Would I be mad to buy a car during lockdown?
Discussion
Looking to the masses for some advice as had some pretty good advice on here in the past? Unfortunately my car suffered an engine seizure last week (A Vauxhall Zafira Tourer). I've got my eyes set on a replacement (A Kia Optima) and one has come up locally that ticks all of my want list boxes: Diesel, Automatic, Under 40k miles, only 4 years old and within budget. (an Autotrader search only reveals 4 on the market nationwide so for one to be only 10 mins away is a very lucky coincidence.)
However due to Lockdown I'm unable to go and see the car...Well I can technically see the car as it's on an open unlocked forecourt so I can have a good look around it but I can't see inside it or hear it started.
The salesman was pretty helpful and indicated that by law at the moment I would have 14 days to change my mind if I wasn't happy with the car. It's not a national car sales place but it is locally known and has a good reputation. The car also has a FSH and 2 years Kia warranty left.
This will be most I've ever paid out on a car by a long way and in any other situation I'd never buy a car like this, but my arm has been slightly twisted on this occasion due to Lockdown and my own car going to the scrap heap. I am lucky enough to have been leant my Dads little Skoda to get us through but this is by no means a very practical solution to be using as the main family car.
So am I mad and should just hold off for another few weeks until hopefully slightly more normal car sales resume, or just go for it and have faith in the car, garage and 14 day return policy.
However due to Lockdown I'm unable to go and see the car...Well I can technically see the car as it's on an open unlocked forecourt so I can have a good look around it but I can't see inside it or hear it started.
The salesman was pretty helpful and indicated that by law at the moment I would have 14 days to change my mind if I wasn't happy with the car. It's not a national car sales place but it is locally known and has a good reputation. The car also has a FSH and 2 years Kia warranty left.
This will be most I've ever paid out on a car by a long way and in any other situation I'd never buy a car like this, but my arm has been slightly twisted on this occasion due to Lockdown and my own car going to the scrap heap. I am lucky enough to have been leant my Dads little Skoda to get us through but this is by no means a very practical solution to be using as the main family car.
So am I mad and should just hold off for another few weeks until hopefully slightly more normal car sales resume, or just go for it and have faith in the car, garage and 14 day return policy.
Your loan car from your father may not be the most practical but are you really doing that many miles during a national lockdown? I live out in the countryside and have a good drive for the supermarket, I'm still averaging less than an 1.5hrs a week in the car, hard to really justify throwing any money at convenience for such a small amount of time.
If the Kia is at a good price then I probably wouldn't hold back, namely because there are still two years manufacturer's warranty on the car and that would give me sufficient piece of mind. I believe at that age the Kia diesels all have automatic regeneration of the DPF's when suit level reaches a certain point, though again I guess it still depends if you're doing sufficient mileage for that regeneration to be completed.
If the Kia is at a good price then I probably wouldn't hold back, namely because there are still two years manufacturer's warranty on the car and that would give me sufficient piece of mind. I believe at that age the Kia diesels all have automatic regeneration of the DPF's when suit level reaches a certain point, though again I guess it still depends if you're doing sufficient mileage for that regeneration to be completed.
I guess only you can decide.
You've covered all the risks except the one that says you simply don't like it - to a degree the 14 day money-back covers that, but I'd expect them to do all they can to dissuade you from that if you do actually take it back.
Personally I wouldn't, but that's just me. I know that I can get by with a shed for a short time, and another proper car will come along in a few months if that's what I want.
You've covered all the risks except the one that says you simply don't like it - to a degree the 14 day money-back covers that, but I'd expect them to do all they can to dissuade you from that if you do actually take it back.
Personally I wouldn't, but that's just me. I know that I can get by with a shed for a short time, and another proper car will come along in a few months if that's what I want.
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