Bangernomics verses New Cars

[Justin Case]

As a rule:
Big cars are more expensive to run than small cars
Expensive cars cost more in depreciation or finance than cheap cars
Older cars need more repairs and servicing than new cars

Everyone can find exceptions to the rule ( and probably will, especially on the last part ) but man maths can easily work out the optimum solution.

Our choice is two dull but reliable Japanese Domestic Appliances, but I hope to add a more interesting weekend toy to the fleet before I die of boredom

[Snowdrop_]

JumboBeef said:

I can get almost anything through my scheme. Just asked for a quote on a Lamborghini Huracan out of interest.....

Which company do you operate it through?

We had it at my old place, through Venson. I am looking at doing it for my employees but need to meet up with lease companies.

[SidewaysSi]

I have done many hundreds of thousands of miles in older cars over the past 15 years.

Total breakdowns: zero.

Smiles per mile: many millions

Total cost: No idea but nothing has ever gone wrong in any major way so probably very little.

A new modern lease car would bore the st out of me.

[UK345]

A lot of people I know have cars on lease deals and a lot of these cars are bog standard bottom of the range ones. I have never been a fan of buying cars on finance and would never even consider a brand new car at this point in time. I much prefer buying older cars which I can enjoy and sell on whenever I feel like a change.

In 2012 I bought a Ford Fiesta ST 57 plate in performance blue. I had always wanted a car like this since they came out and jumped at the opportunity. I got it at a complete steal £3300 and after 2 years 2 months motoring I sold it for £3000. The car has 86000 miles on it and was sold at 98500 miles in 2014. So yeah I paid £300 for a car I always wanted and enjoyed owning. That works out at £11.50 a month.

If you are smart about things and bide your time a good deal for the car you want will finally fall your way.

[Welshbeef]

My old man does as another has commented on here - he buys brand new then runs it into the ground 15-20+ years and self services to boot.

Also being old school cash buy only refuses even 0% - as he wants to get an even lower purchase price without any deals or tie ins.
Knows the history
Gets the spec he wants
Runs it for so long it actually works out to be very cheap on a PCM basis.




We buy fairly new ish and older but have noticed that on every older car things do come up - so this latest one brand new air con condenspr and then gaskets and gubbins nearly £1k to fix it.
Previous car starter motor, 2ndry air flow pump
Dealing with warning lights
Cool packs
Exhausts


Also the hard bit actually finding a car in the first place isn't easy can be long trips around and some are junk so with kids in tow it's not great.
Am thinking getting an S Max or similar fairly new and just run it into the ground -- but current car is doing a very good job and has years left in it.

[JumboBeef]

Snowdrop_ said:

JumboBeef said:

I can get almost anything through my scheme. Just asked for a quote on a Lamborghini Huracan out of interest.....

Which company do you operate it through?

We had it at my old place, through Venson. I am looking at doing it for my employees but need to meet up with lease companies.

NHS fleet solutions.

[Chicane-UK]

First time running a nearly new car after years of much cheaper stuff.

I can't say it is cheaper overall but its just so nice to come out to my car every day and know it will all work.. And if it doesn't it won't be a lottery in terms of how much it will cost to fix.

Many occasions of a new problem cropping up on the car, sourcing the parts then having to bust my ass over a weekend to get it fixed because I need the car for Monday. A warranty is a nice little bit of peace of mind. Not that I have needed it yet.

[TheAngryDog]

Digby said:

Worth mentioning that when the car was delivered, it had moisture in the headlamp.I called one of the provided numbers, they forwarded it to the providing Audi dealer and they got back to me within the hour.At first they thought it may simply dry out but after sending them an image of the lamp, they told me to take it to my local Audi dealer (five minutes away) and get it inspected.Once there, they decided to replace the entire unit, paid for a taxi home and they called later that day to say the car was ready.They even washed it.

Edited by Digby on Monday 31st August 19:46

That's still an inconvenience which the idea of leasing is meant to avoid, is it not? Sure it was fixed foc, but this was a new car, it shouldn't of had that defect in the first place.

[Sheepshanks]

Chicane-UK said:

Many occasions of a new problem cropping up on the car, sourcing the parts then having to bust my ass over a weekend to get it fixed because I need the car for Monday.

