I'd say it depends on the saving and if you can get the car that you want.
The last 4 cars I've bought new (out of 5) I couldn't have got a nearly new example and none were particually rare cars.
On my Astra SRi and couldn't even find one to test drive let alone buy nearly new and I could have only saved £1000 on my Celica by buying a year old one.
Buying new gives you the choice of options and colour that you want, plus you know the history.
Apart from ex-Demo and pre-reg's the majority of cars a year old (particually from other manufacturers) are ex-Hire cars which would put me off straight away.
Car manufacturers actually 'lend' cars to hire firms for 12 months or about 10,000 miles and retain legal onwership during this time. They then put these on the forecourt as nearly new examples. Not sure how common this is with SEAT but is common with some others.
Also the big thing that out me off used was I once bought a 3 year old car of a friend of a friend (who I still see occasionally). The car had full dealer FSH apart from the last service that was done at an independant garage. Part of the service was new brake pads on the front.
Couple of months after getting the car braked for a roundabout (just normal braking) and there was a grind coming from the front wheels. Got home (only 3 miles away at this point) and the brake pads were absolutely worn out and the wires to the sensor had been cut.
I don't blame my mates mate for this at all as I can see he paid for replacement, just the garage he used had ripped him off, so I like to know my cars have been looked after properly.
The last 4 cars I've bought new (out of 5) I couldn't have got a nearly new example and none were particually rare cars.
On my Astra SRi and couldn't even find one to test drive let alone buy nearly new and I could have only saved £1000 on my Celica by buying a year old one.
Buying new gives you the choice of options and colour that you want, plus you know the history.
Apart from ex-Demo and pre-reg's the majority of cars a year old (particually from other manufacturers) are ex-Hire cars which would put me off straight away.
Car manufacturers actually 'lend' cars to hire firms for 12 months or about 10,000 miles and retain legal onwership during this time. They then put these on the forecourt as nearly new examples. Not sure how common this is with SEAT but is common with some others.
Also the big thing that out me off used was I once bought a 3 year old car of a friend of a friend (who I still see occasionally). The car had full dealer FSH apart from the last service that was done at an independant garage. Part of the service was new brake pads on the front.
Couple of months after getting the car braked for a roundabout (just normal braking) and there was a grind coming from the front wheels. Got home (only 3 miles away at this point) and the brake pads were absolutely worn out and the wires to the sensor had been cut.
I don't blame my mates mate for this at all as I can see he paid for replacement, just the garage he used had ripped him off, so I like to know my cars have been looked after properly.
