Stick with existing car no finance, or buy new on PCP...
Discussion
From a general pistonhead point of view, would you rather stick with an older & higher mileage car that does the job but is missing a few preferred things such as xenons and have no finance.
Or make use of the dealer contributions and /or 0% finance deals and PCP a new one?
This is on the basis of:
There are 2 cars in the household, both paid for in full. One fun car which doesn’t get used a great deal and this car.
This car is the main family car and will be driving long distances to south of France and north of England at least once each per year. Average milage for the past 2 years has been 16k, but that will reduce to closer to 14k.
There are no other credit cards or loans and mortgage is relatively small, so financially a monthly payment is affordable.
The current car in question is a MK6 GTD. It’s excellent, but now its getting on the repairs are becoming more expensive, and the current winter driving is reminding me how bad standard headlights are.
The car is well equipped otherwise, and as the family car manages really well with the huge amount it carries. If replacing for a newer model I would go new GTD or potentially a T-Roc. I have a tight driveway so don’t want anything much wider.
The new GTD would also give benefits of reduced road Tax and insurance, which would save around £300 a year, so probably not worth the decision on its own.
If it wasn’t so expensive to retrofit xenon’s to my current car, I would do that and keep it long term.
…Stick or twist?
Or make use of the dealer contributions and /or 0% finance deals and PCP a new one?
This is on the basis of:
There are 2 cars in the household, both paid for in full. One fun car which doesn’t get used a great deal and this car.
This car is the main family car and will be driving long distances to south of France and north of England at least once each per year. Average milage for the past 2 years has been 16k, but that will reduce to closer to 14k.
There are no other credit cards or loans and mortgage is relatively small, so financially a monthly payment is affordable.
The current car in question is a MK6 GTD. It’s excellent, but now its getting on the repairs are becoming more expensive, and the current winter driving is reminding me how bad standard headlights are.
The car is well equipped otherwise, and as the family car manages really well with the huge amount it carries. If replacing for a newer model I would go new GTD or potentially a T-Roc. I have a tight driveway so don’t want anything much wider.
The new GTD would also give benefits of reduced road Tax and insurance, which would save around £300 a year, so probably not worth the decision on its own.
If it wasn’t so expensive to retrofit xenon’s to my current car, I would do that and keep it long term.
…Stick or twist?
FlatToTheMat said:
Personally speaking, id always void any sort of Finance, I'd put what you would into finishing off your small mortgage.
Have you looked into upgrading the bulbs in the GTD? Osram's, LED's, HID's etc?
I did briefly look at options. Have you looked into upgrading the bulbs in the GTD? Osram's, LED's, HID's etc?
I’ve changed the bulbs recently but replaced for just a high quality halogen.
Maybe LEDs would be worth it.
My car has the winter pack so already has headlight washers so if id found affordable Xenons I would be able to change them and not worry about the future MOt restrictions.
Can anyone recommend LED bulbs?
I have found this company local to me who do a genuine bi xenon upgrade - its £2245 + vat though !
https://www.hazzydayz.com/genuine-vw-golf-mk6-xeno...
https://www.hazzydayz.com/genuine-vw-golf-mk6-xeno...
The amount people are apparently willing to pay for improved headlights always astonishes me. Was reading an Autocar test of an everyday car the other day which had a 'Visibility Pack' option costing over £1500. Knocking a few mph off in difficult light conditions is free. 
Don't strap yourself up for finance just for that.
Don't strap yourself up for finance just for that. I’d also suggest sticking as replacing the GTD with a newer equivalent won’t be cheap. I put Osram Nightbreakers in my old Passat and they made a big difference giving a cleaner whiter light which projected a good bit further down the road. Much much better than the original halogens.
Didn't they stop making GTDs late last year?
Depreciation would nullify any savings, so i'd never recommend buying a new car for financial reasons.
However, it's always a balance of quality of life vs money for me - if i'll get enjoyment out of it, it's safer/more practical and it's not mick-takingly expensive then I'll try to justify it. Money's there to be spent (but not overspent!).
Depreciation would nullify any savings, so i'd never recommend buying a new car for financial reasons.
However, it's always a balance of quality of life vs money for me - if i'll get enjoyment out of it, it's safer/more practical and it's not mick-takingly expensive then I'll try to justify it. Money's there to be spent (but not overspent!).
mangos said:
I have found this company local to me who do a genuine bi xenon upgrade - its £2245 + vat though !
https://www.hazzydayz.com/genuine-vw-golf-mk6-xeno...
Thats an awful lot of money which wont be recouped come time to sell it.https://www.hazzydayz.com/genuine-vw-golf-mk6-xeno...
Serious question OP, hows your eye sight? When did you last time get your eyes checked/prescription checked? I struggle at times with night driving but i know i need glasses
I'd be trying Osrams etc first
I would stick some decent bulbs in yours, such as osrams, or even some quality LED ones (not ebay s
te) and keep running it. PCP'ing a car will ultimately cost you more, but it's a low hassle form of motoring.
Realistically it'll be about £300 a month for a lease on a new car. Why not put that aside each month, if the car throws a bill, use it. If it doesn't, use that, plus the p/ex of the GTD and put it towards something nice if you decide on a new car?
te) and keep running it. PCP'ing a car will ultimately cost you more, but it's a low hassle form of motoring. Realistically it'll be about £300 a month for a lease on a new car. Why not put that aside each month, if the car throws a bill, use it. If it doesn't, use that, plus the p/ex of the GTD and put it towards something nice if you decide on a new car?
