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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to buy a second hand car?

53 replies

Looking4wards · 25/08/2018 09:08

DH and I aren't sure if we should be buying a second hand car.
We have a 17 year old car at the moment and a new baby. It's very very small car, the pram doesn't fit into the boot so it's hard taking DS out anywhere. Visiting relatives at their homes without a pram is ok as we just use the car seat, but anything else would need a pram.
We were thinking of getting a bigger car. Probably be looking at around £10k.

The issue is we have a lot of debt already including a mortgage where the monthly repayment is almost 40% of our take home pay (fixed for a few years so can't re-mortgage), a £15k personal loan and
£3.5k credit card debt.

We're not sure if taking on more debt to buy a car is sensible, but at the same time would love to be able to take baby out.
WWYD?

OP posts:
sahknowme · 25/08/2018 09:11

Why don't you get a smaller pram? Far cheaper! Can't you put the pram in the back seat?

DerekTheBrave · 25/08/2018 09:12

Yes you’d be crazy.

£10k cars are what people with money buy, not those that are up to their eyes in debt with a new baby to boot.

There’s a long way between your 17 year old car and a new £10k one. Buy a cheaper bigger car that’s affordable.

QuestionableMouse · 25/08/2018 09:12

You can get a perfectly serviceable car for much less than £10k. It's not unreasonable to want a car that actually works for your family. I'd start by figuring out how much you can actually afford each month.

sahknowme · 25/08/2018 09:13

It would be insane to add more debt in your situation! Can you consolidate the credit card debt - it's usually a high interest rate.

Santaclarita · 25/08/2018 09:13

Doesn't sound like you can afford it. Smaller pram would make more sense. But then you don't have to spend 10k on a bigger second hand car either. What do you currently have and what are you looking at buying?

IsTheRainEverComingBack · 25/08/2018 09:14

There’s no need to spend £10k on a car, even a bigger one, why on earth are you even looking at ones in that ball park? You could get a massive 7 seater for £5k. Everyone buys second hand or third hand cars, it’s normal.

GabriellaMontez · 25/08/2018 09:15

Pram in front seat. Base in boot and one of you in the back with the baby?

A 2k car? 10k is loads!

BarbaraofSevillle · 25/08/2018 09:16

A bigger car doesn't have to cost anything near £10k.

You can get perfectly decent reliable medium sized hatchbacks or estates for £1-2k.

Your finances don't sound in great shape, but loads more information is needed in order to even answer the question about the car.

Minimising interest so the money paid back goes on debt not interest is always a good start, so is the credit card debt on a 0% deal? What's the term and interest rate on the loan? What was the loan for?

Have you looked at your spending and minimised your regular bills so you have more money to pay off debt and save for things like cars?

Original poster
Looking4wards · 25/08/2018 09:17

Why don't you get a smaller pram?
Hadn't even thought of that! Blush

Our current car has had some issues recently, like one of the windows won't wind down anymore and something was wrong with the exhuast. The garage couldn't get a replacement part as it wasn't being made anymore. So we're also worries that it might die on us and we'll need a new car anyway.

Where can we get a 5k car from? I'm currently looking on Car Giant, and the cheapest that suits our needs is 8k. Because DH only drives automatic so it does limit our choices a bit. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
Jenala · 25/08/2018 09:18

Why £10k?!

We needed a bigger car when DC2 arrived and spent £3k on a fairly low mileage 9 year old huge estate. We had quite specific requirements, hence the age for the price. If we had gone for just a slightly bigger car (e.g. ford focus size) there were loads at that price mark that were newer with low mileage.

Original poster
Looking4wards · 25/08/2018 09:19

Oh I should add luckily our credit card debt is on 0% for a few months.

OP posts:
Jenala · 25/08/2018 09:20

Autotrader.co.uk
Plenty of dealerships offering warranty etc. One of those car supermarket things is always more expensive.

Whereabouts are you?

Original poster
Looking4wards · 25/08/2018 09:20

OK where do you go to buy a cheap second hand car? Any reputable dealerships you can recommend?

I don't want to go to gumtree or private seller as we don't know much about cars so don't want to be sold a dud.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 25/08/2018 09:22

For cheap second hand cars, your best bet is eBay, Autotrader, Gumtree or motor auctions. Big dealers generally only deal in more expensive cars, as you have seen. You might find a cheaper trade in at a smaller dealers though.

Something like a Passat or Octavia estate would probably be a good choice.

Slartybartfast · 25/08/2018 09:24

what is so great about autotrader?
what is wrong with a private seller?

c3pu · 25/08/2018 09:25

Sounds like a lot of expense you could do without...

How long until the fixed term is up on the mortgage, and do you think you will be able to get a better deal?
Can you transfer your credit card debt to an interest free deal and pay it off to make your situation a bit better?

How long till the little one can use a small umbrella stroller that might fit in the current car?

Do you have to spend £10k? Plenty of decent larger cars available for less than £10k.

TheFairyCaravan · 25/08/2018 09:25

You’d absolutely off your head to spend £10k on a car in your position. You could get a decent second hand car for £4-5k from a reputable small dealership.

Have a look on Autotrader, buy a local paper, have a drive round or ask your friends if they can recommend somewhere.

Jenala · 25/08/2018 09:26

An example Low mileage full service history Skoda estate, automatic, 3.5k

Obviously just an example lots of reasons that's no good. But shows you can spend much less than 10k.

Jenala · 25/08/2018 09:27

Slarty private sellers list on AutoTrader too...

I sold my last car on Gumtree.

Slartybartfast · 25/08/2018 09:28

exactly Jenala
what is the difference? nothing

bonzo77 · 25/08/2018 09:31

Big car supermarkets only have fairly new cars, generally less than 3 years old. Smaller used dealers will have older ones. Which are cheaper. I’d use a dealer rather than a private sale. Plus you’ll get a little in part ex for the old one, though possibly not much. You really don’t need to spend 10K. Half that. Maybe quarter.

Bimgy85 · 25/08/2018 09:31

You can get a perfectly fine running car for €1000. No need to take out yet another loan. Hardly a good idea especially with a credit card arrear

LtJudyHopps · 25/08/2018 09:34

Go on AutoTrader or Bristol Street Motors or something. Car giant only sell newer cars and not for your price range.
Automatic fiesta? I could just squeeze a silver cross pram in mine.

catkind · 25/08/2018 09:34

Another option would be to get a quality sling. Then you can just carry baby out and about till they're big enough for a folding buggy. Though at 17 years old car may become uneconomical to keep repairing at some point, so I'd still be looking around for a good value car at some point soon.

Hellbentwellwent · 25/08/2018 09:36

Buy a cheap car, why would you spend 10k?? That’s madness.
As for the prank, buy a small fold down one just for the car or buy a sling for when you’re out and about.