Should I trade my Focus in for a new car?

My 2005 Focus needs about €2k of work to pass an NCT and stay on the road. Through scrappage I am being offered €5k for the car, making a new car in the region of €17k, so the cost of changing to a comfy, stress free new car is effectively €15k, no NCT worries and no bills next year.

Is it worth trading up now while €5k is on the table? The Focus probably has another few years in it, but I can't see past the hassle of keeping it on the road. What are the potential pit falls of sticking with an older car, and what savings does a new car offer over an old car?

Jul 2016 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

Well, you kind of have your own answer there already - it'll cost €2k to fix your Focus now, and even if it were another €2k next year and the year after, that would still work out cheaper (by far) than a finance deal or loan for the €17k cost of trading up to a new car.