Finance to Freedom. Dacia Content, Viewer Discretion Advised
Discussion
2017 Focus ST diesel estate in 'Essex tan' tangerine with 40k.
2015 Sean Leon FR diesel DSG with 46k.
We had always intended to pay off my wife's Leon in August (the end of a 4 year PCP). 3 weeks ago the DSG started to throw it's toys out of the pram. Coupled with that and what looks like a future of WFH, we decided to chop it in to the nearest Arnold Shark garage. The settlement figure was 5k, we socially fisted the distant kumquat at £8200. £3200 in our sky rocket.
I was always intending to trade in my Focus ST at the end of this year, the half way point of my finance. I enjoyed the car but it was very, well, tangerine. I popped my car into WBAC just to see how much negative equity it had. They were offering £11300. I eventually found a site called Wizzle. I put on some pictures and let the dealers on there bid for my car. I was shocked when it topped out at £12800. My outstanding finance was £12836. 2 years and 12k onto my Focus and it had depreciated £36!
A driver for the garage came from the Midlands to Glasgow and bought the car the next day, deal done.
An in-law who is in the motor industry managed to get me into a 2014 Dacia Sandero Stepway for £2000 with 68k FSH. It had an engine rebuild hence why he was able to pass it onto me at a very fair price.
A few weeks of searching for a £5k-8k car for my wife and we were left a bit annoyed at the quality of the main stealer, ex rental turds.
I have a puma engined, mk5 Fiesta Zetec S as a project car. As a result, I have various Zetec S alerts on the Facebook MeatMarketplace. I noticed a mk6 Fiesta Zetec S locally, going for a tempting price...
On viewing, the car was absolutely filthy and clearly been stood for a while. Inside was like a vet's coat with dog hair. A deal was struck at £1500, knowing some money would have to be spent. The car has good bones though with 77,000 miles, only 2 owners, FSH, and it drove well apart from the brakes.
Our family went from £550 per month on financing cars to having no monthly car payments. Both cars were just about fully funded by the unexpected equity from the Leon trade in. Such a great feeling and I can honestly say for now, I am enjoying being invisible on the road, having always financed quick and or bright cars!
We have been really fortunate to be in secure work throughout the pandemic. Having plenty of time to reflect as the cars sat unmoved on the drive, we started grudging the payments. The value of the trade ins made it an easy choice and I am glad we have stepped off the ride for now. The dealer who bought my ST has it for sale on Autotrader at £15250!
I will pop a few photos up and document some of the first world problems as we go. Over the years I have had such a laugh lurking on Pistonheads, like Britney after the head shaving and umbrella waving, i want to give back.
It will give you a good laugh if nothing else!
Ryan
SOLD Tangerine Scream
SOLD Leona Lewis
The one that I might sell but I might not. It will definitely maybe be back on the road this year, or next year at the latest!
And now, the real deal. The one that gets yer Granny all hot and bothered. Roof bars to make yer Papa weak at the knees. The 2014 0.9 TURBO (full send) Dacia Sandero Stepway.
And the wife's Fiesta Zetec S after driving it home. Requires a clean.
2015 Sean Leon FR diesel DSG with 46k.
We had always intended to pay off my wife's Leon in August (the end of a 4 year PCP). 3 weeks ago the DSG started to throw it's toys out of the pram. Coupled with that and what looks like a future of WFH, we decided to chop it in to the nearest Arnold Shark garage. The settlement figure was 5k, we socially fisted the distant kumquat at £8200. £3200 in our sky rocket.
I was always intending to trade in my Focus ST at the end of this year, the half way point of my finance. I enjoyed the car but it was very, well, tangerine. I popped my car into WBAC just to see how much negative equity it had. They were offering £11300. I eventually found a site called Wizzle. I put on some pictures and let the dealers on there bid for my car. I was shocked when it topped out at £12800. My outstanding finance was £12836. 2 years and 12k onto my Focus and it had depreciated £36!
