The Car Thread

[Gario]

Reposting this for more advice:

I'm not sure what to do with my current car, which is a Polo Bluemotion 1.4, from 2009.

I do a lot of miles and I'm about to hit 80,000 in total. I've got the car on finance and next month I'll be three years into the five-year contract. I'm concerned that if I keep the car for five years I'll exceed 120,000 miles, and although I'll then own it, it won't be worth as much as it is now.

I believe one option would be to go to a VW dealer now, ask them to value the car, and see how that racks up against what is left to pay on finance. If the figures roughly match, I may be able to trade in the car for something much newer, on a new five-year deal. I may even be able to negotiate lower monthly instalments on the new contract.

I did this with my Ford Fiesta. It was old, battered and mistreated, with 92,000 miles on the clock. I was four years into a five-year deal and VW gave me £2,200 for the car. This paid off the remainder of the finance agreement and I was able to get the Polo at no additional cost.

I've taken better care of my Polo and have a full service history. I'm sure it'll be worth more than the Fiesta. Any advice?

[False]

You've had loads of advice you ingrate.

[Gario]

You've had loads of advice you ingrate.

strawberry float off, Lithuanian.

[Albert]

Sounds like you're trying to save money.

Thought about not buying a brand new car?

[Gario]

Sounds like you're trying to save money.

Thought about not buying a brand new car?

I haven't suggested anywhere that I want a new car. My Polo was used when I bought it: 16,000 miles on the clock.

[HM]

I absolutely still love my 1 series, but man the last week or so I've just been desperate for a 2 seater like a z4.

[7256930752]

I absolutely still love my 1 series, but man the last week or so I've just been desperate for a 2 seater like a z4.

I like the idea of having a 2 starter sport sports car but think it would need to be a second car.

[Rightey]

Shiny...

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Ford/Mustan ... up=3_15_10

Even though it's a lame V6 it still looks pretty damn sweet.

[wensleydale]

Reposting this for more advice:

I'm not sure what to do with my current car, which is a Polo Bluemotion 1.4, from 2009.

I do a lot of miles and I'm about to hit 80,000 in total. I've got the car on finance and next month I'll be three years into the five-year contract. I'm concerned that if I keep the car for five years I'll exceed 120,000 miles, and although I'll then own it, it won't be worth as much as it is now.

I believe one option would be to go to a VW dealer now, ask them to value the car, and see how that racks up against what is left to pay on finance. If the figures roughly match, I may be able to trade in the car for something much newer, on a new five-year deal. I may even be able to negotiate lower monthly instalments on the new contract.

I did this with my Ford Fiesta. It was old, battered and mistreated, with 92,000 miles on the clock. I was four years into a five-year deal and VW gave me £2,200 for the car. This paid off the remainder of the finance agreement and I was able to get the Polo at no additional cost.

I've taken better care of my Polo and have a full service history. I'm sure it'll be worth more than the Fiesta. Any advice?

Easiest thing to do is ring the finance company and ask for a settlement figure, then compare this against the party price on Parkers. If the 2 figures are vastly different then there's no point even bothering the dealer, just wait 6 months and repeat.

[Death's Head]

Just renewed the car insurance on my cars - saved £600 over last year, well chuffed. Last year had an Admiral multi car policy (for 3), this year used Aviva for 2 (multi car) and Direct line for the other.

[Poser]

Does anybody have breakdown cover? The AA has just quoted us £250 for this year's renewal! It was £149 last year, joint policy with all the bells and whistles.

They're getting a call when I'm on my lunch. They can either match last year's or piss off.


On a related note, does anyone have any experience of 'lesser' breakdown firms? I'm thinking Green Flag, etc.

[Dual]

Do you not get it with your bank account?

[False]

I get free Green Flag with my bank account. Never had to call.

[Death's Head]

Does anybody have breakdown cover? The AA has just quoted us £250 for this year's renewal! It was £149 last year, joint policy with all the bells and whistles.

They're getting a call when I'm on my lunch. They can either match last year's or piss off.


On a related note, does anyone have any experience of 'lesser' breakdown firms? I'm thinking Green Flag, etc.

They are taking the piss, unless you've had multiple breakdowns last year and they are trying to offset the expected cost of this year.

In my experience of the AA, you can call them and they will do what they can to bring the price down. They do this with all of their services.

I have used Green Flag before and they were OK. I'm currently with the RAC (originally via Tesco but now this is direct). I paid £150 at renewal which is everything other than otherseas cover. I should point out though that the £150 covers both the BMW and Dodge, for both me and the wife.

[Poser]

Cool, sounds good to me: £150 seems about the right level for two people/two cars. We didn't phone them once last year, so I have no clue how they can justify that.


Falsey/Dual - I used to get it with my bank account but I stopped paying for my account because I flat-out refuse to give any more money to my bank than is necessary.


Edit: I called to cancel and they reduced it to £170, so I went with that. Anybody who ever accepts the renewal price of anything must be daft.

[False]

My account costs me like £15 and I get breakdown, phone insurance, gadget insurance, warranty gooseberry fool etc. Seems like ok value to me.

[Poser]

It's complicated (ish). We need cover for two people (£360 if we upgrade our separate bank accounts) and we're with Santander for our joint account for business banking reasons. They don't do a breakdown cover thingy.

I CBA with phone/gadget insurance (easier just to look after your stuff) and I never used to use any of the other so-called benefits. So this is the best bet for me and the Mrs.

I could have got two separate breakdown cover policies for £30 each with some Honest John-looking types, but they seemed a bit dodgy. So here I am.

Oh, and also, I really don't like my bank.

[False]

Ive never claimed on any of the bank insurance stuff or breakdowns or anything like that, but its nice to have. You can look after your stuff and still have it nicked or something, you know.

[BOR]

The new face-lift Mini looks strawberry floating awful!

[7256930752]

Had my car for two strawberry floating weeks and the wind screen is smashed. I assume this will take out my no claims as I'm going through insurance?