That spending circa £25k on a 2nd hand car is not frivolous

[Pipsquiggle]

Looking at replacing my 12 year old car which I have had for 10 years. When I bought this car it was about £16k

I am looking at buying another second hand car, probably a Mazda or Volvo so not a super premium brand. Looking around the £25k mark. Hopefully, I'll pick well and keep it for around 10 years.

My DH seems to think I should get a cheaper car around £16k again. He thinks £25k is too much.
Over the last 10 years our income has gone up a lot, we have lots of savings. Financially we are in a good position.

I am not sure why my DH is being stingy over this. He's not really into cars so probably sees it as wasted money.

YABU - listen to your DH he has a point
YANBU - £25k is ok as you can afford it and it's for a mid range car

Wow. When we bought a new second hand car I set the budget at £12k!!!

We spent £11k on our 11 plate Yeti which we got when 3 years old and then drove it until it was no longer economically repairable last year.

Now have a 19 plate Seat Ateca and it's fab! Low mileage and because of the 8 year difference between the cars all sorts of "new" bells and whistles to keep us happy.

£25k seems very frivolous to me.

This is great advice!

What is cat car though??

@Lilifer any car that has been written off by insurance company (so involved in collision/accident)

Cat S-structural damage
cat N-non structural damage
cat C/D- not economical to repair

Have a look at the SEAT SUVs as they are very good value and rock solid.

I have a tarraco, I needed a 7 seater and given the huge amount of driving I do for work also wanted one that was super comfy, low miles and a few bells and whistles. I got mine at 18 months old for £26k and it's top of the range. Had less than 3000 miles on the clock.

It's rock solid, and even after 5 years I am still excited to drive it. But SEAT do a great SUV range (sadly not my car anymore)

My DH loves the buying car thing and wanted something in budget but fun to drive. The seat ateca fit the bill.

We even have something fancy called diamond cut alloys? I don't know what that means but he's chuffed.

I do like the car was sad to leave the yeti love the Ateca and it's an SUV

We've got a 2 year warranty too which is handy.

@TangerinePlate aw thanks 🙏

Not sure I’d put the Ateca in the “fun” category, but each to their own.

Nothing fancy about diamond cut alloys, they largely look bloody awful and often suffer from lacquer failure which makes them go milky and tatty. Due to the nature of the diamond cutting process there’s only a limited number of times they can be re-cut before the wheel has to be scrapped. Whenever I buy a car with them I have them powder coated/painted.

Bought a Mazda for £2k in 2016 and it's still going strong. £25k seems crazy money to me but then again I couldn't give a shit about cars.

I've had a Mazda before and liked it, but I don't think I'd spend as much as £25k on one and they're definitely not in the same league as Volvo.

The cars I'd consider on top of the Volvo:

Peugeot 3008 GT - we had a 5008 (the 7 seat version of 3008) and the interior was amazing in style and quality - had every bit of kit including massage seats! Went from that to an Audi Q5, which was solid and had a nicer engine, but was disappointing inside after the Peugeot.

DS DS7 - a relative of the 3008

Hyundai Tucson - our current car in 'Ultimate' trim has all the tech on it and is very nice, but don't like it as much as the Peugeot. 5 year warranty means used ones should still be covered. Look for a "1.6 h" engine and avoid the "MHEV" that we've got! Kia Sportage is the same car underneath and has 7 year warranty.

Lexus NX - "the Japanese Mercedes" 🤓

Audi Q4 Etron - with the larger 82kWh battery if electric suits you

I have a 16 year old Mazda that has been brilliant. It has never broken down once, save for flat tyres and flat battery.

However it’s now starting to creak and I am also looking to replace with another Mazda, given the current one is so reliable.

It looks like I’d need to spend the same as you OP to replace it.

It’s a daunting amount of money but I’m
not one to replace my car often.

The issue is I’d prefer to spend the money on moving home.

I spent the same in 2019 for an ex demo mini. Still perfect. 😉

I test drove a new Mini 16 years ago but found it quite claustrophobic for some reason.

I think your buts to spend that on a car personally, but if you want to and you can afford it then there's no valid reason not to!

@Shade17 fun within our budget! He really, really would like a Mustang.

Yeah he's been talking about doing something to the alloys. I dunno what. I let him get on with it.

I see cars as expensive tools that are parked (for us) on average 23 hours a day.

We "need" it because not great public transport and a local elderly relative relies on us.

I'm convinced we could live without a car.

Hence the tight budget for fun...

UPDATE - I'VE BOUGHT A CAR!!!!

Went on a few test drives. What I learnt is that the gadgets are very important to me e.g. reversing camera, heated seats etc. This meant on all the brands of cars I tried, I wanted the top spec.

I did love the Volvo XC40 but the for the spec, engine, age and mileage that I wanted, I couldn't find a car within budget.

I have bought a Mazda CX5. Top spec, sunroof, automatic. Loved it as soon as I test drove it. With my part exchange it was £16k. Very happy, hoping it will be as good as my old mazda

Well done. I’ve done similar- though my car was pricy as I went EV.

I need to know- why leather steering wheel?

I wanted heated steering wheel as I have hand problems, but failed to get one.

Like you, heated seats and some specific gadgets were more important than the brand or whatever for me.

@myplace I have always had a leather steering wheel, even in my very first car that was an old banger. Just loved it. 😂

What was enlightening to me is that my old car was high spec, as it was 12 years old, I assumed that some of those specs would have become 'standard' by now but that wasn't the case. My old car had a reversing camera, I used it all the time and found it incredibly useful. I just thought virtually every car would have this by now. I didn't know how much I wanted to keep that bit of kit until I went on the test drives.

One of the reasons I changed the car was the head unit failed. Reverse camera, radio, charge timer, all gone. I adjusted to the loss of the camera really fast.

It’s all about the preheat for me these days- no scraping the car!

I couldn’t get the heated wheel in the end, but the car is warmer so it matters less. One had the heated wheel, but no heated seats!