To ask would you wait to buy a new/different car?

[goodoldcuppatea]

If you weren't desperate to buy a new one and just fancied a change?

My Audi A3 is 12 years old and has done a lot of miles. It's been a good reliable car (despite what people say about Audis) but I have looked after it. Touch wood all seems fine at the minute apart from the bonnet and back wheel arches needing a respray as they are starting to rust. I'm not sure if I want to spend any more money on it, plus my car only has 2 doors which is a pain at times. I don't need a new car, but it would be nice to have one (not brand new). I was thinking along the lines of a 18-19 plate Ford focus or Renault Clio. Something more affordable, reliable and low maintenance, but still nice to look at 😅.

Car prices are crazy at the minute, so I'm not sure if it would be better to wait and see if the they come down. Will that actually happen? Anyone else in the same boat?

How about finding out what your current car would sell for, possibly more than you think as the price of used cars has gone way up. Then you can see what the difference in price between that and a newer one would be good.

If the two door thing is a problem that is a good reason to change your car.

Yep I'm in the same predicament, can currently get just under what I paid for mine 4 years ago if I traded it in it's crazy!

The obvious answer is to wait for prices to drop (which I've been told has been coming since this time last year, still hasn't happened...) but then the price of my current car will drop too so no idea what to do??

Also not sure if anyone can advise but my car was keyed so I have a scratch all along the passenger side, I can get it sorted cheap ish but does something like that have much of an effect on value?

I was in a similar position, 12 year old car on 120k miles that needed a fair amount of work and coming up to MOT so I went to browse... a couple of test drives later and I found 'the one'. Loved this car so asked about trade in and they offered a reasonable price for my old one so I ended up buying an 18 plate.

I could have paid £500-1000 to fix my old one and got by for another couple of years but no regrets! I had to take finance because prices are crazy but it's affordable and honestly life is so much easier with 2 dc and isofix that is useable, a decent boot, no worries about reliability, all the more modern comforts.

@Mosaic123 I think my car is only worth around the 2-2.5k mark, depending on condition. I reckon they'd knock few hundred off for the bonnet though (rust at the front and a few visible scratches) as well as scratches on the rest of the car. The cars I've seen are between 10-13k.

@LaRitournelle it's a tough decision, right? I keep talking myself out of it, thinking it only gets me from A to B so what does it matter if the car looks like crap 😂 but then it would be nice to have something new and shiny lol.

I am in same boat! I have a ten year old car with 120k miles but, touch wood, going well. Owes me nothing. I am hoping to get another year or two as have other financial priorities at the moment but I am very tempted to change!

That's reassuring to hear @RagingWoke and good to know that you're happy and don't regret changing yours 😊. Honestly I'm so indecisive. One minute I'm all for it and the next I'm talking myself out of it thinking it's fine, the engine is fine, it still goes, waste of money etc. On the other hand it's a pain paying for repairs, especially stupid little things. My glove box is currently hanging off 🤣

@Janedoe82 it's very tempting isn't it! I've been putting it off as well but it would be so nice to have something more modern.

Honestly, you don’t need a new car.
it sounds like your Audi is doing just fine. No need to get a re spray just get the rusty areas treated.

However, if you WANT a new car, and you can afford one, then go for it!

Yes you're right @19lottie82 it is very much a want. I don't need a new one at all I guess that's why I can't decide what to do for the best.

I think car prices are bound to go down. i have a friend in the trade and at least in Germany he tells me that they are starting to go down. So I was looking, but decided to wait.

I have a 20 year old BMW with quite a few scratches everywhere and it’s quite an expensive car to repair when the odd thing breaks. After waiting for about a year my “want” has passed and now I decided that I will not change the car until a 2k repair comes up.

If you can afford it go for it. If you are unsure, you can make a plan. It can be over a repair budget like I did or for “when I find X car for a £X”