A driver for the garage came from the Midlands to Glasgow and bought the car the next day, deal done.
An in-law who is in the motor industry managed to get me into a 2014 Dacia Sandero Stepway for £2000 with 68k FSH. It had an engine rebuild hence why he was able to pass it onto me at a very fair price.
A few weeks of searching for a £5k-8k car for my wife and we were left a bit annoyed at the quality of the main stealer, ex rental turds.
I have a puma engined, mk5 Fiesta Zetec S as a project car. As a result, I have various Zetec S alerts on the Facebook MeatMarketplace. I noticed a mk6 Fiesta Zetec S locally, going for a tempting price...
On viewing, the car was absolutely filthy and clearly been stood for a while. Inside was like a vet's coat with dog hair. A deal was struck at £1500, knowing some money would have to be spent. The car has good bones though with 77,000 miles, only 2 owners, FSH, and it drove well apart from the brakes.
Our family went from £550 per month on financing cars to having no monthly car payments. Both cars were just about fully funded by the unexpected equity from the Leon trade in. Such a great feeling and I can honestly say for now, I am enjoying being invisible on the road, having always financed quick and or bright cars!
We have been really fortunate to be in secure work throughout the pandemic. Having plenty of time to reflect as the cars sat unmoved on the drive, we started grudging the payments. The value of the trade ins made it an easy choice and I am glad we have stepped off the ride for now. The dealer who bought my ST has it for sale on Autotrader at £15250!
I will pop a few photos up and document some of the first world problems as we go. Over the years I have had such a laugh lurking on Pistonheads, like Britney after the head shaving and umbrella waving, i want to give back.
It will give you a good laugh if nothing else!
Ryan
SOLD Tangerine Scream
SOLD Leona Lewis
The one that I might sell but I might not. It will definitely maybe be back on the road this year, or next year at the latest!
And now, the real deal. The one that gets yer Granny all hot and bothered. Roof bars to make yer Papa weak at the knees. The 2014 0.9 TURBO (full send) Dacia Sandero Stepway.
And the wife's Fiesta Zetec S after driving it home. Requires a clean.
Macron said:
That's a good read.
I've been paid to drive an L405 and C43 in the past 2 years, fine if like me they're not to be replaced, or like you to down value the replacements. Good find on the Dacia!
Yes that was the concern to me as a serial car changer. I have tried to explain the current situation with friends and neighbours when they have asked about trading in my "good cars" for these. Most just assume I am in financial ruin, happy to let the Joneses run with that if it helps them! I've been paid to drive an L405 and C43 in the past 2 years, fine if like me they're not to be replaced, or like you to down value the replacements. Good find on the Dacia!
Tyre Smoke said:
If you're in Scotland, the WF plate on your toy is a long way from home!
Stepway would look a lot better without the ladder bars, but I bet it's a very capable little machine.
The toy has been about a bit! An American student bought the car when she studied in Portsmouth. Then she went travelling in the car and finally decided that she was nearly ready for a job...so ended up back studying in Glasgow Uni! My brother bought the car for his clutch burning wife as a beater. £100 later and it was his. It is the black edition model with the leather interior inside, quite the novelty on a mk5.Stepway would look a lot better without the ladder bars, but I bet it's a very capable little machine.
At the same time I was scrapping a Ford Puma I had used as a skip car during a renovation. I donated the engine to the fiesta and the rest is history. 7 previous owners and a few burned out clutches later, it ended up on my drive and I have been fighting it ever since.
The engine in the Sandero is actually decent but it doesn't half shake about. I can't stand the roof bars, I keep banging my head when I put my daughter in the back seats. I don't have the key and there is no numbers on the lock. Considering taking a drill or something to the lock. Any advice on that would be taken on board.
Jaguar steve said:
Welcome to freedom from money not having you by the balls at the end of every month. 
Shove the extra cash in a pension or investments or pay the mortgage off early or have some great holidays or ring your boss first thing on Monday and tell him to stick his job up his arse and go part time or use the freedom to start a business or even a entirely new life.
