New car time

[Troll]

Also commercial rates of lending are much higher than mortgages, so "renting" a luxury car is crazy - buying outright available in all price ranges, find what you like and prepared to drive for 5-7 years and you'll be quids in.

Disagree - no point in using cash for a depreciating asset

Use the cash to buy more gold or houses, and lease the car

[DimPrawn]

Disagree - no point in using cash for a depreciating asset

Use the cash to buy more gold or houses, and lease the car

Spot on. Put the cash into buying a bigger/better home and lease the car on min deposit. Borrowing rates are so low it makes sense.

[ZARDOZ]

Another for lease. It's almost impossible to sell a car these days for a good price. Morons would rather walk into a dealer and buy a car at a heavily marked up price than buy same car 1000s cheaper from a private seller. The devaluation of money has turned cars into white goods.

I went around a car supermarket at the weekend, loads of overpriced tatty base spec newish cars (obviously ex company cars). The place was heaving with people lining up to buy on finance.

[unemployed]

Another for lease. It's almost impossible to sell a car these days for a good price. Morons would rather walk into a dealer and buy a car at a heavily marked up price than buy same car 1000s cheaper from a private seller. The devaluation of money has turned cars into white goods.

I went around a car supermarket at the weekend, loads of overpriced tatty base spec newish cars (obviously ex company cars). The place was heaving with people lining up to buy on finance.

cargiant ??

[PurpleGorilla]

Note, the following are based on driving on the open road, not on track days/closed roads.


Reasons for buying a rear wheel drive car:
1. You only drive in dry conditions on straight roads.
2. You tow a caravan.


Reasons for buying a front wheel drive car:
1. You like a bit more control on the corners
2. You don't tow a caravan


Reasons for buying a four wheel drive car:
1. You drive in a variety of conditions
2. You don't mind paying extra for worse fuel economy than R/FWD




But those who say they are "one brand for life" are missing out on actually enjoying driving. Shop around. Test drive a few. Buy something that a permie wouldn't.

RWD is sublime in corners?

[portseven]

So to summarise, the winner is the Subaru Outback, my next car.

Get one with heated leather seats.
Tough as nails, acres of space and huge boot, will last 200K miles, and go anywhere, in all weathers, in comfort.
Handy for those of us who like skiing and have relatives who live up muddy tracks.

Against my better judgement I am going to admit owning a Subaru Legacy.... All the points above I can verify. All garages I have taken Subaru's too have commented on how well made and reliable they are. I have had various Imprezas in the past too, same thing, reliable, tough and good to drive.

One point though, their Sat Nav / Stereo is awful, cheap, poor interface and clunky. Consider an aftermarket swap if that sort of thing bothers you.

[WTFH]

RWD is sublime in corners?

On open roads in the wet/snow/ice, "sublime" and "controlled" become mutually exclusive.


On a private track hooning it with no other cars around, it may be great fun, but most people drive on public roads.


Or, to put it another way, when did a rear wheel drive car last win the WRC?

[DimPrawn]

Subaru owner

[PurpleGorilla]

On open roads in the wet/snow/ice, "sublime" and "controlled" become mutually exclusive.


On a private track hooning it with no other cars around, it may be great fun, but most people drive on public roads.


Or, to put it another way, when did a rear wheel drive car last win the WRC?

Having owned a few FWD hot hatches, and now a RWD 320D, the difference in steering in epic. Had one moment with very wet rain on the M-way, standing water, and a massive side wind gush. But I've had that experience in an Octy estate too.

[darmstadt]

Totally does, you even quoted my note at the top. And we're talking about road cars here, not race cars.

Okay, DTM...I have a 430bhp RWD and drive through a lot worse weather than the UK get, twisty roads and all and have no problems.