I've just ordered an A6 Avant Black Edition 3L V6 TDi 4WD with auto - just shy of £400 a month over 4 years with £2400 down.
Have to confess I'm stunned £30k gets you "just" an Golf GTI or an A3, result of the £ taking a hammering these past 5 years.
GBP hasn't taken a hammering, it's just corrected to a much more sensible value for our economy to work in a more balanced way (export trade and not just financial services).
I'd probably get a GTI. Though having seen what you can get secondhand, in your position I'd probably take out a loan for say 15-20k and buy a secondhand one that someone's kindly run in and had any manufacturing niggles sorted. That's what I did last time I bought a car (though with a smaller budget) rather than joining the company car scheme like most of my colleagues - still have that car, years after I left that job, still good fun to drive, costs me very little.
I love cars, (and don't begrudge the OP for wanting to spend that much while he can afford to, I would too) but would really struggle with spending that much each month and having nothing to show for it at the end. Why not pay that much on a loan and buy something 1 or 2 years old?...
...OR Buy [url= http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C391773 ]THIS[/url] and keep £8k aside for fuel.
@DezB not sure why you think £30k on a car is daft when you can spend £4-5k on a bike pretty easily. It's a bit off topic but mountain biking is as varied as car ownership, you can have cheap cheerful and effective or full bling with all variants in between.
@chiefguru - all my point was is that when I got my car 6 years ago € / £ was about 1.40 now it's 1.15 plus VAT is another 2.5% - all translates into much higher sticker price. IIRC to replace my car with similar one was £30k then to nearly £50k now, that's bonkers.
OP new Golf is very nice, I drove one. Audi very nice too, great quality but not quite as roomy especially back seats and boot.
Interesting thread. I've just spent this sort of money and I got a E350cdi estate, 6 months old and 5k on the clock. It cost (original invoice) £49k ( with lots of options). Lots of things to spend your money at this price point! I was looking at 530d's/535ds and A6 3.0tdi's. although I like Mercs.
Hang on...
I am an alfa nut at heart and would love to justify a [b]giulietta cloverleaf [/b]but having been slightly let down by the current alfa mito I have im struggling to want to live with one.
DO IT
DO IT
DO IT
Had the hot(ish) diesel one as a hire car when I was back in the UK (interesting what "Golf or equivalent gets you, thanks AVIS!). I'd have one in a flash if I didn't need a 4wd for the sorts of holidays we go on here in Oz.
You need a ford fiesta. Push the boat out and get the Ghia.
Meanwhile, in a parallel universe...
OP: I only have one hand. Anyone know somewhere I can buy just one glove. I quite fancy a nice plush velvet one. Any ideas?
STW1: Why spend all that money on a glove? You can buy 5 pairs for £10 at Lidl
OP: But I only have one hand. What use is a *pair* of gloves? Plus, I work hard for my cash, so why shouldn't I have a posh glove?
STW1: OP, you're not listening. 5 pairs of gloves. That's, like, 10 gloves. For £10. Buy them, and spend the rest of your cash on guitar lessons.
OP: How would I play guitar with only one h...
STW2: Pfft. I wouldn't waste my time with gloves. Trousers is where it's at.
OP: [img] 
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What about a nice Volvo v40r
[img] 
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Certainly no where near as common or mundane as a BMW,Vw,Audi.
A colleague just bought a BMW 335 M Sport, christ it's a lovely car, and for less than £14k.
[i]Meanwhile, in a parallel universe...
OP: I only have one hand. Anyone know somewhere I can buy just one glove. I quite fancy a nice plush velvet one. Any ideas?
STW1: Why spend all that money on a glove? You can buy 5 pairs for £10 at Lidl
OP: But I only have one hand. What use is a *pair* of gloves? Plus, I work hard for my cash, so why shouldn't I have a posh glove?
STW1: OP, you're not listening. 5 pairs of gloves. That's, like, 10 gloves. For £10. Buy them, and spend the rest of your cash on guitar lessons.
OP: How would I play guitar with only one h...
STW2: Pfft. I wouldn't waste my time with gloves. Trousers is where it's at.
[/i]
No, the analogy is wrong as he just wants to rent one ordinary glove, rather than buy a velvet glove for the same money.
Can never go wrong with an Audi rs3
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and that doesn't look ridiculous when I turn up at client sites in it.
Appreciate I'm not being helpful, but I do think some people in the marketing departments of mid-range car companies need to be paid a bigger bonus.
and that doesn't look ridiculous when I turn up at client sites in it.
In my experience, if I turn up to lient sites in a flash motor they start to question our profit margins!!
cbmotorsport - Memberand that doesn't look ridiculous when I turn up at client sites in it.
In my experience, if I turn up to lient sites in a flash motor they start to question our profit margins!!
