What cars would you consider buying new?
Discussion
What cars, if any, would you consider buying new? The general PH view tends to be why spend £x on car A new when you can buy car B used for the same amount. However, there are lots of incentives for new car buyers: long warranties, free servicing and fuel and cheap finance for non cash buyers and there is a certain appeal to being the first driver and getting exactly what you want. Occassionally, something also comes along which generates a lot of interest on here, for example the new Toyota GT86 (I believe some people on here have even put down deposits without seeing the car or driving it). I would suggest that the wisest new car purchases would fit into four main catagories:
Affordable cars that offer a wide range of personalisation options e.g. - Citroen DS3, MINI, Fiat 500 (I have no regrets buying my wife's Fiat 500 new as used values still seem really strong and it was great to get the exact car that we wanted).
Limited editions: i.e. Ford Focus RS, BMW 1M Coupe, Megane 265 Trophy (rarity will maintain strong residuals) - a Saab 9-5 might even fall into this category if Saab go under!
One you intend to keep for a long time: I can see why some people would consider something with a long warranty such as a Hyundai or Kia if they intend to keep it for a long time or a retired person might treat themselves to something like a Mercedes, Jaguar or Volvo.
Dream cars: Mine would be a Ferrari 458 Italia (if I had the money, I just would and to hell with the consequences)
So what cars would you contemplate buying new?
Affordable cars that offer a wide range of personalisation options e.g. - Citroen DS3, MINI, Fiat 500 (I have no regrets buying my wife's Fiat 500 new as used values still seem really strong and it was great to get the exact car that we wanted).
Limited editions: i.e. Ford Focus RS, BMW 1M Coupe, Megane 265 Trophy (rarity will maintain strong residuals) - a Saab 9-5 might even fall into this category if Saab go under!
One you intend to keep for a long time: I can see why some people would consider something with a long warranty such as a Hyundai or Kia if they intend to keep it for a long time or a retired person might treat themselves to something like a Mercedes, Jaguar or Volvo.
Dream cars: Mine would be a Ferrari 458 Italia (if I had the money, I just would and to hell with the consequences)
So what cars would you contemplate buying new?
Only one really.There are only five reasons to buy new.
- You got an amazing deal that's cheaper than second hand equivalents you were looking at. It's very rare, but does occasionally happen. (eg, Skoda were doing such a good deal on financing Octavia vRS's without VAT last year that some second hand ones were pricier!)
- You're buying something desirable that has a good chance of not losing or even accumulating value if you sell it before it becomes less fashionable. (eg, RR Evoque right now, but only if you sell it within 12 months or so.)
- You want something with such an unusual spec that no one else would have one.
- The lack of hassle of servicing etc is more valuable to you than the thousands of pounds of depreciation you'll suffer. For some high earning people, this may actually be true. For mere mortals, it's rarely a good enough reason to HP a brand new A3 diesel, but it's the reason thousands of people will give.
- You really want a particular new car (eg, BMW 1M) and it's worth all of that money to get it. This is a fair and honest description.
Perhaps something very special with a reasonable rare factor I intended to keep fora VERY long time, e.g. That dream sports car or luxary car for retirement (Ferrari/Mercedes etc) or the Caterham 7 that I have been promising myself for ever 
(also has fairly good depreciation and low running costs)
OR something that I will accept is going to depreciate a reasonable amount but still has a good financial incentive.
Example; 0% finance on Diesel Corsa over 5 years or what ever they do with fixed price servicing, long warranty and £0 tax a year would actually be more cost effective than getting a loan to buy a 3 year old one. Other examples might include the KIAs with 7 year warrantys etc
(also has fairly good depreciation and low running costs)OR something that I will accept is going to depreciate a reasonable amount but still has a good financial incentive.
Example; 0% finance on Diesel Corsa over 5 years or what ever they do with fixed price servicing, long warranty and £0 tax a year would actually be more cost effective than getting a loan to buy a 3 year old one. Other examples might include the KIAs with 7 year warrantys etc
Or you are going to buy a car and keep it for long term - ie, until it's 10 years old.
Buy new BMW 530, £35k, keep until 10, sell for £2.5k = £3250 a year
Buy a 1 year old BMW 530, £28k, keep until 10, sell for £2.5k = £2833
400 quid a year to have owned it from new might be worth it for some I guess.
Buy new BMW 530, £35k, keep until 10, sell for £2.5k = £3250 a year
Buy a 1 year old BMW 530, £28k, keep until 10, sell for £2.5k = £2833
400 quid a year to have owned it from new might be worth it for some I guess.
Only new car we have bought was a Mini one back in 2001.
Reason : it held its value well - lost £1k per annum during six years ownership, my wife could spec how she wanted - slightly unusually no alloys, sunroof, pepper white and red part leather interior, upgraded stereo. Full dealer back up, TLC pack.
It all made sense then and with hindsight still makes sense.....
Mike
Reason : it held its value well - lost £1k per annum during six years ownership, my wife could spec how she wanted - slightly unusually no alloys, sunroof, pepper white and red part leather interior, upgraded stereo. Full dealer back up, TLC pack.
It all made sense then and with hindsight still makes sense.....
Mike
There have only been 2 cars that I seriously considered putting down a deposit to order new
Renault Megane R26-R
Ford Focus RS 500
I briefly considered ordering an MP4-12C when details were first released but the estimated price increased to a level I couldn't afford.
I'm also going to have a chat to my local Alfa dealer next week to see what the deal is with a 4C as I think that might have a place in my garage if the price is right.
In general though I would never buy a car new, I prefer someone else to lose the depreciation money!!
Renault Megane R26-R
Ford Focus RS 500
I briefly considered ordering an MP4-12C when details were first released but the estimated price increased to a level I couldn't afford.
I'm also going to have a chat to my local Alfa dealer next week to see what the deal is with a 4C as I think that might have a place in my garage if the price is right.
In general though I would never buy a car new, I prefer someone else to lose the depreciation money!!
Fox- said:
Or you are going to buy a car and keep it for long term - ie, until it's 10 years old.
Buy new BMW 530, £35k, keep until 10, sell for £2.5k = £3250 a year
Buy a 1 year old BMW 530, £28k, keep until 10, sell for £2.5k = £2833
400 quid a year to have owned it from new might be worth it for some I guess.
This what we do, kept missus MR2 for 130k miles, part ex'd it when it needed £1400 to pass its MOT and was worth 2 grandBuy new BMW 530, £35k, keep until 10, sell for £2.5k = £3250 a year
Buy a 1 year old BMW 530, £28k, keep until 10, sell for £2.5k = £2833
400 quid a year to have owned it from new might be worth it for some I guess.
I can't remember when I last bought a second hand car but it was a long, long time ago.
If you can afford it there is absolutely no problem in buying new, you get exactly what you specify and it is the most up to date version of whatever you are buying. The only reason not to buy new is because you can't or won't afford it.
If you can afford it there is absolutely no problem in buying new, you get exactly what you specify and it is the most up to date version of whatever you are buying. The only reason not to buy new is because you can't or won't afford it.
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