Bad time of year to be buying?

paulocon2

My reliable old Avensis finally drew it's last breath yesterday so I'm now on the lookout for a second hand car.

I've a rental car for a week to buy myself some time to go looking (thinking of an Octavia or something along those lines).

Just wondering if it's a bad time of year to be buying and if I'd be better off holding off until the new year (I'm not really in a position to do so but might be able to work something out)? I assume there'd be plenty of used cars entering the market come the turn of the year?

colm_mcm

How new a car were you looking at getting?

paulocon2

colm_mcm wrote: »

How new a car were you looking at getting?

oldest 2014
newest 2016

Tenzor07

Loads of small dealers looking to shift 2014's and 2016's..

Main dealers would only keep 181, 182, 191 on the forecourts and sell off 192 demo's in January...so unless you want a newer model then this time of year is as good as any...

colm_mcm

Usually I’d say to go to the uk, but I know in the case of the 151 Octavia I brought in recently, they’re adding €1750 to the VRT with a new NoX charge from January. I’m not sure you’d have one in and registered in time.

The used stock doesn’t just appear from January 1st either, it needs to be prepped and put up for sale, then you have the experience of dealing with garages who are out the door delivering new cars. I’d hold off til February if looking for the trade ins, You probably don’t have that long.

At least what you’re looking for isn’t depreciating huge amounts anymore. So I’d say see what you can get right now.

paulocon2

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Loads of small dealers looking to shift 2014's and 2016's..

Main dealers would only keep 181, 182, 191 on the forecourts and sell off 192 demo's in January...so unless you want a newer model then this time of year is as good as any...

Thanks for that. Sounds like there might be a bit of room for negotiation so!

colm_mcm

Are you looking at petrol or diesel, any particular extras you need?

bazz26

It might be worth buying something bangernomics to tie you over until Feb/Mar. Have a look at the bangernomics thread on here. Buy right but cheap with plenty of test and sell it on when you upgrade, you may not lose too much money on it over the next coupe of months. Plenty of old cars for small money that will have most of their depreciation done at this stage.

Idbatterim

What happened an avensis that is terminal op?

paulocon2

Idbatterim wrote: »

What happened an avensis that is terminal op?

Clutch gone. It's 2008 with very high mileage (teenagers so never off the road!). Owes me nothing at this stage. It had a couple of other issues (could take a bit of encouragement to start of a cold/damp morning) so I was planning to change come the new year..

paulocon2

colm_mcm wrote: »

Are you looking at petrol or diesel, any particular extras you need?

Diesel. No extras required..

Idbatterim

paulocon2 wrote: »

Clutch gone. It's 2008 with very high mileage (teenagers so never off the road!). Owes me nothing at this stage. It had a couple of other issues (could take a bit of encouragement to start of a cold/damp morning) so I was planning to change come the new year..

diesel better suited to auto, also clutch less likely to go. If its just the clutch and it goes for another few years, could be worth it. A newer car wont stand much abuse without the clutch etc going in that too, if its a manual...