Help/Advice/musings on car running strategy.
Discussion
I know it’s a bit of another ‘what car’ type of thread but please bare with me here, I would really appreciate the hive mind thoughts of PH.
The last few years of running 2 cars as initially as a couple and now as a small family I have leased one car on the cheapest/best value large car deal I can find, I am reasonably happy with this approach for one car as the numbers to me seem to balance. Requirements for this car is space, comfort, reliability and economy. This car mainly gets used by my wife to commute and use for work trips. This car is also used for longer runs with the 2 of us and the now 18 month old little lady. Currently it’s a leased V90 previously it was a Leased Superb both with maintenance included so lovely fixed cost motoring. 14k/year
Now, the second car - I use this for my 3 mile commute, parking in supermarkets etc general every day activities... parked wherever no chuffs given. I have been running bangernomics on this car as a strategy always about £1000. This car does 4K/year
However, this car needs to be a decent size (currently avensis) as I have a 6ft 5 powerfully built frame... this is PH. So when my wife drives and isize car seat is in the back I want to be able to sit in front of it in the passenger side.
This week the current car has been given the death sentence, needs more work than its economically viable to do. Local mechanic inspected and said it’s not worth spending the money on it.
Now, the main car is on a 10k lease so we are looking at a bill for excess miles.
This is the second banger to give up on me in the last 2 years.
Having a little one I feel like I want better reliability and a car to take some load off the main car and do a few longer trips that my wife might do for work.
So my conundrum is, I have been looking at cheap cheap lease deals and I have come across a Skoda scala at £134 per month on a 9+23 on a fully maintained lease and inc metallic paint as there are no base colours in stock and therefore the paint has to be paid for as part of the deal.
10k miles per year so can be used worry free by my wife too. I don’t really care what this car is so long as we can all fit in it for some amount of time.
Looking at the numbers, I don’t think this is much more expensive in reality than another banger plus road tax and other running costs. £2k/year less fuel and insurance. Let alone savings on car 1s excess mileage charges.
So, do I change strategy for a couple of years and remove hassle buying bangers and all the tribulations that come with that and gain peace of mind esp when ferrying a little one about?
Or suck it up and try and buy another banger? - I don’t want another going pop or throwing a bill or two. I know some things about cars but buying them is a lottery.
Or is there another option of buying a more expensive second hand car but then we have to factor in depreciation into the sums and many cars will depreciate alone more than 2k a year. Plus you have potential to own a bill and other running costs.
I am interested to understand people’s thoughts on my predicament and if there is any thoughts/advice that can be offered. Please no half baked ‘I bought a car for £100 and it ran for 20 years and 100k per year and only used one tank of fuel’ tales.
Budget is flexible, ideally I want to spend as little as possible.
The last few years of running 2 cars as initially as a couple and now as a small family I have leased one car on the cheapest/best value large car deal I can find, I am reasonably happy with this approach for one car as the numbers to me seem to balance. Requirements for this car is space, comfort, reliability and economy. This car mainly gets used by my wife to commute and use for work trips. This car is also used for longer runs with the 2 of us and the now 18 month old little lady. Currently it’s a leased V90 previously it was a Leased Superb both with maintenance included so lovely fixed cost motoring. 14k/year
Now, the second car - I use this for my 3 mile commute, parking in supermarkets etc general every day activities... parked wherever no chuffs given. I have been running bangernomics on this car as a strategy always about £1000. This car does 4K/year
However, this car needs to be a decent size (currently avensis) as I have a 6ft 5 powerfully built frame... this is PH. So when my wife drives and isize car seat is in the back I want to be able to sit in front of it in the passenger side.
This week the current car has been given the death sentence, needs more work than its economically viable to do. Local mechanic inspected and said it’s not worth spending the money on it.
Now, the main car is on a 10k lease so we are looking at a bill for excess miles.
This is the second banger to give up on me in the last 2 years.
Having a little one I feel like I want better reliability and a car to take some load off the main car and do a few longer trips that my wife might do for work.
So my conundrum is, I have been looking at cheap cheap lease deals and I have come across a Skoda scala at £134 per month on a 9+23 on a fully maintained lease and inc metallic paint as there are no base colours in stock and therefore the paint has to be paid for as part of the deal.
