[Rickoshea]

I agree that buying something like a flash car on any form of "tick" is a mug's game - and I think any new car is "flash". We have always bought our cars for cash. That meant for the first few years of marriage we drove truly awful secondhand Vauxhall Viva estate before progressing to a wonderful secondhand Morris Marina! The only debt we have had in our 48 years of marriage is a mortgage and paid that off in our early 50s.

This has meant that now, in our dotage, we have a modest "wedge" that allows us to travel long haul (and maintain our BA Silver status!) as well as buy the odd new car. We have reach the stage where if we do not start wasting our money, the kids and Taxman will.