Enlighten me. Ive sold loads of my cars privately.
I prefer to buy privately too.
£300 per month on a lease car, then at the end of the lease you get nothing. £300 per month on a car loan to buy a £10k car then at the end of it you get a car worth £6k at the end of 3 years.
Hora, i keep trying to type a reply and your posts here and on PH keep flashing through my head and I end up just sighing and giving up.
You're right, you win.
The question is about whether I should go for a Golf R or an A6. Its not about how much is sensible to spend on a car, it really isn't. Perhaps you'd prefer if I bought a small house, a banger, a crap bike and didn't bother travelling to foreign lands on the basis that I don't need to? Then what would you propose I spend all the money I saved on? I don't even know why i'm entertaining this, i just can't seem to stop though 🙂
I've never bought a new car. My current car is 10.5 years old. I don't care whether it's new or old. All I care about is that I liked the ones I drove and they come well under (overall) what I'm comfortable paying out a month for running a car. My cash is tied up in a proposed buy-to-let, so there's no way i'm taking £10k out of that for a car.
Some of the posts above seem to be focussing on whether it is "crazy" to spend £300 a month on a car. Let me worry about that bit, it's my money and you've no visibility of my finances or circumstances.
If you want to have a look at value for money, do it on an objective basis. Is £250-300 a month good value for money for something that would cost £31-35k to buy?
It's really simple. You want a car you appear not to want to or can't afford to buy outright.
You're agonising over an underpowered executive barge and an overpowered pocket rocket/fuel guzzler.
The A6 with that engine will be just a nice, slowish place to be. Personally, I'd go for the 3.0l. For travelling round doing the sorts of things you (and I) do, it's probably perfect.
The Golf is great on paper but paying double? for every trip will soon grate and IMO, novelty will wear off.
I just went through this and ended up with a(nother) diesel barge. I wanted an E63. It made no sense for the sort of stuff you (we) do. Go and get the Audi. BTW, there's probably a good reason the two cars are 'cheap'...
There now. Happy?
The A6 with that engine will be just a nice, slow place to be. For travelling round doing the sorts of things you (and I) do, it's probably perfect.The Golf is great on paper but paying double? For every trip will soon grate and IMO, novelty will wear off.
Having had the benefit of a good nights sleep, this is where i'm getting to.
Although still want to test a 2008 335 or 535...just to be sure 🙂
Well those Beemers can both get ~40mpg so not really so silly?
For a mountaineer with wanderlust, the biggest cost is travel (even for you living in in the middle of it). You'd be daft to increase that cost when you could use the 'saving' to increase the amount of activity. It's all about the mountains man, not driving to them ?
I've just been struggling to find any at dealers close to me that I can test drive.
I had a sit in an older 3 touring yesterday and was underwhelmed after having been in the A6 and 5 (obviously I suppose).
530 or 535 touring would seem to be a good bet, but they just never seem to pop up near me.
But your Merc is still going strong? So what's the rush? New car fever?
GR - almost the perfect car - bike inside (tick), 5 adults (tick), brilliant to drive (tick), anonymous/not showy (tick), easy to park (tick), practical AND fun (tick). Awesome motors if inevitably overpriced. They are worth the premium IMO.
It got through its MOT last month with not too much needing done, but some form of repair is almost constant now. Nothing particularly worrying at the moment, but always something. Mrs File works for a main dealer and they service it for me for cheap labour + beer and cost price for parts, so i've saved a fair bit. They've said that I really ought to be looking to replace it, there's a few bigger bills on the horizon and some significant signs of age. I've stuck 40-50k on it and it's been great, but it's becoming a hassle/frustrating now. I don't have time to tinker with it/have it sat in a garage, or I'd probably just stick with it for at least another year or two. I actually really like it!
So the obvious choice is a s/h 3.0l A6 Avant or 530/535 Touring. You might also have a look at the Vulva D5, that's what I ended up with. Though it's no drivers car, it's perfect for our game. I can get the tandem in the back with just the front wheel off which I can't in any of the obvious competition. 215bhp, ~40mpg, more toys than a kindergarten and ~£8k less than the others.... Just buy a balaclava ?
