Advice Please…

Starkystark

Hi there,

This will probably sound similar to previous post - but a little back story. I currently am driving a 06 VW Golf 1.9 TDI - fabulous car. Bought in 2012 - has served me well. There is now over 320,000km in the clock. Timing belt, clutch and other bits have been done in recent years. My circumstances have changed and am now doing a round trip of 150km to work. I fear it’ll let me down.

I realise now that I’ve left it too late - that I really should’ve changed before Brexit/Covid and the market became so crap.

Now, I feel a bit apprehensive - and stuck at a crossroads. Do I hang on in there? Do I change? If I change, what should I go new or used? I’d like to hope that I’ll get similar years to what I got from the golf.

Also, having a quick look? What would one recommend? Seems very little difference in hatchbacks out there now.

I’m clearly not a Motor head - so any advice would be appreciated.

beertons

Keep it serviced and drive it on.

User1998

That car/engine would be more reliable than most newer cars on the road

MakersMark

Keep up on the services and run to fail.

Car prices should drop 12 to 18 months from now.

Toyotafanboi

The car probably would go on and on if you keep it serviced.

That being said, it is becoming an old hat at this stage visually, mileage is creeping up and it probably wont last forever.

The problem with these things is you couldn't justify another medium sized investment in a car like that and like any car, a medium sized investment is never too far away and what you want to so is have a newer car bought on your own time before somwthing breaks and that investment is urgent so you have to panic into a new car deal.

I dont see new or used car prices falling any time soon and in reality, while nobody likes being fleeced, if you pay the going rate for a car today, the longer you keep the car, the less important the price paid becomes IMO.

A 2019 Ford Focus with ST styling kit was about 27k I think in 2019- they’re now asking about 33k- while my figures may not be exactly correct, I’m not far off- that’s the difference the last 3 years has made- I’m in a similar boat to you- I’m keeping my old car for another 18 months if at all possible in the hope second hand values stabilise- it’s not like my car can depreciate much further - also if buying new, I might get an EV instead as hopefully range and choice will have expanded at that point or else there might be cheaper deals available on second hand ICE cars- I’d hate to be buying a second hand ICE right now

Muppet Man

drive it in othe ground and get value from the car. Get good breakdown assist with AA or your normal insurance cover, so if it does breakdown on the side of the road, you will be sorted.

Starkystark

Thanks everyone! I’ve been having a small bit of trouble with my own last few weeks - a mix of clutch and diesel injectors. All fixed up now but got a bit fed up and I did go on a bit of look last weekend. Can’t get over some of the prices for new/used golfs. Got a trade in quote for my own of €400! I spent more than that the last few weeks on it - so I’ll be keeping hold of it for another while!