You say you will be parking on street. Two questions follow; will you have to pay for a permit and what's the likllihood of scrapes/scratches?

Answer 1: £135 annual parking permit

Answer 2: Quiet side street, section we are in no through road.

Yeah, keep it whilst it's still in warranty.

But beyond that, maybe try living without a car permanently?

Public transport and cabs in London, plus occasional weekend car hire for longer journeys, has got to be cheaper than running costs and depreciation, unless you choose to chop in the Cruze for some banger-economics special.

The car had taken a massive 50% depreciation hit when i bought it 1 year old in Aug 2012, running costs have been 1 main dealer service (about£130) and rear pads £65. Where i was hesitating was because we do like to go to belgium and northern france, but yes, most of the time the car will sit quietly in the street. my insurance fully comp has risen (shock horror!) £12 for being in SW london, and if i sell without buying i'll have all the aggravation that implies,PLUS won't get a lot for it. and buying a known quantity of a car means nearly new car supermarket ex lease hire (1 yearish old) or older and more miles,

Seems the lesser evil is to keep it as i know what i've got. (Bird in the hand?) I especially don't want to find in a year or so that what is available is a 1.o litre ecoboost type thingy...