Downgrading car for house deposit
Discussion
I've finally decided that the Mazda 3 has to go. I need to sell it to try and free up some cash to help my house deposit fund. I shall replace it with something cheaper (but hopefully just as reliable), which will be used as a runaround for a year or so.
Firstly, what car should I replace it with? My current one is the 2.0 petrol variant and I do around 12k a year. I'm 6ft 5in tall, would ideally like a bit of room in the vehicle (as we want to start a family soon) and could do with something frugal. I would love a barge (see previous thread), but don't think that is too sensible an idea at the moment. If the car can be frugal and fun, that would be great.
I have a 28 mile round trip for work each day. The car needs to be reliable as I have no public transport links to my place of work. Budget would be around £1000, dependent on what the Mazda goes for, if it sells.
Cars I've considered so far include Volvo estates, Micras (yes I know, but they seem to be great fun), Japanese cars and anything in the cheaper VAG stable (SEAT and Skoda).
Secondly, how does one go about privately selling a vehicle? I do have some idea about how to write a good ad, but have no experience of actually selling a car of this value. Do I insist on proof of insurance for test drives? And if someone is interested, what is the safest way to ensure payment is received?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks all.
Just to add - my fiancee is worried that by doing the above I could end up with a car that is unreliable, and could potentially cost a lot to run. Am I right in saying that it isn't always doom and gloom with older, cheaper cars? (I ran a Tdi Bora for six years which had 140,000 on the clock when it was killed. It never let me down).
Firstly, what car should I replace it with? My current one is the 2.0 petrol variant and I do around 12k a year. I'm 6ft 5in tall, would ideally like a bit of room in the vehicle (as we want to start a family soon) and could do with something frugal. I would love a barge (see previous thread), but don't think that is too sensible an idea at the moment. If the car can be frugal and fun, that would be great.
I have a 28 mile round trip for work each day. The car needs to be reliable as I have no public transport links to my place of work. Budget would be around £1000, dependent on what the Mazda goes for, if it sells.
Cars I've considered so far include Volvo estates, Micras (yes I know, but they seem to be great fun), Japanese cars and anything in the cheaper VAG stable (SEAT and Skoda).
Secondly, how does one go about privately selling a vehicle? I do have some idea about how to write a good ad, but have no experience of actually selling a car of this value. Do I insist on proof of insurance for test drives? And if someone is interested, what is the safest way to ensure payment is received?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks all.
Just to add - my fiancee is worried that by doing the above I could end up with a car that is unreliable, and could potentially cost a lot to run. Am I right in saying that it isn't always doom and gloom with older, cheaper cars? (I ran a Tdi Bora for six years which had 140,000 on the clock when it was killed. It never let me down).
Downgraded to a 9 year old 1.6 Focus to free up cash for a house deposit. 1 year and 8000 miles later and it has only cost me £73 in parts. £55 wheel bearing and £18 for a heater fan resistor.
I am starting to miss having a decent car though. Once we've been in the house a few months I should be able to splash a bit of cash on something half decent.
Oh, and we're still renting, but hopefully moving in to our own house within a month.
I am starting to miss having a decent car though. Once we've been in the house a few months I should be able to splash a bit of cash on something half decent.
Oh, and we're still renting, but hopefully moving in to our own house within a month.
mnkiboy said:
Downgraded to a 9 year old 1.6 Focus to free up cash for a house deposit. 1 year and 8000 miles later and it has only cost me £73 in parts. £55 wheel bearing and £18 for a heater fan resistor.
I am starting to miss having a decent car though. Once we've been in the house a few months I should be able to splash a bit of cash on something half decent.
Oh, and we're still renting, but hopefully moving in to our own house within a month.
Thanks.I am starting to miss having a decent car though. Once we've been in the house a few months I should be able to splash a bit of cash on something half decent.
Oh, and we're still renting, but hopefully moving in to our own house within a month.
My plan is to get into something nice again once we have the house, if I can. I have discussed it a lot with my fiancee and she isn't too keen on the idea. However, she can see the logic in it if I can free up good money and get something decent.
She said she wouldn't mine me having a nice project car once we are in the new house. I.e. a nice barge.
Well my plan to get a decent car, and she's going along with it so far, is for our honeymoon to be a road trip across Europe. Drive over to the Italian lakes, then come back via Munich and down to the Alps in southern Germany.
My ideal car for this would be an XK8. Sadly after looking at one she's declared it 'too big'. She still wants a convertible so has suggested a MINI. Doh!
Plans falling apart.
My ideal car for this would be an XK8. Sadly after looking at one she's declared it 'too big'. She still wants a convertible so has suggested a MINI. Doh!
Plans falling apart.
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