Estate Passat PHEV or A4 Avant

[neilpat84]

Total newbie to posting here, but I love reading the threads so I figured I'd give it a go.
I have a bit of a conundrum. We are in the market for a car. It will mainly be used for the school run and the odd longer journey at the weekend (max 20 miles). We probably do 5000 miles a year. I have a large dog so an estate is a must for me.
I have spotted a PHEV 2018 Passat with 70k on the clock in budget. As it has a list price of over 40k it qualifies for the extra tax, however I think I could offset that by saving on fuel during most of its use.
I have also spotted a 2016 2L petrol A4 Avant with 25k miles which I love - but for some reason I feel it is not the sensible choice.

If we keep the car for 3 or 4 years, I feel it will be easier to sell the Audi and it will hold its value better but then again, PHEVs seem to be getting more popular so I have just been going round in circles.

Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks!

[wsn03]

Nobody knows who I really am so I can confess - and bear in mind I do cool stuff like motorbikes and a snarling big V8 etc etc - I confess.....

PASSAT, PASSAT, PASSAT - best car in the whole world ever, its just superb. Yes it looks st, yes its boring, but pound for pound its just unbeatable. I've owned everything except an Audi, and I just can't stop the love for this dull Passat - I thought Passat owners were mentally ill/ in some sort of a cult, all of them trying to tell me how good they are, but having owned one (it was meant to be for a temporary situation) I will never be without one. They are just so damn good.

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

If you're looking at the Audi, then it's worth checking if it has offset pedals, and if you get on with them. I took one out for a test drive about 4 years ago and my back was killing me after 5 minutes. I'm not sure if it applies to the one you're looking at. I do have a lot of back issues though.

Also, have you thought about selling a 90/100k car with £500 tax on in a couple of years?

Are you set on these 2 cars? There are loads of options - 3/5 series, Volvo V60, C/E Class, Octavia etc.

[neilpat84]

Gin and Ultrasonic said:

If you're looking at the Audi, then it's worth checking if it has offset pedals, and if you get on with them. I took one out for a test drive about 4 years ago and my back was killing me after 5 minutes. I'm not sure if it applies to the one you're looking at. I do have a lot of back issues though.

Also, have you thought about selling a 90/100k car with £500 tax on in a couple of years?

Are you set on these 2 cars? There are loads of options - 3/5 series, Volvo V60, C/E Class, Octavia etc.

At the moment it is pretty slim picking in terms of what is available. I agree there is a lot of choice but for what is convenient this is where I am. I was wondering what the consensus was on my options in terms of newer car more miles vs older and less miles. The tax on the Passat does eventually go down to 145 in a few years which will be the case I imagine when we want to sell.

[halo34]

wsn03 said:

Nobody knows who I really am so I can confess - and bear in mind I do cool stuff like motorbikes and a snarling big V8 etc etc - I confess.....

PASSAT, PASSAT, PASSAT - best car in the whole world ever, its just superb. Yes it looks st, yes its boring, but pound for pound its just unbeatable. I've owned everything except an Audi, and I just can't stop the love for this dull Passat - I thought Passat owners were mentally ill/ in some sort of a cult, all of them trying to tell me how good they are, but having owned one (it was meant to be for a temporary situation) I will never be without one. They are just so damn good.

Gonna have to reluctantly agree on this one.

My garage isnt really up-to-date but never kept at car longer than 18 months. Then after a Skoda Octavia VRS I got one to be more comfy in.

60k and a beating later its now on 120k and frankly, it just does its job day after day.

Its bland to the point of being a beige jumper with M&S old mans trousers - but I cant fault its ability.

[ZX10R NIN]

neilpat84 said:

Total newbie to posting here, but I love reading the threads so I figured I'd give it a go.
I have a bit of a conundrum. We are in the market for a car. It will mainly be used for the school run and the odd longer journey at the weekend (max 20 miles). We probably do 5000 miles a year. I have a large dog so an estate is a must for me.
I have spotted a PHEV 2018 Passat with 70k on the clock in budget. As it has a list price of over 40k it qualifies for the extra tax, however I think I could offset that by saving on fuel during most of its use.
I have also spotted a 2016 2L petrol A4 Avant with 25k miles which I love - but for some reason I feel it is not the sensible choice.

