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Alas, not having a car at all is not a practicable option. So it's either keep it or sell it and get another one, which will likely also do only 96 miles per week.
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Mark,
I'm a student and I've done more miles in a year than you have in the entire life of your car!
Therefore, I propose a plan which takes the form of two options.
a) You give me your existing A6 and I give you my Focus.
b) You buy me a new A6 and I give you my Focus or/you keep your old A6.
I put it to you sir, that that would be the best option for everyone concerned.
Do we have a deal?
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I can't understand why this didn't occur to me before. You've saved the day !
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Think nothing of it mate.
We're all here to help.
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I was weighing up buying an A8 recently - the auto box on those is sealed for life but cause problems at higher mileages (80k+ iirc). It's recommended on discussion groups that the autobox fluid be drained and the filter replaced because this cures shift problems.
I would expect that it would be cheaper for you to keep your current car - it's unlikely that your maintenance expenses will be more than the depreciation on a new car (£15500 over first 3 years according to What Car).
Of course if you can afford it, and you've got nothing you would rather spend your money on, then it would have to be a shiny new one! :-) Me, I'd keep the current car and spend the money on some great holidays, first class flights, 5 star hotels, that sort of thing.
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I'm trying to make this decision with my head and not my heart! This is aided by the fact that I actually still enjoy the car I have. After all, it's still something of a novelty, having driving it so little over the years.
I'm really grateful for all of the advice tendered (even that offered tongue in cheek !) I think the economics of the decision are in favour of a small refurbishment and keeping the car I have.
Now I just need to persuade that little guy sitting on my left shoulder...
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This isn't a decision we can really make - it depends on a few things.
You blatantly dont need a new car but..... since when have we only let need drive our desires?
Do you WANT a new car? Do you like the idea of a new A6? Do you like the way they drive, etc?
If so, buy one. You can't take your money with you, so why not enjoy it?
Although I'd advocate an approved used A6 instead of a new one.
Actually I'd advocate £15k on a BMW 530d but then I always advocate that ;)
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Oh I'd like a new 3.0Tdi, no worries ! But hopefully I have more sense than money so I'm not about to part with £30k on an impulse. (Particularly £30k which will be worth little more than £20k in a year's time.) I like to weigh these things up carefully, over time, listening to as much advice as possible on either side of the argument.
And I've certainly had my money's worth here !
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An Audi is built to last, so what's the point of changing it if you do so few miles a week anyway?
It would be a serious waste of money, especially when you think of the computer system to beat all computer systems you could buy...:-)
See, for instance:
www.vadim.co.uk/news
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Stuart,
congratulations, you've found something which will depreciate faster! :-)
John
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Hasn't your car got a stainless steel exhaust system ?
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Full ignorance on show here. I don't know ! What is the life expectancy of a SS system ?
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Longer than mild steel and more than 5 years ! (ooh nearly 6)
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And the car is nearly six years old...
Actually it's probably already six years old. I'm pretty sure it lay in a compound for up to a year before it was registered.
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If it was me I'd probably change it. I have the self same black angel, only it probably weighs a bit more......
Today for instance, bored I called by the BMW dealership to find out what was happening about my delayed 535d. Whilst I was there I saw this immaculate 2nd hand M5 being prepped for sale.....it went through my mind, cancel the 535 and buy the M5 - it honestly did.....
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I sympathise, I really do. I am actually frightened to calculate how much money I have lost in depreciation over the years. Five BMWs, three Audis, for starters, all of them top whack. All of them subject of restrained, highly professional marketing techniques which imply that our cars are safer than the bank of England. Yeah right. My experience is that the value of a tin box disappears like snow off a dyke (unless it's rare exotica and I don't know enough about cars to buy exotica.)
In my circumstances there is one thing even more detestable than depreciation and that is unreliability on those weekly occasions when I need a car.
Hence my dilemma...
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Keep it, put a £200.00 or so to one side for repairs. If you don't need to spend it - have a nice holiday. I would take it to National Tyres for its next oil change, they'll check out the exhaust for you (hoping that you'll buy one) Keep it as long as its reliable sell it the minute it becomes a money pit. Find a good indie to service it.
