Car Buying Help

[Redman2020]

Hi All,

I am really bad at buying cars so some help here would be fab.

I've had a RR Sport and my PCP is up in 6 months (48 Months)
I am looking at the Hybrid Sport or the P300 Diesel

My questions are:

1) As Diesel is becoming the devil - should I steer clear or as Ill only keep for 4 years its not a problem?
2) Is the Hybrid Crap? I am looking around and seeing mixed results any good thread links would be fab (I will TD when possible)
3) Salesman told me my current car is being valued as being £8K in negative equity so I should just give it back at the end and not part ex so I can end the deal and start again - is that good and means his discount cant help get the price of the car
4) One dealer on Car Wow is offering 12% off the rrp for the diesel! - anyone think there's more to have off there?
5) Leasing looks a lot cheaper!

All help welcome.

Thanks

Tony

[samoht]

1) Any diesel you buy now will be RDE2 compliant (since it's a legal requirement from 1st Jan). On the basis that you'll be handing the car back in four years, I personally would be comfortable with the political risk on such an RDE2 compliant diesel, can't see it going from cleanest-available to taxed-off-the-road in such a short timeframe.

2) As a general rule hybrids are a real economy benefit in busy stop-start traffic, since the electric motor can handle most of the requirements and regen when slowing down. Whereas on a motorway journey at sustained higher speed, a diesel's inherently more efficient combustion process is helpful. So the best choice probably depends on what kind of driving you do.

3) Yes if the car's value is £8k below the optional final payment then the only sensible thing to do is to hand it back at the end of the term. You're then free to start afresh, with that dealer or anywhere else you choose.

[Redman2020]

Fab thanks so much

[samoht]

5) It appears that PCP offers two elements of greater flexibility over Leasing. The obvious thing is that you have the option to buy the car for a fixed price at the end of the term if you wish. The other thing is that with PCP you have a bit more flexibility to get out of the agreement early, say if your circumstances change - most obviously there's your VT rights, and sounds like as you have those, generally PCP places are more flexible about allowing changes. Conversely with a lease it seems that you're contracted to pay £XXX per month for Y months regardless, so can only exit the agreement on the providers' terms which can be very expensive.

Therefore at a glance it seems that a cheaper Lease is better if you're confident you definitely will be willing and able to pay for the car through the whole term and then return it, whereas with PCP you're paying a bit more per month in exchange for a few more options if your situation changes.

[ZX10R NIN]

I think they've stopped it now but they did do a diesel hybrid, it fits the best of both worlds.