10k miles per year so can be used worry free by my wife too. I don’t really care what this car is so long as we can all fit in it for some amount of time.
Looking at the numbers, I don’t think this is much more expensive in reality than another banger plus road tax and other running costs. £2k/year less fuel and insurance. Let alone savings on car 1s excess mileage charges.
So, do I change strategy for a couple of years and remove hassle buying bangers and all the tribulations that come with that and gain peace of mind esp when ferrying a little one about?
Or suck it up and try and buy another banger? - I don’t want another going pop or throwing a bill or two. I know some things about cars but buying them is a lottery.
Or is there another option of buying a more expensive second hand car but then we have to factor in depreciation into the sums and many cars will depreciate alone more than 2k a year. Plus you have potential to own a bill and other running costs.
I am interested to understand people’s thoughts on my predicament and if there is any thoughts/advice that can be offered. Please no half baked ‘I bought a car for £100 and it ran for 20 years and 100k per year and only used one tank of fuel’ tales.
Budget is flexible, ideally I want to spend as little as possible.
Edited by dodsi2000 on Friday 6th December 21:56
This just goes around and around, doesn't it? There are pros and cons at each level. The Scala seems like a good deal, but then you've got nothing to show at the end of the lease; but buying a car at any level is a bit of a lottery of price vs borkage.
If you're really only doing small trips, then cheap old barges with big petrol engines offer lots of room, quality and often surprisingly little bork against a payback of poor mpg (not such a problem at 4k miles per year) and small residual value (see 1-5k smoker barge thread).
I've just got out of that game and into the Scala's predecessor, the Rapid... one of the few "family" sized cars I felt properly comfortable in, I'm only 6'4" though
... I went somewhere in the middle between new and banger - 3 years old, 17,500 miles and half price (£8.5k). Depreciation seems to be on the order of £1k/year for these from 3 years on, running costs are similar to the current generation of cars (low tax, decent mpg). Hopefully with regular servicing, it'll run for a good many years for me without too much bother (touch wood).
But my head was running through the buy/lease/PCP/new/old/price/running/reliability/depreciation/etc ratios over and over... in the end, you've just got to pick a level and dive in!
If you're really only doing small trips, then cheap old barges with big petrol engines offer lots of room, quality and often surprisingly little bork against a payback of poor mpg (not such a problem at 4k miles per year) and small residual value (see 1-5k smoker barge thread).
I've just got out of that game and into the Scala's predecessor, the Rapid... one of the few "family" sized cars I felt properly comfortable in, I'm only 6'4" though
... I went somewhere in the middle between new and banger - 3 years old, 17,500 miles and half price (£8.5k). Depreciation seems to be on the order of £1k/year for these from 3 years on, running costs are similar to the current generation of cars (low tax, decent mpg). Hopefully with regular servicing, it'll run for a good many years for me without too much bother (touch wood).But my head was running through the buy/lease/PCP/new/old/price/running/reliability/depreciation/etc ratios over and over... in the end, you've just got to pick a level and dive in!
defblade said:
This just goes around and around, doesn't it? There are pros and cons at each level. The Scala seems like a good deal, but then you've got nothing to show at the end of the lease; but buying a car at any level is a bit of a lottery of price vs borkage.
If you're really only doing small trips, then cheap old barges with big petrol engines offer lots of room, quality and often surprisingly little bork against a payback of poor mpg (not such a problem at 4k miles per year) and small residual value (see 1-5k smoker barge thread).
I've just got out of that game and into the Scala's predecessor, the Rapid... one of the few "family" sized cars I felt properly comfortable in, I'm only 6'4" though ... I went somewhere in the middle between new and banger - 3 years old, 17,500 miles and half price (£8.5k). Depreciation seems to be on the order of £1k/year for these from 3 years on, running costs are similar to the current generation of cars (low tax, decent mpg). Hopefully with regular servicing, it'll run for a good many years for me without too much bother (touch wood).
But my head was running through the buy/lease/PCP/new/old/price/running/reliability/depreciation/etc ratios over and over... in the end, you've just got to pick a level and dive in!
Are you the same defblade from BCF of old?If you're really only doing small trips, then cheap old barges with big petrol engines offer lots of room, quality and often surprisingly little bork against a payback of poor mpg (not such a problem at 4k miles per year) and small residual value (see 1-5k smoker barge thread).
