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Post by clunes on Oct 25, 2022 16:06:07 GMT
So, My partner is seriously considering trading her Audi Q3 TDI 184bhp (65 plate approx 43k miles) to release funds for our house rebuild. With Pandemic, logistics, war etc costs continue to rise (couldn’t have timed things worse but hey ho!) and any cash will reduce borrowing. Budget - around £5k (which would give us about 10k back) but lower is fine and max £6k if it meant a longer term option. Requirements - Short trips, school runs, occasionally 4 up but most often just 2. Performance not a priority but some sense of ‘style’ would be nice rather than a pure ‘white food’ Age and Mileage not a major issue - condition more important but she is still of the mindset that 100k miles = ancient  She’s pointed out the Fiat 500 a few times which would fit the bill but happy / want to hear alternate suggestions plus tips on the 500 itself |
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Post by Big Blue on Oct 25, 2022 16:10:05 GMT
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Post by ChrisM on Oct 25, 2022 19:48:58 GMT
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Post by ChrisM on Oct 25, 2022 20:18:07 GMT
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Post by Roadrunner on Oct 25, 2022 21:23:43 GMT
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Post by racingteatray on Oct 26, 2022 0:02:38 GMT
Try a Fiat 500 before you buy one. My wife loves hers to bits and has had it for nine years, but whilst it is cute, stylish, well-equipped and perky to drive (or at least our Twinair version is), I find the driving position desperately uncomfortable (at 5’10, I’m not very tall but I do have long legs for my height and just find I end up sat in a very awkward position).
I was reminded of this today as I had to pick it up from its service and MoT in Stockwell and then sit in traffic for half an hour to get home.
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Post by racingteatray on Oct 26, 2022 0:06:14 GMT
Also check the steering rack is ok (does the steering self-centre as it should), because apparently the failure rate of these on 500s (and the closely related 2nd gen Ford Ka) is 80% according to our local Kwikfit.
Ours just failed and it cost £500 to replace it from a specialist. Fiat wanted over £800 for the pleasure.
They also chew suspension components if taken anywhere hear speed humps.
Apart from that, ours hasn’t suffered any faults to date.
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Post by Alex on Oct 26, 2022 4:09:56 GMT
I'm only 5'7" and I find my wife's Panda uncomfortably small so the 500 must be tiny! Does it really fit the bill if its that small? Of course the question and indeed this thread may be somewhat moot if she's already set her sights on one, in which case just go for the best in budget and let her choose what colour combo she's after. There's loads of em out there so she should find one she likes. As with Racings 500 our Panda has been pretty reliable but eats through suspension bushes so check the tyres are not worn on the inside. We've had tyres become MoT failures despite plenty of tread due to poor alignment caused by worn suspension components. The 1.2 engine is peppy enough and she gets about 45mpg in the boxy Panda so the slightly more svelte 500 should be a bit better. The Panda is a good alternative if the 500 is a bit small. Perhaps you could persuade her to look for a 100hp model.
If she is willing to listen to alternatives then the Mini is a good shout but Chris might be onto something by picking out examples from the likes of Ford as you'll get something newer within your budget.
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Post by PG on Oct 26, 2022 7:18:24 GMT
Clearly I'm going to vote for a Mini of some kind. Cooper 3 door being the best shout - and most numerous to choose from - as already said. Try and find one with climate control and sat nav and avoid runflat tyres (usually only found on big wheels).
But also, you've kept the new "Mrs Clunes" very quiet, you dark horse.....
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Post by Martin on Oct 26, 2022 10:58:45 GMT
Clearly I'm going to vote for a Mini of some kind. Cooper 3 door being the best shout - and most numerous to choose from - as already said. Try and find one with climate control and sat nav and avoid runflat tyres (usually only found on big wheels). But also, you've kept the new "Mrs Clunes" very quiet, you dark horse..... Indeed and you’re at the rebuilding a house together stage! MINI is the obvious, but right answer to the question and will be a nice upgrade over a Q3 diesel! |
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Post by racingteatray on Oct 26, 2022 11:58:40 GMT
I do very much like our Mini, and my wife (not hitherto a Mini fan) has also admitted that it is jolly nice.
