Which one cheaper to run?
Which one cheaper to run?
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Discussion

craggers

Original Poster:

2,496 posts

313 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
Having a bit of debate with my FiL.

He believed that BMW 1 series 118d / Audi A3 2.0 TDI is lots more expensive to run than Vauxhall Astra 1.9CDTI of same age.

Based on servicing/repair at non-dealer garage, which one is cheaper to run over 3 years?


GreatGranny

9,519 posts

255 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
New or 2nd hand?

If new then Vauxhall do the lifetime warranty but then according to JD Power Vauxhalls are less reliable.

Also dependson miles he will be doing. Beemer/A3 will be a nicer place to be but new Astra isn't a bad car.

If its the older shape Astra I would go for the Beemer. Great balance, good economy and strong engine.

craggers

Original Poster:

2,496 posts

313 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
2006 - 2008 models. Astra obviously will have less miles than BMW/Audi.

DannyVTS

7,543 posts

197 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
Astra will break, Audi will break, BMW wont.

IMO

jbi

12,700 posts

233 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
DannyVTS said:
Astra will break, Audi will break, BMW wont.

IMO
Astra will break, Audi will break, BMW will break

S18DMW

20,006 posts

196 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
New or 2nd hand the Astra will be cheaper, go and check parts and labour prices at a Vauxhall dealership and then an Audi dealership....

Dracoro

9,026 posts

274 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
Servicing costs are one thing

Over that, there will be maintenance costs, fixing broken/worn out stuff.

On the whole, Vauxhalls are simply not as well engineered as BMWs for example so many/most parts on the BMW will last longer before needing replacement. That said, chances are the BMW parts are more expensive.

Plus, one has to live with the car. The BMW/Audi will be a much more pleasant place to sit/drive in. That's worth the extra cost any day of the week.

Anyway, woudn't Golfs/Jap hatches/etc. be a better buy. Similar costs to the Vauxhall but better engineered and nicer to own.

Devil2575

13,400 posts

217 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
The Astra will be cheaper to run.

Don't be fooled into thinking that because German cars are more reliable they cost less to maintain. Firstly neither BMW or Audi are especially reliable and parts are a lot more expensive.

They are nicer cars but don't buy one on the premise that it won't cost much to run.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

275 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
craggers said:
which one is cheaper to run over 3 years?
My bet is that the depreciation would be decisive on that one, not garage bills. Unless you are very unlucky with reliability the garage bills will be dwarfed by depreciation, fuel cost, insurance cost, road tax, tyres etc. Any difference on maintenance at your indy one way or the other is likely to be immaterial.

Devil2575

13,400 posts

217 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
Dracoro said:
Anyway, woudn't Golfs/Jap hatches/etc. be a better buy. Similar costs to the Vauxhall but better engineered and nicer to own.
Toyota Corrola and Honda Civic will be more reliable and possibly cheaper to run but VW reliability these days is more reputation than reality.

An Astra is not going to be an expensive car to run so if running costs are an issue it's a safe bet.

kambites

71,468 posts

250 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
I'd imagine that the Audi and BMW will be more expensive to run because most of the cost of running them will be depreciation and the Astra will presumably be quite a lot cheaper to buy in the first place?

Plus Vauxhall parts tend to be dirt cheap, and BMW/Audi ones... don't.

LukeBird

17,170 posts

238 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
craggers said:
which one is cheaper to run over 3 years?
My bet is that the depreciation would be decisive on that one, not garage bills. Unless you are very unlucky with reliability the garage bills will be dwarfed by depreciation, fuel cost, insurance cost, road tax, tyres etc. Any difference on maintenance at your indy one way or the other is likely to be immaterial.
This.
Insurance is only likely to be the big variable when it comes to 'running' costs.

mike325112

1,074 posts

213 months

Wednesday 6th July 2011
quotequote all
Its funny really I bought a 1 series a few years ago as I thought it would be cheaper to run that my previous Astras etc as it would loose less value. To be honest its lost about the same in 3 years as an astra would and has cost quite a bit in repairs, where as the astra I had previously never went wrong.

That said the 1 series is a nicer place to be - its swings and roundabouts. Don't go about buying a BMW or say Audi if you think it will be to save money compared to a Vauxhall or ford etc.