What would you do?
Discussion
I bought myself a brand new Pro Cee'd last August and I bought it with the intention to keep it and as such specced it with full leather, nice 17" alloys from the Sport model and reverse parking sensors are fitted. It's in popular white and is a coupe hatch styled car so looks the part, it has all the usual ABS, EPS, alarm & immobiliser, central locking, bluetooth phone integration including audio streaming, iPod input, so not a bad spec. The build quality is really impressive and the main dealers are very good.
It looks great and is still as new (not a dink or a scratch on it) with just 8.5k miles on the clock and over 6 years of transferable warranty. I paid almost £12.5k for it which was a lot less than a new Focus of the same spec. I'd be happy to keep it long term if I could use it daily but....
I have subsequently been made redundant (so has my wife). I bought a new Vivaro van to use for a new business venture but the Pro Cee'd just sits in the garage at home unused as I go everywhere in the van now.
If I trade the car in I'll lose about £4.5k (in 9 months). But would it make sense for me to buy something fun that holds it value better for weekend use rather than having a regular hatchback sitting there depreciating and worth next to bugger all in 3 years time?
I could get a circa 2004 Cooper or Cooper S and have about £3k in cash to pop back into my account.
What would you do?
It looks great and is still as new (not a dink or a scratch on it) with just 8.5k miles on the clock and over 6 years of transferable warranty. I paid almost £12.5k for it which was a lot less than a new Focus of the same spec. I'd be happy to keep it long term if I could use it daily but....
I have subsequently been made redundant (so has my wife). I bought a new Vivaro van to use for a new business venture but the Pro Cee'd just sits in the garage at home unused as I go everywhere in the van now.
If I trade the car in I'll lose about £4.5k (in 9 months). But would it make sense for me to buy something fun that holds it value better for weekend use rather than having a regular hatchback sitting there depreciating and worth next to bugger all in 3 years time?
I could get a circa 2004 Cooper or Cooper S and have about £3k in cash to pop back into my account.
What would you do?
fathomfive said:
Do you need the extra seats of the Mini? I know it's an age old response but how about a (relatively) cheap MX-5 and more pounds in the bank, if it is only for weekend fun?
It's a nice thought, but I think you're probably going to need the availability of something with more than two seats and that isn't a van, aren't you? Depends on your lifestyle, I suppose, but I would definitely find myself limited with just a Vivaro and an MX-5. Some sort of older sports saloon would be the way I'd look.But then, it always is
ETA - Ooh, a little one is in the equation
Best make it a sporting estate, then!
I'm thinking something like this lovely 156 with eleven months' ticket. That V6, black with tan leather to boot
Edited by McSam on Tuesday 17th May 10:57
Kentish said:
fathomfive said:
Do you need the extra seats of the Mini? I know it's an age old response but how about a (relatively) cheap MX-5 and more pounds in the bank, if it is only for weekend fun?
I'm up for that but I need a rear seat for our 5 week old occasionally.
ETA: Puma / Racing Puma?
kambites said:
I certainly wouldn't spend as much as a MINI woudl cost, anyway. You can get a perfectly good, fun car for about a grand. Something like a 306 or a mk1 Focus would probably fit the bill.
Uhhm, I see what you mean but I'd like something that's a bit of fun too.If that wasn't important, I'd probably go for a sensible Passat I've seen. Cheap enough and great to drive.
Liquid Knight said:
How about a van with a crew cab'?
That way when you do the nursary/school run you get to advertise as well.
Best of luck with the new venture.
Thanks LN.That way when you do the nursary/school run you get to advertise as well.
Best of luck with the new venture.
I already have the van now plus I need the space but had I needed less space the crew cab would have been a good idea
McSam said:
I'm thinking something like this lovely 156 with eleven months' ticket. That V6, black with tan leather to boot
Crikey - 1.5k - Thats alot of bang for your buck! Albeit does come with the usual Alfa 'risk', but how bad can it be for fifteen hundred notes? I'd snap that up in a jiffy. Edited by McSam on Tuesday 17th May 10:57
Walks away and curses his long daily commute...
Kentish said:
I've seen a cheap value 407 top of the range diesel (all the extras included because it was the only way to sell the bloody things) with low miles (because it probably keeps breaking down), goes like stink too.
EFA How about selling the Cee'd privately for best price you can get and buy a rattly old Golf (Gti TDi for under a grand) or something for domestic (trackdays/fun) duties? The VAG Diesels are as quick as the petrol variants these days and handle just as well. Keep the rest for when it rains.
wiliferus said:
Crikey - 1.5k - Thats alot of bang for your buck! Albeit does come with the usual Alfa 'risk', but how bad can it be for fifteen hundred notes? I'd snap that up in a jiffy.
Walks away and curses his long daily commute...
Gorgeous machines. Fairly low miles, that one, and the V6 engine is basically a sound one. Biggest worry with these is the standard water pump, which once replaced with a decent one isn't a problem, and keeping up with cambelt services at maybe £500 a pop every 60k.Walks away and curses his long daily commute...
As for your commute, those seats are supremely comfy!
I so very nearly bought one, but couldn't find a nice enough 2.0TS Veloce saloon with the facelifted interior in black with red leather and a recent cam belt service within my tiny budget and leaving enough over for insurance at the age of 18.
I have no idea why not
McSam said:
wiliferus said:
Crikey - 1.5k - Thats alot of bang for your buck! Albeit does come with the usual Alfa 'risk', but how bad can it be for fifteen hundred notes? I'd snap that up in a jiffy.
Walks away and curses his long daily commute...
Gorgeous machines. Fairly low miles, that one, and the V6 engine is basically a sound one. Biggest worry with these is the standard water pump, which once replaced with a decent one isn't a problem, and keeping up with cambelt services at maybe £500 a pop every 60k.Walks away and curses his long daily commute...
As for your commute, those seats are supremely comfy!
I so very nearly bought one, but couldn't find a nice enough 2.0TS Veloce saloon with the facelifted interior in black with red leather and a recent cam belt service within my tiny budget and leaving enough over for insurance at the age of 18.
I have no idea why not
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff