Seat/Audi/Skoda. - Advice, what do you think is best?

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Thu 9 Feb 2012 15:23
Seat/Audi/Skoda. - Advice, what do you think is best? - zollybosher
Hello peeps,

I am in a bit of a dilema as to what the best option is. I currently own a 52 A4 Audi Avant 1.9 TDI with 164K on the clock and in the next 10K I am going to need a replacment time belt and water pump @ £450 I do @ 14K per year to and from work etc and this is mainly motorway miles.

Now I am thinking that if I were to keep the car for another 4 yrs it will have covered over 200k and the residual value will be very very little. However if I trade it in now I would probably get around £1500

On another note if I do keep the car and loose what ever residual value I have left I will still be faced with getting a loan for a newer car and having to borrow extra. So I was wondering what you would do in this situation? Hold on or trade in? As a side note I am curently only getting 43mpg and my fuel bill is rising by the month (as are most) I pay £180pm in fuel alone so my next car would have to be more economical

As for what car I am lookikng at Seat Exeo, Skoda Superb, Or even an Audi A3 sportsback petrol or diesel not really that bothered and it must be no more than 4 yrs old. Does anyone have any expriences with these cars good/bad and how is the mpg (I think the Audi will not be suitable in that respect) I would add that I am looking for a relatively high spec or quality car just like my Audi (toys and all)

Thanks for looking in
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Fri 10 Feb 2012 11:34
Seat/Audi/Skoda. - Advice, what do you think is best? - oldtoffee

I think I'd decide to move to petrol as your mileage is low 'ish and a 3 or 4 year old diesel will be out of warranty and it would only take one big issue such as DMF, DPF, fuel pump, injectors to wipe out any extra VED and mpg saving. I've had an Octavia 2.0TFSi and it would give 40mpg on a run easily, very smooth and very torquey. I'd have another one or a Superb but that comes with the 1.4TSI and 1.8TSI so not sure they have the same characteristics certainly the 1.4 doesn't. The Exeo looks the part, 2.0TSi with 200bhp should go well but I've heard they ride firm and on the motorway can be noisy, not many petrols around. I don't get the A3, I much prefer the Golf so a GTi with the 2.0TFSi and a few goodies would work well for me.

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Fri 10 Feb 2012 16:12
Seat/Audi/Skoda. - Advice, what do you think is best? - concrete

Hello Zollybosher, in the same quandry myself. I run a Skoda Superb 1.9PD 130 TDi with 150K and it runs like a sewing machine, although not the quietest diesel around. I do get a main dealer service about every 18K on the variable mileage regime. My dealer service manager tells me he has these 1.9PD 130 TDi on 'starship' mileages, if properly looked after. I return an average of 50mpg overall. I cover 25K miles per annum, 90% of which is motorway. It doesn't make sense to change it until the repair becomes uneconomical. My cam belt etc will need replacing again this year and I think I will do it and carry on running the car. It owes me nothing, it is worth nothing really (55 plate) and would be difficult to replace because of the equipment levels on the Elegance and the inherent reliability of the 1.9PD 130 TDi. I do worry about the latest generation of diesels and their complications and may well revert to petrol when the time comes.I could retire in two years time, so if the car is still going that would be the time to downsize. In your position I would run your Audi until it drops. If your car is manual you are getting fairly poor mileage. It could be you need to examine your driving technique or use a better fuel such as Shell or BP. If you do replace, go Skoda. All the VAG goods for less money and cheaper servicing. Let us know what you do. Good luck. Concrete

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Sat 11 Feb 2012 17:53
Seat/Audi/Skoda. - Advice, what do you think is best? - Car

Hello Zollybosher

I have a VAG diesel with similar mileage to yours but a couple of years older, and keeping thinking of what to replace it with when the time comes.

In the next 20,000 miles it will need its cambelt and water pump to be replaced along with tyres, it will cost a bit to have these done, but then even a newer car these would need doing at some time, so I would consider these as wear and tear items.



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