I test drove the new VW GTi on Saturday.The dealer has 3 in stock, one of which is the demonstrator that I drove, the other 2 are in the showroom. One is blue which I don't like; one is grey and has full leather upholstery which adds around £1600 - £1700 to the cost, the other is the demonstrator which is black and has 1300 miles on it. The dealer has offered me the demonstrator at the new price less a £250 discount saying there is a waiting list until June and he knows he will get that for the car. If I buy the car I will be the second owner for in return for a £250 discount. I am I being taken for a ride?
In addtion, the car I'm looking to trade is a May 03 BMW 325Ci with 10,000 miles on it which I paid £24,000 for last May. The VW dealership, who have a sister BMW dealership next door who would sell the car, have offered me £16,500 for it. I've done some research on the net since Saturday and it appears I should be expecting nearer, if not a little more than, £20,000. Any reasons why I shouldn't be holding out for that?
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>>If I buy the car I will be the second owner for in return for a £250 discount. I am I being taken for a ride?
I don't know if you're being taken for a ride, but if I was spending all that money on a new car, I'd want a much bigger discount than £250 for a second-hand one - sounds like a pretty snivelling deal %age wise.
If I was bothred by £250, then I wouldn't be buying a new car.
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If the dealer is so confident about demand for this model, why's he got three available for immediate delivery?
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the salesman told me he had not been 'allowed' to sell them prior to saturday - is this just a case of hyped up demand / does anyone know if they are selling as well as we are led to believe?
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Overpriced for what they are, plenty of deals on comparable cars - would avoid until they become more commonplace, or the next new media favourite comes along.
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reading the media would have one believe that there are no comparable cars - that this is by far the best... What would be a comparable car?
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I've got a new Renault Megane 225, which features in most comparions with the Golf. There are loads of review articles on the official VW website, most of which struck me as slightly contradictory.
One article would say the Renault has an equal quality of fit & finish, while another would say that the Renault is poor compared to the golf.
I do admit the layout of the Renault dash leaves a lot to be desired but it is high quality and well put together.
It is also quite easy to get 16%+ discount from list for the Renault, the comparisons dont take this into account. I very much doubt that the Golf will have any discounts available for a long time.
Some articles criticise the handling of the Megane compared to the Golf, yet on top gear, the stig drove both and got almost equal laptimes. And who drives like a maniac with cornering on the limit on public roads.
I haven't driven the Golf, but I've had a look at one and would say that there doesnt seem a lot between them, appearance wise.
I guess what does count is image....
Perhaps the Golf is liked by all because of the little touches that remind of the Mark One Golf, the other 'badge exercise' more recent Golfs are quietly forgotten.
I'm just waiting to see how much my Megane will depreciate by over 4 years compared to the golf, but not based on list prices, but on real world prices.
For what its worth, why swap from a very desirable BMW to a Golf anyway?
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Comparable cars - I was just about to say Megane 225....
Also Civic Type R, if you need 5 doors, Impreza WRX
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For a hot hatch with history(long time ago by admission)there is no comparison.
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Whats Gene Kelly got to do with cars?
Clever ad - I guess!! - Would have been better with Morecambe & Wise!!
VB
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Overpriced for what they are, plenty of deals on comparable cars - would avoid until they become more commonplace, or the next new media favourite comes along.
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Interesting view Wilco.
I take it you have driven the Golf and its obvious competitors? As I am considering the Golf as a replacemnt for my Impreza, I would be very interested to hear what makes you come to the above conclusion.
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Yep -tried the Golf, Megane 225, Impreza Sportwagon - these were all on my shortlist for a fun but practical car to replace my soon to be departed company bus.
Nothing wrong with the Golf but found the driving experience no better than any of the others. Civic was a bit manic with little power until the top end, the Megane I liked very much but would probably want 5 doors in the real world. I've also been offered discounts on all the others (not so good on the Honda but over 15% for both the Renault and the Scoob) - taking the discount into account, plus the fact that I'll keep the new one long term, I don't find the premium to own the Golf worthwhile.
Interested to hear why you want to move away from the Scoob? Having spent some time at the local Subaru dealer I'm finding myself strangely drawn to a Legacy Estate!!
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the Megane I liked very much but would probably want 5 doors in the real world. >>
There is a 5 door Megane 225, reckon it would be my choice out of this lot.
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There is a 5 door Megane 225, reckon it would be my choice out of this lot.
Doh!! And I thought I had made my mind up!!
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Eyes right to the leasing offer of £300 a month. That's not bad for an apparently £20k car that's supposed to be difficult to get a discount on. HJ
The Golf is going to be good as a lease option because of low depreciation however the Megane offsets this as a purchase option via the possibility of better dealer discounts and deals from brokers.
Regards.
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megane over the golf hah!!thats like saying ill have the rump rather than the fillet?
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The Cup version of the Megane might sort out its handling deficencies and make for a worthwhile alternative to the Golf, at least at a fat discount to offset the weaker residuals. It certainly has the straight-line speed to compete.
I have to agree that the Golf is the logical choice in the hot hatch class right now - although whether it's 'vastly' better than any competition is rather more doubtful. Personally, I'd rather have my equally-fast CTR and four grand in my pocket, but the superior refinement of the GTi, and the easily extracted performance of the turbo engine, would swing it for many.
The 240bhp Astra VXR will leave the Golf looking underpowered at the £20k price point later this year.
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If I was bothred by £250, then I wouldn't be buying a new car.
It's not a new car it's a second hand car, and I'm not bothered about £250, I'm bothered that it should be more like £1000.
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>It's not a new car it's a second hand car, and I'm not bothered about £250, I'm bothered that it should be more like £1000.
You misunderstand me, that was exactly my point.
If I was trying to choose between a new car and a secondhand car, it would take a lot more than £250 to sway me. £1000 might do it.
What I don't understand is the garage. Do they not understand that someone who is already stumping up £lots&lots is not going to be bothered about £250.
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If I was trying to choose between a new car and a secondhand car, it would take a lot more than £250 to sway me. £1000 might do it.....
They seem confident enough that somebody will pay £250 short of the new price for a second hand car. That person won't be me. My experience with many of these main dealers is they couldn't care less if they sell you a car or not. If you end up going elsewhere to buy a car they don't see that as a customer lost as somebody else will take your place. If they weren't so smug and complacent they would see they could have BOTH customers if they made the effort.
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Let me get this right.
You have a 325Ci which is a year and a half old, and you want to get rid of it for a new Golf GTi.
Why?
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Down at the VW dealership the other day a chap was trading in a late and tidy 993 Carrera 4S for a Golf GTi.
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I can understand that - the 911 is great, but not exactly practical. I can see someone wanting to replace it with a Golf.
Personally I'd keep the 4S, but I can see the logic.
I can't see the driver (sorry) for replacing a 325Ci with a Golf. I hope to be illuminated!
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Let me get this right. You have a 325Ci which is a year and a half old, and you want to get rid of it for a new Golf GTi. Why?
Why not?
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Why not?
Fair enough. Just wondered!
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I think he was just trying to point out that most people would prefer to own an 18 month old BMW 325Ci than a new Golf Gti, nes pa? I know I would.
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Think you have got the choice mixed up?
Golf 1st
Bmw 2nd
But age of the driver will have a Big say on this choice?
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I'd have the BM any day over any VW - even a GTi but as you say - it's your car and....why not?
--
Adam
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Think you have got the choice mixed up? Golf 1st Bmw 2nd But age of the driver will have a Big say on this choice?
The driver fancies a change, it really is that simple.
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