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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what car you drive and if any payment?

336 replies

Carsearch · 20/10/2026 18:11

I’ll start:

BMW X1 2022
Year left on PCP, paying £350 a month

Need inspiration for what to do next, tempted to buy a used outright!

OP posts:
LienekeS · 21/10/2026 19:12

Macan GTS old and paid off. Picking up my new one and it’s 🫣. But I don’t spend anything much on anything else so don’t need to justify 🤣

boredandgrand · 21/10/2026 19:14

I always buy outright and a couple of years old. Current cars are Range Rover Sport and BMW M4 convertible.

Bishbashbuush · 21/10/2026 19:31

Skoda Kamiq Monte Carlo. Bought new and outright. It’s a decent enough car for a small family and has been very reliable and economical so far. DP and I aren’t into cars so we’ve always chosen something sensible and affordable. Although I do occasionally have my head turned by an exceptionally nice looking car, I have no clue (nor care for) what goes on under the bonnet!

PinkPanther50 · 21/10/2026 19:31

2016 BMW X3 bought by cash 3 years ago
2010 BMW M3 bought for cash 6 years ago
I personally don’t want the weight of a monthly repayment on me so am happy to have older cars that I enjoy driving

Justanoone · 21/10/2026 19:33

2025 Toyota Corolla Exel. Bought outright. No finance.

TheDevilWears · 21/10/2026 19:33

2026 Mazda CX5. I bought the top of the range model - I got spoiled with heated everything 😬 I traded in a 2023 Nissan Qashqai EPower (I hated it). Borrowed the 12.5k shortfall from my local credit union and will pay it back in lump sums.

Hippychickster · 21/10/2026 19:38

Volvo XC40 21 plate. Bought it outright from the Volvo garage. I absolutely love it.

Sueandthegoldfish · 21/10/2026 19:38

2020 Renault Clio bought outright. Considering changing soon and will buy cash again.

Hotterthebetter · 21/10/2026 19:40

2025 VW Tiguan. Bought new, paid outright. No finance. Fantastic car!

wouldntyouwanthelp · 21/10/2026 19:59

19lottie82 · 21/10/2026 10:25

Wow, that’s very cheap!

I know! I’m still shocked. We went to fords of winsford and fully expected to be hard sold a car we didn’t want. Saw the car fell in love and drove it home 🥰. She’s got so many bells and whistles I love her so much, she’s green too!

Georgieporgie29 · 21/10/2026 19:59

sausageth · 20/10/2026 18:29

Renault 5. Traded in my car and paid outright the difference.
Charges off solar power, cheap as chips to run. We worked out today it costs about a fiver to charge up to full.

Delighted with it.

Edited

Ooh what colour did you go for?

Hotterthebetter · 21/10/2026 19:59

eewwdavid · 20/10/2026 21:57

This may be a stupid question, but how on earth do people have 10k -20k + (estimate from the cars I've seen named here) to buy outright?
I know the answer is partially that they earn more, but still, 15k just sitting there? How?!

We’ve always been savers and are averse to any debt so always buy our cars outright. Usually trade them in after three years or so and then just pay the difference from our savings.
Currently driving a VW Tiguan 25 plate and love it so, I think we’ll keep it much longer.

dementedmummy · 21/10/2026 20:02

FarmGirl78 · 20/10/2026 18:24

13yr old Vauxhall mokka that cost me about £10k 11 years ago. It's done 167,000 miles and paid for itself many times over. I love it lots and I'll be gutted when it dies. I shall drive it until it dissolves into a little pile rust particles on the mechanics workshop floor.

You are my people! 2014 Ford cmax - 122k miles. I shall cry when it is eventually done

SpiceoLife · 21/10/2026 20:17

Susuki SX4
17 years old
Passed MOT after 1 small part replaced this year
Petrol
150k miles
Bought out right
Boot good size

SpiceoLife · 21/10/2026 20:19

Cost approx 2k to buy

SpreadsheetLife · 21/10/2026 20:23

2023 Polestar 2. Bought part cash, part personal loan, £310 a month over 18 months.

mylittleworld563 · 21/10/2026 20:26

2009 Peugeot 207. It cost me £1400 about 8 years ago. It's on its last year now and I'll be sad to see it go. I've probably spent £1500 on maintenance including tyres. I will never have such an easy cheap to run car again.

Yello24 · 21/10/2026 20:28

Good to hear positive things about the Mokka. Planning to get (a green) one next month. Dithering between that and a Yaris Cross. But I like the colours of the Mokka!
Am another who buys outright. It’s cheaper overall.

JournalistEmily · 21/10/2026 20:46

Fiat 500 that will be 16 years old in december, cost me £11k new on finance. Cheap to run, cheap parts, I’m 45 now and it even (just) fits my 4.5yr old. I’ll run it until it dies (currently on 76k miles) I do not get the new car thing, I’ve no idea how ppl afford them

ColdLittleHeart · 21/10/2026 20:56

I drive a fiat 500 we bought new (cash) in 2024. We use it for short runs and trips into town (great for parking in tight spaces) Planning on passing it down to DD in a couple of years for her first car.

