Diesel scrappage,will the government get involved this time?

[Tucker1]

So far only manufacturer involvement in the scrappage allowance.

I'm sat here with a 11yo diesel I've owned for 7 years worth a few hundred pounds, looking for the best possible discount to buy a new car and using it to my best advantage. Some strong scrappage incentives from manufacturers but still nothing has appeared scrappage wise from the Government as the press speculated earlier this year, just £2500 grants for Electric or Hybrid cars not actually associated with scraping my old car.

Best bang for my manufacturer scrappage buck so far is a Golf GTE, which I've yet to test drive but would fit my needs with my short, cross town commute and plug in potential at work. Do I buy this with the scrappage discount on offer from VW + Broker discount + Government Grant for a phev or as I am in no rush be greedy and hope for a further deal to extend the GTE discount or maybe even bring something more conventional/exciting into play?

[Mercky]

These are not scrappage schemes, you could negotiate more discount and flog your old car on.

[Save Ferris]

Mercky said:

These are not scrappage schemes, you could negotiate more discount and flog your old car on.

Are you 100% sure about that?

[Tucker1]

Using the GTE as an example VW itself will give £5k for my car, government £2.5k grant and the dealers compete for whatever they can offer off on top. So far with the usual online brokers thats regularly a further £3k+ off.

All adds up to a mega chunk off but reality is I would never, ever consider this model at anywhere remotely close to it's list price. In total over £10k or more off and I'm listening, especially as it could fit my commute and charging availability at work. Just want to avoid buying now only to find the government announcing another few K scrappage allowance next week on absolutely anything!

[Ian Geary]

Mercky said:

These are not scrappage schemes, you could negotiate more discount and flog your old car on.

I guess they're not "strict" scrappage schemes where the car has to be taken off the road / crushed etc.

But for the purpose of answering this question, the distinction seems irrelevant.

I read an article a few weeks ago (could have been the telegraph) where various buying routes were compared. Eg trade in, "scrappage", private sale.

In many cases, the alternative discounts from the manufacturer were just as good.

I doubt the govt will get involved. They've got feck all money, and pay only lip service to environmental issues (see their air quality plan for proof).

Unless the motor lobby bungs some cash their way to boost sales (the only rationale for the original scrappage scheme that makes sense), I just can't see it happening.

(15 year old diesel on the drive, ready and waiting to be scrapped)

Ian

[Tucker1]

Agreed its a BS system using the title of scrappage, but the dealer can maybe play only with it's own margin. It's likely unable to give me VW's £5k discount without taking my old 2006 £500 140,000 mile Fiesta off of me.