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Post by bryan on Oct 26, 2022 12:09:42 GMT
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Post by Big Blue on Oct 26, 2022 20:27:52 GMT
I was reminded of this today as I had to pick it up from its service and MoT in Stockwell and then sit in traffic with the doors locked for half an hour to get home. FYP. |
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Post by ChrisM on Oct 26, 2022 20:33:10 GMT
If she is willing to listen to alternatives then the Mini is a good shout but Chris might be onto something by picking out examples from the likes of Ford as you'll get something newer within your budget. Candy blue Fiestas are the best ;-) |
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Post by clunes on Nov 1, 2022 17:46:32 GMT
Thanks all, Yes - I had suggested the Mini as the obvious answer and it's definitely an option - something like this would fit the bill: www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209280210698?model=Hatch&make=MINI&radius=1501&sort=relevance&include-delivery-option=on&body-type=Hatchback&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&aggregatedTrim=Cooper%20Graphite&postcode=sl99ex&page=1&percentVehiclePriceDeposit=trueThat said, she does like the 500 and you can get one much newer/lower mileage for the same price so test drives/sits will determine the outcome. I'd also suggested Ford, Kia etc but they lack that certain something (albeit likely a 'better' car for the cash). Regards keeping things quiet - I guess so - but it's been over 4 years since separating from my ex and it's been nice having things fairly low key! The house was the only thing I could really afford in my neck of the woods post divorce but its a nice plot/location and had potential (it was a 2 bed chalet bungalow in dire need of modernising). So, I/we are in the process of converting it into a 3 bed 'proper' house (i.e 2 floors) with study/4th bed downstairs but, as someone else mentioned in another thread, costs are somewhat higher (eye watering is the common term) now than when I first drew up plans (pre-pandemic) so every penny saved really does count. Essentially the only part of the house left after stripping back was 3 outer walls and the foundations under them - everything else is ground up new - plumbing, electrics, flooring, windows, second floor, roof, utility, bathrooms, kitchen and so on - so you can probably imagine the expense - especially with 'London Tax/Prices' (not strictly london but close enough to be priced similar) |
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Post by Alex on Nov 7, 2022 17:47:59 GMT
Might have been cheaper to buy a three bed house in the first place! Good luck with it though.
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Post by Big Blue on Nov 7, 2022 18:59:58 GMT
Might have been cheaper to buy a three bed house in the first place! Good luck with it though. Nah. When we bought our house another option was a similar sized detached further from the rail station but easier for the bus to the tube. It needed total renovation but we had a six month old daughter at the time and W2.1 wasn’t keen. Whilst our house was perfectly habitable we have ripped out walls, refurbed the stairs, new bathrooms, new kitchen, new floors etc to get it how we want it (the playroom and drawing room remain to be changed, the former to a cinema / teen room the latter modernised with a FUCKING LOCK TO KEEP KIDS OUT PERMANENTLY!) so getting the full renovation house and spending a period getting it how we wanted it from the off would have been preferable. Still hoping to find the right bit of land to build that Huf or Weber Haus, because having looked at the nice big houses in Cheam I could now afford I can’t see the point of paying several hundred thousand extra for a house that is marginally bigger but further from the station to be in the “posh” bit. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2022 21:56:45 GMT
It might still be cheaper to sell and buy. Single floor dwellings are hard to find with healthy demand.
