Help, I need two cars!

[rosscouk]

Hi all,

I need some help as all this car buying business is sending me (more) insane. I currently run two cars, one for me and one for my wife, I drive a Saab 93 2007 diesel estate (161k) and my wife drives a Clio Dynamique 2009 diesel (90k). The Saab is parked on hard-standing and the Clio in the garage. I have used 5 year car loans on both, the Saab is clear and the Clio completes in September. They both cover around 10k - 12k a year. I need to replace both.

Right the first thing to think about is which car I want to drive as it dictates what we will buy. Mywife would like something bigger than the Clio and the garage will fit a golf into it. For a time my wife said she wanted to drive larger car as the clio gets buffeted by wind on the motorway but now she is happy to drive either. So that means two scenarios'

Scenario one
Fun-ish estate for me (Octavia Vrs etc). Sedate small car for wife (Peugeot 308)

Scenario two
Sedate estate for my wife (Passat etc). Fun-ish small car for me (Golf GTi, M135)

Other factors
fuel - diesel or petrol. Can't decide, I suppose I need to get 40-45mpg out of both cars.
funding - I was planning on getting £25k loan split between cars as needed. I could lease, but complicates things further....

Stuff on the cars
Cruise, Parking assist, auto (probably)

Anyway, there you have it. So many variables. Does anyone have any views on two complementary cars to fit those scenarios. At the very least its been good to write it down!

[MarcelM6]

Unless they are giving you a lot of trouble, keep them both and buy a 3rd car. Caterham, Cayman, M3 etc etc

Spend less than 25K and keep the rest in case of repair bills.

[rosscouk]

The saab is starting to give more and more problems and so really needs replacing, even if not immediately then soon. The clio needs replacing as my wife doesn't like driving it on the motorways and I don't want to drive it particularly either. I would love a 3rd car though, but no room, parking is at a premium where we are unfortunately.

[rosscouk]

So...some ideas

Scenario 1
For wife - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
For me - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Scenario 2
For wife - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
For me - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[qska]

At £25k per 5 years, you're in prime leasing territory...
Look where you are - 5 year loan expired, along with the cars.

This "nothing to show for at the end" is also true when buying cars in this price bracket.

My biggest regret was buying a Merc E class for 16k - traded it in two years later for 8k. 4k loss per year!

My wife's S-Max bought for 10k isn't doing much better - it's now worth 5k, also two years later.

Not to mention repair bills, they average £30 per month on each car.

Seriously - this is no mans land when it comes to purchases - either lease, or simply spend less on used.

Otherwise you'll end up with high cost (possibly even more than a lease), no warranty, and potential for high bills.

Been there, done that

Look at Karoq lease deals, they're quite good value (£200pm amortised including Road Tax). Or in other words £1300 upfront and £145 per month.

[qska]

rosscouk said:

So...some ideas

Scenario 1
For wife - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
For me - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Scenario 2
For wife - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
For me - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

It's quite funny, to see the husband's car budget 1.5x larger than the wife's, even though they do similar mileages :-D

[rosscouk]

qska said:

It's quite funny, to see the husband's car budget 1.5x larger than the wife's, even though they do similar mileages :-D

Its my commission for doing all the looking on PistonHeads and autotrader, i obviously hate all that......ahem.

[rosscouk]

qska said:

At £25k per 5 years, you're in prime leasing territory...
Look where you are - 5 year loan expired, along with the cars.

This "nothing to show for at the end" is also true when buying cars in this price bracket.

My biggest regret was buying a Merc E class for 16k - traded it in two years later for 8k. 4k loss per year!

My wife's S-Max bought for 10k isn't doing much better - it's now worth 5k, also two years later.

Not to mention repair bills, they average £30 per month on each car.

Seriously - this is no mans land when it comes to purchases - either lease, or simply spend less on used.

Otherwise you'll end up with high cost (possibly even more than a lease), no warranty, and potential for high bills.

Been there, done that

Look at Karoq lease deals, they're quite good value (£200pm amortised including Road Tax). Or in other words £1300 upfront and £145 per month.

Thanks, perhaps I should investigate further. I have never leased anything before.

[rosscouk]

qska said:

- either lease, or simply spend less on used.

I forgot to ask, if I was to spend less, how much would you recommend?

[VPXavier]

qska said:

This "nothing to show for at the end" is also true when buying cars in this price bracket.
...
Seriously - this is no mans land when it comes to purchases - either lease, or simply spend less on used.
...

Hi! This is a discussion that interest me, as a new buyer in UK market. What kind of depreciation I should expect? I know that depends on how much the car has already depreciated, mileage and etc, but what is the rule of thumb?

[MarcelM6]

rosscouk said:

qska said:

- either lease, or simply spend less on used.

I forgot to ask, if I was to spend less, how much would you recommend?

Looks like a Merc E class and an S-Max would fit the bill nicely (after they've depreciated)

[qska]

rosscouk said:

I forgot to ask, if I was to spend less, how much would you recommend?

I'd look at half of your budget tbh, of course it won't be as exciting...

Or just lease if current budget stands.

