January 2014
I have just started a job where I get a car allowance and want to spend as little as possible. I don't have any savings, and my current car is worth about £1k. The car allowance requires that the car is less than 7 years old
I would like to get a 5dr car probably diesel as I will be doing 15k to 20k miles per year, I like the idea of a VW golf, ford focus or mondeo
If I buy a 2009 car it will be around £7k which I could take out a 3yr loan but cost of mot, tyres, brakes and any other wear and tear would probably add around 2k over 3 years? Interest on the loan as well total cost would be around 10k. The car might be worth 3k in 3 years time so total cost is 7k?
A personal lease would set me back 2400 a year assuming 200 a month for a ford focus tdi have seen cheaper that works out at 7200 with a new car some throw in maintenance and servicing too
So in this case would a lease be a better option?
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Hello I have a problem :-(
I have a 2006 1.6 petrol Renault megane and It's lost a lot of power, I was told by local garage that the defazer pulley needed changing (£480) and it's also blocked the catalytic converter. So he has changed the defazer but he can't find the cat that connects with the manifold. Mine has a oval connection with flange but everywhere we look online has a triangle one with flange. The only place we can find one is straight from Renault. Who say its £600!!! All the ones on eBay etc... Are about £130. What can I do? Why is it oval on mine but none of the other models the same? Where can I get one other than Renault?
Any help/advice would be much appreciated
Thanks Read more
the car is a dog, get rid.
I recently thought I would start looking at some new cars. However, I am amazed at the number of dealerships that cram their forecourts so full of cars there is nowhere to park. Often these dealerships are located on industrial estates that have nowhere to park nearby either.
I know they need to keep a reasonable amount of stock on site to attract customers, but it defeats the object if the customer can't park anywhere nearby. Perhaps they only want to sell to people who don't already have a car!... Read more
Love the story, wish I could have seen his face.
Don't judge a book by its cover! A relative of mine sells luxury cars and one day he approached a bloke in the showroom that all the other sales staff were avoiding. He said the man looked so unkept that he could have been homeless, however he found him really interesting to speak to and very well mannered. Eventually the talk came round to cars and the chap said that he wanted to buy "a lot of them, all the same spec"....
Hi,
Wife has just reported that a message has just come up on the dash saying 'oil maintenance required'. The oil level is fine and it was changed in 2013. Its not done a great deal of mileage since it was changed.... Read more
Update:
Reading the manual..DUH!! there is the answer!!!...
Under normal circumstances, I'd be changing my car in 18 months time - but most of the possible replacements haven't been launched yet or only just launched - mainly as a result of Ford's sell-off of JLR and Volvo.
Now I don't intend to be first in the queue for a new platform with an all-new engine and I'm concerned that things won't be clear until the first vehicles are well out of warranty so that's 4 years after launch.... Read more
All these uncertainties add weight to the suggestion that you should keep a car that you trust instead of changing - especially as a new generation usually means more complex electronics with more expensive correction costs.......
IN many ways better to stick with older proven technology, which although not as "sexy" still does the job - look at electronic handbrakes and hill assist for example. Still giving trouble, even on some Toyotas....
Hi all,
I'm looking for a vehicle that will allow me to occasionally carry lengths of timber 2.4-3m flat. I don't really want a trailer/roof rack/van if I can help it.... Read more
Volvo - our old 850 had fold flat front seats, think this feature carried on through to the various V70s, including the latest one.
Hope this helps...
Just bought this pegueot 307 2002/3 petrol 75 style 5 Dr and it keeps cutting out at junction. :(
Thanks
Got "persuaded" to have cambelt and tensioner changed at 80,000mile service of 07 reg Golf at VW garage. Had been done at 57,000 miles 20 months earlier at a different VW garage.
14 months and 20,000 miles later, car breaks down; rescue service suggest fault is cambelt component. ... Read more
Thanks 659. Have read previous threads and found it all very helpful - in a "I'm not the only one" way. Yeah, VAG not likely to be too interested. Although I see in the States there was a class action law suit. Go the little guy!
AZL.
Sure, it was an error of judgement by the policeman, but let's hope that the (supply a word of your choice) who goaded him into speeding and then reported him is in prison for a good long time.
I wonder why he was being driven in a BMW and not a normal plain van.
On the approach to the westbound toll booths there is a 50 mph limit and then a sign saying 30 in the toll area.
Those nice safety camera people are stationing a camera van up on the bridge in the 50mph zone, so all be careful. Spotted it when driving eastbound and looked for it westbound when returning from Bristol, but very much out of site west bond as is "hidden" as way over on the left,... Read more
I've got a SWMBO in the passenger seat too, but keep switched on mute so as not to disturb my listening to the radio.
Some years ago one of my work colleagues went to Cardiff to watch West Ham play soccer (it was whilst Wembley was being re-built) - a few days leater a NIP lettter was received in the office - he had been driving at 70 on the approah to the toll booths. This colleage had a company car and it was not long before all in the office knew he had been speeding - 'fair doo's I do reacall seeing a camera van' was his comment. He paid the fine and took the points. (boss did not want to claim the identity of the driver was unknown)...
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Kia is 7 years, 100,000 miles. Hyundai is 5 years unlimited.