Depreciation resistant contractor's cars?

[bobspud]

You're braver than me. They'll be under 5k within 3 years looking at current prices on Autotrader. So get a 3 year old one (if you're flexible on the engine) and put the spare 20k into something else.

Personally not keen on the Dame Edna light surrounds of the recent 9-5. Must have been the same designer that did the previous generation BMW 5 series (E60). Fugly.

I bought one the last of the 55 plate old shaped cars. So i didn't have the silly front on mine.

I just got off the phone with my tame mechanic, and my Saab has bitten the dust big time. I bought it for £18,000 with a 10K discount. (try that at an audi dealers) We used it as the family car for 50K miles then I added 90k to its clock while using it as a company car fill in and for dump runs while I was doing up the house. I owned it for just over 6 years and in that time all it needed replaced was a head light levelling sensor and the cartridge that fires the spark plugs...
Given that I earned business miles for most of the cars life. I don't think it owes me a penny. Most years I took about £10K out of the business in milage rates.

I had a car that was as fast as most cars that cost three times as much. It was invisible to my customers, I never felt the need to keep its milage down in case it hurt the resale value. and I didn't feel too worried about treating it rough.
So if Saab could offer me a new 2.8 v6 Turbo estate I would struggle to find a good reason not to take it.

I expect that nearly all the cars I can get for sub 30k are going to be significantly slower

[swamp]

That is what appeals to me about the Toyota. My current car is a turbo charged 350bhp monster and whilst I love it, it can be a little too quick at times. Plus the fuel consumption is rubbish. I think 200bhp in a car that light will be more than enough.

Power is no fun if you can't use it.

[Sysman]

I travel on the Special School bus.

FTFY

[Sysman]

Given that I earned business miles for most of the cars life. I don't think it owes me a penny. Most years I took about £10K out of the business in milage rates.

I had a car that was as fast as most cars that cost three times as much. It was invisible to my customers, I never felt the need to keep its milage down in case it hurt the resale value. and I didn't feel too worried about treating it rough.

Now we are getting to the crux of the matter:

• something which is reliable
• something which is suitable for long distances / heavy traffic and you can step out of at the other end feeling fresh
• something that is not "in the customer's face", yet smart enough to say you aren't driving a banger
• something which earns its keep so depreciation becomes a minor issue

[bless 'em all]

Now we are getting to the crux of the matter:

• something which is reliable
• something which is suitable for long distances / heavy traffic and you can step out of at the other end feeling fresh
• something that is not "in the customer's face", yet smart enough to say you aren't driving a banger
• something which earns its keep so depreciation becomes a minor issue

WHS. Exactly.

[PAH]

A van.

Fast when unladen.
Economical.
Comfortable.
Can drive like a dick and people expect it.
High seating position to spot idiots causing chaos down the road, and see into others cars to get an eye full of female cleavage and legs.
Commercial vehicle so tax efficient.

And the icing on the cake: You can hire yourself out as a man with a van, cash in hand, when on the bench.

[DimPrawn]

A van.

Fast when unladen.
Economical.
Comfortable.
Can drive like a dick and people expect it.
High seating position to spot idiots causing chaos down the road, and see into others cars to get an eye full of female cleavage and legs.
Commercial vehicle so tax efficient.

And the icing on the cake: You can hire yourself out as a man with a van, cash in hand, when on the bench.

Asbestos disposal.

Even a small amount and people will pay thousands for you to take it away. You then just fly tip it in the nearest river or reservoir. If the authorities catch you claim you are a Gippo and it's your hooman right.

Massively profitable.

[DimPrawn]

Anyways.

Eight depreciation-busting cars - June - 2011 - Which? News

I reckon they've hit the nail on the head, all good not totally embarrasing cars in each category.

[darmstadt]

I once bought a Singer Gazelle for GBP3 (it should have been GBP12) with a recon engine. After a couple of months of being the pub taxi I sold it to a scrappie for GBP15. An appreciation or what?

[doodab]

One of the advantages of working in Europe is that people don't think you are a ****** if you turn up for work in a decent German saloon or estate car.

There was even a de lorean in the car park occasionally.