[ZX10R NIN]

Here's a couple of options:

Sensible

Wife:

Kia C'eed GT These are good cars as well as having the peace of mind of 5 years worth of warranty left.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You:
Mondeo Vignale/Titanium the best FWD steer in it's class & the Vignale is a very well equipped I can't fault mine.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Titanium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

But I'd probably do it this way, mainly because my OH likes driving too

Wife:

Focus Estate in ST-2 spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You: It would be rude not to have the best drivers hot hatch if your going to get one:

RS 265 Lux with the Cup Chassis

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or

Wife: Kia C'eed 4Tech Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You:

Audi S3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I think this would be my combo:

Wife:

Alfa Romeo Giulietta TBI (very good underrated car)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You:

Mondeo Vignale 210 tdci

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

or

Focus ST-2 185 tdci (if you don't need the space I'd go for the Focus)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[rosscouk]

ZX10R NIN said:

Here's a couple of options:

Sensible

Wife:

Kia C'eed GT These are good cars as well as having the peace of mind of 5 years worth of warranty left.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You:
Mondeo Vignale/Titanium the best FWD steer in it's class & the Vignale is a very well equipped I can't fault mine.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Titanium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

But I'd probably do it this way, mainly because my OH likes driving too

Wife:

Focus Estate in ST-2 spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You: It would be rude not to have the best drivers hot hatch if your going to get one:

RS 265 Lux with the Cup Chassis

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or

Wife: Kia C'eed 4Tech Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You:

Audi S3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I think this would be my combo:

Wife:

Alfa Romeo Giulietta TBI (very good underrated car)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You:

Mondeo Vignale 210 tdci

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

or

Focus ST-2 185 tdci (if you don't need the space I'd go for the Focus)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Thanks ZX10R NIN! You always seem to find stuff I always miss when I am looking on my own. Do you think its worth buying rather than leasing? - I know thats always a much discussed topic, but interested in your take.

[rosscouk]

Currently look at bit cheaper as suggested

Found this for me
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

and for wife
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[VPXavier]

rosscouk said:

Thanks ZX10R NIN! You always seem to find stuff I always miss when I am looking on my own. Do you think its worth buying rather than leasing? - I know thats always a much discussed topic, but interested in your take.

I am trying to figure out what the depreciation figures are. Made a excel spreadsheet to compare costs of shedding and leasing, but not sure about how much depreciation I can consider...

[hairyben]

qska said:

At £25k per 5 years, you're in prime leasing territory...
Look where you are - 5 year loan expired, along with the cars.

This "nothing to show for at the end" is also true when buying cars in this price bracket.

My biggest regret was buying a Merc E class for 16k - traded it in two years later for 8k. 4k loss per year!

My wife's S-Max bought for 10k isn't doing much better - it's now worth 5k, also two years later.

Not to mention repair bills, they average £30 per month on each car.

Seriously - this is no mans land when it comes to purchases - either lease, or simply spend less on used.

Otherwise you'll end up with high cost (possibly even more than a lease), no warranty, and potential for high bills.

Been there, done that

Look at Karoq lease deals, they're quite good value (£200pm amortised including Road Tax). Or in other words £1300 upfront and £145 per month.

^what he said, really.

I don't really care much for borrowing/leasing at all but I'd lease new before buying most things in the 3-4 years old bracket, ie still enough kerb appeal to command a price but with little to no warrenty and a bundle of depreciation to go.

My van was bought new 10 years ago (replacement due at some point which may or may not be leased with option to buy depending on finances and deals), mrs hairys 330ci was 11 years old when bought a couple of years ago, is still worth about the same, and if worst case scenario it needs unjustifiable work tomorrow it gets weighed in/ punted out to some little gangsta/track car man cheap and its still done us all right.

[ZX10R NIN]

For me I'd always buy used if you get the right models the depreciation curve won't be bad (I'd say they're on par when it comes to Lease vs Buy) with everything I listed if it was me I'd buy rather than lease but that's because I'd want high spec high bhp.

Personally I've not had problems buying with loans available from 2.5% I'd happily buy.

So with that in mind looking at all the combos I listed this combo in my mind is one that works:

Wife:

Kia C'eed 4Tech Estate (this car still has 4 years warranty left so you have peace of mind)

https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=1044X509854&x...

You:

Seat Leon Cupra 280 (this ticks the hot hatch)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or if you only want to spend around 20k

Then you can go Kia crazy which gives you four years of warranty of both:

Wife (which you'll borrow when not in the Estate) C'eed/Pro C'eed GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Pro C'eed GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

The above are a good fun car whilst not being as hot as some it's still a good car one that your OH will be very happy driving.

You:

C'eed 4 Tech

https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=1044X509854&x...

The above was the sensible option:

I'd buy these two with a 20k budget:

Wife:

Alfa Romeo TBI

https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=1044X509854&x...

You:

C220 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Personally it's a hard call (& I'm Mercedes bias) between the above & this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I think the auto box would swing it over the extra go.

With both pairings you get the highest spec cars (which also depreciate less as they're the Models people want) for you cash, leasing gets you a new car but normally at a lower spec.

[ZX10R NIN]

Sorry Ross I hope this isn't doing your head in but if you want a good reliable car estate to last plus this car wins the VFM & it's not a bad car either.

DAB/Xenons/NavBluetooth/Streaming/Parking Sensors all round/Cruise Control & it's an Auto, plus it has a years worth of warranty left which you can extend to give you peace of mind as well as in 5 years time it will only have around 70k which will make it desirable for someone looking for one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or use the above to knock down the price on this one that's 6 months newer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You should be able to haggle more off the first one.

You can still get the OH a very good Pro C'eed GT Tech with three rather than 4 years warranty left (but it will have all the kit mentioned above) if you want three doors.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You have assets at the end of the five years & depreciation wise I wouldn't expect either to plummet in price as they've taken their big depreciation hits already, the Kia won't lose lots as they didn't sell many & they're a good car I've sourced three & my customers are very happy with them.

[kurt535]

You could get a couple of 05-08 plate Jap cars, both less than 30k miles on them and combined for £10k. Have just bought a very low mile Honda CRV for 5k and wifey is now deciding between a Toyota Celica sub 25k on it for 4995 or another low mile one owner toyota -boring as hell -for 3.5k. No prizes which one I like.