To think it's best to get 2 decent cars over a seven seater and a banger?

[Onlyrainbows]

It seems likely that both cars will need changing soon. We're a family of six (and a dog) but we rarely use more than 5 seats at any given time. In the past six months we've used them 3-4 times! DH keeps saying that we need them for the odd 100mi trip or whenever we visit his family. But realistically it happens so every now and then, that even driving two cars would still make more sense in the long run. We're also starting to consider leasing but that's a completely different conversation!

You’ll have a shock at “banger” prices at the moment, anything small, petrol and ulez compliant is mental money at the moment.
Car prices are madness at the moment. There’s a perfect storm of high fuel costs and threaten clean air zones, pushing people in to smaller engined stuff and a lack of supply due to new cars having The microchip issue.
Banger money isn’t banger money anymore.

I always run older cars but I’ve got a really good garage and know what to pick and what has potential issues (not fool proof).

Agree with previous poster - I have twins and an older child and can't rule out maybe having a 4th one day - we desperately need a second car (both DH and I work full time) - second hand 7 seater cars are like rocking horse 💩 and have gone up about 50% in value in the last 12 months - I found only 1 Ford a max in the entire country when I looked last week. There's no such thing as an "old banger" in this market - my 7 year old Ford has gone up in value £3k in the last year

To be honest the cost of a new car on PCP/leasing etc - if you can wait 9 months in many cases for delivery - is actually the same cost/not much more expensive than a second hand car

I wouldn’t be tying yourself financially any more than you already are to your husband in your shoes given you’re thinking of splitting.

So whatever you do I’d make sure it works for YOU and not your husband.

(Sorry but I think it’s relevant)

Unfortunately we do need two cars and I'm as tied as I can be (I don't think I can be any more tied TBH). Anywho, it does look like leasing would ultimately be cheaper than what we've spent on our cars + the maintenance / MOTs of the past two years.

But YOU don’t need a 7 seater for you two kids and a dog. Your not so dear husband doesn’t either (if you separate).

Also. What age is the eldest child? If you are to stay together you need to think about whether or not you’re going to support that child learning to drive and if so will you need a small engined vehicle for them to learn in and drive when first past their test.

Both very valid points Achilles . He's 16, but hasn't shown any sign of wanting to learn how to drive. His mother doesn't, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. Thank you for mentioning this (especially that it has to work for me) I hadn't thought about it in that way at all.

are like rocking horse 💩

@twinsetandpearl that made me laugh!!

I'll be honest I switched to a 5 seater as we very rarely had everyone in the car

there's been 2 or 3 occasions where it would have been handy, but could get round it and 1 where I rented a 7 seater - thats been in about 3 years

@iolaus

I'll be honest I switched to a 5 seater as we very rarely had everyone in the car

there's been 2 or 3 occasions where it would have been handy, but could get round it and 1 where I rented a 7 seater - thats been in about 3 years

Exactly! I knew I couldn't be the only one who thought a 7 seater could be a waste of resources

Don't you go on holiday together? I would definitely go for 7 seater in your circumstances. Our back seats fold down to give bigger boot unless needed.

@GhoulWithADragonTattoo

Don't you go on holiday together? I would definitely go for 7 seater in your circumstances. Our back seats fold down to give bigger boot unless needed.

That would be in theory the main reason... But this year we're going separately. I DH, my DC and, I are going on holiday in May. DH is taking his kids to see their grandma in August. There could be some holiday on the horizon next year, but who knows!

@AchillesPoirot

I wouldn’t be tying yourself financially any more than you already are to your husband in your shoes given you’re thinking of splitting.

So whatever you do I’d make sure it works for YOU and not your husband.

(Sorry but I think it’s relevant)

Where's the bit about them splitting up??

There's a new Dacia 7 seater out called a Jogger. They're SO cheap, effectively you can have a brand new car for used car money.

@YoYoYoYoSup

There's a new Dacia 7 seater out called a Jogger. They're SO cheap, effectively you can have a brand new car for used car money.

Yes we looked into that one very briefly and it looks okish

Don’t forget Dacia are renault owned who have just restarted their Russian factory.

They might stop soon! (I know this from a good source) but it's the same with Nissan... Part of the same conglomerate