What would you do?

[Pie-Roe]

Right basically atm, I'm without a roadworthy bike (I have 2, ones a project, one's an offroader)

I'm 18, full car and bike license just over a year now.

at the moment I have a 1.6 fiesta, theres nothing wrong with it, it's a good first car, cheap enough to run etc, but I fancy something a little nicer. I travel to london once or twice a week and I don't particularly like leaving my bike in hackney, so 90% of the time I drive.

At the moment I don't really have any time to ride a bike. I'm at college 9-6 and 9-9 monday tuesday, and work split shifts every other day, except sunday when it's 10-6. My lifestyle will continue like this until around may/june time.

I have about 1000 to play with, can be up to 2000 in a month if I stop spending (mainly drink/recreation and buying stuff I don't need)

I want a bandit 12, can afford a decent example and insure it for not a lot at all, but my head is saying it's a stupid idea because I don't have time to ride it. Which leads me to buying a bigger car. I quite fancy a vectra/laguna type, between 1.8 and 2.2. Buying the car is really not a problem in fact they seem to be going for cheaper than bikes right now for decent enough ones. However insurance seems to be an issue. It'll cost about 600 quid to add to my existing policy, which runs out in may, and I'm not thinking it's worth it.

In short, do I waste money on a bike I won't ride, or do I waste money on a bigger car that I don't really need.

Pyro
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[Icey]

Why do you want a bigger car? Do you have the need for a bigger car? Something like a vectra/laguna seems to be a bit pointless to me when you are 18, and without family (young children etc).

How about considering something small but sporty? Or something retro or classic?
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Mutley - 1988 Austin Mini City - Blog
Suetonius - 1966 Series Land Rover - Blog
Uma J - 1981 Honda 'Naked' Goldwing GL1100 - Blog

[Pie-Roe]

Personally, I'd rather not have anything that stands out from the ordinary. A car for me is literally just A-B I don't want any character, I want it to be reliable, warm, comfy and generally just an armchair on wheels.

However if I could find a capri for the right price.
Phwoaar

I don't need another car no, I just have nothing to spend me money on, and I'd rather spend it on something I can get money back on than waste it as above mentioned.

Pyro
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[Phoenix]

Don't think you'd gain much pleasure from upgrading to a Laguna or a Vectra over what you already have unless its a fairly new one. If it's £600 to change your policy until May then you may find it very expensive to renew come May, possibly too expensive.

If your going to make changing the car worthwhile get something really worth it, a plush comfy exec car or a sports car or something not just a big runabout, but I think you'd struggle insurance wise.

If you don't ride the bike not a huge point spending a lot of money on one, but if insurance is not expensive then just spend a bit on a fully working bike, doesnt have to be a bandit 1200 just something to ride will do then it doesn't matter if it's sitting unused for months, tax is only £65 max. I dont use my bike hardly at all even in summer but I still keep it.

You don't have to spend what money you have, you can just save it, this is why people live their life on loans and credit and are suffering from the lack of credit available now, because they've been incapable of saving their whole life.

[Sparks!]

[Pie-Roe]

I see everyones point, but I do save. Thats my current monies, 50% of all I earn goes into a savings account which I don't touch by direct debit the day I get paid.

I do need another form of transport, simply because I've had a car and 2 bikes for the last year, and it's killing me only having the cage.

I do see the point about moving up in cars though, I did drive a laguna 1.8, it felt about the same speedwise as my fiesta, but sluggish. It was more comfy though.

I might do as you say and just stick it in an ISA though.

*small voice*

What's an ISA?

Pyro
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[Pie-Roe]

ok just read up on ISA's on moneysupermarket, seems a bit pointless doesn't it?

Surely there are better ways to invest money that getting a measly 40 quid per grand a year?

Pyro
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[Sparks!]

[Robby]

On the savings front, with interest rates being so low now it isn't the extra interest that's the real pull of the ISA, its the idea that it's special savings that you won't touch.

Another option is premium bonds. They're good because its like safe gambling. Stinkwheel has found a reasonable return on his, having a large amount invested.

On the car/bike front. There is little point in upgrading from a small hatchback to a large hatchback, you'll miss the lightness of something small. You could go for something more fun (RWD). Any BMW, MR2 etc. More of a driver's car.

I know the feeling of not having a bike and getting the itch. I always get the itch when I don't have a bike, so currently I have two. One is off the road waiting for an insurance claim to settle, and the other is a basket case for parts. I have no particular desire to ride either, so they are both laid up and SORNed. But I have them. Total value of them is under £1k, but one of these days I'll get rid of both and get another CB250RSA to not ride.

Save. I'm in a similar boat to yams or sparks or whatever he's called this year. I've spent everything on vehicles for the last 5 years and now I'm starting to save up for a deposit.

You may in a position to buy a house in a year-18 months, seeing as it appears you have a job and money to save. Having a big deposit is good.

[Pie-Roe]

Hmm. I do like the though of moving out, and not having a transitional stage of rent.

I bust my balls right now, I've found out since posting this thread this evening, I'm going to be doing 4 nights a week night work too, so thats even more time gone, and a bit more cash coming in.

I *think* I like to have material goods, in the way of vehicles lieing around to make me think yeah sure it's worth working this hard for.
But the idea of being able to have enough for a house deposit in a couple of years would be pretty awesome.

Pyro
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[Sparks!]

[virus]

If your dead set on spending on a vehicle, not saving it, why not get your project finished and running well?

Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[Villers]

Just my opinion, DONT GET A VECTRA!!!!!! If you think Im bitter just check vecrta-C.com and read about all the problems they have. Really poorly built pieces of shit.

Whilst on the same subject, why on earth would you want a Laguna?? Theyre probably even worse and your going to cost yourself a fortune in the long run with either of those two choices.
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[iooi]

[.Chris.]

I never realised anyone could actually want a Vectra or Laguna. Both are complete pieces of cack and amongst the least reliable used cars you can buy. A relative had endless problems with a Vectra, and a friend had a Laguna whose gearbox went bang at a few years old.

Get the bike!
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Pie-Roe]

[The Disapproving Brit]

[Jrod]

Don't even consider a Capri unless you have money to burn or can weld. Trust me.