Cars and long boats...

[boglin]

The car has got to the stage where it is costing me too much money. Last month was a couple of hundred to get it through its MOT, this month just short of 200 for a service and some bits and pieces that need doing - with another estimated 400 that needs to be done in the near future - brakes, rear suspension, indicator timer unit etc. etc. I'm not happy with the brakes at all at the moment, and am wondering whether I should stick it in to get that done anyway.

Unfortunately, the only possible way I have of buying another car right now is by putting it on my credit card, which will mean getting even further into debt that I can't realistically pay off. Chiz, curses. I was hoping it would last me another couple of years. Maybe I should just grit my teeth, shell out for the work and keep my fingers crossed...

In other news I have been reading The Orkneyinga Saga since finishing Harry Potter, to summarise:

The Orkneyinga Saga, abridged

A bunch of men all called Earl sail around in some boats, steal each others pocket money, throw their toys out of the pram and kill each other.

The end.

Comments

[loopee-lu.livejournal.com]

What about getting a car on higher purchase? That's how I'm planning on getting a car. In the long run you obviously have paid more, but it can be as low as £170/ month. Just went to see someone about it today!

[eeymsmo.livejournal.com]

That still works out pricey.

My old method used to be buying old cars that would last the 11 months till their MOT ran out and then get another. Worked out cheaper in the long run as usually I was paying £3-400 for a car for 12 months (in your case it'd be £2040). Also cut down on servicing costs, as if it was silly money it was cheaper to scrap the car and get another.

[loopee-lu.livejournal.com]

Yeah but you get a car that is only about six months old. Less likely to break down. By buying a car that is older is more likely to break down before the 11 months are up. Although HP is pricier, you get a new car, likely to last longer and you can always go back to the dealership if there is a problem.

Both ways have + and - aspects.

[eeymsmo.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily more likely. The car I've had to have the most work done on is my current 2 year old Honda (so no exactly a company renowned for shoddy workmanship), it's been back in for steering rack, ECU, head lining and Drivers seat. Car components like most components tend to follow a Bathtub curve for failing.

This was more for Jane's benefit as she was looking for a cheap car without increasing her borrowing. Just pointing out that for this years Service and MOT costs you could buy a reasonable reliable runabout.

[loopee-lu.livejournal.com]

Fair 'nuff. Just thought I'd mention it.

Just in case you didn't know...

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

If you buy any car from a dealership (i.e. not just one on HP) it has to be of satisfactory quality bearing in mind the price you paid for it. Any fault that pops up within 6 months is assumed to have been present at the time of purchase unless that can be disproven.

If you buy on HP you also have the option of suing the loan company if the car's duff, which can be useful if the garage is run by a bunch of crooks.

[boglin.livejournal.com]

But the problem with that is if anything goes wrong *within* that time. First car I bought was fairly cheap, it had broken down within two weeks, and I was another 300 worse off. I think I had that car for three years, and overall it cost me far more than my current Fiesta which I got three years ago from a Ford dealer.

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

I'd really advise against that - if you want to borrow money to get a car get a loan from your bank rather than take the HP option. The reasons? The APR is usually higher, the loan is secured on the car, the companies that do it are usually a bunch of cretins, it's really easy to end up in negative equity and as a solicitor I see it go wrong day after day and have to sort the mess out.

[boglin.livejournal.com]

A lot of people aren't able to get a bank loan though, so HP is their only option.

[s0b.livejournal.com]

"Men die, cattle die, and even the deeds of heroes wither into insignificance when cruelly paraphrased."

"Some blokes go off and then a monster comes and then one of the blokes kills the monster and then his mother comes so the bloke goes and pulls her arm off" - Beowulf

"A speccy kid with no mates finds out he is a wizard and rides around on a broom in some 1950s style bording school. Badness happens but they win the house cup in the end" - Every HP novel

"A farmers son goes off with an old bloke in a dress and ends up being abused by a dwarf in a swamp" - Star Wars

These are fun - See if you can guess these ones:

"A bloke named Harold goes out one day and has a fry up. Stuff happens and then he comes home and shags his wife"

"Some blonde kid goes to live with a miser and then a horse falls into a hole"

"Word! Yo Yo Yo! The end"

[boglin.livejournal.com]

Number 3 could be the Bible?...

[s0b.livejournal.com]

yes!

[s0b.livejournal.com]

(I should point out that #1 is *really* unfair because he's not called Harold at all in the book)

[quercus.livejournal.com]

Ulysses ?

[s0b.livejournal.com]

yep

[quercus.livejournal.com]

#2 - Silas Marner ?

[s0b.livejournal.com]

indeed!

[grega.livejournal.com]

But what about Svein, Sigurd and Magnus? Of course Early sounds a bit girly.

[ex-john-hat807.livejournal.com]

Could delay service until cashflow a tad more healthy and get brakes done instead. Could also check most of the service items yourself/get a random mate to do it for pints. Unless its a timing belt change service (which, from an estimated cost of £200, I'd guess it isnt).

re: buying cheap car, never done it, cannot advise. Re: buying new car, I wouldnt go HP and buy a new car, but if you are going to go dealer, get a 2 year old one with one of the "approved car" warrenties - thats what I normally do.

My twopennyworth - not much help, really, - sorry.

[boglin.livejournal.com]

No - have just had the service done today, due to impending journey to Orkney. I'd certainly never buy a new car due to depreciation, but tbh, buying isn't really a sensible option in the next couple of years anyway.

[dreamfire.livejournal.com]

carsupermarket finance deals? some have two years on 0% (ie no need to repay) I've never looked into it to see what the long term repayment is like in comparison with credit cards though - but if it isn't too bad then you get to have your two year treat two years early... or something.

I got beguiled by adverts and it doesn't work like that at all does it really...

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

The last sentence is right. They're all bastards. IF they didn't make any money out of it they wouldn't be offering it.

[dreamfire.livejournal.com]

I think they make money on it if you don't manage to repay in the 0% phase - if you do then you're clever and quids in. Doesn't help situation for J though - or actually mean you can do the two years without paying thing I was thinking of. In general terms paying over 2 years without interest at all is quite nice - I've done it with fridges and washing machines

[boglin.livejournal.com]

I think you make money on it one way or another. I presume the carsupermarket places charge more in the first place. I think, after considering it, it's best to keep this car running as long as I can.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mrx_/]

you could do the brakes yourself - parts from halfords. it's easy enough, usually. ain't you got the indicator thingy working properly yet. i can remember you writing it on lj before.

cars (and bikes) do cost a lot. but of course buying another doesn't guarantee you won't need to repair the new one...

i'm rather worried about how fast i'm wearing out tyres on my bike - under 200 miles and there's noticable wear to the rear :-( i guess i could ride slower :-((

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mrx_/]

"under 200 miles "

2,000 miles