Buying a new (for me) car

[carconondrum]

My car is now 13 years old. It has served me well and was an absolute bargain when I bought it seven years ago as my first car.

But it's going to cost me a significant amount of money when my MOT comes up next year.

I don't drive far, maybe 6/7 miles a day, 5 days per week. 3/4 times per month I drive 35 miles to work and back.

How old/new would you go if you were me, buying a new car, and how many years would you expect it to last you?

I don't have a budget, as such. This post is to help me determine that.

Thanks.

Bumping

What are the MOT works that are required?

A new ABS system, apparently.

It depends on your budget, but if you look around carefully you might find a low mileage car that’s been used as a second car, about 2-4 years old. I’d expect that to last at least 8 years, with regular servicing and maintenance.
A lot of second hand cars have low mileage due to lockdown, but people are trading them in, treating themselves to a new one. We recently bought a two year old car in showroom condition with well less than the average mileage.

Thanks @Beebumble2

I do think anything as new as 2-4 years would be stretching it budget-wise.

I've been looking at the 5yo mark, but wondering if that's actually newer than I need, and therefor more expensive than I need.

I was really wondering how old other people go, and how long they then expect that age of car to last them

At those low mileages I would go with a 2 to 3 year old car. Something with a decent warranty length like a Kia picanto.

When we looked we actually found it was cheaper and more worthwhile to get a brand new car on finance then a second hand one!

We ended up with a new car for £167 a month (second hand was coming in at £160) which doesn't have to be MOT'd for 3 years so saving there and obviously no mileage on the clock!

If your car has a problem, like the ABS, it needs fixing now, not when the MOT comes around.

A few years back I bought a Honda Civic that was 6 years old, 40k on the clock. It was 8k but bought from a Honda dealer and was prepped immaculately. I expect to get at least 10 years and drive more than you do mileage wise. I’ve had it nearly 4 years now, sails through mot every time. Family has several 20yr old Hondas with 200k ish on the clock. I think if you’re after reliability like I was you can’t beat Japanese.

I've just had the MOT done this week and was advised it's not required now, but likely will be by the time of the next one, so to consider replacing the car before that.

Same as @elephantmarchingin we are not into getting a new car every few years we tend to buy a car a year or two old and run it for ten years.

However with our current car it was cheaper to buy new. We got a massive discount, five years servicing and comprehensive breakdown cover for 595. Plus it was 50% down and the rest on interest free credit.

Have a look at carwow, it is brilliant for getting the best discount you can.

We did actually buy from our local dealer but they matched the carwow price.

Is the abs light on? What make and model, I've never replaced a whole abs system. Normally I'd say better the devil you know.

Your mileage you need a petrol and tbh I'd probably go cheap with that mileage. A Nissan Micra or similar you don't have the mileage to make PCP etc worthwhile imo

The mileage is more important than the age, provided it's around the 5 year mark. Regular servicing and mot is important. It's a bit of a minefield but I bought my 2 year old car a couple of years ago by myself from a dealer and it's a lovely small car. Private sales can get you a better bargain, but you have security with a good dealer.

No, no light on. I think he said something about one of the sensors? It's a Vauxhall Corsa. Whatever it is, he said it would likely cost me round about the £700 mark when it's time to fix it.

I think he said something about one of the sensors? It's a Vauxhall Corsa. Whatever it is, he said it would likely cost me round about the £700 mark when it's time to fix it.

Not a chance it's £700.

I'd ring round other garages and ask for a price.
Has he offered to buy your car by any chance?

Don't quote me on what he specifically said was the issue, but that was the figure he said I could be looking at for replacing. Definitely ABS related, is as much as I know, and I very much trust my mechanic.

He hasn't asked to buy it, no.

Go no older than 5 years. Vauxhall Astra hatchback - IME, very solid and reliable car. Should be around £9-10k for a 2017 model which also looks modern inside compared to the 2016 version.

A 5 year old car will give you a longer life span, roughly, than a slightly older car.

The Astra is highly likely to be my next car.

I don't think you can set an age or value to look for, as everyone's experience is different.

I managed not even a year out of a 12 year old car because it turned out there was a lot of things wrong with it that were revealed at MOT time, but DSis has just bought a similar age car for a similar price, but it's the holy grail of a low mileage well looked after car that could easily last her 10 years or more as she doesn't do many miles herself.

As for budget, it depends what money you've got available. If you can easily pay £10k out of savings and have a secure income with plenty, it's a different question to if you needed to borrow the money and already don't have much spare.

A few months ago, I paid £8k for a 2 year old small car and I probably do similar miles to you. I'm hoping that it's going to last me 10-15 years before it needs major work.

But if your car doesn't owe you anything and isn't worth very much, I'd possibly look at trading it in against a brand new car. A friend got £2k off a new small car when she traded in her worthless old one that was in a similar position to yours in that it wouldn't pass another MOT without expensive work. So it effectively makes a brand new car the same price as a 1-2 YO one. But her trade in did need to have a current MOT so something to look into fairly soon, taking waiting times into account. Have a look at scrappage deals

www.parkers.co.uk/car-finance/advice/car-scrappage-schemes/

I've just had the MOT done this week and was advised it's not required now, but likely will be by the time of the next one, so to consider replacing the car before that

This makes zero sense. Either the ABS sensors and electrics work or they do not, they cannot be sort of working.

I think you might be being had. Are you sure they don't mean discs and pads need replacing all round?

I think he said something about one of the sensors? It's a Vauxhall Corsa. Whatever it is, he said it would likely cost me round about the £700 mark when it's time to fix it

I have only seen this now.

One of my ABS sensors got knocked out when having the car jet washed. A replacement fully fitted cost £60 at an automotive electronics specialist.

Honda's are good. Don't go skoda, my dh sees way too many of them where he works

Can't have been that then.

This makes zero sense. Either the ABS sensors and electrics work or they do not, they cannot be sort of working.

There absolutely can be an intermittent fault but in that case I’d expect the OP to have seen the ABS light on at some point. I’ve had issues before where you clear the code 5 mins before MOT and you hope the light stays out long enough to get through the test!