Car choice: Should I go for a scrappage scheme?

Mike Savage is attracted by the £2,000 Vauxhall scrappage scheme and wonders whether he should part-exchange his Vauxhall Corsa...

A car for the head

There are many pros and cons to a scrappage scheme for individual consumers, as well as some variations on the theme (some manufacturers will only scrap diesel models, for example). So it is difficult to generalise. Mike is lucky because his old Corsa is barely worth £500, so potentially he would benefit. However, Mike would have to pay or be tied into a payment plan for the next three years to finance a brand new car. He would be better off buying a tidy used car for £1,500. We found a 2005 Mercedes-Benz A150 Classic. The mileage was 86,000 and it came with a full service history. Here is the perfect small family car.

(BMW (BMW)

A car for the heart

Avoiding the scrappage schemes would suit Mike as he can get by with a relatively small car, and he does not need a lot of space if he decides to use the Corsa replacement as a second car. He would like a more posh badge and a BMW would be perfect. An older, simpler petrol model such as a 2003 BMW 1.8 316ti ES Compact is, in effect, a much cooler three-door equivalent of the modern 1 Series. At £1,500 with history we discovered one in very tidy condition plus a verified mileage and a warranty.

If you would like James Ruppert to help with your car choice, email james@freecarmag.com. For more motoring views visit freecarmag.com