I've just got out of that game and into the Scala's predecessor, the Rapid... one of the few "family" sized cars I felt properly comfortable in, I'm only 6'4" though
... I went somewhere in the middle between new and banger - 3 years old, 17,500 miles and half price (£8.5k). Depreciation seems to be on the order of £1k/year for these from 3 years on, running costs are similar to the current generation of cars (low tax, decent mpg). Hopefully with regular servicing, it'll run for a good many years for me without too much bother (touch wood).But my head was running through the buy/lease/PCP/new/old/price/running/reliability/depreciation/etc ratios over and over... in the end, you've just got to pick a level and dive in!
Im not sure a smoker barge would suit my wife’s need to take some miles away from the main car without costing the earth in fuel as whilst I do 4K I think she could do the same again in it. Also when she does use the second car it would normally always be on my fuel.
I think where I have landed is 2k/year for hopefully bork free motoring might just be worth it over a shed plus all additional running costs.
dodsi2000 said:
Are you the same defblade from BCF of old?
Yeah, that's me 
Still there most days too, although only using 4 wheels since my crash... Christ, nearly 5 years ago! Daughter learning to drive at the moment though, then off to Uni next year, so I may starting thinking about another bike
I've got a garage to put one in, too, now!dodsi2000 said:
Im not sure a smoker barge would suit my wife’s need to take some miles away from the main car without costing the earth in fuel as whilst I do 4K I think she could do the same again in it. Also when she does use the second car it would normally always be on my fuel.
I think where I have landed is 2k/year for hopefully bork free motoring might just be worth it over a shed plus all additional running costs.
Barge: 4k miles @ 25mpg @ 1.23/litre = just shy of £900I think where I have landed is 2k/year for hopefully bork free motoring might just be worth it over a shed plus all additional running costs.
Scala (assuming petrol): @45mpg = just under £500
So if you double to 8k miles to include your wife's possible miles, you're sticking £1k extra petrol each year in a barge compared to the Scala... with probably zero depreciation (on a car you own, so purchase price doesn't really factor the same), but risks of bills - you'd have a grand's slush fund each year against them.
But, I completely get the peace of mind of the Scala too, at that price... I could well have been tempted myself. It's a 2 grand wager over 2 years whether an old car would throw that bill - you'll never know - either way, it's not a great deal of money when you're talking about cars.
(Have you checked you fit in the Scala? If it's a problem, do have a go in a Rapid!)
I popped into the local Skoda place and checked that I fit on Friday afternoon. Hoping to lock the deal in today on a Scala.
I also don’t ride bikes anymore - 18 month old little lady these days and a wife that doesn’t like bikes and living in the busy South East just don’t make it a particularly fun concept anymore. It’s 1.0 petrol hatchbacks that get my juices flowing these days apparently...
I also don’t ride bikes anymore - 18 month old little lady these days and a wife that doesn’t like bikes and living in the busy South East just don’t make it a particularly fun concept anymore. It’s 1.0 petrol hatchbacks that get my juices flowing these days apparently...
dodsi2000 said:
I also don’t ride bikes anymore - 18 month old little lady these days and a wife that doesn’t like bikes and living in the busy South East just don’t make it a particularly fun concept anymore. It’s 1.0 petrol hatchbacks that get my juices flowing these days apparently...
Sad, isn't it? I have lots of lovely Wales on my doorstep, so no excuse there, but it was messing with rush hour traffic on the commute that was my problem; the next one will have to be a toy, not a (fun) tool. I'm considering something classic to fiddle with as much as ride...
defblade said:
dodsi2000 said:
I also don’t ride bikes anymore - 18 month old little lady these days and a wife that doesn’t like bikes and living in the busy South East just don’t make it a particularly fun concept anymore. It’s 1.0 petrol hatchbacks that get my juices flowing these days apparently...
Sad, isn't it? I have lots of lovely Wales on my doorstep, so no excuse there, but it was messing with rush hour traffic on the commute that was my problem; the next one will have to be a toy, not a (fun) tool. I'm considering something classic to fiddle with as much as ride...
