Nearly new sensible car or older premium?

Hi.

I'm thinking of changing my car, but I'm torn between buying a nearly new model like the Mazda6 or a three-year-old premium car from such as BMW, Jaguar or Audi with lowish mileage. Servicing cost of premium brands is also a concern. On the other hand, I can get a lot of car for reasonable money. Decisions! Decisions!

Your opinion greatly valued. Thanks in advance.

Tom McGrath (Kilkenny)

Apr 2017 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi Tom,

Buying a premium car on the cheap is always tempting (have you seen the price of ten-year-old Audi A8s? Tempting…), but it comes with the caveat that you do need to set aside budget for maintenance and servicing, especially if you plan on keeping it serviced with a main dealer. Even with a more affordable independent specialist, the bills for any major work can still be significant.

Now, balanced against that is the fact that cars are, in general, more reliable, and you can get a good warranty on an approved used premium car (BMW’s two-year second hand warranty is especially good).

That said, going the nearly-new Japanese route is the painless option, and the Mazda6 is an especially good comparison. Buy a specced-up Platinum version of the 6 and I defy you to say that its cabin is any less luxurious than that of a BMW or Jaguar and it’s a great car to drive too, with typical Mazda reliability.

So while the older premium route is tempting, we’d err on the side of caution and go for the Mazda. 

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe