"Between Leases" Car Buying
"Between Leases" Car Buying
Author
Discussion

SaintEtienne

Original Poster:

76 posts

97 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
quotequote all
Anyone else do this?

I genuinely have more fun finding something to potter about in between one 'proper' car going, and the new one arriving, than I do choosing the long-term replacement.

My rules as follows:

- Has to be something I wouldn't consider buying if it were a keeper (so stupidly uneconomical, high potential for expensive repairs, parts hard to come by are all fine)
- Has to seat five in comfort
- <£2k definitely
- Must have bottomed out in value
- Must have a long MOT

Last time round I got a very nice gold old-man spec V6 X Type with a year's MOT, a grumbly clutch, non-working alarm, busted Sat Nav and non-working Reverse Parking Sensors and gorgeous leather/wood interior for £700.

Had it for two months, during which time I fixed the sat nav (cleaned the CD in the boot and it worked), fixed the parking sensors (five mins of soldering), fixed the alarm (new battery in the key fob).

And then I gave it a really good clean, took good pictures, and punted it on inside a week of my new car arriving for £750, still having 10 months MOT.

To my mind, more exciting than deciding which options I needed on the new car, which of the free colours was the least bad, do I need DSG or can I live with a manual. A little part of me genuinely looking forward to spring so I can do it again - got my eye on something 4 x 4 shaped next time, or maybe an old 5 series.

For everyone waiting for the next killer lease deal to come along, and not finding something that takes their fancy, I would wholeheartedly recommend hanging on for the right deal and essentially do a bit of free motoring during any gap caused by delivery times.

Edited by SaintEtienne on Friday 22 September 20:55

manracer

1,548 posts

115 months

Saturday 23rd September 2017
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I've had to do this recently for the first time. I totally agree with you, though I didn't have time on my side so had to couldn't really take the time I would of liked. I had one weekend to find and collect something. Found a E39 5 series BMW. It's only a 520i se but as it's 2001 it has the 2.2 engine. I've owned it for 3 months now and it's really grown on me. The leather is like new, its got cruise and parking sensors front and rear. It's a great mile muncher on the commute to work. I've put 6k on it already. It owes me nothing as it got it for less than a grand. It had 80k on it when I got it. I now don't know what to do with it when the new lease arrives in December. I'm rather fond of it now.

steve-5snwi

9,626 posts

111 months

Saturday 23rd September 2017
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How did you find the x type as a smoker, I'm looking at the estate in automatic trim as a potential replacement for our b7 tfsi a4

SaintEtienne

Original Poster:

76 posts

97 months

Saturday 23rd September 2017
quotequote all
steve-5snwi said:
How did you find the x type as a smoker, I'm looking at the estate in automatic trim as a potential replacement for our b7 tfsi a4
Well I had one in manual/saloon guise, but it was ideal for what I wanted at the time.

They get a bad rep for not being a 'proper' Jag, but they're so much a nicer place to sit than the equivalent Mondeo they're based on, and practically the same price at the age I was looking at.

Didn't keep mine long enough for it to show up any real flaws, was nice to waft about in, and the bloke who bought mine off me booted it down a local bypass and if absolutely flew.

I love an estate, think they're very smart, and I'd definitely have one again. People genuinely couldn't believe how cheap they were.

At that price, I treated it as pretty much disposable, but I knew I would have a brand new Leon Cupra ST along in a couple of months.



pavarotti1980

5,860 posts

102 months

Monday 25th September 2017
quotequote all
SaintEtienne said:
Anyone else do this?

I genuinely have more fun finding something to potter about in between one 'proper' car going, and the new one arriving, than I do choosing the long-term replacement.

My rules as follows:

- Has to be something I wouldn't consider buying if it were a keeper (so stupidly uneconomical, high potential for expensive repairs, parts hard to come by are all fine)
- Has to seat five in comfort
- <£2k definitely
- Must have bottomed out in value
- Must have a long MOT

Last time round I got a very nice gold old-man spec V6 X Type with a year's MOT, a grumbly clutch, non-working alarm, busted Sat Nav and non-working Reverse Parking Sensors and gorgeous leather/wood interior for £700.

Had it for two months, during which time I fixed the sat nav (cleaned the CD in the boot and it worked), fixed the parking sensors (five mins of soldering), fixed the alarm (new battery in the key fob).

