Q1 -- buying brand new might be worth it if you keep the car a good few years and get you money's worth out of it. The first 3 years will see it losing 60% of its value --which is what you're paying for in your monthly PCP payments of course. It's usually far better value to buy nearly new but if you can afford it and want the warranty etc then nothing wrong with it! But it's not cheap motoring.

Drive the deal are entirely reputable.

By all accounts the 1.4 petrol is a great engine and you avoid any possible DPF issues. Your mileage doesn't justify a diesel really.

I wouldn't get completely hung up on the VAG stable as there are lots of other good options. Have you looked at Mazda 3 /Ford Focus/Civic as comparison? Octavia is probably more spacious and better value, same car basically. Golf is same car but more expensive badge! If going VAG I would choose either Seat or Skoda -- your proposed choice is actually a very nice car.

I agree - go for the 1.4 TSI. It's as torquey as a diesel and not far off in terms of economy. Doing 10,000 miles a year it would take too long to recoup the extra cost of the TDI by (smallish) fuel savings - and also you won't have the DPF problem on short journeys.

Also, I think the days of diesels holding their value better than petrols are numbered, largely becaus of the scares in the press but also because of the new efficient petrol engines coming on the market like the VW Group 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TSI.

Thanks guys... for all the great input and advice, I really appreciate it.

The Seat guys are now trying to sell me the 1.8TSI FR. Its more on tax, bad on fuel economy, etc. I desperately need a car asap.

My only dilema is that the Seat guys are saying that the lead times of the 1.4EcoTSi is around 12 weeks and could be double because of back log in orders...

As such I should go for the 1.8TSi as they are saying it will arrive quicker around 12 weeks.

I feel like they are spinning me a story...I have tried carwow option too and the quotes are actually more than the price offered by my local dealer.

I have also explored the DTD option...but I can't get hold of them on the phone...do I just order via them, i.e. do I just go with the finance quote and then wait to hear back from them?

Many thanks

Jon