I went through that when we first got married - spending evenings and weekends rolling around under cars in freezing weather trying to fix them as cheaply as possible is something I hope not to have to repeat.

And that was in the days when cars where pretty simple - running older versions of anything made in the last few years is going to be a nightmare.

[anonymous-user]

Just have two!

One tool / white good lease car that you can chop change and not care about and then something fun and exciting for the weekend.

We have just ordered a new CLA S Brake, total cost is 385 euro p/m loads of extras, 7G, AMG spec etc etc.

All I have to pay is road tax (100 euro) and fuel.

For hassle free motoring if I want to drive to Italy, the UK, France etc everything is covered. I crash I get a new car, I break down we get a new car, tyres pop we get new ones, its a consistent cost, no big bills around the corner and you can swap every 12 months.

[3xpendable]

rufusgti said:

Absolutely! I don't think I've spent 1200 quid on repairs in the last 8 years.

You will never make the costs stack up against an old banger, but that's fine.

The only time I consider it is when I'm dropping the car at the garage and rushing around to get to/from work, or when I'm messing about with broken bits. I'm lucky enough to have not had a breakdown in the last ten years. That will probably be the day I sign the dotted line. However I'm not convinced you're much less likely to breakdown in a new car.

I bought a 2001 Mondeo Mk3 2.0 Duratec in April 2012. I paid £400 for it (admittedly got it much cheaper than book as it was a part/ex at a friends work) and have calculated that it's cost me £580 in repairs over the last 40 months. £400 of that was for what I consider 'service items' (Falken Tyres and brakes) so aside from that it's cost me £200 in repairs the last 3 years

ETA: I'm looking at a new (2015) Mondeo for my Mrs to have a 'family' car soon, and as someone said above. If I buy new or nearly new, I'll be keeping it 10-15 years.

Edited by 3xpendable on Tuesday 1st September 09:42

[Welshbeef]

3xpendable said:

I bought a 2001 Mondeo Mk3 2.0 Duratec in April 2012. I paid £400 for it (admittedly got it much cheaper than book as it was a part/ex at a friends work) and have calculated that it's cost me £580 in repairs over the last 40 months. £400 of that was for what I consider 'service items' (Falken Tyres and brakes) so aside from that it's cost me £200 in repairs the last 3 years

Brake fluid twice
3x oil change
3x new filters
3x MOT
1x sat of tyres which will need replacing now 3years wear
Brakes 3 years should be thinking about that cost again
Discs in 2 years
Air con bi annual regas
New engine mounts
New clutch
Yearly new wiper blades
Bi annual coolant change
Radiator/condenser will be needed

[anonymous-user]

Welshbeef said:

Brake fluid twice
3x oil change
3x new filters
3x MOT
1x sat of tyres which will need replacing now 3years wear
Brakes 3 years should be thinking about that cost again
Discs in 2 years
Air con bi annual regas
New engine mounts
New clutch
Yearly new wiper blades
Bi annual coolant change
Radiator/condenser will be needed

That's all an assumption as you don't know his annual mileage.

[swisstoni]

Welshbeef said:

3xpendable said:

I bought a 2001 Mondeo Mk3 2.0 Duratec in April 2012. I paid £400 for it (admittedly got it much cheaper than book as it was a part/ex at a friends work) and have calculated that it's cost me £580 in repairs over the last 40 months. £400 of that was for what I consider 'service items' (Falken Tyres and brakes) so aside from that it's cost me £200 in repairs the last 3 years

Brake fluid twice
3x oil change
3x new filters
3x MOT
1x sat of tyres which will need replacing now 3years wear
Brakes 3 years should be thinking about that cost again
Discs in 2 years
Air con bi annual regas
New engine mounts
New clutch
Yearly new wiper blades
Bi annual coolant change
Radiator/condenser will be needed

Ok add another £50

[Welshbeef]

Trexthedinosaur said:

Welshbeef said:

Brake fluid twice
3x oil change
3x new filters
3x MOT
1x sat of tyres which will need replacing now 3years wear
Brakes 3 years should be thinking about that cost again
Discs in 2 years
Air con bi annual regas
New engine mounts
New clutch
Yearly new wiper blades
Bi annual coolant change
Radiator/condenser will be needed

That's all an assumption as you don't know his annual mileage.