Whatever being a completely effortless six and a half grand a year better off does for you it's got to be a result in anybody's book.
Thank you for that Steve! Shove the extra cash in a pension or investments or pay the mortgage off early or have some great holidays or ring your boss first thing on Monday and tell him to stick his job up his arse and go part time or use the freedom to start a business or even a entirely new life.
Whatever being a completely effortless six and a half grand a year better off does for you it's got to be a result in anybody's book.
You have hit the nail on the head there with your mindset. Having just had a thyroid operation last month, it did get me thinking about what our goals were as a family. Paying off the mortgage has always been a priority for us and for me it is about looking towards a different career. I have a job which frequently pops up on the careers forum as, "A well paid job with little stress for the money". It has provided me with a good income but it doesn't float my boat for a number of reasons.
Certainly not having a large outgoing on cars helps to open up the idea of retraining and taking on more meaningful work.
I am sure the Dacia will fit in nicely alongside the faux middle class cars in the work car park.
Edited by Gibby88 on Saturday 5th June 08:14
I have a bit of a thing for new wipers and tyres. It is probably a rubber fetish. I will need to try one of those rubber gimp suits. No doubt the Sandero owner's forum will have a subsection for deviant behaviour.
Such a blessing to have jumped on the ultra rare, once in a generation, Euro Car Parts sale!!!
The Rain-X works a treat.
The old tyres were the ditchiest of ditchfinders. They were only fit for use as a kids swing.
4 new tyres ordered from BlackCircles. I don't bother with anywhere else nowadays.
I normally order Avon, Conti's, that type of brand, whatever is on a deal but not rubbish budgets.
To handle the blistering power of the Sandra TURBO, I opted for Kumho Ecowings as they were 4 for £197 fitted. It also has an ECO sticker on the back window so I am basically Greta Thunberg.
Handling is now, yeah. Anyway, like my new airfreshner? MOTHER OF GOD!
Such a blessing to have jumped on the ultra rare, once in a generation, Euro Car Parts sale!!!
The Rain-X works a treat.
The old tyres were the ditchiest of ditchfinders. They were only fit for use as a kids swing.
4 new tyres ordered from BlackCircles. I don't bother with anywhere else nowadays.
I normally order Avon, Conti's, that type of brand, whatever is on a deal but not rubbish budgets.
To handle the blistering power of the Sandra TURBO, I opted for Kumho Ecowings as they were 4 for £197 fitted. It also has an ECO sticker on the back window so I am basically Greta Thunberg.
Handling is now, yeah. Anyway, like my new airfreshner? MOTHER OF GOD!
croyde said:
Bought my Duster brand new in Feb for £10.5k new.
The only times I miss my performance orientated cars are the rare times I'm well out of London and on a nice empty road, ie very rare.
It cruises easily on the motorway and is nippy on the London commute, plus it averages 40mpg.......in town.
Oh! and so practical.
I've got the roof bars that stop at the rails btw
Haha window cleaner specials mine! I must admit, it is class thundering the 3 cylinder down a back road, stones chips and all, not a care given. How do you find the stereo sound in your Duster? I struggle to actually hear it before it starts to sound like a jackhammer. The only times I miss my performance orientated cars are the rare times I'm well out of London and on a nice empty road, ie very rare.
It cruises easily on the motorway and is nippy on the London commute, plus it averages 40mpg.......in town.
Oh! and so practical.
I've got the roof bars that stop at the rails btw
chrismarr said:
I hate what you've become 
Bring back the old Ryan x
Supra to Skoda estate. Check yourself before you wreck myself. Or something like that. Bring back the old Ryan x
Chris, come round and get a look. I can show you my indicator stalk mounted horn. Or perhaps my boot release wire in the driver's footwell (basically a Subaru).
I am not massively into car cleaning but I do like a presentable car. The owner of the Fiesta had let the car sit over the winter, no doubt below a tree judging by the state of the paint. I attacked the car with all the 90's foam party Autoglym nonsense. In the end I resorted to a microfiber cloth and tar remover on the full car! It was a full day but totally worth it.