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Hello again, ubi. Yes, depreciation is usually the main cost of running a car but it can be kept below £1000 per annum with patience and judicious purchases leaving plenty of cash for other interesting things.
In 25 years I have spent less than £17,000 on my personal cars [fortunately I do a low mileage] and still have two of them.
TR7 Conv, bought nine months old in 1981 for £4,250
Audi 100 2.0E, nearly 4yrs old in 1993, £4,200, traded in plus £8,000 for 4yr old A6 2.8E in 2003.
We are fortunate that there are lots of people out there able to spend £30,000 of company cash to keep people like me in nicely run-in decent cars for a quarter of the cost.
If they work, don't mend them.
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Out of interest Pugugly {P}, what was the reason for the delay in the 535d? I ordered one (a touring) in September for 2006 delivery, and it turned up at the beginning of December.
Regards
Peter
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>>congratulations, you've found something which will depreciate faster! :-)>>
Ah, but you can upgrade it as and when necessary...:-)
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The clear answer to the problem is to keep the car. Even if during the next four years you have to spend £5,000 on maintenance and repairs, is a lot less than buying the replacement car and suffering the depreciation. Also, at 5,000 miles pa, it is pointless buying a diesel, you are much better off with a petrol.
The other the side of the coin of course is a shiny new car and a warranty etc etc. I can say with certainty that your car is a perfect private buy for people like me!
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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I had an A6 2.5 tdi for five years and 80+k miles. It never missed a beat or let me down. I eventually took a bit of a risk and traded it for a diesel merc when it had 134k on the clock. Apart from routine wearing items - tyres, brakes, discs, cambelt - virtually nothing went wrong with it. I too had the devil on my shoulder but in my case I traded for a car of about the same age with many less miles and more toys with just a couple of grand changing hands. My suggestion would be that unless you have overwhelming reasons for spending that big chunk of cash just hang on to it as they seem to go forever, These days things like exhausts are fit and forget items and the battery lasted for nine years so I would also suggest not going too strong on the preventative maintenance as they are such reliable cars.
Nice problem to have! MGs
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Also, at 5,000 miles pa, it is pointless buying a diesel, you are much better off with a petrol.
No, it is pointless buying a diesel for reasons of fuel economy. There is more to diesel power than purely cost saving reasons - some people, myself included, prefer the performance characteristics and power delivery style.
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We had the same dilemma with SWMBO's car. Should we buy a new one? Only 4-5k miles ayear. We decided to run and watch. Then after a further 3 years. Same dilemma. Same result.
After 13 years, original engine gerabox , all major engine components and rear exhast box still orginal.
Cash spend about £300 /year tops on maintenence. Versus annual depreciation on a new car every 3 years £1500-£2000 plus.
Still running after 13 years. Looks immaculate (well nealry) Still OK.
Modern cars are paragons of relaibility and long life. (unless designed or built by cretins). So the inductry stresses style etc to sell new ones (so what's new?).
If you want to be a slave to fashion (you don't drive enough miles to justify a change) and can afford it, go ahead. Put money in the dealer's /manufacturer's pockets.
Otherwise take control of your own life. (you will be one of a select few who THINK for themselves)
Note: This is not an attack on those who have to buy new cars for the mileage they do.
Apologies for New Year typos..
madf
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>>Still running after 13 years. Looks immaculate (well nearly) Still OK>>
That was exactly the case with my March 1990 VW Jetta 1.6 TX (acquired in May 1995) - the only reason I changed it was because I got a Bora SE at a price that was too good to turn down. The Jetta was worth £800 in PX.
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"After 13 years, original engine gerabox , all major engine components and rear exhast box still orginal."
What make of car is that madf? Sounds like a good recommendation, whatever it is, for those who want to keep their car for a long time.
Don't apologise for the typos - I much enjoyed the last word in the quote above! The best sort of car to suit that would I suppose be a Fiesta, accompanied by Jazz and (if Jilly Cooper is to be believed) following Polo.
