Sell car for newer or run it into the ground
Discussion
Hi all
I find myself at a bit of a loss on this decision so thought I'd turn to strangers on the internet
.
I have a 2009 1.8 diesel Mondeo. It's running well, wet belts were changed at 70k (Now at 97k).
I'm not using the car much now as I'm working nearer home/from home but still need 2 cars.
Problem:
Mondeo is over 200/yr to tax and gets about 48mpg
lot of money per year for not daily use. Also at 97k miles it's still saleable for enough to buy a decent small car like focus or pug 207 with £30/yr tax and slightly better mpg.
Is it worth selling a good condition (As far as I know) car with dear tax for a smaller car with cheap tax?
I find myself at a bit of a loss on this decision so thought I'd turn to strangers on the internet
. I have a 2009 1.8 diesel Mondeo. It's running well, wet belts were changed at 70k (Now at 97k).
I'm not using the car much now as I'm working nearer home/from home but still need 2 cars.
Problem:
Mondeo is over 200/yr to tax and gets about 48mpg
lot of money per year for not daily use. Also at 97k miles it's still saleable for enough to buy a decent small car like focus or pug 207 with £30/yr tax and slightly better mpg.
Is it worth selling a good condition (As far as I know) car with dear tax for a smaller car with cheap tax?
48mpg, known service history and only £200/yr in tax seems like a good deal to me for a barge of a car.
If you're going to sell and buy privately then you might be able to cut those costs down slightly but I'm not sure how much more you're expecting to cut off of your annual costs for it to be worthwhile, especially when the smaller cars tend to carry a premium due to being more in demand and so you'll either be downgrading significantly or dipping your hand in your pocket to top up the value of your car.
Unless you've got a car that is truly ruinous on the pocket or you're downgrading to a £500 shed, it's rarely cost effective to change cars.
If you're going to sell and buy privately then you might be able to cut those costs down slightly but I'm not sure how much more you're expecting to cut off of your annual costs for it to be worthwhile, especially when the smaller cars tend to carry a premium due to being more in demand and so you'll either be downgrading significantly or dipping your hand in your pocket to top up the value of your car.
Unless you've got a car that is truly ruinous on the pocket or you're downgrading to a £500 shed, it's rarely cost effective to change cars.
That sounds like pretty cheap car anyway? £200 road tax is hardly remarkable, and mpg doesn't matter if you're not driving much. And the car is a known quantity.
If you like it, I'd keep it.
Only concern would be that if your pattern of use is now short journeys, that doesn't really suit a diesel, in which case I'd man maths replacing it with something petrol and fun.
If you like it, I'd keep it.
Only concern would be that if your pattern of use is now short journeys, that doesn't really suit a diesel, in which case I'd man maths replacing it with something petrol and fun.
InitialDave said:
Only concern would be that if your pattern of use is now short journeys, that doesn't really suit a diesel, in which case I'd man maths replacing it with something petrol and fun.
Arrgh no don't tempt me. I am a serial thirsty 4x4 addict! I'm trying to save money here!When I say short journeys I mean 2-3 20min journeys a week rather than daily 1hr20 mins and regular 2-3hr journeys I was doing last year.
£200 compared to £30 seems a lot to me but the other about knowing the history of the car was what was bothering me too.
Keep it, I'm assuming you're going to up the budget on the new car purchase? If those 30 minute journeys include a bit of motorway/A Road then the smaller cars shorter gearing will mean worse economy.
If you were changing to get a hot hatch or 4.8is X5 then I'd get it but you're going to buy a white goods car to replace the Mondeo (which you know & have maintained) with.
That doesn't make sense to me & is a false economy.
If you were changing to get a hot hatch or 4.8is X5 then I'd get it but you're going to buy a white goods car to replace the Mondeo (which you know & have maintained) with.
That doesn't make sense to me & is a false economy.
GIYess said:
Problem:
Mondeo is over 200/yr to tax and gets about 48mpg
lot of money per year for not daily use. Also at 97k miles it's still saleable for enough to buy a decent small car like focus or pug 207 with £30/yr tax and slightly better mpg.
Is it worth selling a good condition (As far as I know) car with dear tax for a smaller car with cheap tax?
Downsides of changing areMondeo is over 200/yr to tax and gets about 48mpg
lot of money per year for not daily use. Also at 97k miles it's still saleable for enough to buy a decent small car like focus or pug 207 with £30/yr tax and slightly better mpg.
Is it worth selling a good condition (As far as I know) car with dear tax for a smaller car with cheap tax?
- risk of buying a different car that may have issues / need things doing
- a petrol car in that bracket will be pretty gutless
- a diesel in that bracket will (since 2009) have a DPF, some implementations are troublesome especially earlier diesels
Is it worth that to save £170 a year? IMO, no.
However, is it worth that if you'd prefer to be driving a smaller car? Sure.
I.e. if you want to drive something a size or two smaller, then you're right that there are financial benefits too which back up making a switch.
However if you prefer driving the Mondeo, or don't really mind, then I don't think the financial benefits alone really motivate changing.
I'd echo what's said so far.
Only change to have something more fun or just different, not to save money, that's a false economy.
New cars aren't always better and in your class you're be going a few classes/segments down.
Do you need the space and seats of the Mondeo? If yes then you might find a small replacement annoying after a while.
Only change to have something more fun or just different, not to save money, that's a false economy.
New cars aren't always better and in your class you're be going a few classes/segments down.
Do you need the space and seats of the Mondeo? If yes then you might find a small replacement annoying after a while.
If your goal is to save money then the best option is to keep what you have as you know (I assume) it is a decent and reliable car and you know it's history.
You could sell it for a couple of grand and buy an absolute heap in return which would wipe out and savings on tax and fuel costs in one sitting at a garage which makes it a bad idea.
You could sell it for a couple of grand and buy an absolute heap in return which would wipe out and savings on tax and fuel costs in one sitting at a garage which makes it a bad idea.
GIYess said:
Belated thanks for all the advice. I did put it up for a highish price and had a few come and look but they said it was too pricey so just decided to keep it as advised.
When I was telling the buyers all the good things about it, I was thinking, this is far too good to sell!
Upvote for this decision. Other than "I want a new car. End of.." it made no sense When I was telling the buyers all the good things about it, I was thinking, this is far too good to sell!
A500leroy said:
Id pay the extra £170 a year to keep the Mondeo as a known quantity, compared to the potential for a £200-£300 bill of your unknown new car.
This is the correct answer. For the savings you’re looking for, buying a new(er) car is a risk. Any used car has the ability to drop you a bill or two after purchase that you won’t have planned for, and that the money you’ve saved down the pan straight away. I believe the standard PH saying for these circumstances is, the cheapest car you’ll ever own is the one you’ve already got.
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