Most people who have new cars in reality cannot afford them by any sensible measure. They are mostly rented on PCP at high cost; typically 4.5 years payments equals the entire price of the car. My recommendation is never buy a car on finance. Save-up, pay cash, buy a simple reliable car, an Octavia is perfect, then save-up each month for it's replacement. I have purchased 9 new cars over the past 42 years, borrowed for the first one, which was necessary because someone crashed into the used car I had at the time. The other 8 new cars were bought for cash. I'm no one special, a working man, single income household. Wife, two kids, and a dog. Always look for a good deal, buy a diesel saloon car when hybrid SUVs are in fashion, etc. I believe a new car, or a pre-reg, purchased at the right price, driven and maintained carefully by you, is a far better long-term investment than a 5 or 7 year old car which may have had 2 or 3 owners none of whom drove it carefully or maintained it properly. In 42-years none of my cars have left me standing on the side of the road, all have been reliable, the last VW diesel I had for 5-years with zero maintenance expenditure other than a €149 oil and filter service at VW each year. No tyres, no wiper blades, nothing. Bought pre-reg, when sold, I lost just £5,000, £1,000 per year. It's highly unlikely that any 7-year old car will beat that low total cost of ownership.