchback with a very undesireable engine and cloth seats if I really wanted to waste some money.

Last year I spent less than £600 maintaining and keeping my car on the road and I'd rather keep it that way...

You sound very sensible, I too would never put cars before my family on a priority list. I do know folk who have to have the latest model of this or that, all on borrowed money, but yet neglect spending time with there kids for various excuses. It's that credit culture, and materialistic atmosphere that precipitated the crash in 2008, and sadly some people don't seemed to have learned from it...... I'll stop now before going into full rant mode

[Garybee]

I've always run cars on a shoestring but due to a change in job and other lifestyle choices I'm really struggling to find the time to do it this way. A boring, warrantied, leased car is looking pretty attractive to me at the moment. As soon as I see the right deal (needs to be something that will tow the track car) that's probably what I'll do. The thought of spending so much money does irk me though.

[JamesD1]

by "New" do you mean brand new or new to you? as far as cars go i have yet to find soemthing that ive wanted to keep longer than a year and will continue to switch my cars every year (or sooner) until i find what i am happy with. I generally only spend upto £2k at a time so not brand new

as far as "brand new" my O/H bought her car 18months ago and will be changing at 2 years as circumstances require a bigger vehicle. we got a good deal but have still ended 'upside down' id rather she had a second hand car next or leased something cheaper to avoid losses.

ps. the car is fiat 500 - i got £2000 off and after 18 months were £1500 in the red so £3500 in 18 months. certainly not something we could make a habit of.

[panholio]

How about this...

I like cars, that is why I am on a car forum.
I like new cars because they offer the latest things, I like gadgets, I like bluetooth, I like sat nav, I like my arse warmed etc etc.
I like trying different cars rather than sticking with the same one for years.
I like certainty of costs.
I like suspension set ups that have had no wear.
I like new tyres.
I like minty fresh paint and wheels.

I don't like having to (pay to) fix faults
I don't like paying for tyres or watching some monkey do my wheels in changing them
I don't like paying for cam belt changes, suspension parts, clutches, brake discs etc etc
I don't like breaking down

I could come up with a lot more with more time.

People lease/ finance/ rent cars. This forum needs to get over it.

[deltashad]

I have no interest in buying new and constantly replacing. Much to the distress of my mum.
She's 70 and still doing the same thing every 3 years. With the same make, and same model.

[okie592]

I don't know why we all waste money on houses when we could live in a tin shack. We don't need clothes we have potato sacks. We don't need tv we can watch the clouds. I don't need the internet to complain on I could have a life,


People spend their money they earn on stuff they want. Some people are happy with a new car every 3 years, some people think of it as loosing money and they could possabley do that!

How do you know they aren't company cars? You could argue the same of why do you live in a big house when a beds it would be adaquate? People spend money on things they like.

If someone now wasn't buying a brand new M5 how would you ever be able to buy it when it's 10 years old?

[saabster14]

panholio said:

How about this...

I like cars, that is why I am on a car forum.
I like new cars because they offer the latest things, I like gadgets, I like bluetooth, I like sat nav, I like my arse warmed etc etc.
I like trying different cars rather than sticking with the same one for years.
I like certainty of costs.
I like suspension set ups that have had no wear.
I like new tyres.
I like minty fresh paint and wheels.

I don't like having to (pay to) fix faults
I don't like paying for tyres or watching some monkey do my wheels in changing them
I don't like paying for cam belt changes, suspension parts, clutches, brake discs etc etc
I don't like breaking down

I could come up with a lot more with more time.

People lease/ finance/ rent cars. This forum needs to get over it.

I get all of that, everyone is different and likes different aspects of car ownership.

What I don't get is the monkey reference?

[panholio]

saabster14 said:

I get all of that, everyone is different and likes different aspects of car ownership.

What I don't get is the monkey reference?

Sorry what I meant was that by leasing/ pcping a car for 2-3 years at the mileage I do I minimise the need for various "technicians" to have to fiddle about with my car. I've owned numerous older cars (in fact I own a 7 year old Saab) in the past and have always been disappointed by the service from the motor industry in all respects.

This forum is FULL of people who have experienced the same, from wheels damaged changing tyres through to more serious failings.

I guess the other one I didn't add is that by leasing one doesn't have to buy a second hand car from a trader with hidden problems - report to the £50k audi R8 thread recently for further info.

Edited by panholio on Monday 27th January 13:43

[okie592]

Of course none of these I wouldn't buy a new car. Too much depreciation. Too much electic toys. Blah blah blah applies to every new car except the bloody god of all cars the beautiful can do no wrong M135i

[LA167]

panholio said:

How about this...

I like cars, that is why I am on a car forum.
I like new cars because they offer the latest things, I like gadgets, I like bluetooth, I like sat nav, I like my arse warmed etc etc.
I like trying different cars rather than sticking with the same one for years.
I like certainty of costs.
I like suspension set ups that have had no wear.
I like new tyres.
I like minty fresh paint and wheels.

I don't like having to (pay to) fix faults
I don't like paying for tyres or watching some monkey do my wheels in changing them
I don't like paying for cam belt changes, suspension parts, clutches, brake discs etc etc
I don't like breaking down

I could come up with a lot more with more time.

People lease/ finance/ rent cars. This forum needs to get over it.

I like you!

[Ozzie Osmond]

Monty Python said:

there's no way I'd have spent £42k on my car brand new, knowing that in two years it would lose £17k.

...and in a period of 6 years that means suffering £51,000 of depreciation to drive a £42,000 car.

If you're willing to accept £51,000 of depreciation you might as well consider getting a £70,000 car and keeping it for longer. Slap a £1,000 dateless plate on it and you're laughing.

[Hasbeen]

I drove company cars for years, replaced about every 18 months. I insisted on a dual cab diesel Hilux, as it was at least useful to tow my daughters hors trailers around.

My lady likes new cars, & we replace each bit of garbage every couple of years. The last of her cars I liked driving was the 86 Toyota Cressida. It would have been a great car, without the over powered steering.

She has excelled in the garbage department at present with a Ford Fiesta. What a horrible thing it is.

I would hate to have to pick something new I would have to derive for any length of time, I guess it would be back to the crew cab utes for me.

[stumpage]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Monty Python said:

there's no way I'd have spent £42k on my car brand new, knowing that in two years it would lose £17k.

...and in a period of 6 years that means suffering £51,000 of depreciation to drive a £42,000 car.

If you're willing to accept £51,000 of depreciation you might as well consider getting a £70,000 car and keeping it for longer. Slap a £1,000 dateless plate on it and you're laughing.

Sorry can't get the maths here. Depreciation is a curve not £17K every 2 years.

Ahhhh got it now you're talking about a new £42K car every 2 years losing £17K. But wouldn't you be spending £51K on £126K of cars.

Sorry not with it today

Edited by stumpage on Monday 27th January 13:55

Edited by stumpage on Monday 27th January 13:56