I do agree with this - a close family friend does a lot of work with charities and the public sector and really wanted an E Class estate however decided that it was too flashy depsite being cheaper and more fuel efficient than the Audi he ended up with. The Audi just blends into the background.
If not upsetting clients is a major consideration, most of the cars I suggested would be best avoided! However if enjoyment / speed / noise are or more of a priority they'll do.
I know a few have gone off at a tangent (myself included) but I'd struggle to drop £30k on a Golf or an S3. They're just a bit bland and not all that quick. That sort of money opens up a lot of options that are genuinely quick and far more interesting.
Still think Hora has the right answer, Elise for giggles and something more practical for bikes/day to day. £30K for a Golf, no matter how good, just seems like bad value. FWIW, I wouldn't pay 5K for a bike either, so it's a personal call.
But then I do tend to think the answer to any car question is 'Elise' 🙂
and that doesn't look ridiculous when I turn up at client sites in it.
Since I don't own a car, I hire them if I have to visit a customer. Turned up for a meeting last week at O2 in a Fiat 500CC.
Just did my own research for the question I asked at the end of page 2. You can buy a 2yr old golf that would have been circa £28.5k new for £18.5k and expect to sell it in 3yrs for circa £12k i.e. £2k per year depreciation. £420pm for 3 yrs is >£15k. Plus the initial £3k. Jam today plus deflowering a virgin car rather than a 'preloved' one is costing you £2-3k a year. That's quite a difference I'd struggle to justify. Waiting until you have £18k in the bank and then saving the depreciation value to replace every 3yrs (or hold on to it if you still liking it and its not causing you problems) definitely makes lots of sense.
I test drove the new Golf GTI at the weekend and it is a very nice car. Fast, quiet, cheap to run (£125 pa road tax, 40mpg), and with comparitvely good residuals. No it is not hugely thrilling but on todays roads how often do you get to really enjoy a car.
I would love to have an M3 CSL, 2nd hand 997, Cayman etc but i only do about 4000miles a year and the running costs are huge, i need the practicality of something like a hatchback/saloon etc so cant justify one of them or running two cars like a Honda Jazz + Caterham Supersport so the Golf GTI is the sort of car i would consider in a similar postion.
The other is the BMW 328i M Sport - RWD, bit more power, bit quicker, slightly more expensive to run. However given how few there are i think the residual value would be poop although if you are on PCP that is less of a concern.
M135i running costs are significantly more than the Golf and although you cant see it while driving it i think it is fugly.
[i]but i only do about 4000miles a year and the running costs are huge,[/i]
Not if you only do 4k pa, it's the depreciation/finance that is huge.
Problem with an RS4 etc is that yes, it'd be flippin awesome but things like £1000 for new pads and discs just for the front (and another ~£700 for the rears) is slightly eye watering.
I'm just about too order a new Golf GTD, I did want the GTI but the monthly cost is almost £200 less for the diesel, I guess mainly due to the forecast residuals being much much better..
Doing 20K miles a year, and doing it in a 9 year old BMW 330i currently, moving to a brand new golf will be almost parity on cost for me, plus it will bring certainty to the running costs!
The Flying Ox - Member
Meanwhile, in a parallel universe...OP: I only have one hand. Anyone know somewhere I can buy just one glove...
Summed up just about every single "What should x I buy?" thread. Why people still bother with them I do not know! 😆
diglover- I feel for you, diesel being the fuel of Satan, im not even looking at the comparison. No diesel ive ever driven or been in has been fun, impressive yes, but not fun
Waiting until you have £18k in the bank and then saving the depreciation value to replace every 3yrs
That's what I did - although I did take out a loan for some of it. Interest on loan is not massive, and I got a one-year-old car with 17,000 miles on it for £10,000 less than it would have cost new, and I will own all of it in a year or so's time all being well. (I just own the boot and back wheels so far, with a bit of transmission gubbins.)
Anyone who doesn't do that must have an awful lot more money going spare than I can ever hope to imagine —although I understand all too well that feeling of showroom fever after test driving a new car.
I actually went to look at a 2nd hand Mk6 Golf GTI (1 year old) before looking at a new mk7. But a low milage Mk6 was still about £22k, a new Mk7 starts at £25.5k my thinking is that in a years time when 1yr old mk7 are available that the Mk6 will have taken a big hit in depreciation.
I have not bought either but i am trying to decide if the 1yr depreciation on buying a new mk7 now is more or less than 2 tyres (£600) + front discs and pads (£500) + possibly a clutch (£???) on my current car.
EDIT: my local BMW dealer is currently doing 5yrs 0% which has given me food for thought as well
M135i running costs are significantly more than the Golf and although you cant see it while driving it i think it is fugly.
They are indeed but I have a feeling that the looks will grow on people. I thought the E60 was a pig when it first came out but it's aged really well and I now really like them!
