New Car and a New Job

[doctormeredithgrey]

After many years working for the same company which closed down this year and I was made redundant, I am now in a position to buy a new car thanks to my payout!

My whole driving life, I have only ever driven a 15 year old car which cost me £1,500 and now my recent 19 year old car is a hand me down from my brother - for many years, I wished I could have a nice car but was never in a position to do so financially so I kept on dreaming until now.

I'm looking at leasing a brand new car but my dilemma is, I started a new job in June which was temporary but I was kept on permanently. Having looked at my contract, it states I am on probation until December. My current car has many problems and will certainly not pass it's MOT due late Dec 2021 and I will have to splash out a bomb in repairs to fix these beforehand - I also live in London so the extended ULEZ zone will hit me when it comes into effect in October later this year.

So the question is, do I buy a new car or not in case I do not pass the probationary period and am left without a job in December?

Is there not a compromise to be had here ?

Why not replace your car with something considerably newer, but not brand new ?
I wouldn't be taking on a contract that committed me to keep making large payments each month at all if I wasn't in secure employment, but that doesn't mean you can't use your redundancy money, or some of it, to replace your current car.