#1: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: LeeThr, Location: North West WalesPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:24 pm ---- Well ive finally got myself a job and will soon actually have some money to play with. Rather than looking around for my last coin to put a bit of fuel in it haha. But thats not the dilema.
My little 1.4 really is on it's last legs. Nothing wrong structually but the bodywork's looking a bit tired. Engine's okish but could do with a major service. Possibly even a partial stripdown and rebuild. Somethings knocking on the suspension. Also the gearbox is winning and is slowly getting worse. So overall not great. It's drivable, nothing wrong with the way it drives apart from the usual french gear linkage issue. It's just not very enjoyable to drive with all the squeaks, ratlles & lack of power. Also the fuel it drinks just isnt right for the lack of power as well. So it's starting to become a money pit if I try and carry on with it.
However I am fancying a 206 XSI. At least it would have the power to compensate for the crap fuel economy. Insurance isnt an issue for me as it's only £100 more for the year than my 1.4.
I just cant decide what to do. I know it's gonna take a while to save up to do either. But it's just where do I put the money? Do I throw it at the devil I allready know? Or do I go into the unknown and buy an XSI?
What would you do? Any advice/opinions welcomed.
Thanks
#2: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: Jordan_xsi, Location: IpswichPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:27 pm ---- Buy an XSi, you wont be dissapointed!
#3: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: LeeThr, Location: North West WalesPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:30 pm ---- I really want to drive one, evem if it's just around a car park to get a feel for them. I know the potential of those engines as well.
How much did you pay for yours if you dont mind me asking? And what was the millage?
Ideally I want something with sub 90K on the clock, prefrably the leather interior allthough it's not a deal breaker. What is though is the colour I just dont want resale silver or show all the crap black.
#4: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: Jordan_xsi, Location: IpswichPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:38 pm ---- If you didnt live in Wales id let you have a wee spin, there not crazy powerful but there good considering the insurance and MPG etc. Mine was £2700 with roughly 70k on the clock, i got it about a year and half ago. It was a little more than i wanted to spend but when i saw it i fell in love, so much so it came all the way up from Portsmouth Well mine is EZR which i like because it goes with most things but as a keen detailer its well boring lol, in future i'd have flamenco red or black on a 206.
#5: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: Addaz, Location: SuffolkPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:39 pm ---- Tbh, 1.4's are the worst ones on full in the range
Just asking how old are you? Years no claims, etc
As i wouldnt mind upgrading the engine to an xsi maybe
#6: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: LeeThr, Location: North West WalesPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:44 pm ---- I am 18 (only just b'day is 1st April) insurance renewal due in June when I will have a years no claims.
Yer the 1.4 really is crap. Like I cant fault it if im honest. It's never let me down, never failed to start. Did superb in the snow, got to all sorts of places hardly anybody else could. It's been a great first little car and does hold a lot of memories allready. Reason why it's not getting sold. It's just now i've got some experiance on the road (ok not a lot) I just would like something a bit faster. Living where I do in the mountainous regions of North Wales. Im on backroads quite a lot, so when you get stuck behind tractors/tourists/people who cant do more than 33mph. There's allways some kind of gap and I just sit there knowing if I had another 10bhp I could safely overtake. But I just cant how it is.
#7: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: Jordan_xsi, Location: IpswichPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:56 pm ---- Mine was an 18th birthday present so its certainly not unreasonable to have one at 18 and i imagine insurance is alot cheaper in your neck of the woods. I was in a similar situation to you in as much as i had a 1.4 rover 200 which was a great car to get some experience in but i soon wanted something more stylish and with abit more go.
A XS would be cheaper to consider but you dont get the all the extras the XSi has i.e side airbags, sports seats etc and obviously the bit of extra power.
I'd say if you can afford it go for it, take a couple out for test drives if you want to see what there like.
#8: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: LeeThr, Location: North West WalesPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:00 pm ---- I think i'll be avoiding the XS. My heart really is set on an XSI. It's jsut getting the right one for the right money I geuss.
Insurance on my 1.4 is £1367 for an XSI it's £1437. In my name
Haha, yer wish I was a bit closer. It's one thing with being up here im miles away from everyone.
#9: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: sillyhilly, Location: The Mean Streets of CoventryPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:11 pm ---- What's the costs of a GTi?
Don't throw good money after bad. If it needs a strip down (emphasis on need) then there's no point. However if it's just preference, then id live with it for another year and then upgrade further than the XSi. If you want more speed already, the same will happen with the XSi. Of course this all depends on how patient you are... Most people aren't on here.
#10: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: LeeThr, Location: North West WalesPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:17 pm ---- GTI the 138 im looking at £3,500 a year insurance. So it's out of the question.
