Buying an A3 using a PCP
- Thread starter h5djr
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AndyMac
Retired from service
"I think if you removed everyone from this forum who has a company car, lease car etc.... it'd be a ghost town."
Maybe on this forum but certainly not on the 8L/B5/B6 ones which, lets be honest, is far more interesting than you lot bragging about how much debt you can accrue in the coming months. Should I go for the first aid kit or the front parking sensors? Ummmm rivetting stuff ladies.
I'll get my coat.........
Maybe on this forum but certainly not on the 8L/B5/B6 ones which, lets be honest, is far more interesting than you lot bragging about how much debt you can accrue in the coming months. Should I go for the first aid kit or the front parking sensors? Ummmm rivetting stuff ladies.
I'll get my coat.........
It now seems Audi UK's policy to offer Xenons as an option on the S-Line and as standard on the S3. The same seems to apply on the A4 range as well.
Personally I do not like the S-line or the S3 mainly because of the suspension. I've had many cars in the past woth 'Sport' type suspensions but I now much prefer the slightly softer SE setup. I have driven a number of S-lines recently and whilst there OK for a short drive I would hate to do my trips to Austria/Germany/Switzerland in one.
So it looks like I will have to go back to halogen headlights and uprate the bulbs as I done in the past. It's a shame but I would much prefer halogen headlights to an S-line.
Another problem at the moment is that dealers only seem to have 140 common-rail diesels in S-Line with a manual gearbox. My own delaer has shopped around and that's all that seems to be in the UK at the moment. So perhaps I'll wait a while until someone can provide a 140 and/or 170 CR version with an S-tronic to try. There's no way I would order a new car without having driven the engine/gearbox setup that I want beforehand.
The problem with older used cars is getting the specification you want. I don't see any point in paying out a lot of money for something that's not the right spec.
Yer your right, reading about someone replacing some part or other on their B5 because it's worn out is much more interesting...
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
Not sure I completely understand get the `depreciating asset` arguement.
Unless you invest every single penny you earn and refrain from buying ANY luxury items then the reasoning isnt logical.
Most luxury items are depreciating `assets`anyway.
Fancy motors, motorbikes, cameras, designer clothes, Hi-Fi, TVs etc...
Basically you buy them, enjoy then for a short time, and soon after they are worth a fraction of what you paid.
Whether you aquire a car via cash/Personal loan/PCP/PCH/HP etc, you are spending money, full stop.
Its all `spending`just dressed up differently.
"No pockets in a shroud" as my granny would say (shes dead now btw)
Borrowing rates asside (as these vary wildly anyway depending on credit status), the only real world benefit of PCP/PCH for me would be that you dont have to deal with tyrekickers or **** take part-x valuations when it comes to change the car.
Personally I like total flexibility in the buying/selling aspects of car ownership, and being able to modify the car as much or little as I choose.
It means I can sell/swap/p-x whenever I want and have no one to consult or agree a settlement figure with.
To this end Ive always bought cars with cash+bank to make up the difference and this could be private franchise or specialist.
The last few years Ive tried to buy `lightly` used, either nearly new or 18month with tiny miles. So far Ive havnt bought new and dont plan to in the forseeable future unless my circumstance drastically change (eg Company car scheme).
That said, out of curiousity I plan to do some sums on alternative car purchase methods when the time comes to change again.
My 2p anyway.
Cheers
Paul
Unless you invest every single penny you earn and refrain from buying ANY luxury items then the reasoning isnt logical.
Most luxury items are depreciating `assets`anyway.
Fancy motors, motorbikes, cameras, designer clothes, Hi-Fi, TVs etc...
Basically you buy them, enjoy then for a short time, and soon after they are worth a fraction of what you paid.
Whether you aquire a car via cash/Personal loan/PCP/PCH/HP etc, you are spending money, full stop.
Its all `spending`just dressed up differently.
"No pockets in a shroud" as my granny would say (shes dead now btw)
Borrowing rates asside (as these vary wildly anyway depending on credit status), the only real world benefit of PCP/PCH for me would be that you dont have to deal with tyrekickers or **** take part-x valuations when it comes to change the car.
Personally I like total flexibility in the buying/selling aspects of car ownership, and being able to modify the car as much or little as I choose.
It means I can sell/swap/p-x whenever I want and have no one to consult or agree a settlement figure with.
To this end Ive always bought cars with cash+bank to make up the difference and this could be private franchise or specialist.
The last few years Ive tried to buy `lightly` used, either nearly new or 18month with tiny miles. So far Ive havnt bought new and dont plan to in the forseeable future unless my circumstance drastically change (eg Company car scheme).
