Dilemma....
Author
Discussion

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
I bought myself a new Kia Pro Cee'd 7 months ago as a daily driver for £12.5k - the benefits were a good spec (leather, ESP, ABS, HID lights, MP3 iPod, Phone). it's cheap to insure, cheap to tax, fantastic warranty, nice styling with Ford Focus rivalling handling and very good build quality. I didn't finance it and it's paid for. It has now done 7.5k miles and is as new - not even a parking ding.

I've just lost my job due to redundancy and so has my wife (same company) and we have a baby due in 3 weeks time (Pro Cee'd is 3 door).

I'm wondering whether I should part/ex the new car and get a 6-8 year old decent 4 seat/4 door whatever and keep the difference between the two to perhaps finance a van for my possible new venture?

Bearing in mind that anything older may have issues & warranties are usually of no practical use when buying a used car. I'd probably look at BMW 3 or 5 series, Saab, Audi/VW, possibly Ford.

I'd probably lose about £4k in 7 months on the Pro Cee'd though.

What would you do - worth it or not?

gareth.e

2,071 posts

218 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
I'd stick with it tbh

schmalex

13,616 posts

235 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Keep it. To change it, could mean buying into a sackful of trouble when you least need it.

fathomfive

11,220 posts

219 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
schmalex said:
Keep it. To change it, could mean buying into a sackful of trouble when you least need it.
I'd echo those sentiments. The last thing you'll need once the baby comes along is a tempermental car.

Keep it and manage through until things settle down and you can look to change (if you thinky ou need to).

oldcynic

2,166 posts

190 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Are you allowed on PH with this car? Please tell me it's not a diesel!

Keep the car - it works, it warrantied, and it's paid for. Some of the bills you could land with a 5YO car can be eye-watering and you could do without that right now.

If the business venture is a real possibility then buy a cheap van to get started (or depending on the nature of the business use the car) and upgrade when it takes off - or lose nothing when it doesn't. You can always hire a van if you need the load space erratically.

Liquid Knight

15,754 posts

212 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Three door cars are just as good if not better for little people transport and the leather will wipe clean a lot easier than cloth. Keep the Cee'd at least until either the little one out grows it or the depreciasion isn't as bad.

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
OK, thanks folks - I was having similar thoughts but on the other hand thought that I could use the cash raised in chopping in the Pro Cee'd to part finance a van for business use.

I have no issues with the car though, it's been utterly reliable and is very well made, no issues with the 3 doors either as I'm less likely to have baby in my car but will sometimes. I have tried the seat and ISOFIX base and the seat is a bit of a squeeze between the seat and pillar but does fit OK. The boot is brilliant - stores the pram with ease.

adycav

7,615 posts

246 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Another vote for keeping the Kia.

Anything else you can sell to fund a van purchase?

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
oldcynic said:
Are you allowed on PH with this car? Please tell me it's not a diesel!
Cheeky sod! smile
I first joined PH when I had a TVR wink

I also have a play thing now too which is a lot more PH smile

No, the Pro Cee'd it's not a diesel - quite nippy for a 1.4 really. Very nice daily driver tbh.

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
adycav said:
Another vote for keeping the Kia.

Anything else you can sell to fund a van purchase?
Wife?




wink

adycav

7,615 posts

246 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Kentish said:
adycav said:
Another vote for keeping the Kia.

Anything else you can sell to fund a van purchase?
Wife?




wink
hehe


Let me know how it goes with that, you could offer a BOGOF with mine...

skoff

1,387 posts

263 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
olly22n said:
3 doors aren't that bad as you can get 'front-on' to the baby seat if that makes sense.
This is exactly our experience, my wife drives a 3 door Honda Civic and it was much easier to get the rear facing baby seat in and out of that than my 5 series touring.

Don't take a bath on the depreciation...

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
adycav said:
hehe


Let me know how it goes with that, you could offer a BOGOF with mine...
That's very kind but I may have trouble shifting the one smile

grenpayne

2,082 posts

191 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Another vote for keeping it - if you're only going to have the ankle biter in the car occasionally then it's quite easy to live with. I sometimes have mine in my Fiesta ST, and save for a bit of (quiet) swearing getting the seat in the back, it's pretty ok.

carreauchompeur

18,319 posts

233 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Definitely keep the car, you are at the savage end of the depreciation curve at the moment. It's not worth selling at a huge loss- As you keep it for longer the depreciation will slow. And it's a known quantity, loads of warranty left...

...But if you're starting a new venture you can buy a cheap-as-chips van to get started!

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Thank you folks.

Herman Toothrot

6,702 posts

227 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
gareth.e said:
I'd stick with it tbh
Yes that, I have several friends that coped fine with 2 door cars and kids. As said you'll just loose a load of money chopping it in now.

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
The Crack Fox said:
What rotten news, good luck on the work front. I'd hang on to the car unless you're utterly skint.
Just lost my Mum suddenly the other day too cry

It's been a really crappy year so far.

Looking forward to little one arriving and also making a success of what I decide to do instead of the career I've been stuck in for the past 2 decades!

Hoping that my Mum & Dad would be be proud of their little grandchild & my venture, if they were here to see them.

I certainly agree with all the advice and will be keeping the Pro Cee'd smile

Beefmeister

16,482 posts

259 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
You could always go to a dealer, see if you can do a straight swap for a 2nd hand Cee'd 5dr?

This sort of thing:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Same car, same piece of mind warranty, just that little bit more practicality?

It's refreshing to not hear you mention any redundancy packages in your plans.

They are best kept to pay mortgages, food etc while you get your new venture going...

Edited by Beefmeister on Monday 21st March 15:16

Kentish

Original Poster:

15,169 posts

263 months

Monday 21st March 2011
quotequote all
Uhhm, hadn't thought of that tbh, thanks.
A SW a year or 2 older and a few more miles could be a good option.

Re, redundancy, I may well use a little of my package to help set myself up but I am getting an OK package and that combined with selling off my company shares tax free will help.

I certainly wouldn't go out and buy my dream car though wink
I completely agree, I will prob need all I can for the bills and mortgage over the next few months.