I recently sold my car (BMW X5) to the guy that was fitting new windows at our home. The car wasn’t up for sale at the time, but he made me a good offer, so I sold the car in a short space of time.
I hadn’t had time to think about what I should replace the car with, so I hired a Toyota Auris from Anchor Self Drive and have been driving this around ever since.
So, what sort of car should I buy? I’m going to India on Thursday for 12 days then when I get back I need to start making decisions on this, and I could do with your help.
The way I see it, I’ve got 3 options:
Small car
At the moment, I’m driving the Toyota Auris.
It’s understated and I’m getting around 51 mpg which is great. I drove from Wakefield to the South Coast and back, and only spent around £50 on diesel. In the X5 I would have spent £100! The problem is that on long journeys, my back starts hurting because it’s not very comfy. Also, it’s a manual gearbox which makes it difficult to drive when I have a sandwich in one hand, phone in the other (just kidding) and I’m trying to navigate a roundabout.
Also, a few of the lads in the factory have started asking me if their jobs are safe – it appears that driving a small, cheap car has spooked them!
Medium Sized Car
I’m talking here about a rep’s car, like a Mondeo. Maybe stretching to a BMW or Audi. I’d be able to get my sample window easily in the boot, and some boxes of brochures. I might get 40 mpg out of a car like this also which is better than I have been used to.
A medium sized car would suggest to both staff and customers that I’m neither on the verge of bankruptcy, or a flash Harry. This is probably my favourite option at the moment.
Big car
Or, should I just say ‘What the hell!’ and spend a bit of money on a bit of luxury? I’d have to finance this option in some way, and I’d need to convince Alison that this would be a good ‘investment’.
I’m keen to do my bit for the environment, and buying a big, flashy car would be a step in the wrong direction. Luxury cars tend to only do around 25mpg which means lots of stops at the filling station. I’m also confident that my staff will all think I’m making too much money and ask for wage rises.
But, on the other hand, it’s good to show the world that Conservatory Outlet is doing well (which it is) and on longer journeys it’s nice to not get a sore back.
So, what should I do? Save money, play safe or splash out?
I’ve added a poll to the website to see if I can judge the feeling of my RCG readers. So please vote on the type of car you think I should buy. Alternatively, please leave a message below. Thank you.
Tags: big cars, cars, medium sized cars, small cars
I used to drive a Mitsubishi L200 (4work), it looked magic but was paying around £70 a week on fuel!!! – recently changed to a Fiesta diesel, now its £35 a fortnight and £35 a year road tax.
Not quite the image – but saving a packet!
Big luxury barge, something over 5 years old, almost zero depreciation and you will look like a poor publican, only need finance for fill ups but they do have large tanks. I think that will generate the perfect image, you could buy the wife a small Aston with the money you save.
As you would expect from me, it is seriously about presenting the right image. I know that you are buying into the ‘green’ issues and so your vehicle should say what you want to express to people, the image you want to project. You need to state that you are successful and yet not ostentatious; you need to express that you are a thinking (too much sometimes?), intelligent man, that you have ideals, sensibilities and are, above all a ‘modern man’. oh, and a family man to boot.
Therefore a Lexus RX 450h http://www.experiencelexus.co.uk/
Sorted.
You can do a lot better than that at http://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/
45mpg from a mercedes – all for £260 a month –
Audi A4 – Estate 50 mpg – £300 per month Exec –
Audi A3 Sportsback – 60 MPG ! ! – £230 per month
Renault Clio Estate – 65MPG ! ! ! £160 a month ! ! !
You know u want one ! !
Very good for backs ! ! !
Loads of space.
With the money saved you could give the staff a rise !
The perfect car.
Renult Megane estate – 50MPG – 0-60 8 secs !
£240 per month.
>neither on the verge of bankruptcy, or a flash Harry
Alfa Romeo 159ti Sportswagon
Scotty – not sure I’ll get the sample window in the Fiesta will I?
Mike – Just got rid of the big luxury barge over 5 years old.
Paul – I’ll check out the Lexus. Sounds perfect. But what image were you trying to portray when you bought the Chysler 300?
Mileage Man – I’ll have a look at your website. Do you do Lexus RX 450h’s?
Renegade, from one industry superhero to another – of course we do !
Ah ha !
We even have the LS600h at a tad over £1500 a month, £4500 down payment and 0-60 in 6 seconds. Not bad for almost 3 tonnes of muscle ! Driven carefullly you might get 30mpg. Go on, flourish your cape !
Ah ha ah ha.
But i am not sure the roof would be quite right for you.
Hey fellow caped crusader!
£1500 a month is a little bit more than I was hoping to spend. Gulp!
I may need to go for the Renault Clio Estate at £160 per month. Maybe if I go for a soft top Clio then we may get the roof right?
RCG
How about an Audi A8 they’ve got cracking lease deals at the moment and the cost of leasing is better than covering the depreciation in 3 years times when you’re trying to sell it.. 4.2 TDi and all the tricks spanking, big enough for your sample too or an RS6 or an A6 3.0 Tdi S-line Estate great cars all of them…
Buy a 02-03 Boxster S for weekends 12-14K sorry you’re in the 911 category I forgot a bit more then and lease your work one…
If not the Audi then either the Lexus (great car) or a new Jaguar XF (lovely) don’t buy the CLS Merc as Luci says they’re for older people and not funky people after all look at your brother (sorry Andrew I didn’t say it).
Anyway I’m supposed to be working..
Audi A4 all the way!
DB9 S. And thats all there is too it!! You can have my Vtec for 3k if you want? Send Ali to Meadow”hell” with an open account ;0) You deserve it…….
I agree with the astute Mr. Godwin – It has to be a Lexus RX450H – I had a test drive in one last Friday and it is awesome. You’ll get 44mpg (combined), equivalent bhp potential to the Lamborghini Gallardo and an incredible interactive cruise control system. It’s tight, sporty like you wouldn’t believe, very quick and very safe – all this and ‘green’ too – I was amazed there was no Edgetech logo on it!
given the appalling state of the roads these days and the large puddles that collect in a short rainfall, i’m personally thinking my next should be a 4×4 – discovery / 4 door pickup type vehicle.
Right now i have the new 2009 BMW X5. It is an attractive, and best selling, mid size, luxurious SUV vehicle. It has many features like high tech gadgetry, remote operating one-touch power windows, dual-zone automatic climate control and AM/FM/CD/MP3 12-speaker audio with auxiliary input etc. And i am satisfied with it.
Lambo in white, black trim, red piping, however if the family have to go with you go for a KHAN Range Rover, both will use the same amount of fuel as the Isle of Ske for a week, both are very un green (except the envy looks) however if you want to be green and on the sceen look at the hybrd lexus 400 range, Mel
Not sure the Lambo in white throws out the right message, Mel. (even with the black ‘Super spacer’ trim).
Think this hybrid Lexus idea has legs…
RCG
VW Caddy Van, nice flat panels for sign writing, better on tax.
You know why I chose the Chrysler 300; drug dealer/hit man looks…and so has the car! Love it – refined, fast, comfy and…cheap. My daughter has tagged it ‘the Primark Bentley’ perfect. But not for the sensitive, like you…
Im probably what you would call a road warrior, in my opionion you cant beat a bit of luxury, unfortunately this only tends to come in the form of a big fuel hungry car but i found the perfect answer in my Volvo S60. I know its a grandad car (or so my wife says) but i get the best of both worlds, all the luxury i can handle, unrivalled safety and to boot i get near enough 46mpg out of the 2.4 Turbo Diesel engine which is also pretty powerful, only thing to watch is the front tyres, i can tend a new set every 8-10k miles
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