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Post by Tim on Nov 8, 2022 9:31:21 GMT
Might have been cheaper to buy a three bed house in the first place! Good luck with it though. Nah. When we bought our house another option was a similar sized detached further from the rail station but easier for the bus to the tube. It needed total renovation but we had a six month old daughter at the time and W2.1 wasn’t keen. Whilst our house was perfectly habitable we have ripped out walls, refurbed the stairs, new bathrooms, new kitchen, new floors etc to get it how we want it (the playroom and drawing room remain to be changed, the former to a cinema / teen room the latter modernised with a FUCKING LOCK TO KEEP KIDS OUT PERMANENTLY!) so getting the full renovation house and spending a period getting it how we wanted it from the off would have been preferable. Still hoping to find the right bit of land to build that Huf or Weber Haus, because having looked at the nice big houses in Cheam I could now afford I can’t see the point of paying several hundred thousand extra for a house that is marginally bigger but further from the station to be in the “posh” bit. I'll sell you an acre of land with spectacular views if you want? Only 10 minutes from the station too I'm not specifying which station that is though |
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Post by clunes on Nov 8, 2022 10:31:15 GMT
Might have been cheaper to buy a three bed house in the first place! Good luck with it though. When I bought there was no way I could have got into a 3 bed detached house so had to settle for what I could post divorce - which was buying the (sort of 2 bed) chalet bungalow. Before starting the refurb I looked at all options - including selling and re-purchasing but anything close to what mine will end up like are at least £300k more - and that doesn't include fees, stamp duty etc. There were/are properties of similar size at less of a premium but these almost always require complete modernisation (decoration, bathrooms, kitchen etc) which are major cost items. The benefit of doing the rebuild is that I will end up with a far higher specification / quality that should need 'nothing' doing for the foreseeable future. I'll get back what I put in plus a little on top (though probably not a huge amount more especially if the market drops) but that's not the goal. This is to provide a house big enough for us all and a bedroom for all the kids when mine are also over and stability for the next 5 years or so until the kids are older and more independent. To put house prices where I live into some perspective (not London prices but still very high) this is currently under offer a couple of minutes walk from me. Whilst similar in terms of size, and not needing any major work, it isn't as nice for a few reasons: - Smaller square footage (even taking into account the outbuilding) - Smaller bedrooms - Lower spec kitchen/bathrooms - Semi detached (mine is detached) - Smaller garden/plot - On a slightly busier less desirable road (but not that busy) The plus is parking - mine currently doesn't have that but I have plans to sort that at some point. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124489499#/?channel=RES_BUY (775k) This is closer in size to mine with south facing garden (as is mine) but I would want to re-configure and modernize - and it's >800k www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/127553582#/?channel=RES_BUY |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Nov 8, 2022 10:58:40 GMT
I think you've struck lucky in actually finding a suitable 2 bed bungalow you can do up - these are usually snapped up very quickly.
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Post by johnc on Nov 8, 2022 12:02:09 GMT
Those houses are ludicrously expensive.
On a square foot basis our house would be worth £1.2m!!!!!!!!! and I can assure you it isn't worth half of that.
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Post by clunes on Nov 8, 2022 12:27:10 GMT
Those houses are ludicrously expensive. On a square foot basis our house would be worth £1.2m!!!!!!!!! and I can assure you it isn't worth half of that. Welcome to the crazy world of house prices in this general area! You can quite easily spend circa £1 million on a 2/3 bed flat within a few minutes walk. It's partly why, even though we both earn what many (myself included) would consider to be a very decent wage, we genuinely feel cost pressures and do not consider ourselves to be 'rich' despite what it might say on a graph somewhere as the level of disposable income is not so high. Don't get me wrong - I know full well that we are in a privileged position and we don't have to worry each day about heating vs. eating etc but I am sitting in 3 layers right now (t-shirt, jumper & coat) indoors so as not to use too much heating, I buy food on 'yellow' label whenever possible - even from the discount stores (Lidl gets the majority of my spend) and shop around for almost everything and am generally cautious with money as I know things will get harder. Having 2 mortgages, council tax bills etc in the short term obviously impacts things and that should improve (although not by a huge margin given where interest rates are going) over the coming months but as a household we are likely in the earnings bracket others look at and say 'if the rich paid more tax then we could solve funding crisis' - I know I'm preaching to the choir here but the reality is far from as simple. I should probably have put this in the 'rants' section |
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Post by Big Blue on Nov 8, 2022 12:41:36 GMT
When I saw you post that Porsche I had an idea where you were. The Chalfonts are expensive and pretty much on a par with here in KT4 price-wise. Nice part of the country to live so don’t blame you for stretching yourselves.
Re: wealth. The have-nots / can’ts / won’ts don’t see past the asset value. A lot of our neighbours live in £8-900k houses and are living on a few hundred a month because when they bought it it was just a suburban semi. Some at the end of work life might be in jobs that pay a fraction of their next door neighbour because they’ve stayed with one employer for a long time and not had the market-rate matching pay jump that comes with changing jobs. They’re the ones that are fucked by bill increases because apparently they’re wealthy living in an “expensive” house.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2022 12:43:29 GMT
Having a little dosh does not mean throwing it away, common sense everywhere does no harm and why not protect what you have. It goes quick enough whoever you are.
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