Buying a car - wait for 'ideal' or compromise?

[newcarprobs]

Yes I know, first world probs...

My car gave up the ghost end of last year (major engine problem, old car so not worth repairing). I was planning to replace but then lockdown happened and I put it on hold for a while.

Currently I am able to borrow family member's car at weekends (if/ when they are not using it) to do my weekly shop. For other local journeys I tend to walk if the car is not available but of course that restricts me in terms of distance - my limit is about 3 miles each way, and of course in what I can carry. I'm WFH so I don't need a car daily. However I'm also in a relationship with someone who lives 180 miles away, and who I see fortnightly. At present that involves him coming to me, unless I can borrow a car for the weekend. However now I WFH I can work as easily from his house as mine (he can't work remotely) so it would be nice to go up there for longer periods etc. But I can't borrow a car then. I could hire one but there are no hire places near me, and the cost at the nearest ones is pretty high, about £150 for 3-4 days. So based on this - and because I can't rely on borrowing a car forever, I've decided to replace my car.

As I'll be doing a lot of long journeys, my intention was to get a diesel, plus cheaper road tax etc, in fact what I'd ideally like is a slightly newer diesel version of my old car (which was a pleasure to drive). I don't want to spend a huge amount of money, I'm looking at about 3k. However I also don't want anything too old (10 years max).

Problem is that there aren't that many diesel versions of that car for sale (there are 100s of petrol models, but diesel on Autotrader there are currently only 5!) Not only that, but all of them are at the opposite end of the country. I've been looking for weeks and although one or two new ones have been added in that time, they're still 2-3 hours away from me.

I've therefore started looking for other cars - with the same criteria, just other makes and models, and have found a couple that - although still not that close by, are within an hours drive (they're actually only about 15-20 miles away but it involves going across town). But they're not the car I really want. However I'm not sure how long I might be waiting for my perfect car to come up locally, and be the right price/ age/ mileage as well

So the question is do I wait for the car I really want (which might take months to come up locally), or buy something local which fits the bill and is available now but isn't the model I really like?

Our budget was 3k, 3 months ago, after a lot of searching I realised if I was to get anything half decent we needed to up the budget, prices have soared recently in used cars, 5k bought us an 8 year old car with 85k mileage.
As for whether to wait or compromise, how much of an issue is not having a car?

I don't think prices will drop dramatically.
I used to have a diesel but bought a petrol, it is less fuel efficient, more tax etc but will be cheaper for repairs in the long run.
As the weather gets colder and wetter and the nights darker, you'll appreciate having a car.

I could hold out til December, tbh if nothing suitable comes up locally before then I might not have a choice.

I definitely don't want to spend more than 3k. The model I like is available for that price, just not locally. I don't know whether I try and find some way to get there to view it (although it might turn out to be a complete waste of time if the car is a lemon, and logistically getting someone to come with me will be tricky) or I could buy it unseen as they offer delivery but I just feel that's too big a risk!

What model is it that you are looking for OP if you don’t mind saying, or PMing me. I will need to buy a car soon if I hopefully pass my test in a few weeks and even though I could buy a more expensive one the cost of insurance is huge for a new driver so I’m looking at cars in that sort of budget as well to tide me over for a couple of years.

There’s plenty of decent Yarises on Autotrader for under £3k less than 10 years old. You may need to travel slightly though I guess.

A diesel that does nothing apart from once a month, especially a cheap one, will be nothing but trouble after a while. Diesels need to do consistent longer journeys in order to keep the DPF filter clear. Small trips will kill it

It'd be £400 to "clean out" (not really a fix and often a temp solution) or £1000 to replace.

You need at least 20mins of driving to keep the DPF good. My colleague drives his to work and back (7 miles) every day and gas occasional longer trips at the weekend (every 2 months or so) and this hasn't been enough to keep the DPF clear.

Wow -what sort of car are you borrowing?!
I went away last week - probably about 200 miles there and back + driving around when there, petrol was about £20 max (Honda Jazz automatic).
This is my second Jazz - I didn't think twice about replacing like for like.

I thought diesels had fallen out of favour, and were now attracting higher tax rates.

I'm not sure that sounds right to me on the fuel-saving front. I have a 1.5 petrol automatic, and did a round trip of 380 miles from S. Wales to London on under a tank so about £40.

You could get a loan and then buy what you really want. Interest rates are very low at the moment.

It would be doing that long journey twice a month (once there, once back up to a week apart), and short journeys no more than twice a week in between times.

My partner's diesel car is driven similarly (he's owned it from new) and has never had any costs other than usual wear and tear - brake pads, new tyres etc.

The car I borrow is a nearly new 1.3 Vauxhall Corsa, it is just over 400 miles round trip. Plus on reflection I did drive it around locally whilst there, probably another 20 miles to add to that.

I don't really want to borrow money as I don't need or want a flashy new car. Ideally what I want is a workhorse type of a vehicle, I don't care if it's got the odd ding or dent here or there, something which will reliably take me up and down the motorway, is going to be cheap to tax and to fuel. Given the age of car I'm looking at, as well as the distance, diesel does seem to be the better and cheaper option - if only the cars were closer of course.

Not enough miles, your DPF will go to shit

Sounds like you've done your maths and made your decision...

Wow that’s a lot of petrol for what I imagine to be a very economical car - in comparison to mine anyway. Mine would probably only do 400 miles for £60 petrol but it is a super low, super sporty, super charged Mini Cooper and I have a lead foot 😂😂 mental note - get a more practical vehicle next time 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️