to want a brand new car?

[ValiantMouse]

I've always driven older, used cars. Current car is 13 years old and is coming up on 80k miles. It's not running well and there's a chance that the repair could cost up to £1000.

I want a new car. I want something that I don't have to worry about, that doesn't suck down a gallon of oil every month. Something that I can go where I want in, when I want. (To be fair, my current car is very reliable.)

I'm not on a great wage- just under £7 an hour. The car I've been looking at is around £14k. It would be about £150 a month- I could afford that. I just feel guilty because I'm used to watching every penny I spend. AIBU?

[squidzin]

Yep. uabu. New cars are a total waste of money. A car only 2-3 years old will save you £££

[whois]

If you can afford it I don't see why you would be u. Although £150/month sounds like a vey low number for a !14k car.

What happens at the end of the initial finance term? Are the miles limited?

[ScarlettDarling]

Of course yanbu. It's your money! You can spend it on what you want. As long as you can afford the car, then what's the problem?

I like having new cars...a warranty, no mots for a few years, it's great. Also, you can usually wangle a pretty good deal on a new car because the list prices are so inflated that dealerships have room to come down.

Go for it!

[IrisVillarca]

YANBU. Who care about depreciation off the forecourt when you have something reliable and under warranty. Some good deals around this time of year with pre-registered vehicles that haven't sold. Go for 0% finance though.

[GrizzlebertGrumbledink]

Have you done a nearly new search on auto trader? My car was an ex-display showroom car but had been registered so technically I was the second owner and it was second hand. There were ~100 miles on the clock and it was several thousand pounds cheaper than a new one would have been. Look out for cars that have just brought out an updated model so they'll want to move their previous model test drive stock

[Mistigri]

We changed our car earlier this year. We wanted another new car because of the lack of hassle, the extended warranty, and the fact that you know that if the car has any serious faults it's likely that you will find out while it's still under guarantee.

We got burnt when buying a newish Renault a few years ago that needed a lot of work pretty much as soon as it was out of its (one year) warranty. Since then we've bought new Toyotas and the only money we ever spend on them is routine servicing and new tyres.

This time we got an ex demo model that had 4k on the clock - so basically we got a new car (at a higher spec than we'd have been prepare to pay for otherwise) and the garage paid for the initial depreciation.

[m1nniedriver]

YANBU you work hard for your money, what's the point if you can't spend it on living a bit . If it's not going to make you homeless or starving the fuck it, get your car OP and enjoy it

[Petradreaming]

Try to go for an ex demo model. They are not new - only a couple of months old and will not be anywhere near as expensive. I work with a client who is involved in the trade - he mentioned that Vauxhall dealerships are awash with cars they can't shift and bargains to be had.

[Sirzy]

As long as you can afford it and have properly checked what your signing up for then it's up to you if you can afford it then do it.

Personally I would rather go for one a couple of years old and save thousands.

[WheresMyBurrito]

£150 a month for how long? Even at 0% interest that's nearly 8 years.

I don't blame you for wanting a new car but could you get something maybe 3-5 years old? That way it'll still be in good nick.

Or, alternatively, look at a lease scheme? All you'd need to do then is worry about petrol and insurance.

[IrisVillarca]

I thought that, Sirzy, but 3 years and £3,000 later I thought Fuck it, this is NOT worth the hassle. Renault, natch.

[SummerNights1986]

YANBU if you can afford it - you can spend your money on whatever you want and different people have different priorities.

Personally I would never get a new car if I needed finance for it and would see it as unnecessarily wasteful. By the time you add on the interest to the £14k and consider the rate at which new cars depreciate, it seems like a complete money pit. You'll end up paying...what...£16Kish with interest? For something that will be worth £9k in 2 years time. Not for me.

[Sirzy]

My parents had issue with a Renault straight off the forecourt so I'm not sure buying brand new guarantees much - apparently setting on fire after 100 miles isn't a major issue according to renaults customer service!

[MisForMumNotMaid]

YANBU to spend your money the way you want.