I dont know what to do with it. It's all dependant on how long the gearbox lasts really. If it holds out for long enough for me to get an XSI on the road then i'll get one. But however if the gearbox packs up and I cant get an XSI on the road. I will throw the money at it. But the plan for this one after getting an XSI is to turn it into a track car.
It's not so much the speed im after. I do try and stick to limits as close as possible obviously b roads are a bit different. It's just the power for acceleration im after. Like I said I have lots of hills around me and the 1.4 copes with them reasonably ok. But you do tend to have to drop the box and take it right up to the redline, which kills the fuel economy. It would also mean I could take a few more overtaking oppertunities.
#11: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: NICKST, Location: Little hulton (worsley)Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:08 am ---- The xsi is a good fun car I have had two of them the first got written off the first week I had it :(. Had the second one 2 years befoure I got bored off it. And I'm now getting bored of the 180 after 4 years but don't now wot car I want lol.
#12: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: JE_180, Location: WiltshirePosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:16 am ----
LeeThr wrote:
GTI the 138 im looking at £3,500 a year insurance. So it's out of the question..
Holy s**t.... My Gti 180 costs me £660 to insure and I'm only 22 with 0 no claims as this is my first policy of my own
#13: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: NICKST, Location: Little hulton (worsley)Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:25 am ----
john_e88 wrote:
LeeThr wrote:
GTI the 138 im looking at £3,500 a year insurance. So it's out of the question..
Holy s**t.... My Gti 180 costs me £660 to insure and I'm only 22 with 0 no claims as this is my first policy of my own
Who's that with I'm 25 with 7 years no claims and pay £970.
#14: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: JE_180, Location: WiltshirePosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:29 am ---- lmao, Admiral mate. They always seem to give me cheap quotes on fast cars, how foolish of them. Could be where I'm living though (postcode SN12 6XN).
#15: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: Seb, Location: Under your bedPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:32 am ----
nick180 wrote:
Who's that with I'm 25 with 7 years no claims and pay £970.
I think you might be getting shafted mate! I pay £1k for both a TT and a VX220 combined.
As for the OP's question: I'd personally wait a bit longer. I stuck with my 206 for 3 years until I bought something I really wanted. It was honestly worth the wait. Only when you can afford to start insuring more expensive cars would I say it's worth starting to chop and change them whenever you wish.
It's unfortunate having to tell younger people they're pretty much stuck with what they have for the first few years of driving, as I know exactly what I was like, but unless your toilet paper is made of bank notes that's normally how it is. You'll be throwing money away otherwise. I vowed I would never pay more than 1.5k per year insurance for whatever I owned and so far that's been stuck to. I think it's mental paying any more than that. It's basically just a weekly fee of £30 just to have the car. Mad!
#16: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: JE_180, Location: WiltshirePosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:37 am ----
Seb wrote:
nick180 wrote:
Who's that with I'm 25 with 7 years no claims and pay £970.
I think you might be getting shafted mate! I pay £1k for both a TT and a VX220 combined.
Those were my thoughts exactly..
Although I did my get my 180 when I was 19 because I had some spare cash to splash out on the 2.5k insurance lol
#17: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: macca1411, Location: Westhoughton, LancashirePosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:42 am ---- I'd be saving for now. You could get a new car then end up spending loads more on it. Enjoy having the money in your bank. You're only 18, loads of time to spend money on cars. you might decide you want the money for a deposit on a flat or to take a holiday.
Nick, you live in Salford, what do you expect from the insurance.
#18: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: Kersh, Location: Bridgnorth, Nr WolverhamptonPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:55 am ---- you can buy my GTi in a few months when youve saved
£1300 with premium choice, 19 years old 2 years no claims
#19: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: NICKST, Location: Little hulton (worsley)Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:02 am ---- Must be my post code m389dy.
#20: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: Kersh, Location: Bridgnorth, Nr WolverhamptonPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:04 am ----
nick180 wrote:
Must be my post code m389dy.
you at work now?
#21: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: JE_180, Location: WiltshirePosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:06 am ----
nick180 wrote:
Must be my post code m389dy.
I just got a quote for your postcode.... £2,126.81 do you live in the Bronx or something?
#22: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: NICKST, Location: Little hulton (worsley)Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:11 am ----
Kersh wrote:
nick180 wrote:
Must be my post code m389dy.
you at work now?
Yes how do u know that?
Ye the area ain't the best but I live in the quite part lol.
#23: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: tomd0801754, Location: MoscowPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:18 am ---- To the OP:
Its all well saying you have a job. However, the most blindingly obvious question hasn't been asked. What is your job gonna be paying you? IIRC:
Your a student + a part time job (guessing it's not gonna be anything well paid)+ You won't get very much for your car if it is in the condition you have said. Are you gonna be able to afford a new car and then run it?
#24: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: macca1411, Location: Westhoughton, LancashirePosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:27 am ----
nick180 wrote:
Ye the area ain't the best but I live in the quite part lol.
