Car Plans. What's Next?

[Matty]

Don't think we've had one of these for a while. What car are you moving onto next?
Given we're heading into a potential recession, higher interest rates, energy crisis....what are your car plans? Anyone cashing out while still (relatively) strong or to save on bills?

Evora 400/410 is next on the list, but in this market, thinking of selling the 4C early while prices are favourable and holding the cash to see where things go....

[Zonda_]

The Jag is going because it's unreliable crap and money is needed elsewhere. Just the 2 of us at home now so a large car is not needed so looking for something good to drive without the bills.

[mik]

Nothing interesting to add - no plans to change current cars.

Your plans are though….

[jamcg]

Cashed out Skoda, currently carless. Now looking for something cheap about 3k

[240PP]

Going to keep hold of the A5 for a while longer, at least another 12 months. I don’t need anything else and I do really like it.

Other half was looking at E-Paces the other week but seems to have gone off the idea.

[Gavin]

No current plans, only had the TT 6 months or so, if the Merc blows up in spectacular fashion it will get replaced by a 4 banger petrol estate most likely.

Whether that is a Leon Cupra, Golf R, Otavia VRS, something in that sort of category anyway as ULEZ is starting to creep in around the UK

[Jobbo]

Plan to get a Merc GLC for my wife in the near-ish future, not change my Audi except for a Merc E400d estate but I haven't seen any in a spec I like at any price, nor any at a sensible price, so I'll probably keep the Audi long term since I like it.

Might get a Merc SLK250d (2012-2017ish shape) because I've always liked the look of them, it'll do the commute very economically for a bit of variety and they're surprisingly cheap. Also fancy a Mazda MX5 ND shape with the 184bhp engine - not the RF. But I think realistically funds will go towards buying another house rather than either.

[JonMad]

No plans to change. Everything we have does everything we need or want. </dull>
Need to get a few more targa rallies in.

[Sundayjumper]

I need to fix the ones I’ve already got

I still keep an eye on 360 prices. When COVID kicked in I was hoping prices would drop but no suck luck. Anything under £50k is ropey. Which makes me think £50k-£60k is probably ropey too but better at hiding it I can’t stomach £60k+ on a toy.

So realistically the only things on the radar are nicer versions of what I’ve got. Cooper S, V6 Vito. 958 Cayenne with the 4.2 diesel appeals. The 957 only ever got a 3.0 diesel which is a bit limp in such a big car.

The other day I was actually pondering selling the Galaxie, the Clubman, the Vito & the Cayenne and putting all the money into a Range Rover. I had one hell of a hangover the next morning.

[KevH18]

Kona EV has just under 2 1/2 years left on the lease. It's fine, but hopefully something a little more interesting might be around when I need to replace it.

Focus had for over 6 1/2 years but no longer needed and would rather sell it while the prices are relatively good. In for a service and wheel alignment tomorrow after having some small dents and dings repaired last week. Hoping to get around 4k for it based on other private prices. Difficult to judge though as there's only a handful around of this spec on Autotrader - 1.6 Ecoboost Titanium X hatch. It's on around 89,800 miles if anyone's interested.

[speedingfine]

The Jag is going because it's unreliable crap and money is needed elsewhere. Just the 2 of us at home now so a large car is not needed so looking for something good to drive without the bills.

How are you fitting a St Bernard in a small car btw? Think you're the person who had one anyway

PS No money so no plans apart from keeping the Seven

[Ascender]

Don't think we've had one of these for a while. What car are you moving onto next?
Given we're heading into a potential recession, higher interest rates, energy crisis....

Given that, the obvious answer is a new BMW which I'm sure will lose circa 40% of its value in its first two years. I've been waiting for that car for a very long time, so the man maths to justify it won't be a problem.

I also have my eye on an old Defender for use on the croft - something I can work on as there's a car pit in the current croft out-buildings which also makes me think about other cars where I could do more on them myself. I probably wouldn't have sold the 996 for example if I had the room and facilities to do more to it myself.

