We may not know a whole lot about cars, but we all need one. From school runs to running errands, to commuting to work, we spend hours every day in our cars. Car manufactures have even come up with some lovely examples of “Mommy mobiles” such as the mini van and the SUV, which are great for larger families or those of you who actually do bring the entire soccer team to the game. If, however, you do not fall into either one of these categories and are looking at getting a new vehicle this year, why not think outside the box and try something different. Before you start shopping around, consider what you need your car for. Where will you drive it, how many miles will you be driving each day, how many people will be in the car, what or who will you be transporting, what kind of roads will you be driving on?
A little over a year ago I started to have massive problems with my car which required constant trips to the garage and excessive bills which I hadn't budgeted for. It became obvious that it would be cheaper to get a new car than fix the one I had and I decided that the best options would be to either buy a brand new car with a full warranty or an old car I could work on myself. As I didn't have the means to buy a brand new anything at the time, I opted for a vintage car. I'm not a mechanic, but with basic tools, a little bit of common sense and a repair manual, you have the ability to fix anything or diagnose the problem at the very least. I shopped around and found the one that spoke to me on donedeal.ie. I fell in love with and bought a beautiful 1970 Wolseley. How is this the frugal option you may ask...well, here's the money I spent:
My insurance was also reduced by more than €200 per year and the parts are easy enough to get and can be purchased on the internet. Impressing your mechanic and strangers alike with your “I can do it” attitude and new found automotive knowledge is absolutely priceless!!! The coolest thing about driving around in a vintage car is the amount of people waving and smiling at me and my passengers as I tend to my daily affairs. It's just one of those cars that I can't help but smile and feel instantly happy when I sit into the driver's seat; she's comfortable, easy to drive, an all around unique car to motor around in.
This may not be the practical option for everyone, but it should prove to you that you don't need to spend a fortune on your next car.
Happy Motoring!