To ask when you should just buy a new car

[OldLadyInPolyester]

My car is 10 years old and has been costing me loads of money in repairs over the last couple of years. Bits of it just need replacing because of age / mileage. I've also broken down a fair few times which is annoying.

I'm not bothered about having a new, flashy car but I don't want to keep paying out loads of money. I keep hearing people say that they're just going to run their current car into the ground. What does this mean? Keep replacing bits until you can't any more? Or once expensive bits need replacing they get a new car?

So I suppose I'm asking at what point does it become better to buy a new car rather than getting the old one repaired?

By new car i mean new to me. I doubt I could afford brand new.

For me when it was costing a few hundred ££ to get it through it’s mot . Mine was also 10 years plus . I managed to get a new car and it’s lovely not having to pay money every few months for this and that .

Divide the amount you've spent on repairs over the year by 12 (for a monthly cost) and see if you can get a newer car for less than that amount. If you can pay less each month for a newer car, get a newer one.

If you hang on to a diesel car, it will be worthless very soon

I can see it going the other way tbh, they may even become a commodity as supplies dry up. There's plenty of people for whom an electric car is impractical (if they need to tow, do long journeys where they don't have time to keep charging the car, don't have a drive to park a car while it charges up for example).

Not everyone lives in cities bound by ULEZ rules or has the budget to fork out for an electric car.

It's also likely that there will be scrappage deals to swap them for an electric car, so when people finally do take the plunge, an old diesel could earn them a good discount on a new car.

I drive an old car.

We've just had to replace the other car last week and I'd say unless it's become a nightmare it's worth holding on to for another year as used car prices have gone up massively in the last 12 months but might be starting to drop back.

The key with old cars is a good trustworthy mechanic. Not a fancy garage and in no way a dealership as you will get skinned alive. But a back street oily place who someone has recommended. They have business in keeping old cars on the road.

You also need confidence in your car and not to be freaked out by rattles or squeaks.
My OH cannot drive an old car.
1 he does alot of motorway driving and relies on his car for his necessary daily commute.

1. He can't cope with rattles and squeaks. When he drove mine for the first time in probably 5 years last week he panicked and wanted to book it into the garage before I drove it any further...

The OPs car is 10hrs old so it is impossible if it is a diesel car for it to meet Euro 6 emissions unless a time machine is involved. Hanging on to an older diesel car is madness and it will soon be worthless. I suggest you read this article.
www.buyacar.co.uk/cars/diesel-cars/460/diesel-tax-new-charges-and-surcharges-for-uk-drivers

My car is petrol not diesel. I love that even a car discussion can get people riled up on AIBU 😂

You are massively oversimplifying the case about Diesel pollution - many Euro 6 diesels have as low or lower NoX and particulate emissions as petrol and emit less co2 per mile as well.

Might want to look up “dieselgate” and how the euro 6 emissions laboratory tests didn’t actually result in diesel cars issuing less NO2 and particulate emissions than a petrol car in real life.

It's also likely that there will be scrappage deals to swap them for an electric car, so when people finally do take the plunge, an old diesel could earn them a good discount on a new car.

There was a scrappage scheme a few years ago which I think gave 2 or 2.5k off a new electric car....which was still pretty expensive

A ten year old car is a mere baby 😂 Mine is from 1998 and the engine still going strong. Unfortunately it looks like her body underneath is starting to rust too much and can't really be patched anymore. For me welding patches on a good runner is worth it, welding a whole floor or anchorage points is a no.

So it really depends on how reliable your car is and what items you are repairing, eg tyres or floor panels rusted. Not all 2nd hand cars will run properly (or need a lot of work) so you could be wasting money on a "new" car and then spend even more at mot time. I get it, its jumping from frying pan into the fire.

The OPs car is 10hrs old

I love this typo! It's so MN.

AIBU to change my car after 10 hrs? 😂
(Like laundry or bedding!)

It’s a terrible time to buy a second hand car. You’ll spend far more than normal to get a decent car which will then lose its value when prices return to normal. That was the advice from my very helpful garage.

So what happens if I need another repair at a large expense and I decide it's not worth the money. What do I do with my unrepaired car? Can't sell it presumably if it's not running. So do you pay for the repair just so you can sell it or just accept the £50 we buy any car offer you? 😂 See ...clueless!

Lol. The y is next to the h on my keyboard…obviously meant 10yrs old.

This is where I am at the moment. Mine is 9yrs old with an issue that's going to cost 2.5k, car is worth 4.5k in working order or hardly anything as a non-runner.

Can't decide which way to go.

I work in the motor trade and one thing I can promise you is that every single car will sell, you just have to price it right. Don't worry about selling a car that needs work doing. I've sold a write off with no service history before. You'll always find a trader who will buy it.

I don't see a ten year old car as "old" but I guess it's all relative. What is the make, model, age, mileage and service history of your car?

I would probably work out what it's worth and then how much you are prepared to spend to keep it on the road. Also work out the cost of buying a new (to you) car.

If your car is worth £5k and you drive ten miles a day and your thinking of buying a £20k car because you spend £250 a year keeping your current car on the road then that isn't something I would personally do but then that's just an example. You have to do the maths and weigh it all up.

We need more info

Speak to your garage?

the value / cost of second hand cars has gone up massively so tread with care!

This is where I am at the moment. Mine is 9yrs old with an issue that's going to cost 2.5k, car is worth 4.5k in working order or hardly anything as a non-runner.

With prices beginning to drop I would consider selling personally. In the last two weeks we've seen a lot of our auctions not making reserve. Prices are beginning to lower, it was only a matter of time. £2.5k on a £4.5k is a big chunk. I think £1k would be the max I'd want to spend

Stop it your ignorance is just embarrassing. “Diesel petrol” 😂😂😂

Reliability is a key guide (for me) and also if it will cost 4 figures to get it through a MOT. I would say it is best to replace the car if it is still running.....definitely sounds like you should start planning OP!!

Take into account when the MOT is due (don't decide the week before) and do some research. Head to a dealership, see what's on offer and how much they will give you for a trade in.

I replaced my 20 year old car when it started getting prohibitive to repair it and insure it. I loved it but it was a Zafira, and the tyres were expensive, the cam belt went - it was time.

My 'new' car is 13 years old, as I like to buy outright but couldn't afford much, but thus far has cost me minimal in repairs <touches wood>

Running into the ground to me means something piston related generally anything like that or rust on the Jack points.

My cars always die when the head gaskets go which isnt long after 100,000 miles. My car was brand new and only got 65,000 miles but already in the first death throws as it's a Vauxhall and I find once I get one electrical fault it's a never ending cycle of electric faults. They dont seem to enjoy having the wiring touched. Annoying. You have to weigh up the very high current costs right now if second hand cars.

“Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong”
-Rousseau

We got rid of a 9 year old ford last year when it was flagged up corrosion on the mot, the cambelt also needed doing and various other issues needed doing, we got £2k part exchange from a main dealer on a slightly newer car that was immaculate and had been looked after by them since new. The work would’ve made it uneconomic to keep.

I was looking at changing our 7 year old car this year but looking at used prices and without petrol costs about £10 a week to keep on the road seems a shame to change unless it fails it’s mot badly.

the key is getting a garage you trust, the blokes at ours are totally straight up.

Not the previous poster, but diesel is just a type of petroleum... so "diesel petrol" isn't technically wrong 🤓