That said, out of curiousity I plan to do some sums on alternative car purchase methods when the time comes to change again.
My 2p anyway.
Cheers
Paul
I was speaking to an Audi dealer a couple of weeks ago who mentioned that whilst you can order the 170bhp diesel, and a few had trickled through during September, they were currently experiencing a longer than expected delay in them being built (can't recall the reason). She also mentioned the S-tronic not being around for a bit for the demo cars.
A mate of mine just uprated his lights to the Phillips Xtreme 80% lightbulbs and has been very impressed, partly due no doubt to the poor lightbulbs normally put in new cars!
TDI-line
Uber Post Whore
Surely it's your wife's turn for a new car Dave?
When we both retired about 18 months ago she said she was happy to run her current car for a couple of years and then perhaps we would go back to just having one car. But she has now changed her mind (a lady's privilege) and likes the idea of keeping her own car. I don't mind one way or the other.
So we are just about to order a new 1.4 Polo SE.
TDI-line
Uber Post Whore
Yes, a women's privilege, lol..
Did you know there is a new shape Polo coming out soon.
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080619.001/rendered-speculation-new-vw-polo-will-be-presented-next-year
Oh dear
Nothing more boring? its the same car? How can it be any less/more boring?!?!
More enjoyable driving something you own?
I've had 16 tyres, if I owned the car I'd be bankrupt, beleive me, someone else owning it is a godsend
And as for who contributes, I didn't know that, in order to sign up to this forum, I had to actually pay for the car myself, really sorry, obviously I am somehow a lower classed citizen
Yes I have seen details of the new one, but I think it will probably be getting on for a year before its available in the UK and Jenny likes the existing one, so we've decided to go ahead now.
I suppose it depends on how much choice you get in which car you have. I can remember when the choice was very limited which is why I never wanted one but these does you do seem have have a much wider choice limited only by an amount of money.
That would be 72k miles
In fairness 2 were punctures!
Its got its service next fri, hopefully Huntingdon Audi will have a new A4 for me to test drive whilst its in
Absolutely, if the car I wanted wasn't on the co car list I'd look at other ways of getting it, PCP, PCH - whatever it would work out to be, I do know I'd get rid of it in 3 years and I'd get something else new, so I'm happy to accept that there is a cost associated to it too
Fortunately I get a decent allowence and am happy for someone else to pay for and take the associated risks of owning the car I use, which at times can be considerable!
You could always retrofit xenons....
True, but if I did I would want to do it properly with OEM Xenons, auto-leveling and headlamps washers. It would probably end up costing more than the the car!!
I think I could live with halogens with some of the latest type of uprated bulbs. Not sure I really like the LED driving lights either so at least with halogens I'd get a normal H7 bulb as the driving lights as well.
I know, I was only joking with you on the retrofitting - I know it's a bugbear of yours.
Anyway, there are some good uprated bulbs out there now. Have you seen Mikey's "Night Breaker" post? Those bulbs seem to be very impressive.
Anyway, there are some good uprated bulbs out there now. Have you seen Mikey's "Night Breaker" post? Those bulbs seem to be very impressive.
I assumed that was probably the case. I have followed the Night Breaker posts and they do seem to be very good. I used similar bulbs on all my previous A3 and they were much better than the standard bulbs.
Like Bacardi, I had to have a little chuckle at this nonsense.
Company cars are boring?
Eh?
I can only assume you weren't given much of a choice of car, in which case I feel sorry for you.
Me, I get to choose what I like, it's brilliant.
Weird contributing to the forum, just because we don't own the car?
That's hilarious.
Presumably, you wouldn't welcome an Audi test driver's comments, because he doesn't own the car...
Bottom line, cars don't hold that much interest to me that I feel the need to own one, modify one or work on one.
I like nice cars, but I also like them to be hassle free.
I simply cannot be ***** buying/running/owning/modifying/fixing my own car.
I can't wait to ditch the wife's car and go PCH on that too.
Low monthly payments, zero hassle, hand it back.
Marvellous.
AndyMac
Retired from service
PaulAr
S3 (8P)
I think its fair to say that there too many variables in individual circumstances to take any kind of high ground on whats `best`.
There are:
Those who have a company car allowance or choice of car.
Those who have a company car decided on by their employer.
Those who arent involved in a company car scheme at all.
Those who are self employed.
Those who change their car every 5 mins.
Those who want to mod their cars.
Those who are blah...blah...etc....etc
Thats why we have so many ways of aquiring a car in the first place.
