QUESTION

Hi Hailey

I am hoping you can help me. I bought a BMW 1 series 120i last year. It is beautiful. Gunmetal outside, red leather inside, PDC and it is fast! I bought with the help of BMW Finance and financed the car over 60 months with a 20% residual. First mistake I know. I must be honest that while I know not to do this, I just couldn't foresee it being a problem. I never have a car for longer than 2 years. My fiance found out about this i.e. the 20% residual and the fact that I am paying R4766.80 per month and hit the roof. To cut a long story short I am now shopping for a vehicle to trade my current baby in for to reduce my monthly costs and get rid of the residual. Good plan. Not easy to initiate. I have been quoted on a Mercedes B Class A170 2008 with 63 000 km's on the clock going for R172 000. I have also been quoted on a brand new Nissan Juke out of the box for R250 000. I need to reduce costs, have a reliable vehicle and also purchase a car that I will at least like and not be embarrassed to drive in. Going from a BMW to a Nissan is a big jump, backward, I have been told. I am really confused and need some advice. Please help! Would you go for the brand new Nissan Juke (although it is a Nissan and is only a 1.6) or a second hand Mercedes? Is a Nissan a down grade? Would you pay R4400 per month for the Juke and save on petrol (you apparently get 5litres per 100km's) and save on insurance costs and not worry about services at all or go for the Mercedes and pay about R3800 per month, petrol may decrease slightly and pay 20% of the services. Is there another car you could suggest or a place you could refer me to? I would really appreciate it! Kind regards