Changing Cars (Dilema)

I'm not sure why you're insisting on diesel given the obviously tiny annual mileage you do? Depreciation is far more of a cost than fuel - as you've found by buying a savage depreciator.

Given that you are only doing low mileages - 6-8k a year - I'd rethink the diesel plan. They cost more in the first place, and you won't recover the extra in fuel savings unless you spend enough on fuel. Have you worked out if your present diesel has paid for itself (over a petrol model) yet? As to the Rover, you're in the 'sweet spot' where depreciation is minimal and it's not too likely that you will have major bills, as nothing should have worn out yet. So unless you're desparate for a new car, I'd hang fire for a bit. There's no harm in seeing what your local dealers will offer you as a trade-in, though. If you're looking at a similar car, I'd try the VW Polo (or Skoda/Seat equivalents if you prefer), the new 1.2 petrol and 1.4 diesel engines will give you excellent economy and they are great little cars. My dad has one and loves it.

Unless you are really fed up of the car, keep it! It has suffered most of it's depreciation and you can now enjoy a few years of cheap motoring in a car that from your description is still like new.

To mirror the other guys' opinions, put it this way - if you were offered your car for £1,250, would you snap it up?

It's not worth replacing it from a financial perspective, and it's almost certainly worth more as a car than as a deposit on a newer machine.

A car like yours is the one I'd look for if we were needing another machine (we're not going to be selling Kermit) - unfortunately, it's just not worth much, so if you changed, you'd be throwing your cash away.

And _don't_ go to a dealership with the above information, they'll fleece you! :(

Indeed Dave, but having had petrol's in the past, I'm quite happy to suffer a little more depreciation, as I think its worth the sacrifice for the reliability. IMHO, diesel is far superior to petrol, given you're not looking for a high performance car.

This said, some of the turbo charged diesels are certainly no slouches.

Thanks for the help... tox

I think you've hit the nail on the head, yep, it's certainly worth more than a deposit and anyone who buys it (even if it is a 115) will certainly be getting a nice motor and for a diesel, not much more than "run in"!

Thanks tox

I doubt there's much in it reliability wise these days given the amount of electronics in both. With a very basic old mechanical diesel design - possibly, although cold starting could be a problem.

Arguably not even run in, at that, heh! :)

Yup, I'd say you were right. Almost all modern diesels these days are controlled as closely as their petrol cousins - the exceptions possibly being the PSA 1.5 and 1.9 donks (the 1.5 being what the Rover 115 has). To quote a good friend of mine, "there's too much funky ship going on here." Too much emission control software and hardware, which needs precise computer control.

The days of putting just about anything into the diesel tank and it running are long gone. :-(

If you are truthfully doing no more than 5,000 miles a year, scan the ads for big huge luxurious gas guzzlers. MPG is not an issue. Fuel bill £875 a year. Lucky you. DaveK.

Nope, just 5k a year. Thinking about it I could pick up a half decent Roller for £10k ;-)

Regards tox

Exactly. Or more economically almost any Jag built over 10 years ago would cost less per annum total than the depreciation on any new car

Hello Mr DervMan,

Why isn't there a turbo diesel Ford KA out yet? Or something with a 1.6 or

in

I'm working on the Ka TDCi.

And there is a 1.6 out, the Sportka and Streetka have it.

The trouble with fitting a chunky sized donk is cooling, oh and of course marketing. If you want two litre power, Ford punt you towards the Focus, where they can charge you a heck of a lot more (because it's a larger car, heh!).

We've a 2.0 litre ZVH turbocharged conversion with the Klub, you know 240 odd PS, and yes it's quick enough to show up a whole manner of cars, and yes it needs chunky cooling. :)

:) Heh!

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