New and nice, or older and flash?

[Alex_225]

I can vouch for both options to be fair. My last two brand new cars I bought in 2006 and 2010. The sense of being the only owner and driver of a car is a nice one but the novelty of a new plate does wear off and it's then about your choice of car and whether it feels special enough when it's 6, 12, 18 months+.

So many people buy a mediocre cars that they think are great because it's new and then within a year are bored with it. Thankfully the two cars I bought new are still fun, interesting and owned by me.

That said, last year I bought a 7 year old CLS63 for the same price as a Clio 200! For that money, I got 17,000 miles of wear (average of 18 months use I guess), 507bhp, huge performance, a spec to match.....well an AMG basically!

I suppose if you've scratched the itch of brand new cars, you soon realise the novelty of new is only part of the appeal, then spending that same amount on something used becomes more and more appealing and opens you up to some epic cars that would otherwise have been just a daydream when new.

[Dempsey1971]

How about a 25k Jag XKR, and a 5k station car. That's what I've done for the last few years (except my station car cost £250!!!!)

[Alex_225]

Dempsey1971 said:

How about a 25k Jag XKR, and a 5k station car. That's what I've done for the last few years (except my station car cost £250!!!!)

That'd be my thinking. I have a diesel Saab estate as a workhorse.

One for day to day, one for fun!

[DanL]

Dempsey1971 said:

How about a 25k Jag XKR, and a 5k station car. That's what I've done for the last few years (except my station car cost £250!!!!)

I'd rather spend 30k on the station car. Hadn't considered the Jag, but I imagine they'd have the mod cons, while looking rather smart. I'll check them out.

[soad]

Don't forget a private plate.

[Pints]

lewisco said:

As someone who just got a 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage I think you know where I stand

I can't even begin to imagine a 2006 Vantage being considered "old".

[AyBee]

The problem with older cars is they tend to have cost more to start with and still have the associated running costs of a car that cost more to start with. If that's not an issue, always the latter

[Impasse]

Pints said:

I can't even begin to imagine a 2006 Vantage being considered "old".

I was chatting about the condition of mine with service manager last year and we both reluctantly accepted that although it's in fine fettle, at ten years since manufacture it's now considered to be an old car.

[rohrl]

There's no way I could afford a new top-of-the-range car but by buying secondhand I've had cars such as a 4 litre Jaguar Sovereign. The trick to budget luxury is to buy them just before they're knackered and not to get too emotionally attached because if anything major goes wrong it's time to weigh them in.

For similar money I suppose I could have been behind the wheel of some horrid little 800cc Malaysian stbox. There's no glory in driving a Kia when you could be surrounded by wood and leather in a just-this-side-of-decrepit Jag.

[Ares]

e21Mark said:

I don't get why anyone would spend £30k on a car with a 4 pot diesel?

The 100,000s that do probably don't get why bearded enthusiasts risk big repair bills on a 'classic' petrol car that has less power than a 4-pot diesel when they could get all the performance and the comfort of a new/nearly new car.

Horses for courses etc.


Back to the OP.

The heart says the Aston, the head tempers it to a 997.....then left alone, the head says go for the 650i.

[DanL]

This is basically a variant on the usual question. I've only every bought one car new, and otherwise have preferred to buy something older that someone else has kindly depreciated for me so that I can afford it!

The only difference here is that it's 4 years old vs. spending a little more on something 8-10 years old. The "sensible" thing would be the new shape 650, which is still nicely rapid, has a V8, and (to my eyes) looks good. It's just not an icon...

[lewisco]

Impasse said:

I was chatting about the condition of mine with service manager last year and we both reluctantly accepted that although it's in fine fettle, at ten years since manufacture it's now considered to be an old car.

Personally I don't see it as old either. But it is an early model and is certainly a lot cheaper than what the original owner paid. Mine will be due its big 10 year service around October.

DanL, the Aston Martin forum on here is full of really nice people who love to talk about Astons all day long so post any specific questions about them in there.

[cerb4.5lee]

Interesting subject and although not necessarily related to the situation you are in, I would prefer to go older and have a top of the range car, rather than new and have the bottom of the range and I am another one who struggles with car manufacturers charging £40k for cars with a diesel 4 pot engine in them.

[Ares]

cerb4.5lee said:

Interesting subject and although not necessarily related to the situation you are in, I would prefer to go older and have a top of the range car, rather than new and have the bottom of the range and I am another one who struggles with car manufacturers charging £40k for cars with a diesel 4 pot engine in them.

Blame the Govt/HMRC for incentivising that way. My cousin has a £60k Audi A6 'Ultra' Estate. It's a 2l diesel with almost every option box ticked. It's a lovely car.....

......until it start/moves

[Jasandjules]

DanL said:

For me, the problem is that I know I'd never really use the toy. I don't really have the time or inclination to go out for a drive any more, as depressing as that sounds, so I'd need one car to do it all. I do have a garage, and had briefly considered keeping the current car and buying a Caterham, but I'm sure it would spend nearly all it's time parked up with the battery going flat...

Even so, the odd summery day with the roof down makes that toy worth having.

My main concern is parking a decent car in the station - my experience is that they end up with dinks/scrapes etc which I would not be happy with on a nice machine.