My DH has just purchased a new Defender (cash again) I thought I would hate it but I absolutely love it. So nice to drive, roomy and perfect for my daily muddy spaniel
walks!

JoyChansey · 21/10/2026 21:02

Badbadbunny · 21/10/2026 14:56

@JoyChansey

Leasing payments cost £9614 over the 3 years. If i bought the car outright when new and sold if after 3 years, the depreciation will likely be more than that,

But if you bought new and kept it for a decade or so, it would virtually be "free" for the latter 7 years other than routine servicing/maintenance.

I've a spreadsheet for my elderly 18 year old car and it's cost less than £100 per month over the 18 years, including full purchase price (new), breakdown insurance (never used), annual servicing and MOTs. Still looks good as new (inside and out) as we look after it.

The average age of cars on the road today is 13 years, so really no need to pay more to have a new car every three years other than vanity.

It won't be free for the latter 7 years, because obviously, £9614 isn't the cost of the car new - it's the monthly leasing payments added up over the 3 years.

The cost of the car new is about 2.5x-3x of that (I haven't checked, exactly).

Furthermore, as the car gets older, the servicing will get more expensive, spark/glow plugs, cam belt/chain, various suspension components (bushes, ball joints, etc), the aforementioned battery, then over the 9-10 years, I would imagine you'd need to spend at least half a day, here and there (taking time off work if necessary, or preventing you from doing other things if it's your day off), getting tyres replaced, and at least a set of discs, and replacement pads, MOTs, etc.

Servicing, I can get away with having it twice over the 3 years - which is generally a routine oil and filter change. So the car will be serviced during the 13th and 26th month of ownership, and there'll be 23 month gap between the 2nd (and final) service of one car, and the 1st service of the next car.

Then, eventually, the car is out of warranty, and any problem arising out of a 8-9-10 year old with it's complex electronics and usual software updates, could end up being costly.

It's not vanity, I'm paying for, it's peace of mind, that the car is always new, and I'm not wasting time at garages getting things fixed/replaced. Otherwise I wouldn't have a small Hyundai, and have something more flash instead.

Timeforachange26 · 21/10/2026 21:08

JoyChansey · 21/10/2026 21:02

It won't be free for the latter 7 years, because obviously, £9614 isn't the cost of the car new - it's the monthly leasing payments added up over the 3 years.

The cost of the car new is about 2.5x-3x of that (I haven't checked, exactly).

Furthermore, as the car gets older, the servicing will get more expensive, spark/glow plugs, cam belt/chain, various suspension components (bushes, ball joints, etc), the aforementioned battery, then over the 9-10 years, I would imagine you'd need to spend at least half a day, here and there (taking time off work if necessary, or preventing you from doing other things if it's your day off), getting tyres replaced, and at least a set of discs, and replacement pads, MOTs, etc.

Servicing, I can get away with having it twice over the 3 years - which is generally a routine oil and filter change. So the car will be serviced during the 13th and 26th month of ownership, and there'll be 23 month gap between the 2nd (and final) service of one car, and the 1st service of the next car.

Then, eventually, the car is out of warranty, and any problem arising out of a 8-9-10 year old with it's complex electronics and usual software updates, could end up being costly.

It's not vanity, I'm paying for, it's peace of mind, that the car is always new, and I'm not wasting time at garages getting things fixed/replaced. Otherwise I wouldn't have a small Hyundai, and have something more flash instead.

My car has no " software updates" or a thing like that. Why would a 7 year old plus car need them?

And surely it would need tyres and brake pads in the 3 years you have it? Unless it's barely used which makes it not worthwhile

PurpleYarnivore · 21/10/2026 21:27

I drive a 2026 mini countryman , it’s my favourite ever car in 33 years driving . It’s a Motability car as my daughter gets highest rate DLA , it cost £900 advance payment plus the monthly mobility allowance she’s entitled to then I only have to pay for petrol .

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 21/10/2026 21:34

2019 Skoda fabia colour edition. £186.43 a month. 18 months and a ballon payment left.

JoyChansey · 21/10/2026 21:38

Timeforachange26 · 21/10/2026 21:08

My car has no " software updates" or a thing like that. Why would a 7 year old plus car need them?

And surely it would need tyres and brake pads in the 3 years you have it? Unless it's barely used which makes it not worthwhile

Edited

Depends on the car, I suspect. I had a 2019 Audi, and 2016 Mercedes which needed a couple of software updates.

Depends on how you drive. I did 20,000 miles in 3 years in a VW Golf which didn't need tyres and brakes.

The aforementioned Audi, I did 55,000 miles in 3 years, although it obviously had to have tyres and front brake pads done (only once). The rear pads and discs were original when I handed it back, though 55,000 miles in 3 years is obviously higher than average mileage and those items would be expected to be replaced.