A thought struck me last night in my search for a new car... is it really so bad to buy new anymore (in terms of losing so much in depreciation I mean)?

For my example, take the Ford Focus 1.6 TDCI Studio. A quick look on parkers tells us that the price for a 1 year old (10,000 mile) version of the above from a franchised dealer is £9,265 (based on the MRRP of £13,327 = depreciation of about 30%) so a loss of £4062 to anyone who brought one....

However with websites like Drive The Deal, no one pays the MRRP, and in reality I could pick one up tomorrow for £10,828. So if I assume (possible egg on face time) that a year ago they were the same price then that would mean a buyer would only have lost £1563 on a years new motoring plus not taking a gamble that a year old car has an unknown history...

So I can understand people saying "don't touch new cars, they depreciate too much, get one a year or two old" if they thought you could lose £4k+ on a £14k car... but the above suggests it would be nothing like that amount..

Anyone got any thoughts?

M Read more

What's the amount of fuel per year sold in the UK to users of private vehicles? Read more

Does anyone in the trade ever see mint `retirement cars` 15yrs or so old, yet like new?

I see what I assume are retirement cars now and then, driven by a younger driver, perhaps inherited?
Often 15 years old and yet looking as though they have never seen a winter, or stood out in the summer sun.

I was looking at an red Peugeot, going past recently. Fifteen years old, red paint and all... looking like brand new.
really new that is, almost like a timewarp, if it existed, would present one.

I guess its quite reasonable for someone buying their last car new, to keep it in a heated garage when its salty on the roads or even wet.
To use the free bus pass and let the car stay pristine in bad weather.

Whats the best example seen? in common cars that is, not the Lord in his Manor with a brace of Bentleys.

Regards Read more

Further to BBD's comments in another thread, yes blue Imprezzas with gold wheels looked OK in 1996 though IMO the colour doesnt do anything for the car now days.

Mondeo STs look OK in their slightly less lairy though similar blue however, as with Imprezzas, they look much better in silver or a metallic dark grey.

MG ZTs were tastfully sporty in silver or grey, OK in red or BRG though simply OTT in a similar metallic blue.

I saw a new Octavia VRS the other day that looked all-dressed-up-with-no-one-to-race in its shiny Subaru blue though would have looked sublty sporty in a more restrained colour.

Various Clios, 206/7s and small Toyotas are similarly afflicted.

I dont think I would avoid a second hand car just because of it being Subaru blue though to me the colour just does not appeal.


Any thoughts? Read more

Today my partner phones to say our 530d has the alternator light and ive called" rac" who come out and say nothings wrong
On way home the light comes on and stays on ,managed to limp it home .
Im on my way home in a Ford Ka and the engine light comes on just a mile away from home ,so thats going back to BT to be sorted
So ive given my partner my BMW to drive tommorow and i got a Combo from my yard which weve had a while,pulled on to my drive and it died and refused to start
Finally did start a few minutes later and its got no power and worst of all ive no transport tommorow !!
What a crappy day!!!!!

Read more