CAR ADVICE

[GRAEMBO]

Im just about to start teaching in August, Shawlands Academy is where Ive been placed, and to travel, its looking like being by car.

With RBS I can take a graduate loan out, and the interest rate is around 9.4%, would it be worthwhile taking a bank loan and buying an older car outright, or getting a finance deal and paying it up?
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[Smiffy]

Depends. What size car do you need??
Large, small.
How many miles are you going to be doing a year?
How much do you want to spend a month on repayments???

 

[bigslice]

many miles a year will you do in it and do you have other car in household

 

[GRAEMBO]

probably do about 10k miles, and yes theres another car, but my mum uses it to get to her work.

ive been looking at astras, but wouldnt mind a clio/old megane

 

[Sneds]

I'm absolutely certain you can get better than 9.4% x

 

[bigslice]

think about how your golf clubs will fit in small clio. get a car with a big boot. and diesel, whats your budget.

 

[Kellfire]

My advice is a 1.9 TDi Golf, as new as you can afford. Comfortable, spacious enough for a golfer, stylish and will go on forever if you take care of it. I had one and wish I'd never sold it.

 

[Lump]

For that sorta mileage a small petrol engine would be best. You need to be doing 15k sorta miles to get the advantage of a diesel's MPG/vs buying price/vs Diesel price

 

[bigslice]

i think it might not be a new car he is looking at. but agree if its a new car and doing less than 15k then petrol.

 

[GRAEMBO]

anyone reccommend a dealership, or know of anyone who could do me a decent deal?

been looking for an Astra, but would be willing to look at others.

 

[madandra]

I know Shawlands quite well and I would suggest you buy a banger as it will get tanned inside a week.

 

[Smiffy]

We have a Vauxhall dealership within our group but with you up the top end of the country it isn't worth contacting them. Vauxhall dealers are renowned for doing deals so you should get a fairly decent deal up that way.
Astra is a good car. I've sold them new up until about 3 years ago and had two or three as demonstrators. If you can pick up a 1.4 model you will save a lot on petrol over the 1.6 and the performance isn't that different to be honest. As others have said, forget Diesel unless you are racking up the miles. Even doing 20k a year you would have to run the car for at least three years before you even recouped the price difference in fuel savings....
9.4% on a personal loan isn't a bad rate to be honest. Lots of places on the 'net advertise lower APR's but that's if you want to borrow about £20k over 10 years. Ask for a more "normal" amount of loan over a shorter term and it's amazing how the interest rate suddenly shoots up.

 

[GRAEMBO]

I know Shawlands quite well and I would suggest you buy a banger as it will get tanned inside a week.

i was in yesterday.....the scholls not too bad! I would feel bad being a probationer and having the flashest ar in the place though!

I live in motherwell, there is a peter vardy vauxhall dealership here, but I would want to shop around.

Is there a better time of the month to go for a car.

 

[Kellfire]

Is there a better time of the month to go for a car.

End of the month when they're trying to hit those targets.

 

[bigslice]

graembo whats your budget.

 

[GRAEMBO]

im thinking 180/190 per month if paying up

 

[bigslice]

all depends on your thinking, will replace every three years. so that it is under warranty. no major bills if it is faulty, or will you keep it longer and run risk of bills etc. my mother swaps hers every three years for piece of mind. my first three cars were second hand three year old and kept them for three. i saved on depreciation on buying a new car. currently my last two vans have been new and got rid after three..
my brother can highly recomend astra 1.6i sxi 16v 115bhp sport hatch 3 door. it has a LOW insurance group. im sure peter vardy will have one. bug smiffy for his thoughts as it seems he is in the trade.

 

[GRAEMBO]

its seems smiffy is in the trade, might try and bribe him with a round at bellshill for a good deal haha!

it was the 1.4 sxi I was looking at.

 

[bigslice]

my brother just sold his wifes astra to a young boy. he reckons it is more sporty and the insurance is cheap. my brother enjoyed driving it and couldnt fault it.

 

[Adrena1in]

My advice is a 1.9 TDi Golf...

Interesting, I'm thinking of changing and was about to post a thread asking if the Golf Mk4 boot was big enough for a set of clubs and small trolley...they don't look that large, but I guess I'll need to test-drive one first really.