If you had a budget for a nice car let's say Tesla would you still drive and old car?

[Haloween]

I am just wondering what people will do in this situation. I have saved up for a nice car but I am thinking of buying an old car probably over 10 years old and get more experience before buying the Tesla I have always dreamt of as I am a new driver. What do others do in this situation?

I’d never drive a Tesla, even used - how embarrassing for anyone to think I’m a fan of the horrendous Musk!

No interest in cars myself beyond safety and reliability. I’d rather keep my money invested if I can!

The software in modern Volvos is very glitchy though, so there is that issue to contend with! And they are Chinese, which might be an issue for some. I agree about the uncomfortable seats in a Tesla though - I had a Model S shortly after they came out and it wasn't the comfortable car I'd expected, and once the novelty of it acceleration wore off it was actually very boring to drive. After 2 years and 50k miles mine rattled terribly, but I think Tesla build quality has improved since 2014. One pedal driving is optional surely? I know in Tesla, MB and BMW that's the case - and I am not a fan! My experience has been that if you want a car that's nice to drive you should stick to companies with experience of designing cars, and if you want a car with a premium feel you need a German car or a Lexus :)

But, I also know that if a certain car is what your heart is set on then nothing else will do no matter what others think or say :)

Different people have different priorities.

I think so would only buy new if I won the Euromillions. I drive a 2nd car that cost about 18k, I'm not precious about.

I would never consider a Tesla

All the london uber drivers have a Tesla, they aren't that comfy & the door handle thing annoys me.

@FrauPaige now i do like the boxy ness of a G wagon. Did you love it?

We could afford to buy multiple tesla cars but have no interest in fancy cars. You're literally paying for the logo on the car.
We went to car giant and bought each of our two cars based on boot size and one needed to fit 3 car seats in the back. Both were circa 2yo when we bought them, with low mileage, and cost around £15-20k.

Our kids literally spill snacks, pile sticks and rocks in the back and get their muddy feet on the back of the seats so I'm glad im not precious about the car!

I would never drive a Tesla. Sorry.

I'd never buy a Tesla but isn't "the greenest car the one you already own" or something? No extra resources are being used to make another car? I could afford a new car but I have a 20+ year old one because it just doesn't break down and is all I need for now.

I have lots of interest in “fancy” cars and own 5 of them between me and DH. Not interested in a Musk. Who would be? My EV is a BMW. Only boring people with no imagination buy Musks! Sorry.

I did. It was the best car we ever had. We had it abroad and did wilderness overland adventures, snowy mountain passes out to lodges, and city cruising, and then brought it back to the UK and kept it for ten years. They are actually very easy to drive and park because you can see all 4 corners, so school runs and popping out to the shops is really easy. Ours was a V8 petrol so was incredibly thirsty, however. Think 10mpg around town, or 20mpg on the motorway.

Splendid yet ridiculous, as I said!

@FrauPaige I can justify if i win the lotto! 😆

Practical features are more important for me than a car badge.

I have always said to my husband we are not replacing the car until it breaks irreparably or becomes uneconomical to repair - even if we were to win the lottery. No interest whatsoever in cars other than as a means of transport.

I’d rather walk than drive a Tesla..

I wouldn’t in a million years but a Tesla after the safety horror stories that seem to be weekly .

It doesn’t need to be crappy but I would think about best value here. You will probably get more for you money if you go for something slightly older.

Could probably afford any mainstream car but don’t feel comfortable spending a fortune on them so have vehicles that cost <15k, pay them off and expect to have at least 5 years “free” motoring.

Don’t see the appeal of Teslas at all.

God yeah, so annoying

Both DH and I could afford new cars, but we'd both rather spend our money on more enjoyable things. Mine is a 2015 Hyundai and he has a 2013 Chevrolet. Both second/third hand.

Where I live (outskirts of Manchester) if you have a nice car people try to burgle your house. I drive a nice to drive but very old car that I don’t even have to lock. It’s worthless and also a crap joyride.

could afford to spend about 15k on a car but don’t want to, will just buy a newer version of the same thing when it dies for 3k or so and run it into the ground. Repeat forever.

We've always driven older cars, but I've never kept a "crappy" car.

You are making the mistake of thinking "paying a lot for something makes it much better than something that was cheaper" which just doesn't stand up for so many things in life.

However, even if it did, the question you asked was whether we (the posters replying, on your thread) would use the money you've got to buy a new(ish) Tesla, or whether we would choose to keep the money and drive an older car. Which is what people are replying to, what we would do in your place.

That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with other people choosing to spend their money differently.

You’re entitled to feel that way and don’t need to get anyone’s permission to spend your money how you like.

Personally, I drive a crappy old rust bucket with plenty of dents. I intend to drive it into the ground, hopefully will get another 5 years out of it. I could easily afford to buy a new car but it doesn’t feel worth it to me when my current car gets me wherever I need to go.

We are happy to spend over £15k a year on holidays though and that feels worth it to us. Courses for horses.

Who said an old car has to be a "crappy car"? Our 17 year old one is immaculate, never broken down, never failed an MOT, inside and outside is like new, as we look after our cars. I'd like to think it has plenty of life left in it. Saved us an absolute fortune in not constantly buying new/nearly new for 17 years due to the depreciation etc. It's not lost any of it's value in the past 5 years according to we buy any cars, so has literally cost us nothing except the annual servicing and consumables. Never needed a new exhaust, nor gear box, nor clutch, nor suspension bits & pieces, only costs have ever been consumables such as brakes, tyres, one new battery, spark plugs, etc.

I used to drive a brand new very expensive electric car, it was beautiful and I did like it. However, have upgraded it to a second hand 7 year old Fiat 500 and I actually love the Fiat more!

The expensive car was lovely but I was worried about it getting stolen, scratched etc. I think the wheels on it were a specialist type too and the tyres were mega expensive.

I also felt a bit of a show off driving it too and no-one ever let me out of junctions

I’d never dream of doing that. Expensive cars are a sheer waste of money, as far as I’m concerned. I just wouldn’t value it at all. I wouldn’t even think it nice to have.