Putting aside the funding of the car, because frankly I don't really care how you fund it because you clearly can:
My limited experience was an A5 versus a 3 series, both new. The 3 series won on all counts. Far better to drive, gripped the road better, and my wife could actually reach the pedals. So on that basis, with those choices I'd say Golf unless you switch to BMW. Mine is a 3GT so hatchback and bigger than a touring - great for bikes and other big loads.
I have leased my last two cars, I have opted out of a company car scheme and work give me a car allowance, I then have to lease rather than own a car (not sure why?)
Bear in mind at the end of the contract you can px your current car against a new one. I am just about to end the lease on my current Passat, and rather than hand it back to the finance company, an Audi dealer is settling the outstanding finance and I am buying (again on PCP) a low mileage 6 month old A5 from them. So no issues with charges due to stone chips etc, most of us at work do this. This works if you are buying directly from a dealer, but I guess not as easy if you are buying from one of the online sites. I am getting finance elsewhere, but the Audi finance seems to offer a very low GFV so that you have equity in the car at the end of the contract to make it easier to switch to a new car, but then their monthly payments are a bit high.
Don't forget GAP insurance in your calculations. Probably around £150-200. My first lease car was stolen just before the end of the contract so I didn't need to claim on the GAP, but if it had happened a few months into the contract I would have been claiming £5k+
PCP suits some people and not others. Generally it is good if you want to drive a fairly new car, and look after it. The biggest downside is if you situation changes while you have the lease, as getting out of the contract will cost money.
. Unlikely.A 10k audi will be 7.5k asset in 2yrs to trade in or sell.
It's a large 2.0 saloon, which will be 5-7 years old with 80-100k on it. You're looking at £4.5-5.5k depending upon condition/spec/colour. Regardless, and even including tyres at £500, you're still looking at a £3-4k saving over 2 years assuming no big bills.
That's £150 - £20o per month...or look at it another way, free fuel/tax/insurance for 2 years!
OP. You can get some great deals on used a 535i touring if you ask around. IME, BMW diesels return around 30% less MPG than quoted in real world driving. Turbo petrols are around 15-20% less.
Ah yes. If you want out of a straight fwd lease they want the balance paid in one sum/settled in full. Its not like other finance deals sadly.
Show me 08 A6 estates at 4.5k. I want one!
Op, I'm watching this thread with interest as I'm in a very similar quandary. A few years ago I opted for the mk2 focus RS over a larger Audi estate/vrs type car and I'm so glad I did-I still enjoy driving it and gives so much more driving pleasure than the other cars. The RS is now 4 years old and I'm in the market for a 4wd car. Till the golf r came along I was planning on the a4 3l Quattro black, but the golf r is the car I've always wanted! Here's the problem. I hate vw garages. Vw glasgow south laughed me out of the showroom when I said I wanted to test drive the R, they said if you want to drive one you'll have to buy one! Nobs-considering there's a BMW and merc garage up the road where you can test 40k+ vehicles any day of the week!
Anyway, I'll be interested where you can test the R, and what you go for, as I'll be following your footsteps this summer!
With that attitude it must have been an Arnold Clark franchise?
Aren't they all affiliated to Arnold Clark somewhere down the line
Vw glasgow south laughed me out of the showroom when I said I wanted to test drive the R, they said if you want to drive one you'll have to buy one!
Well, perhaps I can help with that!
I went into the exact same dealership, had a look at the one in the showroom, asked for a test drive and was told pretty much the same thing.
I called up another vw dealership in Jordanhill (they're all Arnold Clark btw) and asked for a test drive. It was explained to me that i'd need to come in and do some figures, then I could come back a few days later and test drive. Regardless, I said I would pop down.
Turns out, none of the VW garages in the area actually have a demonstrator. The only one available is the manager's own car. Which is presumably why VW south glasgow get wound up...they don't actually have one and have to call in favours from VW west.
