Which small auto ?

[Steve92 80]

I'm looking to swap our big trusty Saab 9-5 estate for something smaller, I love the Saab as does the wife but she wants something that's easier to park and that doesn't have its own postcode.

given everyone here is in the business of selling cars does anyone have any recommendations for a small supermini with a good auto box, I was looking at the fiesta but having driven an Audi R8 with the robotised auto there is no way I can own anything other than a proper slush how. Budget is £1500 but maybe a touch more, I keep coming back to Honda jazz's but not sure I'm ready to buy one .... What does the trade think, what would you go for ? The other option is a pcp on a Renault Zoe at £150 ish per month or even the new twin go/smart for four when the auto is released.

[jamslug 91]

What a horrific situation to find your self in; even considering a Zoe  . My heart goes out to you. 

[Steve92 80]

I take it you have never driven one then ? I had one on a 4 day demo when they first came out and loved it, I had a leaf on a 4 day demo a few weeks ago and liked that too. For £150 a month and an extra £10 for electric if charging at home it makes for a very cheap car to cover 7500 miles in. 

[Phil H 124]

Very interesting Steve92 your budget has gone from £1500 cash and you own it outright, or renting one for £150 per month (paying back £5400 if it's a 3 year deal, £3600 if it's a 2), Now there's been reports this week of quite a lot of people in the market like you who are undecided just like you thinking "should I get a banger or new?" Would be really interested to hear why you're undecided, is it that you don't really get much for £1500 as used car values have rocketed in price? or just the feel good factor of treating yourself after scrimping and scraping for the last 7 years?

IMHO The £150 per month one is probably very attractive to you as just think what you could do with the £1500 holiday, home improvements etc and it's only £150 PM but remember then at the end you have to either start the renting process again with a new one, pay off the lump sum, possibly with another loan or hand it back and get charged a fortune for any excess mileage or damage that has occurred, unless you buy a new one and excess charges will be waived.  A PCP is designed to be for life not just one car. 

[Wheelerdealer1 91]

Look at it this way £150 per month that's £ 1800 per year, plus at the end you get NOTHING 

 

buy that 1500 Honda Jazz and it's worth at least £500 at the end of 2 or three years if not more, get a small jap auto like a Micra, jazz, corolla etc and you won't be spending much above MOT and a service , it's cheap motoring and out weight the £1800 a year cost of that shiny new thing

[Steve92 80]

Believe me I hate pcps, I'll post the inner workings of my brain later but withe the £150 well let's say £160 including electric that's everything excluding insurance, so roughly £80 per month is fuel alone in the Jazz, throw in tax and mot and it soon adds up

[Phil H 124]

How many miles a year do you do?

[Steve92 80]

7500 ish, so fuel alone in the Jazz would be £80 per month, I think it's around £140 for rfl, £40 for mot, allow £100 on maintenance and £150 on repairs / tyres. Depreciation would be £500 over 2 years ? It all adds up and yes I understand pcps and the throwing money away - trust me I hate it, but when you add up the monthly costs it's almost like for an extra £10 per month you can have a brand new car with full warranty, no servicing or tyres needed against a 12 year old car that could possibly need work.

 

But should I go down the route of bangernomics again how reliable is the cvt box on the Jazz ?