I'll vouch for that. About 15 mins drive away is the gun crime capital. I'm in the same boat. It's what the insurance perceive as the risk.
It is a good example to young drivers though on how the cost of owning a car can suddenly spiral just from where you live. If I moved half a mile, my premium would drop as I'd be in a different postcode area.
#25: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: NICKST, Location: Little hulton (worsley)Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:42 am ---- My area is classed as Salford when it's about 15mins away like you said. My area seems posh to me as I work in moss side levenshulme and longsite all day lol.
#26: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: ukskater01, Location: sutton surrey/welwyn garden cityPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:54 am ---- I wanted to do the same, get a xsi but a deposit on a flat seems like a better idea, my 1.1 gets me from a to b fine although I don't have any mountain roads to climb
#27: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: tomd0801754, Location: MoscowPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 2:59 am ----
ukskater01 wrote:
I wanted to do the same, get a xsi but a deposit on a flat seems like a better idea, my 1.1 gets me from a to b fine although I don't have any mountain roads to climb
Someone with common sense!
#28: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: NICKST, Location: Little hulton (worsley)Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:00 am ----
ukskater01 wrote:
I wanted to do the same, get a xsi but a deposit on a flat seems like a better idea, my 1.1 gets me from a to b fine although I don't have any mountain roads to climb
That's may way of thinking wanted a Audi s3 or focus rs but rather than blow my savings on that I'm putting it towards a deposit on a house. As my car does what I need it to do and I all so have a company car. There are better ways to spend your money as now is a good time to buy a houses as the prices have droped so much.
#29: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: LeeThr, Location: North West WalesPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:56 am ----
Seb wrote:
nick180 wrote:
Who's that with I'm 25 with 7 years no claims and pay £970.
I think you might be getting shafted mate! I pay £1k for both a TT and a VX220 combined.
As for the OP's question: I'd personally wait a bit longer. I stuck with my 206 for 3 years until I bought something I really wanted. It was honestly worth the wait. Only when you can afford to start insuring more expensive cars would I say it's worth starting to chop and change them whenever you wish.
It's unfortunate having to tell younger people they're pretty much stuck with what they have for the first few years of driving, as I know exactly what I was like, but unless your toilet paper is made of bank notes that's normally how it is. You'll be throwing money away otherwise. I vowed I would never pay more than 1.5k per year insurance for whatever I owned and so far that's been stuck to. I think it's mental paying any more than that. It's basically just a weekly fee of £30 just to have the car. Mad!
I know what you mean but the XSI does fall under the 1.5K bracket on insurance. Like ive said insurance really isnt an issue with it, it's not even £100 more than my 1.4 for the year.
tomd0801754 wrote:
To the OP:
Its all well saying you have a job. However, the most blindingly obvious question hasn't been asked. What is your job gonna be paying you? IIRC:
Your a student + a part time job (guessing it's not gonna be anything well paid)+ You won't get very much for your car if it is in the condition you have said. Are you gonna be able to afford a new car and then run it?
Im on £6.10 an hour at the moment. Got told at my interview that for the first few weeks I would only get around 8 hours a week. This is my first week and by the end of it I will have 37 hours under my belt
#30: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: copey, Location: rochdalePosted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 5:49 am ----
nick180 wrote:
Must be my post code m389dy.
yeh i remember when i was in a manchester postcode area, the guy said to me its gunna be expensive on postcode alone
#31: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: Harry, Location: StaffordPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 5:52 am ---- Couldn't be more similar to me. I had a 1.4 (well still do it's for sale) and I bought a plexxed xsi a couple of weeks ago. It picks up speed well more nicely it was 500 extra on insurance for the last 10 months (already 2 months in). A fair bit more but it's more difficult changing companies so leaving it for now and will look for a better renewal.
#32: Re: Money Decisions - Somebody help me I cant make my mind up... Author: LeeThr, Location: North West WalesPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:17 am ----
Harry wrote:
Couldn't be more similar to me. I had a 1.4 (well still do it's for sale) and I bought a plexxed xsi a couple of weeks ago. It picks up speed well more nicely it was 500 extra on insurance for the last 10 months (already 2 months in). A fair bit more but it's more difficult changing companies so leaving it for now and will look for a better renewal.
Im still debating weather or not to go plexed, means I'd have a newer car. But I do like fiddling with the electrics when im bored so not sure how long it would be before I killed a BSI.
Also im not looking at moving out anytime soon. I live between 2 houses at it is and thats bad enough without throwing a third into the equation. There would just be no point the little amount of time i'd spend there as well. Only time im ever really home is when im asleep.
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Well mine is EZR which i like because it goes with most things but as a keen detailer its well boring lol, in future i'd have flamenco red or black on a 206.
Someone with common sense! 
