To sell my 1 year old car?

[ChidiAnnaKendrick]

Long story short, we had a rubbish run of slightly crap cars, mostly due to not being able to afford decent/new ones.

We still are not in a position to finance a car, but we were incredibly lucky (and grateful) that my parents agreed to finance one for us last year. We paid this finance but it was in my Dad’s name. Recently, due to inheritance, he chose to pay the remainder off for us, so we own an 18 plate car outright. I’m so thankful, truly.

However, the car is.... difficult. We are a family of 6 and it’s a 5 seater. Last year our circumstances were very different and we almost never needed to seat more than 5 of us. Our eldest is 13 though and growing. He barely fits in the back. If we all go out we have to take 2 cars.
Additionally, it’s a Dacia Sandero. It’s vile to drive, and annoys me more daily.

I’ve spoken to DM and she was very reluctant to sanction us changing the car. But they’ve decided it’s up to us, but they won’t bail us out if the replacement needs repair - which seems fair.

Now I’m doubting myself though. Our kids are 13, 11, 8 & 5. Two need HBBs, though 8yo has nearly outgrown it so we’ll be down to just one car seat. Day to day it functions OK, even if I hate the drive. It starts reliably and has 2 years warranty left. If we sell, we have around £4000 to buy a 7 seater that would need to last around 5-6 years.

So should we sell it, buy an older car that fits us in (and pay for any repairs, as we do with the 2 cars we have now) and enjoy the space, or keep it until it dies?

There’s a 7 seater coming later this year apparently.

Rage I’m not a boy racer, but I like a car that actually moves when I pull out of a junction, doesn’t jerk every 2 minutes with the a/c on (loss of power) and doesn’t have the body roll I get in this. Often it doesn’t feel particularly safe tbh, and it only has a 4 star NCAP rating. I’m not selling for 4K

I don’t want to go into detail about our family size tbh. It’s unnecessary. We were more often 5 last year, now we’re more often 6.

Dishing

Pretty much exactly.

Pol our credit rating isn’t good enough. Our affordability is 🤷‍♀️

why is it vile to drive OP? (not what you're asking, but genuinely curious)

I like a car that actually moves when I pull out of a junction, doesn’t jerk every 2 minutes with the a/c on (loss of power) and doesn’t have the body roll I get in this.

Well, thanks for the warning. Maybe I should look for an aforementioned Kia. I need one for pootling but hate impatient bastards hooting if I'm not quick enough so slow reactions won't work for me either.

Are your parents generally controlling? They’ve financed a shit car that doesn’t even fit all of you and now you speak of them “sanctioning” you getting rid of it?

The car isn’t big enough for you all. You need a seven seater. Chances are even an older better car will be better than a newer Dacia! I’d sell it and get something else.

No shares, but it was a cash sale! Dad took out a loan, I paid the monthly payments on it.

The biggest issue I have with the drive is the lack of power. It’s loud too!

Are your parents generally controlling? They’ve financed a shit car that doesn’t even fit all of you and now you speak of them “sanctioning” you getting rid of it?

Mum is!! Massively. Hence the need to even discuss this with them/others. It is, after all, my car.

Rage it’s a nice enough little car, if it suits you. If it was just me/DH and our two youngest I’d just put up and shut up tbh. They’re minor issues and easy enough to just adjust your driving/ignore to get over.

DP have a Picanto though and it’s much smoother, but obviously even smaller again and wouldn’t have even fitted the little ones.

It’s your car to do with as you see fit.

Your DM needs to get over herself.

@ChidiAnnaKendrick - thanks for clearing up finance queries etc. So the £4k was a "gift".

My dad died over 20 years ago. Me and Dh were always hard up but Dad was careful with his private pension and so was able to give me a gift of around £5k specifically to buy a car. Every time we have a new car, we trade in the previous one etc, I still think that my Dad's gift is giving and giving, now to my kids who were born after he died. I like to think was his way of making investment in us as a family.

(mind you he also paid for the double glazing and I don't feel quite so attached to that ...!!) (oh and Dad sorry we bought a Dacia, but hey, it goes and has Aircon so we are content with the shit parking)

Did your parents buy the car because your husband wasn't around? I think that would make it difficult to then say it doesn't suit...

Honestly the car is free and clear. I'd drive it around for a few more years (even with requiring two cars for family outings) and save like crazy until I could afford something more suitable... maybe even by that time your eldest will be old enough to get his provisional license or driver's license and you can pass your car over to him to learn in/have as a 1st car.

We bought a new car (pre-registered) last year and then had to sell it this year due to not being about to fit all of the baby stuff in it. We still lost quite a bit of money and the car was in immaculate condition. I can see why your parents are upset but if I were you I would get a better make of car but older.
Also my sister had 5 children and now the older ones are old enough to stay at home she doesn’t need a 7 seater anymore.

If the car isn't fit for purpose it doesn't really matter what it is or how much money it cost it's not suitable. Sell it or part exchange it to get something you can actually use!

^We can get a 6/7 yo ford/Peugeot with 70k ish on the clock 2 years warranty.

I wouldn’t never buy a Citroen^

They're basically the same cars, just different badges

You do realise Peugeots are essentially Citroën? So turning your nose up at Citroën is just stupid when Peugeot is the same car
I was just going to post exactly this.

I had a Citroen. It was the most reliable car I ever had.
Lovely drive as well.
Don't rule anything out if you are going to do this.
Look at everything and every make.

But the Dacia is YOUR car so you can do what you want with it.

Darcia Sandaras are pretty good cars for the money, and obviously reliable.

Was it not possible to get a 7 seater at the time?

Think I would stick tbh

YABU to own a Dacia Sandero.

Nothing further to add - unhelpful, I know! 🙈

Zippy Soz

Possible to buy a seven seater last year? Technically, yes, but it still would have been second hand, and the loan was only given on the proviso that we’d use it for this exact car.

Anyway, this thread hasn’t helped in the slightest. I still have no idea if I want to risk losing the reliability for something we fit in. No idea what I’m going to do now

I don’t have a personal vendetta against citroen either, but we’ve had one before and I didn’t love it. DH drives a Peugeot that’s quite nice (and very different) that’s all :)

@TheHandsOfNeilBuchanan

Not true. I bought a low mileage (under 70k) Zafira with a full service history, clean mot history, and a high spec for 4k.

It can be done, you just have to do your homework and be ready to act if you see someone decent.

You mentioned taking two cars, would it not be more sensible to keep the reliable one and replace the second car with a cheap 7 seater - if you can locate a Mazda 5 they are super reliable and spacious, no idea what they are going for second hand though, ours is 2009 and no repairs needed (except normal wear and tear)

Id sell the car and get one that suits your family better but make sure you pay for an AA check before buying it just to try and avoid buying a dud.

I have a toyota verso 06 plate, I paid £3000 for it 3yrs ago it had under 60k miles and is the most reliable car ive ever owned.