[Rich B]

No plans to change - the 320d is a bit tatty looking, but it works great and she'd only make anything new tatty in no time.

The M2 is doing a great job, even better now the petrol prices aren't quite so high. I need to get some roof bars for it though and a rack or two capable of carrying my bike/s.

[Ascender]

I still keep an eye on 360 prices. When COVID kicked in I was hoping prices would drop but no suck luck. Anything under £50k is ropey. Which makes me think £50k-£60k is probably ropey too but better at hiding it I can’t stomach £60k+ on a toy.

I'd been looking at those earlier in the year and came to the same conclusion as you. Just when I thought I'd found one that looked sensibly priced, I'd find another horror story about just how many problems they can be hiding if they've not been properly looked after. Sounds like that's exactly what you found out.

[Ascender]

No plans to change - the 320d is a bit tatty looking, but it works great and she'd only make anything new tatty in no time.

The M2 is doing a great job, even better now the petrol prices aren't quite so high. I need to get some roof bars for it though and a rack or two capable of carrying my bike/s.

Can highly recommend one of these Seasuckers...

[KevH18]

I still keep an eye on 360 prices. When COVID kicked in I was hoping prices would drop but no suck luck. Anything under £50k is ropey. Which makes me think £50k-£60k is probably ropey too but better at hiding it I can’t stomach £60k+ on a toy.

I imagine maintenance, even just the price of parts would be a lot higher than anything else you own? I know your Aston doesn't get as much use but it doesn't seem to have been too bad for you, possibly because of lot of shared parts with it being built in the Ford era.

[Rich B]

My ebike is over their limit though...

[Zonda_]

The Jag is going because it's unreliable crap and money is needed elsewhere. Just the 2 of us at home now so a large car is not needed so looking for something good to drive without the bills.

How are you fitting a St Bernard in a small car btw? Think you're the person who had one anyway

PS No money so no plans apart from keeping the Seven

The St Bernard became food possessive pretty much overnight, it is a thing that affects the breed in particular. Unfortunately she attacked our other dog and blinded him then attacked him again a week later where I was able to intervene, not easy with a 70 kilo dog! She has been rehomed with a family who have had Bernard’s before and who have no other animals.

[Gavster]

I still keep an eye on 360 prices. When COVID kicked in I was hoping prices would drop but no suck luck. Anything under £50k is ropey. Which makes me think £50k-£60k is probably ropey too but better at hiding it I can’t stomach £60k+ on a toy.

I imagine maintenance, even just the price of parts would be a lot higher than anything else you own? I know your Aston doesn't get as much use but it doesn't seem to have been too bad for you, possibly because of lot of shared parts with it being built in the Ford era.

Time to start watching Mat Armstrong videos he loves buying "challenging" exotic cars

https://www.youtube.com/c/MatArmstrongbmx

[Sundayjumper]

I imagine maintenance, even just the price of parts would be a lot higher than anything else you own? I know your Aston doesn't get as much use but it doesn't seem to have been too bad for you, possibly because of lot of shared parts with it being built in the Ford era.

You say that, but the 360 actually shares quite a few bits from the Fiat parts bin. I did a load of reading up at the time. They're pretty simple cars really and in the US especially there's a strong DIY scene with lots of info available.

As for the Aston, it's been bloody good tbh. A couple of niggles when I bought it (driver's window regulator replaced by the dealer before I bought it, thermostat & bonnet microswitch replaced by me a couple of weeks in), then a problem with water damage in the nsr light last year. It's a (mostly!) sealed unit with LEDs inside, a brand new light from AM is..... pricey. But a specialist fixed it for £185. It pings up the EML if you hoof it before the cats / sensors have warmed up but TADTS. And that's the sum total of the problems I've had in just over five years. It's not just that it uses parts from the Ford parts bin, it was built using Ford's manufacturing experience, in a brand new factory built under Ford's watch. Not some blokes in a shed.
Whether you like Ford or not, they build a LOT of cars and do know a fair bit about how to do it efficiently ! If the car is reliable in the first place, the parts costs become slightly academic.