I sat down with an incredibly nice young guy called Conor who worked through the figures with me. I asked for a test drive and he explained that they often get the piss taken out of them by guys who just want to rag the boss's car around, however I didn't seem to be that way inclined and he'd go and try and find the car. Turns out the boss's girlfriend had it for the day, but they managed to get it to the showroom and I went out in it for half an hour or so.
During the test drive Conor told me some fairly horrid stories of some pretty awful sounding people in the car, including idiots getting it sideways and generally treating it poorly. Hence the resistance to just book anyone on a test drive without even speaking to them.
Call VW in Jordanhill and ask for Conor. He's a really really nice lad, I would have gladly bought a car fro him. He was excited as I was in during the test drive! He says he spends most of his day doing tests in 1 litre polos, so when someone half decent wants to take out the Golf R it's the highlight of his day! Sit down with him for half an hour, let him see you're not an idiot and i'm sure they'll give you the manager's car.
Be prepared for a faceaching grin though 🙂
It sounds like you want the Golf R if you can fit it into your lifestyle. So if you can go for it. I wouldn't listen to those who are tell you that you are throwing money away, which is almost always true of cars, but it's your money spend it as you want.
Plus a mountain biker- you ARE going to accidently score the car plastics. Even if its only three times in two years. The worry/thought at back of your mind. Some lease companies have strict handback conditions in the T&Cs as they are protecting their invested residual.
My works lease car went back after 4 years of ownership by me from new with no, none, zero marks on the interior. And actually no marks on the exterior either bar 1 5mm dent. If you damage the car your just being careless. My car had many many muddy bikes in it, travelled 80k miles and went off road on many occasions for work. If you are careful and look after a car you should be able to give it back or sell it in extremely good condition. However most people don't give a monkeys and treat their cars like crap, despite them costing tens of thousands of pounds.
When I bought my Golf R I had to wait nearly eight months for delivery. Had it for over three years now and it still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. Build quality is not as good as the twin turbo 1 Series BMW I had prior. The beemer was only 205 bhp but averaged 50ish to the gallon. The Golf has been on the dyno and is 278.2 bhp standard. Use it and it drinks fuel at quite a rate. Normally under 20mpg with a best of 32 if it's nursed. Do I care? No, it's a superb drivers car, fits two bikes and gear .When it's wet you can still drive as hard as you want, it just gets on with it and is supremely safe. The new R is quite a bit more economical from what I have read, but I was told mine would average 30mpg. If you choose the Golf I am sure you will love it as much as I do mine. Here's mine 8)[URL= http://i.imgur.com/x655nCR.jp g" target="_blank">
....and have a look on drivethedeal before you part with your cash....
Robdob. You put the car up a kerb on its metal jackpoints infront of 20+ STW'ers.
I had an R, had a rack on it and carried 4 people and 4 bikes ok. Hated the DSg box but was a nice package. Not all that small inside either, seats down it wasn't a lot smaller than my rs4. That was a better car though.
If you fancy it then you will make it work. Is go manual personally. I've driven the new one but only on the track.
Definitely get the DSG. Manuals are shite. Dsg just so much fun to use, or not use depending on how you drive, never thought I'd use paddles but the wife has them in her GTi and they're great fun. Have DSG in both our cars. Wife will be looking to lease something in a couple of years time, I've already sounded her out as to getting an R if the prices are still reasonable then.
Someone left a Golf R outside my mate's house, be quick and bring your own wheels.
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I've had a variety of cars, including big and small and - latterly - various hot VAG-stable cars including an S3 and now an older Mk5 R32 (which feels like a steel frame hardtail does to a carbon full sus :)).
I'd go for the Mk7 Golf R all day long.
Have you looked at the M135i?
I did look at it, but that was the deal breaker 🙂
Considering none of the cars the OP listed are exactly that exciting (being all, at best, warm medium/large saloons) and being that driving in the UK is really no fun at all, i'd just get a 2.0tdi Golf, and spend the change on a proper nice mountain bike. (ie something i CAN ride as fast as I want, and something that will be 100x as exciting as any normal volume production passenger car....) 😉
I did look at it, but that was the deal breaker
😆
Is there a 2013 2.8 A6? I thought that was on the old model - the new one is low output or high output 3.0...
