To want a brand new car?

[DontLikeMahoganyFurniture]

Everyone always seems to say never buy a brand new car but if I end up getting one (my car is being a continuous twat) I really want something brand new. I don't care if it loses value after I've driven it out of the showroom because it's not something I'm going to get bored of and sell so someone else gets a bargain. I will look after it and keep it for its whole life span. It's only a "little run around" because I'm single and child free - happily - but even then they are still £15k these days!

The car I'm looking at is a lovely little Toyota Aygo X because they look like colourful little fun fair rides and I love them! Toyota is a very good car brand and I had one years ago, always regretted selling it massively since I let it go for the one I have now. This must be what it's like to get rid of a boring, reliable boyfriend for a total bad boy arsehole!

Do most people on here buy cars that are a couple of years old to save a few grand? I have the money but doesn't mean I can afford it easily if you understand. It will take a huge chunk out of my nest egg. But I feel like if it's brand new and I'm looking after it then it won't give me any shit for a few years plus it's a more reliable brand than the one I've got now.

Does anyone have an Aygo X?

I’ve done a combination really of brand new and onto my second pre owned car now - I’ve just bought a 2025 registered electric car with warranty etc and 4K miles which was less than half of the list price it sold for at end of January. It still feels brand new in terms of the interior and was a no brainer for me

I wouldn't buy brand new because of the depreciation, but you've said that doesn't bother you. I always buy 2 or 3 years old, never had any problems....fingers crossed!.

If you want brand new then go for it, at least you can pick the specification you want.

I would never buy brand new. We usually buy ex-demo - like new but without the price tag.

I bought a car a few months ago. It was under a year old and had been either a demonstrator or courtesy car. I had 4000 miles on the clock and was £10k less than buying it brand new. Still had the new car smell.

I just wouldnt consider buying new

What's the mileage please on these types? Presumably they've been test driven by who knows how many people? Potentially young people with little driving experience?

Depreciation matters to me because of the price point of my preferred car. My current car I bought for £15k with 60,000 miles on the clock and it had basically been garaged for half of its life. It’s knocking on 150,000 miles now due to my job and other than needing a new clutch it’s been amazing and will keep going until 200,000 when I trade it in. Proper workhorse. From new with all of the spangly sportspak/entertainmentpak stuff would have cost me circa £40k. I couldn’t have afforded that and I didn’t want to go into debt. We all have to cut our cloth not just according to cost but also what car will fulfil our needs and how long we need to hold on to it for. But no, I wouldn’t buy brand new and for my choice of car I literally couldn’t, I am not that flush.

Why does it matter who has driven it? Unless it’s been scraped or crashed it is totally immaterial who has driven it!

The ex demos are often the ones used by the staff. A friend used to change his from new every six months. Rarely driven by customers.
Even on test drives most places accompany you round the block for ten minutes, I wouldn’t worry about inexperienced drivers.

Argo Hybrid or petrol OP

At the age of 55 I treated myself to a brand new car. The price wasn't that much different to a year old car ( Kia Piccanto) and I love it. It's also got a 7 year warranty so it's peace of mind. I've had Kia's for years and I've never had a problem.
They are one of the cheaper cars though!

If you can and you want to I’d say go for it!!!

I mean it depends what you are buying.

A brand new Aygo is about £16k. A 2022 plate Aygo with less than 40k miles on the clock is about 11K so that's a saving of 4k and you might decide the extra 4k is worth it for that new car experience. As you say, Toyota are considered pretty reliable.

However my car, a volvo XC60 is about £48k brand new and only £28k for a used 2021 plate with 20k miles on the clock. Is it worth the extra 20k to buy one new, absolutely not. In fact I can't afford £28k for a nearly new one. My current one is 10 years old and still going strong, got it for a steal during covid aged 3 years old with 40k on the clock. It has been far more reliable then all the cheaper smaller cars I've ever owned including a brand new Peugeot (money pit).

I once bought an ex-demo. I can't remember how much I saved off the list price but it had less than 3000 miles on the clock.
The downside was that the colour wasn't great, and the interior was a greyish beige. I had it for a very long time.

I bought a “demo” model with less than 20 miles on the clock! Saved 10% on a brand new car.

A few thousand miles, usually less than 5,000 miles sometimes just 1-2,000 miles.

Yes they might have been test driven, but mostly they’re driven by showroom employees to and from work for a few months. They’re usually top spec too.

I can’t get het up about an inexperienced driver maybe having stalled the car a few times before I buy it, as most inexperienced drivers aren’t looking for a new model car anyway which is what the demos are for, as if you’re looking for a used car you’d just test drive the used car.

Why is it on here that even the most non dramatic, innocent post can start a frigging argument?! It matters because the more people who drive a car, especially if it's people who have little experience on how to drive responsibility, the more a car engine can be ragged around. Would you rather buy a pair of designer shoes that had had ten other feet walking them around and wearing out the heel? Or would you prefer something completely untouched? Give over. It's a perfectly reasonable (granted probably mild) concern.

I've had four brand new cars as I qualify for a motability car.
I won't lie, it is lovely getting one, but if you're paying, I wouldn't

I like brand new. It’s probably a waste of money, but I always had 2nd hand when I was young and there’s nothing like a brand spanking new car.

Petrol definitely. I don't like electric cars

I get new cars on PCP finance and swap every three years. Always had Aygos, and currently have a two and a half year old Aygo X. I'll be looking to upgrade to the Aygo hybrid model next year as I drive automatic.

Hybrids are not electric - they're self charging and still use petrol.

Apart from our younger years (which are always a bit tight), we have always bought new using cash/savings (i.e. no finance).
Regardless of the make/model of car, there is the pleasure in being able to order it in the exact spec/colour you want rather than just what is available.

Same goes for our Moho, yes we could save many £k buying a nearly new or dealer stock model (moreso than with a car) but we always buy new and suck up the depreciation.

Sorry I'm a bit clueless in this decade!

You can get a 1 year old car for a considerable discount off the brand new list price and it will still feel brand new but won’t have the dramatic depreciation of a brand new car. I’ve owned new cars (during my marriage as ex would only ever have a new car) and honestly it is throwing money away. Don’t do it. Post-divorce I need to buy a car and will be getting a newish used one.

An argument? I’m not arguing with you. Not remotely. I am giving you the benefit of my experience based on the question you raised. Wish I hadn’t bothered now. Go with it or don’t. I didn’t say it wasn’t a reasonable concern - you just don’t want to listen. But comparing shoes to cars is stupid. Also you don’t seem to know much about cars at all. Maybe get someone IRL to give you advice. I am just not saying what you want so you’re being antsy. I’ve not once been argumentative - you on the other hand…