Personally I can't see the point of 3 over 4 (and there's not much in it between 5 and 6) - as perhaps you're finding out with the Focus. It's clearly a good one and worth more to you than anything you'd now get for it. So 4 could be a good move rather than a 'danger'.

Maybe keep it until the sooner of: (a) a potential repair costing more than the car is worth, and (b) your needing more room. Then you could buy as new a Mondeo or Octavia estate as you can afford. The more your annual mileage, the nearer to category 2 (rather than 4) you should ideally go.

I'm assuming that your budget doesn't allow category 1 (or you don't want to go there). With some cars, depending on the deal available and how well they hold their value, buying new on a PCP makes more sense than it's sometimes given credit for.

Those categories are great, by the way - they help to focus (sorry) the mind.

I like the categories Duncan16 - well thought out.

Over the past 10 years or so Cat 3 has worked for me, although if you are intend to keep a 4 year old car for up to 4 years you need to chose well - e.g. the last model of a series that's been in production for 8 years is going to feel pretty old when you come to trade it in and its value will be correspondingly low (with some notable exceptions).

However I'm also testing Cat 4 with a '98 Golf Cabrio bought 8 years ago that flies through its MOT each year, and now appears to have gained in value due to the sc**ppage scheme!

7. Get a nearly new classic car and run it into the ground [1980TR7, bought 1981]

8.Get 4+ yr old car and riitg [1989 Audi 100 bought 1993, traded in2003 for 1998 Audi A6 2.8 ]

Total cost 4,250 + 4,200 + 8000. That's less than £500 per annum depreciation over 30yrs 'cos I've still got the TR and the A6, which is just run in at 105,000m! I only do around 5000m a year, though. Biggest bill was 18yrs ago - £470 for TR7 full body respray.