Soapsuds Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Well, having joined here in April of last year, upon the purchase of my 2nd hand A4 Avant, i am now looking for a bit of advice..... possibly to change again. My car has now covered 40,000 miles and is due its variable service in another 6000 (will be about March / April for me) and its MOT then. I am not keeping the car in the Audi service portfolio, so will be getting a very reputable local garage to service it for me. I DO however, want the MOT to be done before April (28th) by Audi and BEFORE the service so anything can be sorted on warranty if needed...... I am VERY happy with the car, but have to say i really miss something quick for day-to-day driving. The Avant isnt quick enought a-b through the twisty stuff for me and i do not feel confident throught the corners in it.... this combined with the fact that it is now 3 years old, no warranty after April, got me thinking about changing. I took out a 5 year HP deal on it through Audi Finiance (Black Horse) at a 4% flat rate (they matched an awesome internet deal as i was a previous customer!!), with no get-out clause, but still owe the interest and also an extra £1k i popped on there for loss of equity on my old V8 discovery..... This leaves me with a settlement figure of approximately £19k and a car worth about £13k trade-in and maybe £14k at a push private sale...... Now - what would you lot do in this situation if you fancied a change? I want NEED diesel because of the mileage i travel, estate as a minimum, but want something that is either quick, or go back to an urban tractor 4x4 (i need the room).... I can get a nice A6 avant, new on the company car scheme and with loss of car allowance etc, i will be £150 per month worse off and will also be left paying the difference between the car value and settlement figure (£5k = £120 p/m).... DO i go and buy a new Jeep Cherokee or similar on PCP (my favourd method) and get them to jig the figures to take into account my outstnading finance, or what.... Or do i stop dreaming and keep the A4 for another (planned) 2 years...... Maximum realsistic amount i can afford in my present circumstances is a £25k motor on a PCP - i do not really want to own the car and had a car on this set-up previously. The circumstances i was in when i bought the Audi meant the HP deal was a better way forward - funny how things change in a short space of time!! Someone please help me either put this to bed or source something new!! Pleeeeaaasssseee...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Tough one this. Personally I can recommend a V70 D5 (the new one), which goes like stink, and is big and comfortable on those long runs an dnot too bad on juice given the 185 bhp. Don't know about lease costs / PCP costs though ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soapsuds Posted December 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 cheers for the suggestion... actually driven one of these about a year ago and they are quick and very quiet! Not for me though..... bit like BMW's - they just aint for me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 As this is the workhorse we're talking about, and you have the toy tucked away in the garage, I'd be inclined to let the head overrule on this one and keep the Audi. But then, if it went wrong out of warranty you might not end up saving much! If you're urging for a bit more poke and handling through the twisty stuff I can't see how a 4x4 will help, unless the size/presence/offroad ability is a good enough substitute. And DO NOT buy a Grand Cherokee 2.7CRD - you need a calendar to record the 0-60! A slightly leftfield suggestion would be a Saab 9-5 3.0 V6 TDi estate. Otherwise, if the A4 Avant is big enough, a 2.0TDi Quattro. More poke than the old 1.9, better handling with the quattro 4wd. Possibly the 2.5 TDi (replaced by the 3.0?), but it ain't that economical for the performance gain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philbes Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 "stop dreaming and keep the A4 for another (planned) 2 years" You said it. Seems the sensible option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soapsuds Posted December 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 [ QUOTE ] But then, if it went wrong out of warranty you might not end up saving much! [/ QUOTE ] my thoughts exactly..... [ QUOTE ] If you're urging for a bit more poke and handling through the twisty stuff I can't see how a 4x4 will help, unless the size/presence/offroad ability is a good enough substitute. [/ QUOTE ] It is..... I really do miss my old Discovery (300) and that wasnt exacltly quick - V8, but not fast as such! Just like the wafting drive and no urge to hammer it, unlike in a car..... [ QUOTE ] And DO NOT buy a Grand Cherokee 2.7CRD - you need a calendar to record the 0-60! [/ QUOTE ] Yes Sir! Get your point there.... just like the look of them and the drive is ok, but god they ARE slow aint they..... [ QUOTE ] A slightly leftfield suggestion would be a Saab 9-5 3.0 V6 TDi estate. [/ QUOTE ] Love Saabs to bits - just been looking at the 93 Sportwagon too. Some very good nearly new bargains around and chain driven, so no daft cam-belt servicing prices! [ QUOTE ] Otherwise, if the A4 Avant is big enough, a 2.0TDi Quattro. More poke than the old 1.9, better handling with the quattro 4wd. [/ QUOTE ] If i was to buy another A4, i would probably just wait until the B8 was released....... My other thought is a Toerag in 12 months time....... god - i really WISH i hadn't been born with petrol in my vains some times! Its mainly becuase the Starion is now away for winter too...... Thanks Garcon! I am fairly limited in options really..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soapsuds Posted December 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 [ QUOTE ] "stop dreaming and keep the A4 for another (planned) 2 years" You said it. Seems the sensible option. [/ QUOTE ] It does doesnt it..... but i'm really not a sensisble chap..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 If you have paid more than half the total amount due then you can hand the car back and walk away forgetting all about the negative equity. Get your Agreement out and have a look. Its dead easy to work out if you have. There is no catches to this, it is your right to do so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soapsuds Posted December 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 cheers booster - this is actually what my stepdad is doing with his Merc, as no-one wants to buy it (C-Class Estate - bottom of every survey going!) I have only had my finance for 7 months, so way off yet! If i keep it though, by the time it gets to the halfway point, i will probably do this..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 I have been driving a Vectra 3.0 V6 TDi - great drive (this one is SRi trim) and havent been able to fault it, I htink its averaged about 2k miles a month and hasnt yet missed a beat for anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 [ QUOTE ] cheers booster - this is actually what my stepdad is doing with his Merc, as no-one wants to buy it (C-Class Estate - bottom of every survey going!) I have only had my finance for 7 months, so way off yet! If i keep it though, by the time it gets to the halfway point, i will probably do this..... [/ QUOTE ] Ah, I read your first post to be that you had bought the car in April last year on a five year deal in which case you would be getting close to (or may have even already) paid your half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadwhitey Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 so there is no early settlement figure then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Keep it! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpringle819 Posted December 23, 2005 Report Share Posted December 23, 2005 I'm in the same boat. I bought a 3.0 X-type for £21000 a year ago. I owe £18000 on it but it is only worth £12500. The finance company reckon it will be close to 30 months into the deal before I can hand it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted December 23, 2005 Report Share Posted December 23, 2005 I know what it's like when these ideas get into your head. But if I were in your shoes, I'd be keeping what you have for a while longer. I got my car on a 5yr loan, with the intention of keeping for the duration. But I know in about 2.5 yrs or so I'll be itching for a new one, if not sooner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lottiefox Posted December 23, 2005 Report Share Posted December 23, 2005 Seeing as I changed car three times this year I'm not the best person to give advice....... BUT - if you can afford it and want to go for it and will enjoy driving it then I tend to think lifes too short...but thats my justification for my own very poor financial decisions on cars this year!! BUT I now finally have a car I absolutely love...... Being sensible though you should probably keep it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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