If we keep the car for 3 or 4 years, I feel it will be easier to sell the Audi and it will hold its value better but then again, PHEVs seem to be getting more popular so I have just been going round in circles.

Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks!

How much are you looking to spend? That way you may find there are some alternatives.

[georgeyboy12345]

If you can find an earlier model Passat GTE, then you won't have to pay any tax

Here's an approved used one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109307...

Here's one from a private seller
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109137...

[ZX10R NIN]

If you're only doing 5k a year I'd be tempted to just get a high spec low mileage petrol the savings on fuel will be negligible plus you also be going to a main dealer for servicing vs an Indy for the petrol.

[georgeyboy12345]

Providing you charge it regularly, you'll save well over £500 a year in fuel. Also, there are now indies that cater for hybrids, I take mine to one of them and servicing is very reasonable.

[dmsims]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you're only doing 5k a year I'd be tempted to just get a high spec low mileage petrol the savings on fuel will be negligible plus you also be going to a main dealer for servicing vs an Indy for the petrol.

Fuel saving will be over £1K p.a.

[ZX10R NIN]

What is that in comparison too?

[neilpat84]

Here are my two options.
If I buy the Passat I can get a 4 year warranty for 900 which is what I would do.
I don’t want to spend more than 22k

Head goes Passat, heart goes Audi!
I am also thinking a lot about depreciation and when I want to sell in 3 years, and for that reason I’m leaning towards the Audi.

I like both cars as they have a very good spec and that’s what I am after (pan roof, digital dash etc).

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110038...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110038...

Edited by neilpat84 on Wednesday 6th October 11:07

[neilpat84]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Providing you charge it regularly, you'll save well over £500 a year in fuel. Also, there are now indies that cater for hybrids, I take mine to one of them and servicing is very reasonable.

Yeah I can charge it at home so I don’t see that as an issue at all.
I’m worried about the resale value too as I imagine the Audi would be stronger in that department.

[georgeyboy12345]

neilpat84 said:

Yeah I can charge it at home so I don’t see that as an issue at all.
I’m worried about the resale value too as I imagine the Audi would be stronger in that department.

The problem with that Passat is the tax - you are losing one of the benefits of earlier PHEVs and it’ll probably also affect its future value as saving £455 a year will be very appealing to a future buyer. In this case, comparing these two specific cars, the Audi might be the better buy. If the Passat was an earlier model, I think the resale value would be at least as good as the Audi.

[dmsims]

If I click on the adverts the OP put up recently tyhe tax is £145 for the Passat, £130 for the Audi ??

[neilpat84]

dmsims said:

If I click on the adverts the OP put up recently tyhe tax is £145 for the Passat, £130 for the Audi ??

For some reason that is not correct.
The Passat has an additional supplement of £335 till it is six years old.

[Puppisadeer]

I think for that generation Passat the 2.0 tsi in GT spec would be the better buy as it comes with the roof, digital dash, LED headlights and adapative dampers as standard. It would be easier to sell on in my opinion.

Although £22k is close to facelift money, which I would prefer as the semi autonomous functions are better.

[dmsims]

neilpat84 said:

For some reason that is not correct.
The Passat has an additional supplement of £335 till it is six years old.

I thought it was five years?

[ZX10R NIN]

neilpat84 said:

Here are my two options.
If I buy the Passat I can get a 4 year warranty for 900 which is what I would do.
I don’t want to spend more than 22k

Head goes Passat, heart goes Audi!
I am also thinking a lot about depreciation and when I want to sell in 3 years, and for that reason I’m leaning towards the Audi.

I like both cars as they have a very good spec and that’s what I am after (pan roof, digital dash etc).

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110038...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110038...

Edited by neilpat84 on Wednesday 6th October 11:07

Have you looked at the petrol Passat? It ticks a lot of your boxes & you'll be in a nicely spec'd 2018/19 model for under 20k:

1.5T GT still has a years Manufacturers Warranty left & you can extend on this.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108166...

1.4T GT older engine but you get a 2 year VW approved warranty

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104141...

[neilpat84]

dmsims said:

neilpat84 said:

For some reason that is not correct.
The Passat has an additional supplement of £335 till it is six years old.

I thought it was five years?

I think it is 5 years after the first year (as you don’t pay the supplement in year 1). None the less it is all very confusing!