If the M135 is as good as the reviews say and the deals are as good as they are rumoured to be, I think I could get past the looks. In estoril blue its not too grim...certainly better than the poverty spec 116's that are now quite common.
Don't know if it's been suggested because I couldn't be bothered to read know it alls suggesting a focus and a caravan but what about a scirocco R or the new Golf R which is close to release?
be able to take a young professional couple
love this unit of measurement!
Here is a photo of us with our young professional friends!
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Love it 🙂 (I could have chosen my words more carefully but was just trying to convey, no kids, not chavvy - I think everyone got the idea)
😀
I agree the M135 looks better than a boggo 1 series, it sounds great is RWD but it aint as affordable as the reviews make out.
The reviews all appear to compare a fully specced golf (DSG, Leather, Sat nav etc) against the M135i in base spec. To my mind if you were looking to purchase a golf with all the kit you would do the same with the M135.
There is about £6k difference in base price (£25.5 v £31.5) and this is maintained if they are specced similarly. For me the M135i will be comparable to the new Golf R when it is released next spring.
that's what I quite like about the audi, only gives away 16bhp to the bmw, and looking at the configurator the bog standard spec is absolutely fine for me - supposedly the turn in is much sharper than the previous models too
Whereas VW + performance + dampers comes in at more per month (lower balloon payment)
"VW + performance + dampers"
Same spec i was looking at, plus historically bluefin remaps are about £400 and should get the golf to 300+ BHP given it is an evolution of the previous R engine.
You're going to take a big hit when she gets pregnant.....don't think it won't happen!
Have you tried getting a push chair into a golf 😯
Having said that, you'd be my personal hero if you bought that ferrari...
I was under the impression that the M135 was pretty well spec'd in its base trim? Leather is certainly standard.
Have VW improved the base spec of the Golf yet? I know when we were looking at Mk V's I couldn't believe the number of cars that didn't have cruise control / multi-function steering wheels.
Titus - the Audi may be close to the BM on paper, but I would imagine that to dirve they will feel very differnt. I've driven a few quick Audi's and the only one that I warmed to was the RS4. The S3 I drove was quick but dull as was the 3.2 Quattro.
I know the M135 is the car of the moment and beemers generally drive and handle well.
however, me and the wife both irrationally dislike them and that's that 🙂
although ijs445ra you are obviously welcome to buy one!
Yes Golf has multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, parking sensors which show on screen, touch screen thing for drive control and stereo etc, bluetooth, ipod connectivity and of course cup holders x2
(I could have chosen my words more carefully but was just trying to convey, no kids, not chavvy - I think everyone got the idea)
Yeah, but it made you sound right ****y in the process....
Ha Ha i did buy one sort of, current car is an Alpina (it is not a BMW honest) 👿
A bloke I used to work with had a 1-series and whenever we used to get lifts in it (normally to the pub on a Friday lunchtime) it always amazed me how BMW had made such a reasonably sized car so small on the inside.
I'm a short arse and could barely fit in the back. And it wasn't like they sacrificed rear legroom for bootspace, because that was tiny as well.
If it needs to have any sort of practicality, you might as well forget the 1-Series. Might as well get a TT or something....all IMO of course.
A bloke I used to work with had a 1-series and whenever we used to get lifts in it (normally to the pub on a Friday lunchtime) it always amazed me how BMW had made such a reasonably sized car so small on the inside.
I'm a short arse and could barely fit in the back. And it wasn't like they sacrificed rear legroom for bootspace, because that was tiny as well.If it needs to have any sort of practicality, you might as well forget the 1-Series. Might as well get a TT or something....all IMO of course.
The new one series is bigger - although BMW are masters of the reverse tardis (i.e. big on the outside and teeny on the inside). The Golfs that we looked at felt bigger inside than the 3 series that we ended up buying.
Titus - I genuinely think that you would be mad not to at least look at an M135. Even just to be 100% sure that its not the car for you.
Yes Golf has multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, parking sensors which show on screen, touch screen thing for drive control and stereo etc, bluetooth, ipod connectivity and of course cup holders x2
Glad to hear that VW are finally sorting their base spec out.
I just had a quick look on auto trader and there is a private sale 20 miles from me selling a 2005 3.5L SLK with 47k on the clock, absolutely mint, for £8000.
[img] http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=250057753&width=1024&height=684 [/img]
£8k is pretty much pocket money if you're planning on spending £450 a month for 4 years.
That SLK looks amazing for the money...I wonder what it would be like to actually own an expensive car of that age?
@ijs445ra - Cayamn has 2 yr service intervals, about £400 pa equivalent, road tax hefty at £400pa but comparable to other performance cars, insurance ditto. Not expensive to run.
When the OP posted I looked up the price of a new Cayman but it's closer to £40k so I didn't propose one, it also fails the humble" test for client visits 8)
@mindmap - I think a Gof is bigger on the inside than a 3 series, it isn't an illusion