Do you need to spend £14k to get what you need?

Vauxhall are currently doung a £2k scrapage on any in mot car you've owned for 90days plus. That would take their base small car (Viva) price down to £6,300.

I had an old saab 9000 luxurious when new (i didn't have it till it was old) but with everything failing, very expensive to repair and had my first new and first small car under scrapage. I got a Hyundai I 10. We've now had 6 bill free years (except tyres) for just under 6k. Its just out of warranty now but we hope to get a few more years. We then went on to buy a new Vauxhall Zafirra as our family car. Just under £10k at the time with a lifetime/ 100k miles warranty. I'm not delighted with the current recall or handling of it but we've had a few warranty issues and they've not batted an eyelid at just fixing them. Its two years old now.

Before the I10 i'd never have recommended new but its so nice not to have to worry about car expense and if you're planning to keep the car for a reasonable time five years plus the new premium appears to even out.

[witsender]

Massive depreciation on new cars, I would consider an approved used car especially on a low-ish wage.

But I am not a car person, our current one is amazing and has done 173,000 miles.

[WMittens]

As already said, nothing wrong with a new car if you can afford it. However, depreciation is the highest cost of motoring (on a new car).

Imagine if that £1000 repair means you can keep on driving your existing car for a year. Now compare that to paying £150 per month for a new car - total for a year is £1800. Even if that grand repair lasts 7 months, you're quids in.

[GarthAlgar]

I got my Corsa on the day that the '13 plate came in (it's a '62 plate) and there was 5 grand off it!! Comes with a 10 year warranty too so I'd definitely go for a deal like that if I were you.

[PeterParkerSays]

A new car depreciates in value as soon as you drive it off the forecourt. A nearly new one holds its vale much better. Look at the finance available for a car thats a couple of years old.

[AutumnLeavesArePretty]

How many years finance? It sounds like a scheme where you lease and hand back or there's a huge final payment.

£14k is very expensive though, mine was less than half that brand new.

[Shirtsleeves]

After years of running old bangers to the ground, I treated myself to a new car. I pay £200 per month on PCP and it's worth every bloody penny. It's my little luxury; especially the heated seats. I love being able to get around without worrying if today is the day my car will conk out. That said, I drive a lot for my job and I spend a lot of time in my car, so felt it was a sound investment. If I pootled 15 mins to and from work, I'd definitely feel less inclined to spend that much.

[honeyroar]

Id never buy a new car personally. (I just waste my money on my horses instead, so each to their own!)

I'm glad other people do though. Once the three year warranty is up most people send them back to the dealers and part ex them for another new car. The dealers chuck them in the car auctions and I buy mine from there. A car that was, say, £15k new and has been serviced for 3 years and had mileage limits usually goes for £5/6k.

[Mizzletow]

YANBU but you are being a bit silly if you are on the minimum wage. I earn 10 x an hour more compared to you and I'd still not buy a new car.

My current car was 18 months old- ex demo- when I bought it and was the newest car I'd ever had. The thrill of having a brand new car is not something that does anything for me and as others have said, buying one that's 2-3 years old is good value as long as it's not been hammered.

What you won't understand until you have your brand new car (if you buy it) is that the thrill of having something new does not make you happier after the first few months of excitement are over and you will be paying for it for many years to come at the same time as it's worth less and less.

[WMittens]

I'm not on a great wage- just under £7 an hour. The car I've been looking at is around £14k.

I didn't spot this first time, that'll teach me not to read the whole post.

It's still your choice, but you're effectively getting a car with a value equal to your annual wage. There are many perfectly serviceable cars for a third or less of that price.

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

Get a Honda. They don't break.

[ValiantMouse]

£150 is the price the dealer quoted me online. I'm waiting for him to email me the details so I can read through it all properly/in my own time. I'm not planning on rushing into anything. :) Car is a 14 plate top of the range estate. I need the boot space because I need to fit a mobility scooter in there or I'd go for something teeny and cheaper!