Reply to: Buying a 2nd hand car

[MaryPoppins]

b0redom - Audi A6 is about the nearest to a wide car - you might be able to get 3 child seats across the back. The 3l diesel is pretty good.

VC, servicing/maintenance would be one of my concerns with the likes of an old XC90. They may be cheap to buy, but what are the long term running costs? That's when things like a Landcruiser comes into its own. Virtually indestructible.
You could always go for a Defender 110.

You can get three child seats onto the back seats - just - but it's a push and not ideal at all; during a trip away this year with 3 kids we were having to load each seat in individually as the rear seats aren't flat as they are with something like an S-Max.

[The_Equalizer]

I have a good look over Autotrader and the like to get a feel for what the price should be. I wouldn't be afraid to travel and I would be absolutely religious about it having been correctly serviced. Oh and a car that has been garaged is a definite plus - tell-tale signs of something that has sat outside would be green algae on window rubbers and/or difficult to clean areas. It's very hard to clean a car perfectly.

[vetran]

Sorry mate, need a D1 licence for anything over 8 seats

oh I was told 9 seats was the limit you are right its 8.


https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus

[SimonMac]

The wife fancies a Mercedes Vito next time, not quite a minibus and with 9 seats most people can drive it. Very popular with Taxi drivers apparently.

New Mercedes Vito Tourer 2015 review | Auto Express

Its a Merc so reassuringly expensive.

Sorry mate, need a D1 licence for anything over 8 seats

[VillageContractor]

I can only but agree with this. I bought a 3 year old XC90 in 2012 for the wife to ferry the kids about in. Think I paid 17.5k. I'd estimate since then it's cost me another 10k at least with various bits needing replacing over the years.

Maybe I should go for an MPV

[northernladuk]

I excluded the fact that she's also rear ended someone with it and given it racing stripes on both sides whilst pulling over allowing others to pass on a single track road.

That's not a euphemism is it?

[oracleslave]

I'd guess at such a low figure one of those wasn't the wife

I excluded the fact that she's also rear ended someone with it and given it racing stripes on both sides whilst pulling over allowing others to pass on a single track road.

[northernladuk]

I'd estimate since then it's cost me another 10k at least with various bits needing replacing over the years.

I'd guess at such a low figure one of those wasn't the wife

[oracleslave]

The running costs are far higher that the MPV style vehicles listed above - high mileage T5 models have potentially ruinous levels of bills for replacement parts when things go wrong.

I can only but agree with this. I bought a 3 year old XC90 in 2012 for the wife to ferry the kids about in. Think I paid 17.5k. I'd estimate since then it's cost me another 10k at least with various bits needing replacing over the years.

[bobspud]

We were loaned an xc90 when our ML needed some work done to it. Compared to the Mercedes V6 engines the xc90 sounds like a loud crappy tractor. I'd stick with an MPV. Also If you are inside a city I would not expect to keep any car that long as the emissions regs are going to get you off the road long before the car dies.

Yes mini vans are crap but you should have thought about that before you tried to pop a football team out of your wife

[greenlake]

Any advice on buying a 2nd hand car? Most likely will buy from a trade seller. In case anyone cares it's not a Porsche, going for a XC90 to fit all the damn kids.

Build your own out of Lego....

[VillageContractor]

Older model, but if you are looking at a 6+ year old vehicle, the running costs and ongoing maintenance will have a bigger effect on your pocket than the depreciation from the purchase price.
Tyres
Oil
Air Con
Diffs/bearings/shocks
DPF

If you are only using it for short runs, get a petrol, if the journeys are longer, go diesel. Do you need 4wd? If so, expect the tyre wear to be greater. Check the fuel economy differences, check the insurance costs.

Not really fussed about depreciation as I'm hoping to keep it for 10 yrs at which point I'll be happy if I get anything for it.

How much do you guys pay for servicing on a yearly basis?

Insurance is high as I've got no NCB so doesn't matter too much what I get

[WTFH]

2010 old or because it's an older model?

Older model, but if you are looking at a 6+ year old vehicle, the running costs and ongoing maintenance will have a bigger effect on your pocket than the depreciation from the purchase price.
Tyres
Oil
Air Con
Diffs/bearings/shocks
DPF

If you are only using it for short runs, get a petrol, if the journeys are longer, go diesel. Do you need 4wd? If so, expect the tyre wear to be greater. Check the fuel economy differences, check the insurance costs.

[FMCG]

OP - you either want a 4x4 or SUV.

If 4x4 then the XC90 is not a bad choice. If you like a dressed vehicle, go with R-Design. The diesels a perfectly fine and you seek a D5. The only real petrol worth mentioning is the V8 but they like a drink and are as rare as hens teeth.

Lots use a roof box and it suits the XC90 if using all 7 seats. The rear 2 on the Volvo are better than most competitors.

Ensure that drive train works properly - all cars have foibles and this is the XC90 one. The forums allow you how to check. If unsure, buy from a decent dealer. Do not let this foible put you off a perfectly good car as most sorted with better designed "metalwork".

You may want to find a 185bhp example cf 163.

Old design - yes.But ask yourself why is was so successful for so long.

[vetran]

The wife fancies a Mercedes Vito next time, not quite a minibus and with 9 seats most people can drive it. Very popular with Taxi drivers apparently.

New Mercedes Vito Tourer 2015 review | Auto Express

Its a Merc so reassuringly expensive.