As you can see by the images I added at least 6 bhp by fitting the Ford Performance number plate surrounds, removed from the now departed focus.
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|https://thumbsnap.com/eXoqtVRZ[/url]
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/BLJa5d2a.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/fRNP7efk" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fRNP7efk.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/KNm3XBxP" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/KNm3XBxP.jpg)
As you can see by the images I added at least 6 bhp by fitting the Ford Performance number plate surrounds, removed from the now departed focus.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/eXoqtVRZ[/url]Interior time for the Fiesta. It was absolutely vile. A full seats out, vacuum and shampoo. It came up really well.
Now time to call in the mechanic. Like Jason Statham only not.
Gates Timing belt and water pump
Brembo brake discs and pads
Mann pollen filter
New cables and tilt handles on both seats
Possibly the original pollen filter!
Nice discs putting the calipers and wheels to shame.
The over due belt change! The water pump had signs of leakage so I am glad it all got done together. It's a nice kit that from Gates. I say that like I installed it all. I passed the box to the mechanic and supplied the brew.
First proper run out in the Fiesta and it handled really well. I also managed to burst a rusty brake line on a shopping trip. It was in the usual place at the bend onto the thingy. Again I supplied the tea and watched on.
So that is really it for the Fiesta for now, short some new rubber (I like rubber) and some alloy wheel refurbing. Mot in August, we will see what that bring but for now, all is well.
As for the Sandero, nothing has really changed. I still look like a deviant window cleaner driving it. Plans afoot to take of some of the pensioner badging off and finally deal with the roof bars. A belt is starting to sound painful on it. I will probably just ignore it for now. I done the old wd40 trick on it which worked briefly.
Here it is rocking up to M&S...a thing of beauty.
Now time to call in the mechanic. Like Jason Statham only not.
Gates Timing belt and water pump
Brembo brake discs and pads
Mann pollen filter
New cables and tilt handles on both seats
Possibly the original pollen filter!
Nice discs putting the calipers and wheels to shame.
The over due belt change! The water pump had signs of leakage so I am glad it all got done together. It's a nice kit that from Gates. I say that like I installed it all. I passed the box to the mechanic and supplied the brew.
First proper run out in the Fiesta and it handled really well. I also managed to burst a rusty brake line on a shopping trip. It was in the usual place at the bend onto the thingy. Again I supplied the tea and watched on.
So that is really it for the Fiesta for now, short some new rubber (I like rubber) and some alloy wheel refurbing. Mot in August, we will see what that bring but for now, all is well.
As for the Sandero, nothing has really changed. I still look like a deviant window cleaner driving it. Plans afoot to take of some of the pensioner badging off and finally deal with the roof bars. A belt is starting to sound painful on it. I will probably just ignore it for now. I done the old wd40 trick on it which worked briefly.
Here it is rocking up to M&S...a thing of beauty.
Trustmeimadoctor said:
Was just going to post exactly that re the calculation issue
This is why I stated it had depreciated by £36 referring to the car's sale price, not my method of payment and associated interest. I am under no illusion that the car has cost me more than £36 in 2 years. It is more to point out how crazy the part ex values are.
Magikarp said:
My wife and I decided to get rid of the Kia Niro we have on Contract Hire and replace it with an estate, primarily to quell canine comfort issues. It’s not a lot per month but we hope the car we’ve replaced it will fit into the amount we spend on the Niro.
There’s also something quite enjoyable about replacing a worthy mpg wagon with a V8.
She is very in the FIRE movement (financial independence, retire early) and this idea appealed to her.
As for the Sandero, I hand them over at work and I really like them. Honest and simple motoring (that’s not to damn them with faint praise).
