May have to get a car for 2 months and then sell it again....

What would you buy for £3k?? want to take as small a hit as poss....

I might have to do this too. Watching with interest :)

If I were you I wouldn't bother just trying to avoid depreciation, why not aim instead to try to make a profit on the venture!? ;) This means avoiding the dealers and private ads completely, going to the auction and buying the best late reg car you can find (of any variety, it's only for two months!). Then when it comes to selling time, you should be able get more for it privately than what you bought it for.

Or am I just getting mercenary in my old age? ;)

3K hmm???? Big fook off flat screen telly:D:D

Or maybe a Clio 16v you can get a M plate one for that sort of money (maybe even with full leather) if you have a good hunt. And they are good fun behind the wheel too, you could probably sell it for the same money you paid for it.

[Edited by Tim-Grove - 7/7/2003 7:39:10 PM]

Get a cheap 19 valver, M/n reg.

They got to that stage where they cant really lose much more value lol and youll also have some of your 3k left :)

(the 19, where the valver engine belongs :) )

cletterrigde, nice idea!!

Never done the auction thing before... what would be a good buy for 3k??

CRX V-tec ?

3K you could buy a late (old)model Mondeo or Vectra? Do 10K ish miles in quick time and flog the thing for about the same money privately.

http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/threa...hreadID=226691
The plan was to do exactly as you suggested (run it for three months, then sell it) but due to a rapid change of circumstances (landed a new contract in London -- now go in by train) I'm selling it after only a month.

[Edited by carl - 7/7/2003 9:50:29 PM]

mr2 turbo?
fcd diode mod and 14psi boost it will run 250bhp all day long.

not much else will do 145mph and sub 14 quarter times for £3k

MR2 GT, bullet proof depreciation.

Think you saw mine at TOTB Plantie - bought it for £5700, and sold it 18 months later for £5000 - cant argue with that, after it had gone over the 100k miles as well.

Get a 92 J/K plate for £3k, and you will get that money back when you sell it - great cars as well.

Guys not looking for a sports car.... just something cheap to insure, cheap to buy and something that wont cost me anything or make me some money!

Any further suggestions...

Latest shape Punto V reg onwards, cheap insurance, cheap to run, won't depreciate too much in two months.

V plate Bravo's are going for the same sort of money, all the above applies, just a bit bigger.

No, this is where you've all got it wrong. If it's new-ish, it's still on the steep part of the depreciation curve. Small cars are the worst for this.

IMHO get something a bit older. If you're going to do a lot of miles, get something with high mileage as you won't make much difference to the value.

Get H/J reg or so BMW 520i for £2k or so.... it's bullet proof, and you'll easy be able to sell it on for the price you pay in 2 months. Saves you £1k! Or, if you want to spend the £3k, get a slightly newer one ;)

He only wants to run the car for a couple of months! Depreciation shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Mark 2 Golf Gti 16v - Big bumpers, BBS alloys, power steering, maybe in Oak Green if you're lucky...mmmnnnnn!

Mini Cooper :) Thats what we're gonna get. Great fun :D

jules -- I once bought a Fiesta for £6,300 (I think it was about a year old) and sold it 10 months later for £3,500, so depreciation can be an issue.

Top down fun over the summer? Eunos Roadster/Mazda MX5. Plenty of them about 3k should get you an average high miler uk spec, or a clean average miler import with goodies attached.

Golf.

No, don't do the MX5/Eunos thing.

1) You won't get one for 3k in the summer anyway
2) The prices for convertibles are seasonal. If you buy one now, you'll only be able to sell it for peanuts in two months' time (September). You'll need to wait until at least next March before the prices go up again.

I'd also go down the auction route if your looking for something short term. If you buy well you should be at least breaking even after 6 months. I think auctions actually have a section for cars under 3k, and you can also get a list for the next auction and go and see the cars in advance.
I'd probably go for a small engined hatchback if you want something cheap, non sports to run, maybe lateish VW Polo 1.2/4, diesel? should probably be able to sell it on OK as well.

Carl,

Like I said the guy wants a car for 2 months, the cheapest price of a new shape Punto is around the 3k mark and trust me, over the next two months they are not going to depreciate. I buy and sell the odd car, so if he buys wisely and picks up say a V/W plate for 3k, he will still be able to get that back in two months time....he may even be lucky and make a couple of quid!!!!!

You obviously didn't see the depreciation meister coming when you bought that Fiesta, but you obviously bought it when it hadn't finished it's ealry period of Price loss and were well and truly stung....that's just bad buying and selling......

He wants a cheap to insure, cheap to run runabout.

jules, nicely put.... hit the nail on the head! ;)
Jules I wouldn't mind having a chat with you about this further if you're open to that?

Punto seems like a decent idea..... any other possible suggestions??

No probs Plantie.

YHM :)

be smart and by private if you know your stuff, a local dealer wants £9K for a 1995 wrx, buy that and sell it private u'll be lucky to see £6K after 1 day- but buy private for £6K and you could get £5.5K in 12 months time the way the market is going.

PS- know your only talking £3K but you get the idea :)

get mine http://www.coaldust.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk.

:)

open to offers

oh and btw reffro i sold my mr2 for 1700 the next day :), did you get one in the end ?

[Edited by IwantAscoob - 7/9/2003 10:26:59 AM]

[Edited by IwantAscoob - 7/9/2003 10:27:33 AM]

Do you know any main dealers, If yes have a chat, anything over about 50,000 miles they wont put on the forecourt but sell to the trade or auctions. I was once in a situation where I was skint & needed a car. I bought an old Volvo 164 (TANK!!) that had just been traded in. It was one owner from new, FSH & 108000 on the clock & I think from memory about 8 years old. I paid £800, kept it for 14 months, replaced 1 bulb & sold it for £650.