2nd car conundrum
Discussion
After a decade of my wife trying to persuade me of its merits, we've recently bitten the bullet and bought a VW T5-based Danbury camper.
The existing, sole family vehicle is a 2015 Golf SV (fat, slidey seated Golf) in a high spec: DSG, leather, nav, LED lights, upgraded audio etc.
At the same time, my parents are trying to pass on their 2004 Clio, which I suspect would be free and has only been owned by them - but requires a couple of bits sorting. It's slightly dog eared but has a/c, auto lights and a few other niceties.
We could afford to keep the Golf as well as the Camper. However, neither of us commutes by car and I suspect the Camper is capable of taking over almost family trips apart from town driving. The scenario I'm thinking of is to sell the Golf and use my parents' old Clio as our town runabout (we live in a city centre).
Selling the Golf would be painful due to the depreciation on a less than 1-year-old car - but I am wondering if it's otherwise just going to sit around depreciating even more, without getting much use from it?
The existing, sole family vehicle is a 2015 Golf SV (fat, slidey seated Golf) in a high spec: DSG, leather, nav, LED lights, upgraded audio etc.
At the same time, my parents are trying to pass on their 2004 Clio, which I suspect would be free and has only been owned by them - but requires a couple of bits sorting. It's slightly dog eared but has a/c, auto lights and a few other niceties.
We could afford to keep the Golf as well as the Camper. However, neither of us commutes by car and I suspect the Camper is capable of taking over almost family trips apart from town driving. The scenario I'm thinking of is to sell the Golf and use my parents' old Clio as our town runabout (we live in a city centre).
Selling the Golf would be painful due to the depreciation on a less than 1-year-old car - but I am wondering if it's otherwise just going to sit around depreciating even more, without getting much use from it?
I dunno. Driving an 11 year older, much lower spec, much smaller, much more tinny and less warrantied Clio might rapidly wear thin if you're accustomed to the luxury accoutrements of the new Golf.
I'd say it depends on whether you are generally trying to tighten your belt. If not, I'd say you could end up regretting the sale of the Golf and shopping for something else before long.
I'd say it depends on whether you are generally trying to tighten your belt. If not, I'd say you could end up regretting the sale of the Golf and shopping for something else before long.
Thanks guys. I'm taking a look at the Clio in the next few days.
My man maths tells me that the running costs (insurance, tax, maintenance etc) will be more on the older car. Hence, it's all about the Golf SV's depreciation.
The Golf SV has probably lost £9k in its first year (ouch!), but will probably lose only another £5k in the next 3. It's all about the further £5k depreciation of the SV and whether I can get much use from it during that time - I'm looking at an annual mileage of 3-4k (if that).
The question is whether it's worth £5k more over, say, 3 years... bearing in mind it'll be an urban runabout used 1-2 times per week, mainly by my wife.
My man maths tells me that the running costs (insurance, tax, maintenance etc) will be more on the older car. Hence, it's all about the Golf SV's depreciation.
The Golf SV has probably lost £9k in its first year (ouch!), but will probably lose only another £5k in the next 3. It's all about the further £5k depreciation of the SV and whether I can get much use from it during that time - I'm looking at an annual mileage of 3-4k (if that).
The question is whether it's worth £5k more over, say, 3 years... bearing in mind it'll be an urban runabout used 1-2 times per week, mainly by my wife.
If you live in the centre of a town (noticed it's Bristol). Think of it another way.
How pissed would you be if you came out in the morning, and saw it had been scratched, or the mirror knocked off, or some fat git has sat on the bonnet, denting it?
I don't know how much a golf mirror is, nor a bonnet, but I know on an older clio they're ten a penny at scrapyards. Whereas with the Clio it could be "FFS, I gotta gaff tape it back on now".
Yes, it may not be as comfortable most of the time, but as long as it has working AC, enough room and an OK stereo, do you need any more for town?
How pissed would you be if you came out in the morning, and saw it had been scratched, or the mirror knocked off, or some fat git has sat on the bonnet, denting it?
I don't know how much a golf mirror is, nor a bonnet, but I know on an older clio they're ten a penny at scrapyards. Whereas with the Clio it could be "FFS, I gotta gaff tape it back on now".
Yes, it may not be as comfortable most of the time, but as long as it has working AC, enough room and an OK stereo, do you need any more for town?
I suspect that the T5 can be used for most - if not all - driving.
To put it another way again: I think the Clio would cost £5k less over 3 years.
Not having a car at all and using City Car Club would save a similar amount, but no more (the Clio would not cost anything to buy).
The question is whether it's worth c.£5k over 3 years to keep the Golf, considering that it's a lovely car (even if it doesn't get used much). It's starting to sound like a "no"...
To put it another way again: I think the Clio would cost £5k less over 3 years.
Not having a car at all and using City Car Club would save a similar amount, but no more (the Clio would not cost anything to buy).
The question is whether it's worth c.£5k over 3 years to keep the Golf, considering that it's a lovely car (even if it doesn't get used much). It's starting to sound like a "no"...
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