should i keep my car, upgrade, or downgrade?
Discussion
The rules for the normal man.
1. Over the last 100+ years the trend on house prices have gone up. Some up's and down's but the trend is clear.
2. Unless you stumble across a gem, car prices do one way. Down.
3. Blokes tend to think. Hmm.. I'd rather have a nicer car
4. Man up. Get the cheapest reliable shed you can. And get a better house.
5. You will spend about 1-2 hours a day in your car. But about 12-15+ hours a day in your house.
6. You have asked on a car forum. Ask the same question on a house forum and report back.
1. Over the last 100+ years the trend on house prices have gone up. Some up's and down's but the trend is clear.
2. Unless you stumble across a gem, car prices do one way. Down.
3. Blokes tend to think. Hmm.. I'd rather have a nicer car
4. Man up. Get the cheapest reliable shed you can. And get a better house.
5. You will spend about 1-2 hours a day in your car. But about 12-15+ hours a day in your house.
6. You have asked on a car forum. Ask the same question on a house forum and report back.
Jimboka said:
Sell the Audi. Bank 8k.
Get the house ASAP, prices rising faster than the 1500 you are saving, well in most places anyway.
Pay 1000 deposit & 100 a month to drive a Skoda Citigo for 3 years with free servicing/60 mpg
Forget cars for 3 years and get the house sorted out!
If house prices go up £1500 a year my house may soon be worth what I paid for it, cue much a whoop'n and a holler'n from me!Get the house ASAP, prices rising faster than the 1500 you are saving, well in most places anyway.
Pay 1000 deposit & 100 a month to drive a Skoda Citigo for 3 years with free servicing/60 mpg
Forget cars for 3 years and get the house sorted out!
Edited by Jimboka on Sunday 24th November 22:07
I've been going through a similar thought process: keep my SL, or get sensible. I decided to hedge by buying a car for the winter, with the aim of a) keeping the miles off of the SL b) if I like it, it might help me accept the loss of the SL (which is an utterly superb car).
So I bought a high mileage, low spec 2004 Subaru Legacy off eBay for £1495. Picked it up on Monday, and whilst it's a completely different proposition to the SL, I am thrilled with it. Perfect for winter commuting (bit thirsty, but still 50% better than the Merc). So now the idea of selling the SL in the Spring doesn't feel quite so awful now. And the thought of banking all the money that is currently sat in it makes me happy
Summary: I agree with everyone else, put the money in the house, not the car. Cheap cars can be good too, and by having a bigger deposit you'll be saving twice: lower interest rates and lower total interest payments over the mortgage term.
So I bought a high mileage, low spec 2004 Subaru Legacy off eBay for £1495. Picked it up on Monday, and whilst it's a completely different proposition to the SL, I am thrilled with it. Perfect for winter commuting (bit thirsty, but still 50% better than the Merc). So now the idea of selling the SL in the Spring doesn't feel quite so awful now. And the thought of banking all the money that is currently sat in it makes me happy
Summary: I agree with everyone else, put the money in the house, not the car. Cheap cars can be good too, and by having a bigger deposit you'll be saving twice: lower interest rates and lower total interest payments over the mortgage term.
Well it seems the consensus is definitely to sell the car and downgrade. Going to be a bit tough going back to a shed having driven one for 4 years before i got a job where i could afford something better.
what about an st170? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
what about an st170? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...
I sold my Clio 172 and replaced it with a mk5 transit back in 2004 to buy a house. 9 years on I have sold it, got a sizeable chunk in the bank, bought the mrs a new car and bought a BTL property and intended to buy another in a year of so.
I was truly gutted when the Clio went but I have plenty of sheds since and managed to work my way up to a 5 year old mondeo now (it suits with having a family).
Get invested in property as soon as possible and worry about the cars in years to come.
I was truly gutted when the Clio went but I have plenty of sheds since and managed to work my way up to a 5 year old mondeo now (it suits with having a family).
Get invested in property as soon as possible and worry about the cars in years to come.
