Buying a new or second car in Spain

Lucky you. We are on 5.75 with a 25A fuse. I equals P/E so 5750/230 is 25.
P is I x E so 40x230 is 9200.

Hi John,

We had exactly the same dilemma regarding car purchase when we moved to Spain. We rented a car for 3 months to give us time to look around for a decent used car, preferably a 2-3 year old E Class Merc.

However, what we saw on the used car ‘fronts’ was frightening! Cars with no service history, unverifiable mileage (often showing starship numbers) and eye watering prices, many priced at almost double the UK value of the same car!!

We looked at a few main dealerships but they have no real used car offerings as most people in Spain run their cars for many years so there’s no steady used car supply. Particularly difficult if you are looking for a specific model.

We ended up importing our UK car but this is obviously much more difficult and expensive now, post Brexit. I think when we do replace our current car we’ll just buy new, the small savings of a 2-3 year old used car are barely worth the risk.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Paul58 wrote:

marcliff wrote:So you are contracted for 9.2kWh and are good to go. You shouldn't get any cut outs with that. You will also get the reduced tax as it is under 10kWh.
3.6Kw is recommended for electric car charging at a decent rate.

I'm not sure about the 9.2kwh, ours also has a 40amp breaker and our contracted power is only 5.75kwh.

Thanks Paul,

I will ask the agent to request this info from the owner. She may be able to get a copy of a recent bill. I am guessing the contracted power would be stated on this.

Many thanks.

John.

the new car outlet down by the arches anyone know anything about the owner i had a look at some cars they have some nice cars but some nice prices to match was looking to buy another car as my present car i have been driving it now for 16 years old now

Expat in Quesada wrote:

Paul58 wrote:

marcliff wrote:So you are contracted for 9.2kWh and are good to go. You shouldn't get any cut outs with that. You will also get the reduced tax as it is under 10kWh.
3.6Kw is recommended for electric car charging at a decent rate.

I'm not sure about the 9.2kwh, ours also has a 40amp breaker and our contracted power is only 5.75kwh.

Thanks Paul,

I will ask the agent to request this info from the owner. She may be able to get a copy of a recent bill. I am guessing the contracted power would be stated on this.

Many thanks.

John.

Now we have smart meters fitted outside, this would probably regulate your use nowadays rather than the fuse in the fusebox. But 5.75Kw is now standard for modern properties.

Thanks Paul,

I will ask the agent to request this info from the owner. She may be able to get a copy of a recent bill. I am guessing the contracted power would be stated on this.

Many thanks.

John.[/quote]



Now we have smart meters fitted outside, this would probably regulate your use nowadays rather than the fuse in the fusebox. But 5.75Kw is now standard for modern properties.[/quote]


Thanks Marcliff,

No reply from the agent yet. Let’s hope it’s at least 5.75Kw as if it’s only 3.3Kw, I would have to upgrade it or spend a lot of my time walking to the consumer unit to flip the breaker back up. I am amazed 3.3Kw is enough for anyone these day's. I imagine it’s pretty normal to be running the AC, cooking your dinner in the oven and to flick the kettle to make some gravy. If that’s going to blow the breaker, the electricity company needs to make some serious investment in the infrastructure otherwise electric car adoption will never get off the ground here.


Cheers.

John.

Paul M wrote:Hi John,

We had exactly the same dilemma regarding car purchase when we moved to Spain. We rented a car for 3 months to give us time to look around for a decent used car, preferably a 2-3 year old E Class Merc.

However, what we saw on the used car ‘fronts’ was frightening! Cars with no service history, unverifiable mileage (often showing starship numbers) and eye watering prices, many priced at almost double the UK value of the same car!!

We looked at a few main dealerships but they have no real used car offerings as most people in Spain run their cars for many years so there’s no steady used car supply. Particularly difficult if you are looking for a specific model.

