Doh!

[emony]

Balls! The date of my driving test has been a closely guarded secret since I booked it, known only to me and my driving instructor. However, I've just realised that I am STUPID and have inadvertently revealed it to my mother by booking a bunch of house viewings at the time when my driving lesson usually is - I know, of course, that I won't be having one, because that particular day is just after my test date. She doesn't know that - or she didn't until now. BALLS!

I could probably reclaim the situation by casually dropping in to conversation that I rescheduled my lesson for that week because [insert plausible reason here], but man. MI5 made the right choice - I would never have cut it as a spy. Subterfuge is totally beyond my capabilities, on account of me being, as my icon says, dumb as a box of hair.

BALLS!!!

So, on a related but different note, a poll. I can't decide what kind of car to get, so I thought I'd ask the great LJ gods (i.e. you lot) for your thoughts.

This is a Ford KA, and this is the Ford Fiesta. Any thoughts, my flist?

[Poll #1161032]

Comments

[slb44.livejournal.com]

The KA is so damn cute and much more reasonably priced. Mind you, the interest rates they're showing are insane!

Oh and you already know that number four on your poll is true, hence my picking a car. *g*

[emony.livejournal.com]

Hehe, thanks :) I won't be getting it on credit, so I'm safe from the interest rates, fortunately.

[slb44.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I recall you saying that. It was just a shock to see such an interest rate in an ad. Kind of shock me, that's all. *g*

[emony.livejournal.com]

7.9% isn't that bad for a loan, is it? If I was getting a loan from my bank to buy a car, the typical APR would (apparently) be 8.9%.

[slb44.livejournal.com]

Really? Wow!

Car dealers would be out of business if they charged that kind of interest here in this market. Well, they're almost out of business as it is, and that's with 0% financing and all sorts of other incentives. It just goes to show you how different things are between our economies I guess.

[emony.livejournal.com]

Well it does seem like we're just sliding into an economic recession, so perhaps our dealers will start offering good deals now too. There are some that do 0% finance, but it tends to be a special offer rather than something that gets offered as standard. They make a lot of their money from finance deals, as I understand it, so they wouldn't be terribly keen to stop offering them!

[slb44.livejournal.com]

Aside from the car industry and the some of the banks getting involved in the below par mortgage fiasco in the states things here are actually going quite well. Of course everyone realises that the car industry is on it's last legs and will inevitably go the way of the Dodo bird, but for the last eighteen months, at least, loans for cars have been dirt cheap. It's a last ditch effort to save a manufacturing industry that has seen it's day come and go imho.


Right now it's low financing, cash back, a deluxe package of extras free and a baby with the bath water if you play your cards right at the dealers. *g*

[emony.livejournal.com]

Things here seem to be really slowing down. Food prices are rising, energy prices are rising, mortgage rates are rising and mortgages are harder to get - typically just as I am about to buy a house! All the signs of a slowdown seem to be falling in to place.

[caitlen.livejournal.com]

7.9% isn't bad for a car loan here either. In fact, it's a brilliant rate for ANY kind of loan. Our home loan rates at some bank have gone about 9% P.A. now, and personal loan rates are generally around 11% these days. Not a good time to be surviving on credit, I'm telling you.

[slb44.livejournal.com]

I think it's due to the fact that the local economy is heavily based on the automobile industry. Loans for everything else are tightening up, especially if you've got a below par credit rating, but car loans, even from the banks are dirt cheap here and have been for quite some time. I think it's probably a case of an attempt to support the local economy and that's skewing my pov.

[cedara]

I think I heard bad things about the KA. However, I don't have a car so what do I know. ;-D

If you must have one, go for the car that uses less gas. Since the barrel is going to be at $150 one day, it's prudent to go for the ones which uses less gas.

[emony.livejournal.com]

Bad things?? Like what? You can't just leave me hanging like that, Ced!!! ;)

I think they're both about the same on fuel consumption, so that probably won't be a deciding factor, although it's definitely something to keep an eye on.

[cedara]

I think it was repair prone and it drives itself badly without servo or such.

*goes to google*
There: http://www.fixafordcar.co.uk/ka_list.htm

Good luck. My bro drives a Hyundai, btw. :)

[emony.livejournal.com]

I see. I think any car has its potential problems, especially when you tote up any and all possible faults like that. I think I'll still go with a Ford - the Japanese cars are more reliable in the long term - my mother drives a Honda - but they cost more and I can't afford it right now.

[odycee.livejournal.com]

I guess it depends on what you can afford (or your mum can afford!). I like my Ka but the Fiesta may be a better car - it's a bigger car at least. If you're thinking about fuel economy - if you get the 1.4 or 1.6 engine in the Fiesta then it'll use more petrol than the Ka.

It's exciting thinking about getting an environment destroying machine isn't it!

[emony.livejournal.com]

Haha! True true. She's said she'll get me whichever one I want (they're both on special offer), but a more expensive car just means less money to help with my house. The engine in the Fiesta is a 1.25, so I think it's about the same as (or less than) the Ka.

It totally is :) Now I just have to pass my test, so I can actually drive one of these destructo-machines!

[tirica.livejournal.com]

I've had a KA for five years before the one I have now. I absolutely loved it! It's great to drive =) You always find a parking lot. And except for one not so expensive thing nothing had to be done during those 5 years! My sister, a friend, and I even once managed to go camping for three weeks in Spain with just the KA! I have very fond memories of the KA. The only reason I switched was that I needed a bigger car for the dog. But my sister has had the KA since then (2004) and still no repairs have been needed up until now. It's 11 years old and in great shape.

[emony.livejournal.com]

That's a very glowing testimonial! :) Thanks. I'll certainly bear that in mind. I think I'm leaning towards the Fiesta, as it should last me longer in terms of offering enough space for later in life etc., but it's good to know that they're reliable, and I may yet change my mind (again). *g*

[tirica.livejournal.com]

Well if you are planning ahead for more space I'd rather take the Fiesta.

I have a Ford Escort station wagen/ estate car, I'm not sure what it's called where, and I'd never again go for any smaller car. It's easier for people in the back to get in when you have 4 doors and the cargo area is just awesome! But that's just comfortable old me who sometimes has up to seven dogs in the car :D