How quick at buying cars?

[Ian Geary]

This is a relevant question for me as my aging 5 series sits on the road outside having just being written off in a shunt.

I had always assumed I could just snap up another car as and when needed, but I'm now remembering how long it actually took me to decide what make/model/engine I want, and then hunt down good examples.

So out of curiosity and maybe some solace, what would people say is generally there experience at buying a car at short notice?

(Ps we have another car and a motorbike in the household so we're still mobile to a point).

[Countdown]

The quickest one was about 2 days - my Avensis Mk2 had effectively died and I needed a new car pdq for work purposes. An AT search for an Avensis found a Mk3 1.8 T3X at an Evans Halshaw for £2,500.

Most of the time it normally takes me 2 - 3 years to constantly google, compare, read every single review, worry about every single fault that's ever been reported before finally taking the plunge.

[gingerwarrior79]

Ian Geary said:

This is a relevant question for me as my aging 5 series sits on the road outside having just being written off in a shunt.

I had always assumed I could just snap up another car as and when needed, but I'm now remembering how long it actually took me to decide what make/model/engine I want, and then hunt down good examples.

So out of curiosity and maybe some solace, what would people say is generally there experience at buying a car at short notice?

(Ps we have another car and a motorbike in the household so we're still mobile to a point).

I’m terrible with most purchases. Haven’t bought a used car for 20 years and so far I’ve been looking for 6 months or so, as a replacement for my lease car which I’ve extended twice but has a definite end date of 4th Feb now. In my head, most used cars for sale are because they’ve become too much for the current owner to maintain and I’d end up taking on the rubbish

[Davie]

Depends on what you're after.

My wife had a whine that the sheddy Volvo was getting hard to start from cold. Once she'd disappeared on the school run I had a casual flick through the classifieds. A similar Volvo stood out, I called the garage, got straight in the car and within 45mins I owned it.

Also bought an Audi A6 from a neighbour during a discussion about cutting the shared hedge. Got talking about cars, mentioned he was getting rid, asked how much, shook his hand and transferred him the money and signed the V5C in about as long as it took the kettle to boil.

[bmwmike]

Must be coming on for five years. Still haven’t got one. Took 2 years deciding to swap the car then sold it to motorway and that was 3 years ago and haven’t replaced it. Tbh I don’t really need a car and whilst I want a car I don’t need the aggro. Head heart battling it out driveway remains empty and in limbo.

[Ian Geary]

Countdown said:

The quickest one was about 2 days - my Avensis Mk2 had effectively died and I needed a new car pdq for work purposes. An AT search for an Avensis found a Mk3 1.8 T3X at an Evans Halshaw for £2,500.

Most of the time it normally takes me 2 - 3 years to constantly google, compare, read every single review, worry about every single fault that's ever been reported before finally taking the plunge.

That sounds exactly like me - are spreadsheets involved by any chance?

[DaveH23]

My current car a 2007 plate Mazda 3 MPS.

I was looking on Auto trader for ideas, looking at the Focus ST, Astra VXR, Honda Type R etc.

The MPS wasn't on my radar, when I found one on Auto trader and realised the garage was in my town (Northumberland) I rang them and walked over the following day and bought it. Had to wait a few days to collect it but from even considering the car, finding it on Auto trader, then handing over my money was less than 24hours.

[Jamescrs]

I’m pretty quick at it but I think that’s because I’m always thinking about cars and what I’d buy next. If I was in your position OP and my car was written off in a shunt I already know I’d go and buy another one the same but likely a couple of years newer and lower mileage.

[Ian Geary]

Jamescrs said:

I m pretty quick at it but I think that s because I m always thinking about cars and what I d buy next. If I was in your position OP and my car was written off in a shunt I already know I d go and buy another one the same but likely a couple of years newer and lower mileage.

I do scan car ads and reviews quite a bit.

The problem with the beemer is prices jumped hugely since I bought it in covid, and a "new" 10 year old one is nearer £12k- £15k than the £3.5k i paid.

Plus whilst the 5 series is a fine handling car and a nice place to be, I had a growing feeling that for most of my (very short) journeys - mostly between 2 miles and 10 miles - another car would make more sense than firing up a 3 litre lump that never gets warm.

Or maybe 2 cars - a small electric for lcoal trips/ dog walking duties and a more frugal estate for 300 mile ish trips to see relatives / days out.

This sent me down a rabbit hole of plug in hybrid, most of which seem to be outlanders (which have rubbish mgp once the battery is gone) or more exotic things like merc 350e estates, which look amazing on paper but worry me about battery life and condition (several vehicles seem to have been written off because of degraded batteries).

So i am still swinging between 1 do it all car or 2 different ones.

I could spend £9k across both ( or on one) and feel OK with that, but one aspect of long term shed ownership is that having something valuable outside means it's more money to lose.

Obviously lots of people cope with this just fine, but for me it's quite a bit of a change in mindset.


And alongside all of this: work is really busy, I now have to do all my routine driving tasks on a
27 year old fireblade, i needed to get a load of decorating done before family come round for xmas, i need to visit my increasingly unwell mum, and dog walks will be confined to the local park...

(This seems a bit more like mild therapy than actual car buying questions, so feel free to ignore)

[7 5 7]

Autotrader - £budget, 15mile radius, petrol, 5 doors - take your pick.

This was my search, took me a couple of hours to put deposit down once found something.

Beauty of shedding is you dont care aslong as the above is all good.

Good luck hunting, that's the only fun bit.

Can you not buy back your ageing written off car from the insurer?

I appreciate if looking for a particular car/spec/engine/color....how long is a piece of string....