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Peugeot 106 1.4 XRD.
madf
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you dont get 13 years for murder,how did you cope with having one of them things all that time?
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"you dont get 13 years for murder,how did you cope with having one of them things all that time? "
Lol.
55mpg. Round town ideal. Who needs 0-60 in 10 seconds?
Any car longer than 15feet is practically impossible to park in a multistorey carpark.
Why pay for things you cannot use?
Easy to drive, easy to park. Does not invite thieving scum.
madf
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When madf's Peugeot was new, those were Peugeot's glory days - they couldn't do much wrong. It was the time SWMBO had her two consecutive 205 diesels, both excellent and in most ways superior to the 206 she had later.
Coming back to ubidenmark's original post - there are lots of good logical reasons for keeping a good car long-term, like madf's 106 and your A6. But if you can afford it and you want a new car, go for it. The considerations aren't just financial - we each have only one life so let's enjoy it.
I have an Audi. I don't need it - the previous Golf TDI estate did the job admirably, cost a lot less and held its value as well as the Audi. But hey, I've worked hard all my life and will retire in 3-4 years' time - and I wanted a 6-cylinder turbodiesel and I wanted an Audi. There doesn't have to be a why.
Try a new Audi, and if you like it better than the one you've got (and can stand the Ford Edsel grille) buy it and good luck. If not, hang on, or even try and BMW or a German taxi. Both have their adherents on thid forum.
Do let us know what you decide.
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55mpg. Round town ideal. Who needs 0-60 in 10 seconds? Any car longer than 15feet is practically impossible to park in a multistorey carpark. Why pay for things you cannot use? Easy to drive, easy to park. Does not invite thieving scum.
Nice way of putting it madf. I find it incredibly hard to explain why I?m quite happy with my ?93 Polo without sounding tight and dull!
However, you say it does 4-5k p/a, so does that mean the mileage is only about 65k? Mines? done nearly 110k and it's doing incredibly well. Just a bit piston slap when cold and a whiney g'box, but after being an ex-demo/old lady/young lady thrash about/young lads learner car/young lads first car, it hasn't exactly had an easy life. Still getting 45-50mpg and little oil use (about 8k to the liter) and body work which is still stunning (apart from some surface rust where there was once a stone chip)
In answer to the original post, I wouldn't replace it if you content with it. As far as refurbishing is concerned, I would just leave it as it is, especially at this age and mileage. Just keep using at as you are and replace things when they need doing. Trying to forecast and then prevent anything that might go wrong can prove a waste of money.
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you dont get 13 years for murder,how did you cope with having one of them things all that time?>>
Been married for 40 years - 13 years with a particular car just flies by....:-)
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How much were you thinking of asking for it if you did decide to sell? I've just driven a quattro tdi allroad. Noticeable turbo whine and an odd nervy ride but it's a lot of car. I'd go for it if I could get the price down from 16.5k, even though at 80,000 on 52 plate and prev owned by a major plc from new it will have been in the hands of a m/way cruising suit.
Anyone had one of these?
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No idea. Market value, whatever that is.
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I've just driven a quattro tdi allroad.
No Dosh, former moderator test drove one as i recall. Try a Forum search.
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No Dosh, Try a Forum search.
But please spell it No Do$h, otherwise only one posting will come up.
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>> No Dosh, Try a Forum search. But please spell it No Do$h, otherwise only one posting will come up.
Why not make the swear filter vaguely useful and add 'No Dosh' and it's variants in there to, to be replaced with No Do$h?
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Marevo the memory man (woman?).
Well remembered, that thread had some useful info on it and No Dosh's impressions chimed with mine, now that I look back a few hours on.
I drove the allroad plus a 525 diesel estate and the BMW was the more enjoyable drive, but the Audi had more toys and these allroads seem to hold their value looking at the prices on Autotrader, but a quattro with tricksy suspension might spell ££££££££££ trouble once I'm looking at 110k, 120k territory in two years time.
There's never a cut and dried choice is there!
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