We ended up importing our UK car but this is obviously much more difficult and expensive now, post Brexit. I think when we do replace our current car we’ll just buy new, the small savings of a 2-3 year old used car are barely worth the risk.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Many thanks for your post Paul. Based on the costs for second hand cars, I think we may end up buying new. I don’t really want a new car here based on how cars are treated in car parks etc. The first scratch is the worst as they say. My wife just sold her much loved SLK 250 when we left Ireland. Having the convertible would have been great over in Spain but not very practical as we are too old for getting in and out of it now. Its looking like a Hyundai Kona hybrid with 5 year warranty might be the model we go for. I was hoping for a 3 year old GLA 200 Merc but if they are crazy prices, then I have to use my head instead of my heart.

Cheers.

John.

Expat in Quesada wrote:

suzi wong wrote:Yes it’s true they don’t but the second hand car we bought was nothing but trouble even though it had only around 40,000 Kms.on it,maybe we we’re unlucky,second hand in Spain are very expensive,long term we were told not to buy & buy new,just wished we’d taken that advise,Just beware what you buy in relation to the new emission sticker rules coming in this year or you’ll find there are places you won’t be able to access,not too restrictive at the moment but you can bet it will get worse.

Thanks again Suzi. My wife is leaning towards a Hyundai Kona hybrid. They are reasonably priced and have a great warranty. We would consider an electric car but I am not sure if the house power could take it. We rented two apartments short term in 2022 while we were looking to buy and if you turned on 3 power hungry items, the breaker tripped. Crazy stuff!

Cheers.

John & Angie.

Hi John, not sure if having a hybrid Hyundai Kona is a must but Frank at FWR motors by the airport has an as new petrol version, FWR is a very respected dealer.They will do all the paperwork, screen price includes all the taxes etc, they even arranged insurance for me.

As used cars are very expensive in Spain this may cost as much as a new one but could be worth a look.


https://www.fwreurocars.com/cars1_100-17_5.html

Ken

Kenbo wrote:

Expat in Quesada wrote:

suzi wong wrote:Yes it’s true they don’t but the second hand car we bought was nothing but trouble even though it had only around 40,000 Kms.on it,maybe we we’re unlucky,second hand in Spain are very expensive,long term we were told not to buy & buy new,just wished we’d taken that advise,Just beware what you buy in relation to the new emission sticker rules coming in this year or you’ll find there are places you won’t be able to access,not too restrictive at the moment but you can bet it will get worse.

Thanks again Suzi. My wife is leaning towards a Hyundai Kona hybrid. They are reasonably priced and have a great warranty. We would consider an electric car but I am not sure if the house power could take it. We rented two apartments short term in 2022 while we were looking to buy and if you turned on 3 power hungry items, the breaker tripped. Crazy stuff!

Cheers.

John & Angie.

Hi John, not sure if having a hybrid Hyundai Kona is a must but Frank at FWR motors by the airport has an as new petrol version, FWR is a very respected dealer.They will do all the paperwork, screen price includes all the taxes etc, they even arranged insurance for me.

As used cars are very expensive in Spain this may cost as much as a new one but could be worth a look.


https://www.fwreurocars.com/cars1_100-17_5.html

Ken

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your post. I had a look on that site at the Kona. Nice car but the wife wants an automatic. When she got used to the SLK she said she would never go back to a manual. The prices are crazy for second hand cars in most countries but looking online, Spain seems extra crazy. Lol.

Cheers.

John.

Expat in Quesada wrote:

Paul M wrote:Hi John,




. Having the convertible would have been great over in Spain but not very practical as we are too old for getting in and out of it now.

John.

Rubbish. My wife and I are 74. We've always had the bigger cars so we can take the family round etc. Last year we bought a Merc cabriolet and we absolutely love it. My wife is like a little kid when we zoom round with the top down. The family can hire a car when they come over and wouldn't give up the cabriolet for anything. Mind, it cost more than my previous house did but what the heck!