I totally get the FIRE movement. For us the coast fire appeals. I think back to when I first started driving and it was whatever you could get your hands on. Now it seems to be whatever you can get approved for finance on. The Sandero is actually not bad, the Easyjet of the car world! There’s also something quite enjoyable about replacing a worthy mpg wagon with a V8.
She is very in the FIRE movement (financial independence, retire early) and this idea appealed to her.
As for the Sandero, I hand them over at work and I really like them. Honest and simple motoring (that’s not to damn them with faint praise).
The Sandero doing target demographic things.
This morning I decided enough was enough. No more retired window cleaner. It was all really quite technical but in short, I smashed hell out of the cover with a screwdriver and hammer combo. Followed on by some drill bit melting at full reverse thrust.
As you will see, Sandra has tarted up quite well. Now with a spring in my step, I moved on to a bit of light debadging.
Really happy with the end result and all done in under 3 mugs of tea. Up next for the flying machine will be a new Aux belt and tensioner to stop the embarrassing squeaking as I set off. Then I will lightly tint the rear windows for mini me and the dog.
One negative would be I didn't think I would miss A/C as much as I do. Luckily last week appears to have been our summer up here.
This morning I decided enough was enough. No more retired window cleaner. It was all really quite technical but in short, I smashed hell out of the cover with a screwdriver and hammer combo. Followed on by some drill bit melting at full reverse thrust.
As you will see, Sandra has tarted up quite well. Now with a spring in my step, I moved on to a bit of light debadging.
Really happy with the end result and all done in under 3 mugs of tea. Up next for the flying machine will be a new Aux belt and tensioner to stop the embarrassing squeaking as I set off. Then I will lightly tint the rear windows for mini me and the dog.
One negative would be I didn't think I would miss A/C as much as I do. Luckily last week appears to have been our summer up here.
With both cars ticking along nicely, I popped the kettle on and watched as my mechanic changed a snapped coilover spring on the black fiesta. A really nice chap on a Facebook group posted me a spare spring for shipping cost only. It is such a great wee car but unfortunately it does need rust repair. It has had a fair bit of money spent on it during my ownership such as AP coilovers, Milltek exhaust and Focus ST170 brakes.
I know the right thing to do is sell it as even when it had MOT, the car spent a large amount of time gathering dust at the bottom of the drive. I do wonder what I would be best to do, sell as is on ebay, or split the parts and sell separately then scrap the shell? Scrapping it does seem a shame as apart from the rust and bodywork, it runs, handles and stops well.
It has 4 new Avon tyres which I will be swapping onto my wife's silver fiesta this week.
Opinions welcome on what I should do with it.
My daughter decided to abandon some orange juice on the rear seats. Just the excuse I needed to give the Sandero a quick hoover and a going over with the carpet cleaner. The seats came up great and certainly smell a lot better.
I know the right thing to do is sell it as even when it had MOT, the car spent a large amount of time gathering dust at the bottom of the drive. I do wonder what I would be best to do, sell as is on ebay, or split the parts and sell separately then scrap the shell? Scrapping it does seem a shame as apart from the rust and bodywork, it runs, handles and stops well.
It has 4 new Avon tyres which I will be swapping onto my wife's silver fiesta this week.
Opinions welcome on what I should do with it.
My daughter decided to abandon some orange juice on the rear seats. Just the excuse I needed to give the Sandero a quick hoover and a going over with the carpet cleaner. The seats came up great and certainly smell a lot better.
_Mja_ said:
Depends what you want out of the fiesta - is it a car you want to keep and enjoy or is it best out of your hair. I note you had a mechanic change a coil spring so assume the welding work is not going to be done by yourself and therefore quite costly?Bodywork is pricey.
Alternatively, and this is what I would do, if you want to truly immerse yourself out of finance and into the world of older cars you do need mechanical skills. This car is perfect to learn those and it's always useful to have a spare car if you're working on one of your other cars. Less pressure = more enjoyment. You can pick MOT failure bargains that only needed some brakes and a small patch of welding. You can even fix and flip them back for a profit - a car with MOT is worth a lot more than one without. Most people see a car with MOT as a bench mark that a car is good which is great if you want to flip it to joe public however to me it is an absolute minimum standard.