If you can afford the finance then go for it.
I saw a good deal on a r line t Ro, £260 a month with £1600 initial on 6x35 10k a year lease with stable lease.
If you would rather squirrel away the money then do that. I like to lease cars and it’s not just the cost of repairs etc. It’s my time wasted taking it to the garage, taking it for MOT etc, getting a lift when it’s in.
Much easier to pay a bit each month. Come service time they pick it up and deliver me a car. I know that car is going to cost X Amount and hopefully never leave my stranded st the roadside
I saw a good deal on a r line t Ro, £260 a month with £1600 initial on 6x35 10k a year lease with stable lease.
If you would rather squirrel away the money then do that. I like to lease cars and it’s not just the cost of repairs etc. It’s my time wasted taking it to the garage, taking it for MOT etc, getting a lift when it’s in.
Much easier to pay a bit each month. Come service time they pick it up and deliver me a car. I know that car is going to cost X Amount and hopefully never leave my stranded st the roadside
FlatToTheMat said:
Thats an awful lot of money which wont be recouped come time to sell it.
Serious question OP, hows your eye sight? When did you last time get your eyes checked/prescription checked? I struggle at times with night driving but i know i need glasses
I'd be trying Osrams etc first
My eyesight isnt great, but I do have regular checks and an up to date prescription. Serious question OP, hows your eye sight? When did you last time get your eyes checked/prescription checked? I struggle at times with night driving but i know i need glasses
I'd be trying Osrams etc first
Its such a strong prescription along with prisms for double vision that i think night driving has become progressively worse.
I wont drive in the dark anymore unless I have to. I've even started sharing lifts home from work this winter to help. Luckily when I do drive home its just a short commute that I am obviously very familiar with.
Visiting friends long distance on my own on roads I am unfamiliar with is where it can't be helped though.
Nickbrapp said:
If you can afford the finance then go for it.
+1. In the case of PCP just make sure you’re comfortable with the entire financial outlay (balloon payment etc if you wish to purchase)I have a mk6 GTI with the standard headlights and I can appreciate the stock bulbs are poor. I tried legal “higher performance” bulbs such as the Osram Nightbreaker Lasers but eventually settled on Philips Crystalvisions. These aren’t technically road legal but I’m confident they’ll pass the MOT (emit white 4300k light, not chavish blue!)
OEM xenons are very expensive but Osram sell legal LED aftermarket units for certain cars which are cheaper: https://www.osram.co.uk/am/ecat/LEDriving%20XENARC... There is a DIY tutorial on YouTube I think.
Also worth sitting in a T-Roc if you’re considering it. Very plasticky inside and will be a step down in quality from your current Golf. I’d rather go for a Q2 in a lesser trim if you can spec the headlights.
Have you done any calculations of 0% vs a low interest loan and buying a (lightly) used car with Xenons instead?
Money isn't free and the 0% deals usually mean a loaded selling price. You should be able to get a car loan for 3-4% than at least you own the car at the end rather than being handcuffed to the next PCP deal.
Money isn't free and the 0% deals usually mean a loaded selling price. You should be able to get a car loan for 3-4% than at least you own the car at the end rather than being handcuffed to the next PCP deal.
work out what the current car has really cost you to this point, what did you buy it for, what are you going to sell it at, then divide that by the number of months owned and add in any averaged out maintenance costs... compare that to the monthlies (and amortized deposit on the PCP) - whats the difference?
now factor in the reduced tax, insurance and fuel savings and think about the "value" a safer more modern car gives you and your family on all those journeys... does that remaining figure stack up? only really u can decided that
now factor in the reduced tax, insurance and fuel savings and think about the "value" a safer more modern car gives you and your family on all those journeys... does that remaining figure stack up? only really u can decided that
Similar position. Bought a mk7 GTD as a stop gap car two flipping years ago and still have it. Due tyres and cambelt (plus I'm bored) so looking to change, prob for an XE. BUT OH's diesel Polo needs to go, serious change in use and it now just does short journeys so needs to be replaced with a petrol. BUT I also want a 996 as a third car.
I'm also 4 months into a 6 month probation period in a new job. Had around 10 years of over paying the mortgage (now gone) and now seem to be stuck in skinflint mode building savings up rather than letting rip. I say go for it :-)
I'm also 4 months into a 6 month probation period in a new job. Had around 10 years of over paying the mortgage (now gone) and now seem to be stuck in skinflint mode building savings up rather than letting rip. I say go for it :-)
Nano2nd said:
work out what the current car has really cost you to this point, what did you buy it for, what are you going to sell it at, then divide that by the number of months owned and add in any averaged out maintenance costs... compare that to the monthlies (and amortized deposit on the PCP) - whats the difference?
now factor in the reduced tax, insurance and fuel savings and think about the "value" a safer more modern car gives you and your family on all those journeys... does that remaining figure stack up? only really u can decided that
It’s roughly £150- 180 a month it’s cost me factoring in maintenance, repairs and depreciation going on a WBAC valuation now factor in the reduced tax, insurance and fuel savings and think about the "value" a safer more modern car gives you and your family on all those journeys... does that remaining figure stack up? only really u can decided that
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