It’s all about perspective, I think what people struggle to understand is you pay similar amounts either way you do it. If you put in a smaller deposit you still pay a similar amount over the 24/36/48 months compared to if you put in a bigger deposit, a larger deposit just means you lower your payments over the term. You actually pay more over the term if you put in a smaller deposit at the start as you are being charged interest on the remaining balance which is obviously higher... I chose to buy my S3 outright because I’m not aware of any investments that would save me the amount of interest I’d be paying on a PCP. Although I’ve taken the risk that my car won’t plummet in value, with a PCP that would be the garages concern if that happened as I could just had the keys back at the end of the term and walk away.
I couldn't bring myself to pay a car off in one but good on you for doing it I go for big deposit low monthlies and over payment as much as possible resulting in my car being paid for in full march 2021 when it turns 2 year old
I have played around with figures, big deposit/lower deposit vs low monthly/higher monthly and the price you ultimately pay is very similar if you run the full term of the PCP, so for me it makes no sense to put a hefty deposit in. I rarely even get to the end of a PCP anyway, I nearly changed my current car last week and I’m only a year in to the PCP.
Yeah I remember it not making a huge difference in the total amount you pay when I looking at a PCP with my 1st S3 in 2017, only slightly more in interest charges with a lower deposit although it obviously varies depending on your APR etc. I’m not opposed to PCP’s at all I think a guaranteed monthly payment is a good idea in some aspects and you haven’t got a big lump sum tied up in a car, if you want to use it for other things etc. Saying that Audi’s used approved interest rate is a joke I think they wanted nearly 11% from me when I purchased my current S3 and wouldn’t budge. At a time when bank loans are readily available for 3% it’s a bit of a joke.
The apr rates were always an issue, I managed 1.9% with VW on my TCR, I was never getting that with Audi. BMW are currently offering 2.9% on a lot of models, including M2s and M4s, Audi are only coming down to 5.5% so far.
Yeah the Audi rates are a joke. We were looking at a Q3 45 TSFI but we can get into a more expensive and overall better X3 M40i for less
Crazy when you consider the cost difference in those two models, the X3 M40i is a much better SUV anyway, if you getting one for the right money go for it. I had a good deal on an M2 competition worked out a few weeks ago, I procrastinate over it to long and it was gone. Been regretting it ever since.
If you run the Full Term of the PCP .... it makes no odds what deposit you pay,l paid a £7k deposit plus l purchased £2000 of options....so after discount l basically paid for the paint which was £2400...l am on month 35 in my PCP if l sold my car tomorrow Privately l would be £4k in the black...but that's not gonna happen....So i'll keep it through this winter...at least and see what next year brings
Leasing deals on the all new A3 are around 3% The APR on my car is 4-6% which at the time was very good indeed for a S car
Yeah, always likely to get lower apr on the lesser models, unfortunately those are not what I would be after. I’m highly unlikely to get the new S3, having seen the current top of the line model I still prefer the current M135i, if I was getting another 4 door it would be top of the list. But I would prefer to go back to a coupe, so 4 doors are unlikely to be on my list anyway.
I saw a black 135iM with all the extra addenda fitted to it last week sorry...far too Fiesta ST looking for my taste...not cheap either....the 19s didnt look that nice either...Matte grey finish
The metallic or flat grey with the performance bodykit would be my choice, the only thing putting me off is the cost for what is a hot hatch, by the time I add the specs I want its a £45k car, and I just don't think it's worth that, but then again neither will the new S3.
The Technology especially the HUD in the new M135i is on a other level compared to my S3. I had a good deal on a fully loaded M135i but I'm prefer saloons.
I dont know you guys, but I might not be tempted to buy the new version, as I dont really like the weird pentagons instead of the frontal fog lights. Not sure if they are so akward as the new back part of the bmw´s, but I guess there was a contest who can design an uglier car, and bmw/benz/audi were contesting lately.
Yeah, the technology in them is great. I prefer the shape of the saloon in the S3 but the BMW M235 is on another level of ugly. Also having had a hatchback shape for a year now I can see how impractical the saloon shape was, you couldn’t get more than one standard size suitcase in the boot.
I have heard of him, but not taken a look as he’s based in England and I’m not plus with the added complication of having a trade in it probably wouldn’t work out. But I’ll have a look later and maybe email him just in case.
Technology or should l say gadgets is at the bottom of my own priorities for a new car....the 135iM l drove had all the toys...but nothing l hadn't seen before in a car ..... still preferring my current car to the new 1 series Sent from my SM-A715F using Tapatalk
He seems to do some serious business, as is forever posting collections on his insta. Seems to do trade ins no issue. Worth an email I would say
I would follow Joe Achilles youtube channel and that's where I heard of him, he has bought all his BMWs from him.
Did you not spec your S3 to a fairly high level? I know mine required about £6k of options to get it where I was happy, could of actually kept going to crazy money. The only thing I didn't spec that I almost instantly regretted was the pan roof.
Everything barring the drivers Assistance pack....and that's why the Vorsprung model really doesnt appeal to me,l hate paying for options that aint necessary to my needs ....another downside to the WLTP regs....is not being able to chose option independently on an Audi........
Jordans colleague that lives around my way has a 235iM in snapper rocks blue and l have got admit it has turned my neck....a few times as it's flew past me on the other side of the dual carriageway
Visited my local Audi today to look at the new A3. Quite like it expect for them fake plasticky air vents on the back. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Technology must be important enough to you, after all you loaded your S3 with them. They were expensive options, I know as I spec’d mine with them as well. If tech wasn’t important you could have saved quite a bit of money and done without them.
Personally think much nicer looking than the M135i. But not the best looking out there these BM’s . The 4 series particularly tragic
Still think it is OTT at the front, but overall decent. Current A3 looking very dated now. Like that blue colour.
Everyone is going angular - ironic since Skoda pioneered that in the brand decades ago when others were more curvy. It has dated the PFL but the FL has a good balance and a lot of similar design cues - non car enthusiasts probably couldn’t discriminate.
Turbo blue, I think Audi’s in this colour will be a very common sight. Much like Estoril blue became when BMW stopped making it an exclusive M colour.
I had thought the lights looked huge on the new cars but just put it down to camera angles but you are right, looking at the facelift 8v verifies they are actually huge lights.