At the moment I buy my own car, lightly used, with a big lump of depreciation already sufferred.
Its possible in a few months time I will be on a Company car scheme with another employer which may completely change and dictate my approach to another car.
So to say any one is universally the `right` one is plain daft.
Cheers
Paul
There are:
Those who have a company car allowance or choice of car.
Those who have a company car decided on by their employer.
Those who arent involved in a company car scheme at all.
Those who are self employed.
Those who change their car every 5 mins.
Those who want to mod their cars.
Those who are blah...blah...etc....etc
Thats why we have so many ways of aquiring a car in the first place.
At the moment I buy my own car, lightly used, with a big lump of depreciation already sufferred.
Its possible in a few months time I will be on a Company car scheme with another employer which may completely change and dictate my approach to another car.
So to say any one is universally the `right` one is plain daft.
Cheers
Paul
I agree entirely. What best for one person's set of circumstances may not be the best for someone else.
It's like there is no best car. It depends so much on what you what from a car and how you intend to use it.
It's like there is no best car. It depends so much on what you what from a car and how you intend to use it.
Well until I can get access to some of savings in Icesave and test drive a 140 and 170 CR diesel A3 fitted with an S-tronic gearbox I've decided to wait for a while before I changing my A3.
However, Mrs Robinson is going to get a brand new Polo and we will be using a VW Solutions PCP to buy it. Partly because of the problem getting at our savings and partly because the total cost of the PCP over the cash price is less that the amount we would loose in interest from our other (accessible) savings.
The total cost of the new Polo will be £10,550 including discount and discounted GAP Insurance. The total cost of buying using the PCP will be £12,197.08, therefore the cost of using the PCP will be £1,812.08. We have already got a cash buyer for Jenny's existing Polo.
I have calculated the interest on £10,550 in our tax free savings for the same 3 year period would be £1,961.83 thus making it £149.75 cheaper to use the PCP.
Thanks everyone for all you views and comments - it's been quite a lively debate!!
However, Mrs Robinson is going to get a brand new Polo and we will be using a VW Solutions PCP to buy it. Partly because of the problem getting at our savings and partly because the total cost of the PCP over the cash price is less that the amount we would loose in interest from our other (accessible) savings.
The total cost of the new Polo will be £10,550 including discount and discounted GAP Insurance. The total cost of buying using the PCP will be £12,197.08, therefore the cost of using the PCP will be £1,812.08. We have already got a cash buyer for Jenny's existing Polo.
I have calculated the interest on £10,550 in our tax free savings for the same 3 year period would be £1,961.83 thus making it £149.75 cheaper to use the PCP.
Thanks everyone for all you views and comments - it's been quite a lively debate!!
Good luck with the new car Daivd
J.
Hopefully in a couple of weeks. There is already one at the Grimsby distribution centre. The only holdup may be getting Jenny's personal plate put on retention and then getting the DVLA to register the new Polo with that number.
Still a lot quicker than a factory order for an new Audi!
Shouldn't take that long.
I had to do it myself on the D3 in April, as I was switching lease companies.
Getting the retention cert off the A3 took about 10 days, max.
Putting it on the D3 was a wee bit more involved, as I didn't have the V5.
I assume, with PCP, you are the registered owner???
Incidentally, I saw my old A3 being driven through the village last week.
Going by the look the driver gave me, he recognised me as the previous owner, presumably by my private plate, which was still on the A3 for a while after I got rid of it.
I didn't have time to stop and offer my condolences.
Yes with a PCP you are the registered owner. The dealer uses the Retention Certificate to register the new car. The only slight delay can be if the DVLA local office ask to inspect the donor vehicle. Vehicles are chosen at random for inspection and out of the 8 transfers I've done on my cars and the 3 we've done on Jenny's I've only been asked once.
The new V5 is then issued to Jenny with her personal number and is send in the normal way in the post some days/weeks later. The new car never has another number issued until it's sold.
The new V5 is then issued to Jenny with her personal number and is send in the normal way in the post some days/weeks later. The new car never has another number issued until it's sold.
Incidentally, I saw my old A3 being driven through the village last week.
Going by the look the driver gave me, he recognised me as the previous owner, presumably by my private plate, which was still on the A3 for a while after I got rid of it.
I didn't have time to stop and offer my condolences.
I'm trying to avoid the next owner having this issue, 4 weeks with the oil light on now, still keeps going, its doing remarkably well
Your car's the equivalent of an abused dog.
You don't feed it, but it still brings you the paper every morning.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry...
You're chancing an RSPCA fine.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Audis.
Nice to hear that I'm not the only one who suffers from this.