I dont know about your needs for a large boot, seats etc.
But I bought this about 14 months ago for £1500. Bar the wheels which i've recently acquired and fitted, all I had to replace was an alternator and a front caliper. Other than that, serviced twice (fluids, filters, plugs).
Such a fun car. 30mpg in town and over 35 on long runs.
Only thing I would change it for is a turbo, which I plan on doing soon.
But I bought this about 14 months ago for £1500. Bar the wheels which i've recently acquired and fitted, all I had to replace was an alternator and a front caliper. Other than that, serviced twice (fluids, filters, plugs).
Such a fun car. 30mpg in town and over 35 on long runs.
Only thing I would change it for is a turbo, which I plan on doing soon.
Look at it the other way... having petrol in your veins actually makes it easier to enjoy cheap cars!
I had a fantastic drive a few weeks back. The road was empty with plenty of twists and bumps, the weather cold but clear and the road damp. I was giving it everything it had, clipping the limiter in 2nd and 3rd gears, setting the balance up into corners, trying to master a bit of heel/toe in the process, playing right on the edge of grip and slip at times. Watching the road but feeling the car to be mechanically sympathetic but to also get the most out of it. The car? A 110k mile K11 Micra I'd been roped in to move from A to B by one of the inlaws... Can't have been worth more than £750 but it really was a fantastic drive and I'll remember it for a while.
If you need money for important stuff, then I'd put it there. IME, cars are the easiest thing in the world to get cheap thrills from.
I had a fantastic drive a few weeks back. The road was empty with plenty of twists and bumps, the weather cold but clear and the road damp. I was giving it everything it had, clipping the limiter in 2nd and 3rd gears, setting the balance up into corners, trying to master a bit of heel/toe in the process, playing right on the edge of grip and slip at times. Watching the road but feeling the car to be mechanically sympathetic but to also get the most out of it. The car? A 110k mile K11 Micra I'd been roped in to move from A to B by one of the inlaws... Can't have been worth more than £750 but it really was a fantastic drive and I'll remember it for a while.
If you need money for important stuff, then I'd put it there. IME, cars are the easiest thing in the world to get cheap thrills from.
Wouldnt consider any of those cars an upgrade personally. The Audi is a faultless car IMO which is why i would go with the s3 by choice. Maybe not as "fun" as some other choices, but the build quality is excellent and i get a surprising amount of comments on it.
Definitley liking the focus ST though. Always liked the look of them. Although already trying to avoid getting drawn into looking for ones with full leather and xenons!
Definitley liking the focus ST though. Always liked the look of them. Although already trying to avoid getting drawn into looking for ones with full leather and xenons!
sting3r70 said:
Wouldnt consider any of those cars an upgrade personally. The Audi is a faultless car IMO which is why i would go with the s3 by choice. Maybe not as "fun" as some other choices, but the build quality is excellent and i get a surprising amount of comments on it.
Definitley liking the focus ST though. Always liked the look of them. Although already trying to avoid getting drawn into looking for ones with full leather and xenons!
You're not upgrading, you're trying to save money to buy a house.Definitley liking the focus ST though. Always liked the look of them. Although already trying to avoid getting drawn into looking for ones with full leather and xenons!
Forget cars and prioritise your house!
However, you'll rarely see better build quality than that era of Honda. Again, I wouldn't buy from a dealer at those prices because they'll have been brought in at an even lower price just to make a profit and the warranties will be worthless at best.
If I was in your shoes I'd sell yours right away and buy this Saab 95 Turbo http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
You're getting consistent advice so take it from all of us who've been in that situation before
Edited by Ved on Monday 25th November 22:06
sting3r70 said:
Wouldnt consider any of those cars an upgrade personally. The Audi is a faultless car IMO which is why i would go with the s3 by choice. Maybe not as "fun" as some other choices, but the build quality is excellent and i get a surprising amount of comments on it.
Sounds like the imagine of the Audi suits your needs. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff