kingandy | (no subject)

My car is in need of substantial repairs before I MOT it, and it needs MOTing by the end of the month so that I can buy road tax. Friendly Local Garage Man estimated there was somewhere around £400 of work (though he can't personally get it done by the end of the week, he's very busy). So, either I have to find some place that can do the repairs by Friday or get hold of a new car.

I seem to recall a few people on the flist mentioning spare cars but I strongly suspect they'd be out of my price range ... I'm currently toying with the idea of leasing, because it's like paying off a loan but better because the leasing company take care of all the repairs and servicing, and you get a new car, and stuff like that. The other options are combing Auto Trader (which can be enormously fast), or walking into somewhere like Carcraft and seeing if there's something I can drive off the lot (for a minimal part-exchange on the old Honda). I'd probably have to let them finance me, though, as I don't really have the time to chase around banks and loan agencies to get the best deal. Anyway, I probably wouldn't know the best deal if it slapped me in the face shouting "I'M THE BEST DEAL".

... Sorry for the stream-of-consciousness ending, I'm in a bit of a rush.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yep - flee in fear from Carcraft - they are very expensive.

The MR2 is £3.5k and the MG £4k. The issue doesn't stop there though - the insurance would be a killer as you have too many points on your licence.

What's your budget? You know I love a good car conversation :)

Well, if I get a loan I could probably go for a few thousand, I don't know. People are willing to lend you a hell of a lot these days. In terms of purely hard cash, though, I'd be looking at about £500-£1000 for an old banger.

The tactic of buying an old car and driving it into the ground is probably not the way for a happy life, but past experience has made me wary of signing up for long-term payment commitments...

What I'm looking for is a reasonably economical car with at least four doors, and good potential boot space (ie, seats may be folded down to allow for kit), not too big but with a good roomy driver's seat. This allows for the considerations of (a) LARP, (b) Ferrying friends around, (c) commuting to work and (d) being a lanky bugger. I am informed that the category known as the Supermini would be most suitable.

If you're willing to go to the £1000 mark or thereabouts you would probably be able to get something that wasn't actually an old banger. You could join the "Practical Japanese Car Club". I bought my Toyota Corolla a year ago for £1400 so you could probably get something similar now on your budget. I too was fed up of always fixing things and stuff breaking and since getting Corollas (this is my second in a row, would still be on number one if it hadn't been for stupid drunk woman writing it off) the most I've had to get done for an MOT was freeing up a break calliper for £30.

They've got big boots, which can be made into giganto-boots if you fold the seats down, and 5 doors with plenty of driver space. And the main thing - if serviced regularly, they don't break. They're the best selling cars of all time don't you know.

Anyway. That's all from the Toyotota Promotion Society for today.

My brother bought another one too.

Gotta say I totally agree - get a loan for £1,000 (or put £1,000 on a credit card and then change to one with an interest free period) and go japanese - easily the best choice.

Corolla, Mitsubishi Colt, Civic, Mazda 3 series - all hideously reliable, all cheap, none bangers.