to keep or to sell...

[sara3]

I have a 6 year old Alfa 147 and I love it but its value has sunk (as all cars do) and I can't decide whether to keep it or look for a new one. there's nothing wrong with it, but if anything should go wrong it'll be expensive, and then I'll be stuffed! I can't decide whether to part-exchange while it's running well. I know selling privately would be financially better, but that's too much hassle for me.

and I don't have a pot of money to just pop out and get a new one, btw!

any advice?

[weeal]

Hi Sara, lovely car that and Italian electrics are not the best but if its running ok without costing you TOO much money its wise to hang on a bit. Once a car starts costing you mega bucks its time to cut losses.

You got off with the gearbox this week so that was a relief, apart from that is it ok cost-wise?

[Lakitu]

My opinion is to exchange it while it's still running well.

My experience is that once it hits 6/7 years old there's always something. More often than not, I was spending more money than I care to count up fixing the damn things.

I exchanged my last car for my current, newer one and I've vowed that when she's 5, I'm exchanging again.

I really do grudge paying to get a car fixed.

[weeal]

Two entirely different replies there lol

At the moment youre getting nothing back on second hand cars.
Its cheaper to buy new cars but I think second hand loses out just now.

[sara3]

hmmm... it's a dilemma! it is okay cost-wise, but the insurance is high-ish.

but I'd only pick a similar car, so the insurance wouldn't go down!

I had a Fiat 500 courtesy car yesterday.. cute, but such a light-weight.. and the car tax would be �40 a year!!

[Lakitu]

You can buy mine if you like, she'll be 4 in March and she's very pretty :o)

[sara3]

pretty? I want a hunky car!

what've you got?

[weeal]

you'd get fed up with a light-weight Fiat tho, you'll be used to oomph and some comfort.
The tax was what made me sell my Alfa 2L, it was �115 or thereabouts for 6 months!! and the electrics were faulty and I had to take the fuses out at night or the battery ran flat lol
The insurance was also hefty yeah.
Even the Toyota I have is too much for me but I'd lose too much money selling it after 2yrs, so Im hanging in there as it would COST me to exchange it for not much more that I already have, and this car has cost me nowt in repairs in 2 yrs.

[Lakitu]

Meet Heidi....

http://www.direct-vehicle-leasing.net/images/c ar_images/hyundai%20coupe1.jpg

[weeal]

Hi Heidi nice to meet you.
Niiiice car, same colour Lakitu?

[weeal]

http://www.photogy.com/albums/Toyota/479Toyota _Avensis_Liftback_2.sized.jpg

Thats what I have now ^

[Lakitu]

Yes, that's exactly my car :o)

[Lakitu]

Hehehe, it's hard to imagine wee you driving that big car x

[sara3]

Heidi is very pretty :o)

there are some interest free deals out there (but cynical me think s there's always a catch) and I thought it might be a good time to buy.

but I do love my car :o/

[weeal]

I know Lakitu, think I might change my name from wee al to something else

[sara3]

my car is my only love interest :o(

[Lakitu]

Sara the garages will be falling over themselves to get a sale so I think you could be quids in if you exchange now.

Could you get another Alfa....just a newer one?

[sara3]

I'll look at the Alfa websites. I know that they have a bad reputation, problem-wise, but mine has been pretty good.

[Lakitu]

When I was looking for a car (and got Heidi), the Hyundai Coupe was the top of my list of cars I would like. I looked at websites and saw a lot of negative comments.

I took my chances and got her anyway and I've never had any problems with her (well, a flat tyre, but that's not manufactuing fault).

If you've never had any problems, then go with that. There's always going to be someone who will say your car is cr@p and at the end of the day, what can REALLY go wrong with a car under 5 years old anyway? Well, that's my ethos and I'm sticking to it LOL.