Hi All,
So I currently own a Holden Astra 2009 model with about 36,000kms on it. However I am thinking of selling it/trading it in and upgrading to another small ish car.
I was wondering what kind of car I should be going for and if I should get a brand new one or a used one (30,000> on the odometer). I am on a budget, but if there are more benefits with buying a completely brand new car over a used car, I can always wait.
Any ideas are welcome!
Thanks :)
Holden Astra 2009 model with about 36,000kms on it.
For the amount of kms the vehicle has travelled in the last 10 years, is it worth replacing it?
36000 or 360000 km on the Astra?
You really think an Astra could go 360,000km?
I got 250,000 out of my 99 TS Astra, original clutch and still had heaps of life in it. Keeping up the oil changes is key to longevity.
we have a loan car at work which is an Astra, has almost 400K on it
'loan car at work which is an Astra, has almost 400K on it' that's gotta be the equivalent to 600,000 normal owner kms.
If you want to upgrade for safety features and comfort, then by all means do it. If on a budget, aim for a used car 2-3 years old as it will have most of the safety features you need.
if you want a newish car, i would always recommend a dealer demo because they have it in stock you are in a strong negotiating power to get a deal.
best time is around either model update release, end of quarter or end of year.
if you are happy with a slightly older car, i would recommend looking at ones that are 3 years old because many people do a 3 year novated lease and then want to spin off their cars.
but like a few people have said, 36k on an astra is not a lot so if you otherwise happy with the car, i would spend the money on something else
You don't buy anything from Holdone ending with an "a" e.g. Astra, Capitva etc.
The only reason for you to get another car in this situation (from what you've provided) is that you simply "want" a newer car. If that's the case, fair enough, but financially you'd be better off running the Astra into the ground over the next 5, 10, 15 years.
If you've only put 36,000 on the clock after 10 years, the likelihood is that it is going well mechanically and isn't likely to suffer major mechanical issues in the near future. Even if it does, just "chuck it in the bin". You'll likely only get $2k-ish in a sale/trade in situation as is any way… barely worth it.
FWIW I drive a 2004 Commodore with 82,000 on the clock so I'm in a similar boat. The car is starting to look pretty ordinary, but everything works at the moment. I'd be lucky to get $2k for it (probably less) so it is effectively depreciated to zero. While I get it serviced every so often, at this stage I'm just driving it until it blows up. With no depreciation to worry about, it's basically the cheapest form of motoring available.
Lol an 80,000km commodore would still have alot of km left… I have one with 280,000km and the engine still runs well.
What is wrong with your Astra?
You might be better off spending some cash on it to get you a better feeling…
Get it detailed / minor body repairs
New radio / Dash GPS system - Andriod Auto / Apple Carplay
Dashcam
Probably make you a little happier with less $ outlay?
since you are on a budget, and your car's odometer is only 36000…..
Only rational/real reason for you to get another car is if only your current car has issues.
Or if there are other hidden reasons like the size of the car, gf doesn't like, the family is growing then that is another story.
With how little you drive it might as well make it exciting. Lightly used Mazda MX-5.
With the little information of your budget, I think you should go with a brand new Maybach.
Or a second hand Corolla.
Get new car save you money and time on repair.
Nah. Ownership costs don't go up that much over time for many cars, so any difference won't make up for depreciation of a new car
There is more risk of major servicing with older cars, but otherwise they can be very cheap and mechanics won't try to suck as much money from your cheap ass. Also if you get some scrape or something it doesn't matter, because you don't care and next buyer won't care.
My last 2 cars were both under $10k, only spent on basic service costs, and sold for around $500 less after a couple of years.
Active 27mins ago, couldn't reply to any of the questions so we can help you?
sigh
Maybe decided on a second hand Craptiva.
Just spend $150 on a new stereo and it'll feel like just about any other car on the road. And your low mileage should let it last another decade without much trouble.
I recently borrowed a 12 year old luxury car ($300k when new) and while it was super comfy and nice to drive, being stuck with that old tech made it feel much older and dated than the 20 year old tinboxes I usually drive but can at least connect my phone to.
A more apt comparison would be with newer small cars, which are obviously a little more comfy and a bit nicer than older small cars, but I find that once you can connect your phone there isn't much difference in general feeling. The rest is more subtle or hidden, like safety features and road noise. Which are worthy upgrades if that's specifically what you want
Is there a problem with the Astra?