Mechanically i've learnt to do everything except rebuild an engine at this stage. I've also learnt to weld and am confidence working on floor pans etc. I am about to embark on the most challenging resto soon which is a mk2 golf that will need arches, valances, scuttle i.e. bits that your can actually see.
Thank you for the reply. I don't have a burning desire to get too hands on with my cars. I am comfortable with a minor service and giving them a clean. I am also happy to pay a fair price to my local mechanic, knowing it is keeping him ticking over instead of some corporate, glass fronted garage. Alternatively, and this is what I would do, if you want to truly immerse yourself out of finance and into the world of older cars you do need mechanical skills. This car is perfect to learn those and it's always useful to have a spare car if you're working on one of your other cars. Less pressure = more enjoyment. You can pick MOT failure bargains that only needed some brakes and a small patch of welding. You can even fix and flip them back for a profit - a car with MOT is worth a lot more than one without. Most people see a car with MOT as a bench mark that a car is good which is great if you want to flip it to joe public however to me it is an absolute minimum standard.
Mechanically i've learnt to do everything except rebuild an engine at this stage. I've also learnt to weld and am confidence working on floor pans etc. I am about to embark on the most challenging resto soon which is a mk2 golf that will need arches, valances, scuttle i.e. bits that your can actually see.
I helped a friend to weld some areas on his barn. That was enough of a taster for me.
I am leaning towards a no reserve ebay and hope a normal person will take it on instead of breaking it. Finding normal people bidding on ebay is a challenge of its own I imagine.
curvature said:
l've enjoyed reading this for several reasons.
First is I admire the fact that you (OP) have given in and just decided to sell up and buy what you can for cash without any finance.
The second reason is that I would love to do something like this myself but I'm torn between having a newish reliable car for long journeys or running the risk of having no dept but perhaps in a less reliable car. I like keeping my cars clean and tidy but I'm not a home mechanic.
I drive over 20k miles a year so for me the reliability is the key thing but do I really need a 6 series? I know the answer to that and do wish I had kept my 330d Touring.
My wife has a Q5 which we bought when it was 5 months old and is now paid for. They only thing that she would change it for is an X3 M40i so it will stay for a while, at least until the 6 series is paid for.
Keep posting as I would like to know how you get on with your new cars.
For me it wasn't out of any sort of impending financial doom so it took a bit of pondering. My Focus had all sorts of issues with suspension, a leaking front window and other annoying things. I was paying over £300 a month for something that wasn't without fault. First is I admire the fact that you (OP) have given in and just decided to sell up and buy what you can for cash without any finance.
The second reason is that I would love to do something like this myself but I'm torn between having a newish reliable car for long journeys or running the risk of having no dept but perhaps in a less reliable car. I like keeping my cars clean and tidy but I'm not a home mechanic.
I drive over 20k miles a year so for me the reliability is the key thing but do I really need a 6 series? I know the answer to that and do wish I had kept my 330d Touring.
My wife has a Q5 which we bought when it was 5 months old and is now paid for. They only thing that she would change it for is an X3 M40i so it will stay for a while, at least until the 6 series is paid for.
Keep posting as I would like to know how you get on with your new cars.
Now I can be more at peace paying for ongoing car repairs as the cars are paid for and I don't have that frustration of new and supposedly reliable cars throwing issues.
Another positive has been not worrying about the car getting stolen, vandalised or damaged in car parks. Being Mr invisible is actually quite nice. I initially struggled with the perceived image issue, not having a 'cool' car. Now I have had time to think about it, I used to have an orange car, everybody must have thought I was a prat anyway.
Once the 6 series is paid for, you will have two really nice cars owned outright. Just pause before heading out to the forecourts. I imagine when I pay off my mortgage, I won't rush out to immediately get another mortgage for a newer house. For 15 years I have been on that rinse and repeat with my cars.
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