Capella
Journeyman Pro
After living car free for more than ten years, I finally decided to want a car again, if only to get to the golf course. Since I will be mostly travelling in it alone, and I don't have any need for speed, I am looking for a small city car. I rented a Smart for four when I was in Lytham last month, and I really liked that one.
After having had a look around at the car dealers in my area and on the internet, I am currently considering two different options:
1) One of my colleague is selling his Citroen C1, built 2009, apprx. 70,000 km (43,000 miles) on the clock, he is the first owner and has all the papers, inspections and check-ups in order. I trust him that he is not keeping any former damages or the like from me and I think I could get him to sell it to me for about 3500 € (3000 £). The car is equipped with air conditioning and a CD/mp3 player/radio. The model does have a very flimsy boot lid, though, which has a tendency to leak. There are quite a few reviews on the internet about that problem and my colleague told me he did have water in the boot on a few occasions as well. The boot is tiny and only really usable when you flip the back seat forward (which is easily done, though). It also has four passenger doors, so I doubt I would use the back lid much at all.
2) Hyundai is selling it's smalles car, the i10, for only about 8000 € in the most basic version. Even though motor and horse power are almost identical with the C1, it is a much sturdier car with a bigger boot and more room altogether, it looks almost like a tiny SUV. My father has kindly offered to support me should I want to go for this car. (I can afford about 5000 € myself and he would cover the rest). It comes with a full 5 year warranty, inlcuding oil changes etc. But it has no air conditioning or any other extras. It does not even have electrical window openers or a simple radio (even though, a radio I could probably build in later with little trouble). Any extras would mean having to go for the next higher model which costs at least 2000 € more and is therefore absolutely out of reach.
So, what would you say is the better option? Go for a used car (even if I'd keep searching, I doubt I could find a much better offer than that of my colleague, small cars with a kilometre reading of less than 100,000 km are hard to come by in Germany at the moment), or go for the new one, even if that means going without the air conditioning? I think, even though the new one is more expensive now, if I take expected future repair costs and re-sale value after, let's say, 5 years into consideration, it does not make much of a difference in the long run. And I really like the safety of the 5 year warranty. My father bought his Hyundai at the same retailer, so I know it is not a scam and they really cover everything. And I like the thought of a new car. I've never owned a new car.
After having had a look around at the car dealers in my area and on the internet, I am currently considering two different options:
1) One of my colleague is selling his Citroen C1, built 2009, apprx. 70,000 km (43,000 miles) on the clock, he is the first owner and has all the papers, inspections and check-ups in order. I trust him that he is not keeping any former damages or the like from me and I think I could get him to sell it to me for about 3500 € (3000 £). The car is equipped with air conditioning and a CD/mp3 player/radio. The model does have a very flimsy boot lid, though, which has a tendency to leak. There are quite a few reviews on the internet about that problem and my colleague told me he did have water in the boot on a few occasions as well. The boot is tiny and only really usable when you flip the back seat forward (which is easily done, though). It also has four passenger doors, so I doubt I would use the back lid much at all.
2) Hyundai is selling it's smalles car, the i10, for only about 8000 € in the most basic version. Even though motor and horse power are almost identical with the C1, it is a much sturdier car with a bigger boot and more room altogether, it looks almost like a tiny SUV. My father has kindly offered to support me should I want to go for this car. (I can afford about 5000 € myself and he would cover the rest). It comes with a full 5 year warranty, inlcuding oil changes etc. But it has no air conditioning or any other extras. It does not even have electrical window openers or a simple radio (even though, a radio I could probably build in later with little trouble). Any extras would mean having to go for the next higher model which costs at least 2000 € more and is therefore absolutely out of reach.
So, what would you say is the better option? Go for a used car (even if I'd keep searching, I doubt I could find a much better offer than that of my colleague, small cars with a kilometre reading of less than 100,000 km are hard to come by in Germany at the moment), or go for the new one, even if that means going without the air conditioning? I think, even though the new one is more expensive now, if I take expected future repair costs and re-sale value after, let's say, 5 years into consideration, it does not make much of a difference in the long run. And I really like the safety of the 5 year warranty. My father bought his Hyundai at the same retailer, so I know it is not a scam and they really cover everything. And I like the thought of a new car. I've never owned a new car.