Yup - there are other countries that the UK
It was German car ... business packet plus ...
206 BHP , I believe
BTW - I would buy the Golf R!
and being that driving in the UK is really no fun at all,
I'm assuming you've never driven around Torridon/Assynt region? That's where the majority of my personal miles get clocked up and i definitely wouldn't call the driving dull 🙂
Loddrik, i actually spotted an M135i today. It's definitely growing on me. Looks much better in it's hooligan guise.
Haha! I love mine, frighteningly fast and I don't actually mind the looks what so ever, much uglier cars out there!
driving in the UK is really no fun at all
Hah.. rather depends on where you drive. If you are referring to speed limits, then driving in Germany isn't exactly what you'd call 'fun' - just lots of dickhead salesmen being dangerous.
If you can run the R then go for it. It's only 2 years and so long as you're in a sensible job with no risk of losing it and have planned to lose the money then so be it.
I bought a brand new GTi at 21 because I could and yes it cost a lot to buy, a lot to run and a LOT to insure, it was fantastic fun and something I don't regret doing.
I think, if I'm honest with myself, as much as I love the Golf, it's probably not the most appealing car to be in for 5 hours on a Friday night after work. Perhaps it would be ok for me, but not for my passenger.
That moves me back to a proper engine in something a bit more comfortable and practical...a 2008ish 335/535 or A4/6 3.0. I need to drive these. It's where my search started, but they're harder to get a test drive of. I'd jump at the chance of an S4/S5/S6, but the after market warranties are silly money compared to the 335/535.
That said, i was surprised at how comfortable the Golf R was around glasgow's less than perfect roads.
That said, i was surprised at how comfortable the Golf R was around glasgow's less than perfect roads.
My MK7 Golf is supremely comfortable and I've spent 4-5 hour stints driving in it with no issues at all. The suspension on the R will be harder but is well damped. With DSG it should become a lot better.
The RADAR cruise is a life saver on long boring motorway journeys.
Hah.. rather depends on where you drive. If you are referring to speed limits, then driving in Germany isn't exactly what you'd call 'fun' - just lots of dickhead salesmen being dangerous.
Interesting - the driving std is way better than the UK - on autobahns. They do get a bit ego driven at junctions ....
My MK7 Golf is supremely comfortable and I've spent 4 hours stints driving in it with no issues at all. The suspension on the R will be harder but is well damped. With DSG it should become a lot better.
The R can also be put into Eco mode, which i believe shuts down the baffles on the exhausts (or something like that, I couldn't hear him too well because i kept pressing the thing under my right foot that made everything go noisy 🙂 )
Once it's in eco mode it's actually pretty quiet too. Road noise at 70mph is a world apart from a 5 series or A6 though (obviously). Which is a concern for my passenger.
the driving std is way better than the UK - on autobahns.
😯
Admittedly, i've only clocked up 1.5k on the autobahn in germany/austria, but my impression wasn't a good one. Full of idiots and people half asleep. Granted, it's probably still an improvement on UK motorway driving skills! France on the other hand......
I have clocked up about 1.5 years worth of the autobahns - inc 1k in a day. The biggest danger is the out of germany people who outside lane hog. The Germans tend not to do it as a) the police are not impressed b) neither are other drivers. If you do it, they will not show you a lot of kindness.
Road rage is illegal(as is tailgating) - no gesticulations etc, so they just get one with driving. More than can be said about the std of driving here.
If you want really rubbish drivers then go to Belgium - they seem to have issues.
I got my Scirocco R earlier this year. Absolutely love it! Great just tootling along averaging c.32mpg, but it's at its best when driven. Crazy fast and puts a grin on my face every single day. When it comes to time to change the Scirocco I'll be tempted to have a look at the Golf R.
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