Round and Round we go….

Don’t worry, I haven’t just had a crash in my car (it’s been a while since I have embarrassed myself with a spin), but I do seem to be going round in circles at the moment…

You will probably have noticed that all of my cars have been old. I have owned a couple that were “only” three years old, but most have passed their sixth birthday and are well past 75k miles. It hasn’t been a deliberate strategy but more of a consequence of liking quality brands with good performance and a limited budget. I guess what I’m saying is, why buy a new 75bhp Fiesta when I can have a 360 bhp Jaguar? sure it will cost more to run and will need more repairs, but it’s no worse than the money I would lose in depreciation on a new car.

but things are about to change….

Last week I got offered a great new job opportunity; so after 18 years (my whole career) with the same company I handed in my notice and accepted the new position… Which includes a car allowance…. which gives me a new problem (a very first world problem)… what should I buy?

A week ago I was pretty confident that it would be a Mustang, but it can’t be. For the car allowance, I need to get something with 4 doors and I have to change it before its 50th month… so I’m in a whole new market. Add to that the healthy car allowance and a larger salary and I’m in a whole new world…

So what should I get?

My first thought was back to the Good Ol’ Grand Cherokee. I can definitely afford one now and maybe a new one…. The V6 probably makes the most sense. It isn’t a lot slower, it gets better gas mileage and really the V8 is only needed for the extra pulling power which I won’t need…. but hang on a minute… can I afford a Range Rover Evoque now?… Yes I can! All the reviews say “if you can afford it why buy anything else?” so why would I buy anything else?

A quick trip to the local Land Rover dealer and I have to say I am impressed. It looks great… modern but classy and not too big for a city dweller like me. The interior has that old world luxury feel that you would expect from a Range Rover. It’s a lovely place to be. Even the back seat is comfortable and spacious and the view out of the full length glass roof makes you want to park somewhere and look at the stars. The trunk is a reasonable size….. maybe a little small and slanted for two large dogs… but workable for one or two medium sized dogs? The 28mpg highway number is better than my Golf gets, so that works and it definitely helps with the slightly larger monthly payment… The only negative? Nearly all of the reviews rave about the new dynamic suspension option that makes it glide like a Jag but corner like a sports car.. a bargain at $1k… but in the US it’s only available on the Dynamic model and that is definitely above my budget… so can I live with the compromise of the regular suspension or will I always feel I didn’t buy the right one?

Or maybe I should get sensible and buy a one year old Grand Cherokee? Something with 15k miles will still last me three years and I’ve seen a lot of them for $10k below the new price so I could get a better spec. for less money and let somebody else swallow the initial depreciation?

but then the Evoque gets 28mpg so the higher monthly payment would be canceled out by the saving in fuel costs… which is only going to become a bigger saving as the years progress because realistically gas won’t get cheaper….

… my father in law just reminded me that I am always telling him to get an XC90. I don’t need 7 seats but the XC60 is more modern, great looking and definitely a safe, sensible family option..

Or maybe I don’t need an SUV yet. Should I just be buying a 4 door sedan? Kids are still a couple of years away and dogs probably at least 1, so should I buy a fast sedan… one more time? A new BMW 328i maybe and save even more money on gas (33mpg)? Or maybe a one year old 335i for it’s mini M3 performance (0-60 in 5.1s)?

Or take the company car option? No, definitely not that one. It’s financially the most sensible and safest option, but a Camry? I think not…

I’m writing this in the Bahamas and trying not to think about it until next week and trying not to annoy The Wife more than I have to… I’m failing, but trying!

So definitely the 335i then! but they are so common in San Jose that it wouldn’t feel that special so the Evoque then…. that’s it… the best choice…

To be continued…