Re: New/Newer Car

Look out for 'pre-registered' cars - last year we got a Skoda Citigo for the missus with zero miles on the clock, but had been sitting in the showroom for a few weeks. List was £8000ish and we got it for £5995 on the road and no waiting. She's very pleased with it, specially the small economical engine and low VED - £0 for first year and then £50. You are of course the second owner, but this only matters if you were to sell in the near future. Like you, we keep our cars for their life-time then trade them in for new.

Re: New/Newer Car

We benefit from a manufactures employee discount of 20-25%, but you still have to be careful and shop around. Say the list price (RRP) of a vehicle is £20,000.00, and you pay £15,000.00 (with the 25% discount) you would be quite pleased until you realize that Joe Public do not pay the list price in the first place, most dealers would apply a Dealer Discount of a couple of grand to retail customers, so instead of saving £5,000.00, you are only saving £3,000.00. If you shop around you can find dealers who apply the employee discount, after the Dealer Discount has been minused, so 25% off £18,000.00 = £4,500.00, so a car with a £20,000.00 list price is purchased for £13,500.00, not a bad deal.

Re: New/Newer Car

HP depends on the amount to borrow the lender etc. With a car purchase if you check on line on the garage you intend to buy from, often there is a HP formula so you can work out how much/ how long the payments will be

Re: New/Newer Car

For the mileage that Mollie does, it would be a waste of money to get herself into debt.
Just under 36.000 miles in 13 years, I walk further than that.
I think she is doing the right thing by not buying new.