The big one at the moment seems to be the dreaded changing of the car. Sometimes this is forced on us when the old one dies, or you just feel the need for something more modern.
There seems to be three categories here. The first is those with enough money to go out and buy the latest shiny example of what your heart desires. The second is with a very limited budget where you have to scrape around enough pennies to actually buy something roadworthy. Then the third, which I think most of us fall into is, we can afford something decent and practical.
Then the fun really starts. The market today seems to be moving faster, with every niche being filled by manufaturers keen to expand brands. Audi started with a Q7 4x4, then moved down to the ever popular Q5, then smaller again with the Q3, and maybe in 2016 we will see the Q1 ? So now the choices are greater, but this makes your decisions even more difficult.
Then you need to pay for it. Cash ? Its still done, but with the cost of new cars these days, most of us will finance it by going down the route of hire purchase or personal contract. The main benefits of the latter seem to be lower monthly repayments and a guaranteed future value at the end of the 3 or 4 year contract.
Another consideration is what do you want the car for ? Is it just to impress the neighbours ? Or do you need a practial way of getting to work ? Is space and saftey needed for the regular school run ? Or as I discovered the other day, a car needs to be a good all rounder. Capable of shuttling to and from the airport with bags and cases, then traveling across the country with comfort and economy in mind. Then not worrying too much about charging about muddy Cornish lanes.
So at the moment I seem to be sticking with what I have. My old Audi A6 Avant diesel is still ticking all the boxes, and would hate to lose it. In the past I changed an old Mercedes TE, for a newer Mercedes ML, and that was an experience that taught me that newer doesn't always mean better.
So if anyone has any questions for me or any issues you would like to raise, do get in touch.
