Which Car?

[daemon]

Hi, I've come into a bit of cash and i am thinking of buying something half decent, run it for a few months then sell it on.

There are three physical cars that i am interested in at the minute, but i'm not sure on which?

2003 Jaguar S-Type 2.5 v6 Auto. 75K miles 1 years tax, mot'd, silver, mint. Can be bought for maybe £2800.

2004 525d SE, manual, no leather, 160K miles, silver, mint with good history. Can be bought for £5500, making it pretty much the cheapest e60 diesel in the country

2003 Mercedes C220CDI Avantgarde, auto, 107K miles, good history. Mid blue metallic, light grey leather. Probably around £4500.

What i dont want is something that i am going to struggle to resell in say, 6 months time. Also, ideally, i'd like to be buying at a price i can at least break even on.

Any thoughts??

Edited by daemon on Thursday 16th December 09:04

[kambites]

The Jag. Largely because it's a petrol, but it's also cheapest, lowest mileage and I would expect it to be most reliable.

[Rich n Em]

I've voted for the Jag

The BMW has done too many miles to easily sell on - sure it'll be nice, but I think resale will be tough.

The Merc will be nice, I'm currently running a 2003 C270 CDI as a daily hack, it's quiet, comfortable and gets 45 mpg comfortably. Plus you likely won't lose a lot on depreciation.

But, the Jag is the cheapest, the least miles and IMO will be the nicest to waft around in. If you're not going to stick too many miles on it, you shouldn't lose much on it. Plus, petrol is more fun!

[marcosgt]

They made an S-Type with the 2.5 V6? And then mated it to an autobox?

On mileage and price the S-Type seems best, but I had one (a 3 litre) as a company car very briefly and it was the least enjoyable car I've ever 'owned', so try before you buy!

M.

[SonicHedgeHog]

Can I suggest a fourth option? How about you don't spend your recently acquired wealth on a car that could easily have a problem that costs you a fortune to fix? Why not stick it in the bank (an ISA) and enjoy the fact you have money to fall back on?

It never ceases to amaze me how many people who come into a little bit of money feel they have to spend it. I have a friend who received £10k inheritance a few years back. Instead of putting it towards a house purchase he spent five minutes looking for a new car and spent all £10k on it. Complete wker.

If you don't have enough savings to cover all your essential bills for six months if you were made redundant then you shouldn't be spending this money.

[kambites]

This is a motoring enthusiasts website. Most people on here would probably rather have a car than a house.

[Chris_w666]

The E60 would be my choice if I was planning to sell it on. Even a leggy example will find more potential suitors than the Stype and the C220.

If it was buying for myself to keep I would be seriously considering the S type.

[kambites]

Chris_w666 said:

The E60 would be my choice if I was planning to sell it on. Even a leggy example will find more potential suitors than the Stype and the C220.

With that mileage and no leather seats? I would have thought the market for the C_class would be bigger.

[SonicHedgeHog]

kambites said:

This is a motoring enthusiasts website. Most people on here would probably rather have a car than a house.

I fully acknowledge your smilie, but have to say anyone who puts a car (a gold 323i with yellow leather) over a house needs to have every orifice filled with expanding tyre sealant until they see sense.

[Liquid Knight]

Jag' for me out of the three. I can't stand the smell of Diesel.

[Chris_w666]

kambites said:

Chris_w666 said:

The E60 would be my choice if I was planning to sell it on. Even a leggy example will find more potential suitors than the Stype and the C220.

With that mileage and no leather seats? I would have thought the market for the C_class would be bigger.

I see your point to normal people, however where I live any E60 with window tints and some Msport or M5 relica wheels fitted would outsell a better specced C class 2 to 1.

[SonicHedgeHog]

[redacted]

[SonicHedgeHog]

[redacted]

[Bing o]

Far better advice to commit yourself to a stload of debt secured on an illiquid depreciating property, at the mercy of interest rates over the next 25 years.

[SonicHedgeHog]

Bing o said:

Far better advice to commit yourself to a stload of debt secured on an illiquid depreciating property, at the mercy of interest rates over the next 25 years.

So what are you suggesting? Rent for 25 years? That makes total sense. Tell you what, let's pick a house somewhere in the country that both of us would be happy to live in (obviously not together!). In 25 years time, after we've taken interest payments made and rent avoided into account, you can pay me in hard cash the amount of money that the property has increased in value over its price today. If it's dropped in value I'll pay you. If, as you say, houses are such a stupid investment then you've got nothing to worry about.

[Fittster]

SonicHedgeHog said:

Bing o said:

Far better advice to commit yourself to a stload of debt secured on an illiquid depreciating property, at the mercy of interest rates over the next 25 years.

So what are you suggesting? Rent for 25 years? That makes total sense. Tell you what, let's pick a house somewhere in the country that both of us would be happy to live in (obviously not together!). In 25 years time, after we've taken interest payments made and rent avoided into account, you can pay me in hard cash the amount of money that the property has increased in value over its price today. If it's dropped in value I'll pay you. If, as you say, houses are such a stupid investment then you've got nothing to worry about.

You aren't planning to maintain this house? It will have probably fallen down in 25 years time.

[Roman]

I'd go for the BMW personally & run it for 3yrs but if your criteria is the least depreciation (& therefore I assume, running costs), lowest risk of high bills and highest % resale value after 6 months I would go for the Mercedes. I think the Jag would feel a bit sluggish with a 2.5V6 & auto box.

Find out where the local private hire firms get their Mercs maintained and you may find a willing buyer come service time too.

I wouldn't be confident of turning a profit on any of these after 6 months.

[SonicHedgeHog]

[redacted]

[Bing o]

SonicHedgeHog said:

So what are you suggesting? Rent for 25 years? That makes total sense. Tell you what, let's pick a house somewhere in the country that both of us would be happy to live in (obviously not together!). In 25 years time, after we've taken interest payments made and rent avoided into account, you can pay me in hard cash the amount of money that the property has increased in value over its price today. If it's dropped in value I'll pay you. If, as you say, houses are such a stupid investment then you've got nothing to worry about.

I'm saying that buying an illiquid asset near the top of it's valuation cycle at a time the country is fked sideways with debt is a st investment, especially when avg wages are c22k and avg prices are c170k and the affordability ration makes no sense at all. ISA - inflation and FX rates will far outweigh any gains. I'd stick it in an investment in Asia if it were me, but as 4k is barely more than beer money, I'd buy the car (any of them, none are amazing, but will make the OP a bit happier).

[SonicHedgeHog]

Fittster said:

SonicHedgeHog said:

Bing o said:

Far better advice to commit yourself to a stload of debt secured on an illiquid depreciating property, at the mercy of interest rates over the next 25 years.

So what are you suggesting? Rent for 25 years? That makes total sense. Tell you what, let's pick a house somewhere in the country that both of us would be happy to live in (obviously not together!). In 25 years time, after we've taken interest payments made and rent avoided into account, you can pay me in hard cash the amount of money that the property has increased in value over its price today. If it's dropped in value I'll pay you. If, as you say, houses are such a stupid investment then you've got nothing to worry about.

You aren't planning to maintain this house? It will have probably fallen down in 25 years time.

Another throwaway comment by someone trying to look funny and cool. Anyone who thinks that BUYING A HOME to live in for 25 years is not a good investment is a complete idiot. House price inflation over the next 25 years will far exceed any normal costs of ownership.