And then I gave it a really good clean, took good pictures, and punted it on inside a week of my new car arriving for £750, still having 10 months MOT.

To my mind, more exciting than deciding which options I needed on the new car, which of the free colours was the least bad, do I need DSG or can I live with a manual. A little part of me genuinely looking forward to spring so I can do it again - got my eye on something 4 x 4 shaped next time, or maybe an old 5 series.

For everyone waiting for the next killer lease deal to come along, and not finding something that takes their fancy, I would wholeheartedly recommend hanging on for the right deal and essentially do a bit of free motoring during any gap caused by delivery times.

Edited by SaintEtienne on Friday 22 September 20:55
I am looking at doing exactly the same thing just before xmas when my exisiting lease goes back.

Being having a look on autotrader for some ideas of something between £500-£1000 with the hope of making the majority bakc selling it.

I like the idea of BMW, Jag but also a random one in Mazda RX-8 for a bit of fun.

soupdragon1

4,741 posts

115 months

Monday 25th September 2017
quotequote all
If it happens me and I've a gap to fill between leases, I am going to try the local auction.

I've actually bought at auction a couple of times. 1st time I went just for a nosey around and came back with a Puegoet 407 estate, fully loaded for £2.7k (they were selling for about £5k at the time)

One other time, I went to buy a ford mondeo and came back with a Jag S-Type. They were selling for £8k to £10k at the time and when the bidding stopped at £4.9k, I put my hand up in a gingerly sort of motion, and ended up getting it for just over £5k. I was a bit emabarrassed with myself as I just sort of thought to myself, 'someone is getting a bargain there - I'm going to join the party too' and it ended up being an awesome car - was a great buy.

But I'll try for something less than £1k if I need to fill the lease gap - like the OP says - can be a bit of fun too, especially if you can actually swing a profit out of it!!!

MorganP104

2,605 posts

148 months

Monday 25th September 2017
quotequote all
Rover 75s and MG ZTs (and ZT-Ts) look like great "fill in" cars to me.

If I needed a motor in a hurry, I'd go for one.

Or would I get another E39? I loved my 528i Touring. Or maybe an E38. My 740i was cracking. Scratch that, what about a Lexus LS400/430? Hmm, or even a Jag XJ (X300/308/350).

So many options for less than £2k! biggrin

pavarotti1980

5,860 posts

102 months

Monday 25th September 2017
quotequote all
MorganP104 said:
Rover 75s and MG ZTs (and ZT-Ts) look like great "fill in" cars to me.

If I needed a motor in a hurry, I'd go for one.

Or would I get another E39? I loved my 528i Touring. Or maybe an E38. My 740i was cracking. Scratch that, what about a Lexus LS400/430? Hmm, or even a Jag XJ (X300/308/350).

So many options for less than £2k! biggrin
Plenty of Lexus for under £1k too. Almost spoilt for choice on something for a short space of time.

MorganP104

2,605 posts

148 months

Monday 25th September 2017
quotequote all
pavarotti1980 said:
MorganP104 said:
Rover 75s and MG ZTs (and ZT-Ts) look like great "fill in" cars to me.

If I needed a motor in a hurry, I'd go for one.

Or would I get another E39? I loved my 528i Touring. Or maybe an E38. My 740i was cracking. Scratch that, what about a Lexus LS400/430? Hmm, or even a Jag XJ (X300/308/350).

So many options for less than £2k! biggrin
Plenty of Lexus for under £1k too. Almost spoilt for choice on something for a short space of time.
I agree. Sometimes, being in a hurry, with a very small set of "must haves", and no desire to keep a vehicle more than a few months can really invigorate the buying process.

pavarotti1980

5,860 posts

102 months

Monday 25th September 2017
quotequote all
MorganP104 said:
I agree. Sometimes, being in a hurry, with a very small set of "must haves", and no desire to keep a vehicle more than a few months can really invigorate the buying process.
As stated by by OP its much more fun looking like this than picking lease.

I think my list will be BMW, Jag, Audi, Mazda RX-8 and hope for the best.

SaintEtienne

Original Poster:

76 posts

97 months

Monday 25th September 2017
quotequote all
pavarotti1980 said:
As stated by by OP its much more fun looking like this than picking lease.

I think my list will be BMW, Jag, Audi, Mazda RX-8 and hope for the best.
That's pretty much my starting list for this kind of expedition, with the exception of the Mazda - but I also had Jeeps on the list.