What is the CHEAPEST way to buy a CAR????

[drosophila]

What do you think of those finance schemes where you pay a deposit and then a fairly low monthly amount and then at the end of 3 yrs you either settle up or trade in and start again.

I like the idea of low monthly payments but wondered what other people's experience has taught them.

hey

havent gought a car that way because my dad sells 'em. however, he has given loads of my pals advice over the years and is scrupilously honest. if you want i can give you his number and you can run it by him - just for the advice etc. but, nay bother if thats too odd!

x

maggiesmama, you couldn't just ask him what his top insider's tips are and post them here, could you? i'd love to know and i'm sure others would too...

Not had any personal experience but I think that for most of them your mileage has to be less than a certain number, otherwise you end up paying more if you settle as the car has depreciated more than the dealer bargained for when the original agreement was made.

see if you have any local independent garages they may have some. or the local paper

of course i could. will ring him in the morning and post tomorrow.

can you be more specific about questions - do you just want to know about the merits of the finance schemes you mentioned versus trad loans? guess budget will be a factor - what kind of car are you looking for.

only thing i know without asking is that new cras depreciate the second they are taxed, so i always buy second hand so not to get stung with that.

anyway - let me know, and i'll quiz him for you. it'll make him feel needed(!)

here is what moneysavingexpert has to say about buying cars

tbh i spent £350 on mine three years ago and it keeps passing its MOT without needing a thing done to it, so I'm running it into the ground. but i'm always keen to have an insider's view of how things actually work. at some point we are going to need a bigger car and i'll probably try to trade mine in (for more than i spent on it if poss, ha ha) so i'm interested in whether trade-ins are a total con and they just take the money off you elsewhere.

Ebay!

Oh thank maggiemama. well I would like something like the Mulipla or the Honda FRV but DP thinks this is like admitting we are middle aged. In his head I'm sure he sees us in a sportscar with 2 kids.

I think the appeal of new cars is the finance schemes. Our last car we bough nearly new and it has been fine but DP can be very fussy about cars without knowing bugger all about them. Budget wise we are thinking about 250 a month or thereabouts with about a 10% deposit or thereabouts. We could get more for the deposit if need be. Will now read Money Saving Expert