Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[badhuis]

Peter Scott mentioned in another topic he bought a new MkIII Escort. Just wondered if there are more persons who bought a new car from their own money. So no lease cars please.

I have never bought a new car, and probably will not do ever. The cost of depreciation is just too much in the first years. However, that would not matter much if you plan to keep the car for a longer than usual period. With that in mind I came close to buying a new car twice.

First was a Citroën 2CV, in 1989 or 1990. They were to be discontinued and I had fond memories of my first car, a 2CV4 nine years earlier. But I was just saving to buy a house, I did not make much money with my job back then and I did not have some nice inheritance money at the time.

Second was 10 years later when the Mini was replaced by the New Mini. By then these old style Minis were quite expensive. This, plus the fact that I am not a 100% Mini lover (give me an Imp any day) made the decision easier not to buy new.

Did you buy a car new? And for how long did you keep it?
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[emmerson]

We bought a new Citroen Ami 8 in 1972. Bright red, and Herself loved it! We got rid only nine months later, as it had been damaged by other drivers three times in that short ownership, so we decided to cut our losses before it got serious.
It was hit from behind at only a month old, then scraped from end to end down the right side by a mobile shop, then the final time was head-on with an errant motor cycle. I think we only actually drove the car for about four months out of the nine.
We've never bought new since then.

[Rick]

I've never bought a car new. This is partly because, as badhuis states, depreciation is such a killer. Plus, I tend to like big old comfy cars with large engines, which would incur huge costs to buy new (not forgetting the high road tax payable on brand new cars), and as I don't drive on a daily basis, it'd just be sat around for most of the week anyway.

RJ
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[Da Tow'd]

In 1968 I bought a new 1968 VW type 3 Fastback.
I traded in a 1964 VW Bug that I had used hard on many Rallies and autocrosses and hill climbs.
A couple of German mechanics came out to look at the '64 and shook their heads while looking at my decambered rear wheels and the holes on the front bumper where I had 5 Lucas driving lights mounted.
The Fastback served me well but sold it when I went into the Air Force a year later.

[mikeC]

The only new car we have bought was this Hyundai Getz for my wife, and then only because she got a contribution from her employer at the time:



That was in August 2005; we still have it and have no plans to change it - if we live long enough we may even see it become a classic!
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[Bitumen Boy]

I've never bought a new car and doubt I ever will. I think I've talked a few people out of changing cars over the years - the number of people who seem to think they have to get rid of a car just because it's a bit old is quite extraordinary. But as I always say, so long as it starts on a cold morning, goes, stops and turns corners, and it gets you where you need to go, why do you need anything else? If it's unreliable or no longer meets your needs, or you can't get parts any more, that's the time to get rid - not before.

[peter scott]

The Escort was certainly a learning exercise for me. When buying a used car you can see how well (or otherwise) it ages. The first shock with my Escort was how easily the paint chipped off the bonnet. The second shock was how reluctant the dealership was to rectify it or compensate me. The next problem was that, either there was a problem with the alternator or they had simply overfilled the battery because it overflowed and took all the paint off that area of the engine compartment. Once again the dealer was useless.

Yes, I would never buy another car from new but had no problem with a couple of good company cars.

Just to balance the anti-Ford thing, I have now happily been enjoying Ford cars as my modern for the last 15 years.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Keith D]

I have bought a few new cars since 1987.

1987 Mitsubishi Colt 5 speed manual. Bought it for my wife. She had one drive of it and gave it to me, pinching my Chrysler Valiant at the same time. I got to like the little Colt and used it mainly as a commuting car too and from Perth every day. Kept it for 100,000 kms and sold it in 1991. It ended up with me in Karratha in the Pilbara (north-west of Western Australia in the open-cut mines). A boring car but incredibly reliable

1992 traded the Colt for a new Mitsubishi Lancer 1.8 coupe. 5 speed manual. Gorgeous little car. kept this one for 200,000 km and replaced nothing except consumables.

1998 bought a new Mitsubishi Magna 3 litre four speed automatic for my wife. Another brilliant car. Kept it for 220,000 km and the only problem was when a faulty timing belt tensioner was fitted at 200,000 km. This resulted in severe engine damage that the company concerned rectified at their expense. Sold this vehicle in 2011.

2003 I bought a Mitsubishi Magna 3.5 litre four speed automatic for my own use. It was unfortunately written off by a friend last year with 180,000 km on the clock. Only problem with the car during its life was a failed fuel gauge sensor ($80).

In 2011 bought a new Holden Barina for my wife. 1.6 litre 5 speed auto. The same, or very similar to your Chevrolet Aveo. So far this car has just 50,000 km on the clock and has needed nothing other than consumables.

During this period of time I have bought many other vehicles, but they have all been secondhand, or preloved as the local car yards love to say.

I only buy new cars when I intend keeping them for a very long time.

Keith
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1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

[Ray White]

The Vauxhall Zafira GSI (2litre twin turbo) was the best new car I have ever bought. I loved it but traded it in after 5 years for what I imagined would be an improved version; the VXR.

What a mistake that was. I wish I had kept the GSI. A good one is probably a classic now.



The VXR was a big disappointment and would probably have gone up in flames! I only kept it for 6 months.

[consul 57]

i have managed to buy 2 brand new cars, both for my driving school
the first a 2001 yaris mk1 1ltr was part exchanged for a 1.4 diesel mk2 yaris in 2006.
the mk1 never used any oil or water, infact i spent only on tyres, it had 70,000 on it when swopped.
i stopped the driving school in 2014 and kept the yaris, it had 70,000 miles on it in 2014, it now has 140,000 although i have had to spend some money on a few new bits, it still has it's original clutch and rear brake shoes.
i shall keep it until it is no longer running as i see no reason to get rid of it yet.

[Ray White]

[Rick]

Thinking about it, I'm the only person that's had big Dodge officially road registered, so while not new or remotely in the first flush of youth (!), technically I'm its first fully-registered owner.

RJ
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[MVPeters]

[Rick]

[ukdave2002]

I must have bought a dozen or so new cars over the years for my self and my wife.
Whilst its true depreciation on just about anything will be highest in the early years, virtually nobody pays list price;, I'm in the process of changing my modern now...timing is key; its coming up to the dealers year end, this is the time they will offer the best discounts, I'm getting 17.5% off list, a 4th year warranty and free servicing for 4 years.

In 1998 I bought my wife a brand new Vauxhall Sintra, a year or so later it polled the lowest score in the JD Powers survey.....we kept the car for 10 years it covered over 120,000 miles including holidays all over Europe, with all the rear seats out it was our Transit van whilst we restored our house, contrary to the JDP survey it was very reliable, there was a problem with the alarm in the first month, sorted under warranty and apart from the driveshafts needing replacement around 90,000 miles all it required was routine services.

I'm afraid I'm a sucker for new technology, so get drawn in to dealers like a moth to the flame!

Dave