Keep it or what?

[The Riddler]

Ok, so I've just accepted a new job, which means I now have to leave the house and drive, rather than sitting on my arse at home.

The annual commute mileage will be around 12k a year, and I currently do roughly 8k p/a as general driving not relating to work, It would possibly be more now I'd be earning alot more.

My current vehicle of choice is a B5 A4 1.8T, which I like, its not let me down yet, but is fast approaching 200k. It is a pleasant place to be, and I think the engine does have a fair bit of life in it yet, however, it only averages 30mpg on the drive to my new place of work, and when I'm out for a hoon, this is as low as 24.

I'm wondering whether to keep the A4 for the time being, bangernomics style (It will need a little spending on it for the next mot though!) while saving like fk for something new, or, get a loan for £6500 and see what is available. (I know i can manage the repayments on a loan of this size with great ease over 2 years, the saving option would leave me not having much of a life for the next 6 months or so.)

The criteria for a new motor would be;

• upwards of 45mpg.
• £6500 or cheaper.
• Similar performance to my A4.
• Leather Int, has to be a nice place to spend time.
• Less than insurance gp15.
• Cheap to run and maintain, good reliability (Prefer VAG as the new job is VAG)

The only thing I've seen so far that interests me is an A4 1.9TDi Avant, which I would be happy enough to run, once the loan is paid or this is saved for I can start saving for a 7!



So Yeah, this is basically another What Car thread, but with the added question of whether to save or seek credit. Hope it all makes sense.

[Jammy2008]

How about this?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1748506.htm

[jas xjr]

If it was me I would keep the current car whilst I save some money. Nobody is going to give you decent money for a car with 200k + on it. Just make sure it is serviced and who knows how long it will last

[The Riddler]

This is the variety of Cock transporter I have being looking at:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1796982.htm

[anonymous-user]

12000 miles at 45mpg is £1452 of fuel (£1.20/litre)
12000 miles at 30mpg is £1984 (1.20/litre)

Saving of £532 over a year. Sounds to me like you should keep it and save some money up, add your £6.5k to it in 12 months and see what you can get.

ETA: Work out how much you can realistically save over a period of time and look at what you can get with that, then dream.

Edited by MSTRBKR on Monday 21st June 23:43

[Matt UK]

jas xjr said:

If it was me I would keep the current car whilst I save some money. Nobody is going to give you decent money for a car with 200k + on it. Just make sure it is serviced and who knows how long it will last

This.

[DanGPR]

MSTRBKR said:

12000 miles at 45mpg is £1452 of fuel (£1.20/litre)
12000 miles at 30mpg is £1984 (1.20/litre)

Saving of £532 over a year. Sounds to me like you should keep it and save some money up, add your £6.5k to it in 12 months and see what you can get.

ETA: Work out how much you can realistically save over a period of time and look at what you can get with that, then dream.

Edited by MSTRBKR on Monday 21st June 23:43

Don't forget the 8000 social miles, too

So its closer to a grand a year. Depends on how much the finance will cost in interest, I suppose.

[The Riddler]

Matt UK said:

jas xjr said:

If it was me I would keep the current car whilst I save some money. Nobody is going to give you decent money for a car with 200k + on it. Just make sure it is serviced and who knows how long it will last

This.

My main issue with this is what if it lets me down. I know I can get most of the cash I have in the car back out, and put it into what could be a safer bet.

For the MOT alone Its going to need new brakes all around and an n/s/r Shock abs that is seeping. MoT is due in August.

[W00DY]

Surely the Audi you linked to will be in big bills territory, especially if you're doing 20k+ per year. Not VAG but this has a much lower mileage for the money http://pistonheads.com/sales/1768050.htm

[The Riddler]

W00DY said:

Surely the Audi you linked to will be in big bills territory, especially if you're doing 20k+ per year. Not VAG but this has a much lower mileage for the money http://pistonheads.com/sales/1768050.htm

Is this the Vauxhall engine? Best mate has a Vectra C, not that impressed with the drive of it, is the Saab a better drive than the Vectra?

ETA - Big bills not too much of an issue really.. Over all reliability, or reputation of, is though.

Edited by The Riddler on Tuesday 22 June 00:10

[anonymous-user]

DanGPR said:

MSTRBKR said:

12000 miles at 45mpg is £1452 of fuel (£1.20/litre)
12000 miles at 30mpg is £1984 (1.20/litre)

Saving of £532 over a year. Sounds to me like you should keep it and save some money up, add your £6.5k to it in 12 months and see what you can get.

ETA: Work out how much you can realistically save over a period of time and look at what you can get with that, then dream.

Edited by MSTRBKR on Monday 21st June 23:43

Don't forget the 8000 social miles, too

So its closer to a grand a year. Depends on how much the finance will cost in interest, I suppose.

Ah I read that as 12k including social miles before. Even so I reckon keeping it is a better choice.

[The Riddler]

MSTRBKR said:

DanGPR said:

MSTRBKR said:

12000 miles at 45mpg is £1452 of fuel (£1.20/litre)
12000 miles at 30mpg is £1984 (1.20/litre)

Saving of £532 over a year. Sounds to me like you should keep it and save some money up, add your £6.5k to it in 12 months and see what you can get.

ETA: Work out how much you can realistically save over a period of time and look at what you can get with that, then dream.

Edited by MSTRBKR on Monday 21st June 23:43

Don't forget the 8000 social miles, too

So its closer to a grand a year. Depends on how much the finance will cost in interest, I suppose.

Ah I read that as 12k including social miles before. Even so I reckon keeping it is a better choice.

My main worry is gearing upto keeping it, getting it through the MOT only for the turbo to pack in or something equally as expensive.

Filling the thing twice a week will get boring fast too!

[The Riddler]

Well I started my new job this week and my A4 is feeling rather skittish on motorways, mainly when the rear suspension is unloaded. Quick diagnosis is that I will need two new rear shockers.

For reasons I'll not go into my credit rating is absolutley fked, although it should be getting better now everything is paid off, but I dont get paid for another month now. Would it be worth trying somewhere that guarantees finance on cars, and get it paid off early, or rob/rape/borrow from my parents to get mine fixed.

I dont really feel at ease driving 50+ miles a day on the motorway, and as such it took me ages to get home tonight.