Deal locked in, advice taken... just pick a point and go at it. I think a rapid would have depreciated and cost to run more than 4K in the next couple of years so hopefully I’m going to be ok. Car should be about 2 weeks from now.
I think something to restore and fettle would be a cracking choice. Proper toy! I seem to remember your crash being pretty bad!
dodsi2000 said:
It’s pretty sad, yes!
Deal locked in, advice taken... just pick a point and go at it. I think a rapid would have depreciated and cost to run more than 4K in the next couple of years so hopefully I’m going to be ok. Car should be about 2 weeks from now.
Enjoy the car; never worry again about the maybes Deal locked in, advice taken... just pick a point and go at it. I think a rapid would have depreciated and cost to run more than 4K in the next couple of years so hopefully I’m going to be ok. Car should be about 2 weeks from now.
dodsi2000 said:
I think something to restore and fettle would be a cracking choice. Proper toy! I seem to remember your crash being pretty bad!
Pretty pics of gashed leg and k-wired wrist (nothing like Dibble's leg on here!). Got near-full use of my wrist back to a degree the physio was impressed by, but I was determined it wasn't going to let it affect my karate. And it certainly hasn't put me off riding forever Serial shedist here and I was very tempted by the Scala deal, and if I was in your shoes I would have gone for it too. My shed is running perfectly at the moment so couldn't justify it, but if I needed a car I would have ordered one too.
However, one thing I do love about shedding is the lack of worry, the fact that even if someone drives into it I don't really care. I know if I had a shiny new car (even though I don't technically own it) I would still worry about damage happening to it. I am the sort of person that after driving sheds for years with no issues will have someone drive into the back of me on the way home from the dealership in a brand new car.
But for the price I can see it will work out the same as having a couple of sheds over two years and a couple of repair bills.
However, one thing I do love about shedding is the lack of worry, the fact that even if someone drives into it I don't really care. I know if I had a shiny new car (even though I don't technically own it) I would still worry about damage happening to it. I am the sort of person that after driving sheds for years with no issues will have someone drive into the back of me on the way home from the dealership in a brand new car.
But for the price I can see it will work out the same as having a couple of sheds over two years and a couple of repair bills.
GreatGranny said:
OP, do you need maintenance for a 2 years lease?
Is the servicing mileage dependent?
Does it include tyres? However can't see you needing any at 4k/yr
Ditto brake pads and/or discs.
I would think at the most it would need 1 service so may be cheaper without this option.
Servicing is mileage and time depending I believe, However this car with the 10k mikes allowance will also be used by my wife to alleviate some off the V90 we also lease on a 10k deal but predicted more like 14k so in reality the skoda will do between 8 and 10k as my wife is a believer that all sheds are destined to fail and won’t drive the sheds very far (I know, I know) this just fixes the cost which I like over the gamble. When the Skoda throws a bill for servicing or tyres etc I can just hand it to the nice man at the dealership and give no chuffs. Same with Volvo (and that does have some serious costs!!!)Is the servicing mileage dependent?
Does it include tyres? However can't see you needing any at 4k/yr
Ditto brake pads and/or discs.
I would think at the most it would need 1 service so may be cheaper without this option.
With regard to Joeys post,
Yep, I’m serial shedder but I seem to go through 2 every 2 years plus some bills along the way and usually £20/£25 road fund plus breakdown cover monthly and a yearly service and MOT. I’m not sure the cheap lease which fixes the cost is going to be any if much more expensive. But it should give my wife peace of mind and her not question if it’s going to explode if she drives more than 5 miles.
The current avensis has to go and I have Just put two new tyres on it!!! But it was as good time as ever to change strategy... for now.
The other struggle I have had with shedding is finding anything decent locally, people’s honesty when selling them. As let’s face it, who gets rid of a decent working car that’s worth sub £1000 - I have always looked for automatic cars owned by old folk who have maintained them regardless of cost. But these are few and far between, you call these people up and they are basically trying to flog these sorts of cars because they are knackered... when browsing this time for a shed everything just looked borkworthy and even upping the budget just looked like I was introducing depreciation plus potential borkage into my calcs.
But yes, new car is a downside and if someone does write it off I am basically left with nothing and have to start over. Also I can’t just leave it places without worrying if it gets minor damage... I hate motoring sometimes.
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