Managing all the trivials of buying a second-hand car
So why am I struggling so much? To be fair the old faithful 07 Ford Mondeo has barely complained as it has had its wheels knocked off kerbs, its backside smacked into unseen bollards, and its upholstery used as a playmat, place-setting, and vomit receptacle by overzealous children.
Its cavernous boot has been tested to the maximum, initially with buggies and high chairs on the slog from Cork to the in-laws in Belfast and Galway, and later with scooters, skates, bikes, and boots. That huge carrying capacity is playing a huge factor in the quest for a successor.
It is one reason why, at least four months after my wife and I started the “let’s just go for it” discussion, we are still staring out the window at the same car. Quite simply we are struggling to find a replacement that offers the same boot space in our price range. The “crossovers” that seem to be ten-a-penny on Irish roads these days are very impressive looking and “on-trend”.
But, from what I’ve seen, most are fairly useless when it comes to fitting a decent load in the back. Bar Skoda which is also well equipped in the boot, most of the other big family car makers would have you look at an estate if you want something of equal carrying-capacity — and will charge you a fair bit more to buy one.
Lust is also playing a role. I have fallen in love with the newest shape Mondeo. But the fact it is out of our price range is, to say the least, a problem. We have looked at several 2014 older-shape versions and they are... fine.
But as my wife has pointed out repeatedly if we go for one of those, as soon as we drive our new purchase off the forecourt a new shape version will glide past, and my head will drop a little. The up to €4,000 price differential to opt for a 2015 new-shape works out at the guts of €100 a month over the course of a four- year car loan. That’s a lot.
On the subject of money, engine size is also crucial. Our current Mondeo is a 1.6l petrol. It won’t set the world on fire from 0-60mph, but that doesn’t bother me. It has ample poke to get us from A-B in perfect time.
The big problem arises when A is Cork and B is Belfast as that means a trip to A and T and M.
The 1.6l petrol is just too small an engine for such a large car and the rev counter on the motorway tells its own story.
A return trip to granny and grandpa with all the gear means a €120 fuel bill. So we need a diesel. But it would seem that anything more than a 1.6d means any savings on fuel will quickly be eaten up by the cost of the insurance. We looked at the Opel Insignia because it too has a big boot.
Then there is the issue of mileage. Ideally a car should have done less than 20,000km a year, but many of the diesel cars I’ve seen within my not-too-stingy price range have mileage well in advance of that in their 2014-2015 models.
One thing I have also noticed throughout the search is the diversity in pricing among car dealers. I have seen, what appears to be roughly the same car in terms of spec and age, with a €2,000 ans €3,000 range. By nature I am an over-thinker. So I wonder is the person on the high-side taking the mick — or the person on the low-side selling a pup?
For now, I am in a quandary. Hold out for the price of the new-shape Mondeo to come down — and possibly see another new shape roll out of the factory; go for another make — any suggestions are more than welcome; or bite the bullet and buy an old shape car now and accept the disappointment. Decisions, decisions.