The fluids perish on age - I'd imagine not many would change engine mounts nor wholesale bushes not drop links nor new shocks etc. depends on what you consider maitaining a car v having it "existing".

[anonymous-user]

Welshbeef said:

The fluids perish on age - I'd imagine not many would change engine mounts nor wholesale bushes not drop links nor new shocks etc. depends on what you consider maitaining a car v having it "existing".

Judging by the fact the chap spent £400 on it I'd would suggest 'existing / surviving!'.

[3xpendable]

Welshbeef said:

Brake fluid twice
3x oil change
3x new filters
3x MOT
1x sat of tyres which will need replacing now 3years wear
Brakes 3 years should be thinking about that cost again
Discs in 2 years
Air con bi annual regas
New engine mounts
New clutch
Yearly new wiper blades
Bi annual coolant change
Radiator/condenser will be needed

Ok I confess, I forgot the oil changes which cost me about £20-£25 as I do them myself., I've done I think 5 on it so add £100-£150 to the overall cost. I also put a set of springs on it when I first got it, so add £100. Therefore add £200-£250 or a months lease to my total.

Regarding your list, I've just added in the oil and filters. MOT's I get for free. Why do you assume I need new tyres now? I don't drive like Kimi Raikonnen on a qualifying lap and tyres last at least 18 months for me. The front are 6 months old. Most of my mileage is light or motorway use so my discs which were new in 2012 are fine thanks, as are the pads. My aircon works lovely, and always has. Engine mounts are fine, it had a new clutch 10,000 miles before I bought it and I did indeed have to change the radiator, but that was factored into my original post costings.

I realise you are trying to make it look like I'm spending more on it than I would a lease, but I'm not.

As Trexthedinosour said, you make a lot of assumptions. When I bought the car I was doing 450 miles a week to work, plus personal stuff. Now it's probably doing 12000 a year as I live nearer work and also have another car. If you average out the mileage in the time I've owned it it comes to 15200.

Trexthedinosaur said:

Judging by the fact the chap spent £400 on it I'd would suggest 'existing / surviving!'.

Not really. It was a 1 owner from new car with a full service history and 100,000 miles, are you saying any car over 10 years old is a deathtrap?

[lostkiwi]

Its always a lottery.
I had an A8 that went for 3 years with minimal work outside what it would have required even when new.
I had a Volvo S70 that was similar (just a throttle body difference)
I have a Saab currently thats looking for a tin of petrol and a match - been nothing but trouble
Also had a Land Cruiser Colorado that was generally ok once the gearbox was replaced under warranty. Just starter motor brushes, viscous coupling fan oil and alternator.

The thing is that all of them could have been good or bad - with a lease its a guaranteed cost pretty much. Some people like that and will put up a restricted choice as a result.
I've found large lazy petrol engines to be the best buys and I'd rather a big lazy petrol engine in an exec car thats been around a while - comfort and quiet and cheap to own.

[Digby]

nickfrog said:

Digby said:

Our scheme says this..

Paid from gross salary - saving tax and National Insurance

Presumably you pay BIK tax ?

You certainly do, although it is included in the total price shown on screen as you browse cars and select options etc.

[Digby]

TheAngryDog said:

Digby said:

Worth mentioning that when the car was delivered, it had moisture in the headlamp.I called one of the provided numbers, they forwarded it to the providing Audi dealer and they got back to me within the hour.At first they thought it may simply dry out but after sending them an image of the lamp, they told me to take it to my local Audi dealer (five minutes away) and get it inspected.Once there, they decided to replace the entire unit, paid for a taxi home and they called later that day to say the car was ready.They even washed it.

Edited by Digby on Monday 31st August 19:46

That's still an inconvenience which the idea of leasing is meant to avoid, is it not? Sure it was fixed foc, but this was a new car, it shouldn't of had that defect in the first place.

According to Audi themselves, it's not uncommon to find this on new cars and most should dry out without a problem.As for it being an inconvenience, it didn't bother me in the slightest.