nickfrog Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I am about to place an order for a CAB A4 2.0 Tdi Sport (providing I can secure 10% off RRP) and I would appreciate advice on speccing it. My only concern is residual value. The car will only be doing 7,000 miles a year. 1 – Is the 2.0 tdi likely to retain more value in % or £ terms than the 1.8t ? The answer would be yes for any other car but for a cab ? 2 – I really believe extras are worth next to nothing come resale. I only want to have leather at £1,275 as we can live without the rest (hopefully). Am I taking a risk by not buying parking sensors, heated seats and cruise? Is this a false economy ? 3 – Colour. We only like triple black. Is it worth paying £500 for metallic ? Both blacks are a PITA anyway. Will going for flat black affect residuals by more than £500 ? Will it affect residuals at all ? Is flat more fragile or it this a myth ? 4 – As Audi have decided not to make a proper B7 cab brochure but just a fancy price list, I can’t find out, nor the dealer, if the Sport has Sport suspension or not. It looks like only the S-line has it. Does anyone know ? 5 – I am purposely not buying the S-line as 18 wheels affect the ride too much IMO. Also, the profile of the tyres is too low with all the risks that this presents when the wife drives it near kerbs. It’s not a sports car anyway (I come from Boxster ownership). When speccing leather, S-line is in fact less than £400 more than Sport, despite the bigger wheels, ostentatious badges, sport sus and nicer steering wheel. Does anyone think I am making another mistake with regards to residual, given that S-line includes leather and might be more sought after when I sell ? Sorry about the length of the post and all the questions ! Cheers guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Your right on not getting your money back from the extras. But I would add say heated seats with it being a cab as an essential item come re-sale time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I went for triple black too, I think most people would look for metallic on a premium brand car come resale time. Not only that but the lacquer on the metallic will provide a much better and smoother shine come cleaning time. Not too keen on the 'orange peel' effect of the non metallic paint finishes. I thought SLine spec was the replacement for the Sport spec ?, I decided on SLine as well along with numerous 'value add' extras. Sport provided slightly harder suspension but SLine spec also lowers the suspension too. I didn't bother going for cruise or parking sensors, opted for BOSE, heated front seats and a few other things as well. At the end of the day you may have the car for three years anyway so you may as well 'spec it to enjoy it'. I would definitely spec the wind deflector as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Is there a reason you're chosing a TDI when you're only doing around 7,000 miles in a year? You pay more for a TDI engine to start with, and unless it's the low-rev punch you're after, would you not be best with a 1.8T ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupramax Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 If your not doing the mileage I'd hang on for the manual 2.0T petrol to be released in June. Would think a 2.0T manual S-line would be spot on for residuals... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bells0 Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Think leather is the only real must have imho. Reversing sensors could save u a lot of cash in the long run though as the rear window is pretty small for reversing - plenty of blind spots for u to crunch into something! Sounds like the 1.8T is the car u need doing so little mileage?? Afaik - sport does have firmer suspension - love the leather sports seats in mine - very comfy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearra Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Leather is good for re-saleability but only adds £500 onto second hand value. I personally would say rear sensors are the main thing I wouldn't want to be without. Heated seats are great in the winter but not much use in the summer. Think I would rather have Bose than heated seats. Maybe split leather/alcantara is the way forward, if they still do it. Then you wouldn't need heated seats so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I have a 2.0TDi, I went for the S-Line package, which includes leather, Dolphin grey, Heated front seats, wind deflector, acoustic park sensors and acoustic hood. It also has interior light pack and storage pack, but they are FOC on the cab That was pretty much my ideal spec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Black, black and black.... Go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Essentials imho are S-Line with leather or alcantara, heated seats, armrest (it is that sort of car), interior light pack and auto dipping mirror. I would also spec the Symphony and then get a Nav+ unit off ebay when you start to get bored of it. Go for metallic unless you are getting it in black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Phantom Black Pearlescent.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garycsmith Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I have a silver 2.0TDi cab which was a demonstrator. It has S-line (leather seats etc), Bose, Symphony, int light pack and as I found out last week, a full size spare wheel! If I was factory ordering the car I would have gone for rear parking sensors and heated seats. Can you get the rear sensors retro fitted? If so would they look ok and how much? The car looks and drives raelly well. I will have to get some pictures taken........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Dealer fitted rear park sensors to my old cab - looks fine - they colour code them and make them blend in well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickfrog Posted May 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Thanks for comments and suggestions so far. Keep them coming. The choice of TDI rather than 1.8T, despite my low mileage, is simply running cost. The difference after discount is £750, so even if the car lost half its value in 3 years, that's only £375, on the pessimistic assumption that the residuals will be identical in % terms. The TDI should cost £5 less per 100 miles in fuel so I should start saving after 12 months or so. It's a no brainer really. I like the 1.8T (had it in my S3)but it's a bit long on the tooth and only 5 speed gear. The TDI is not very pleasant and limited rev range but in the real world, it is more suited to the cruising nature of the car (well apart on cold starts...). I am now convinced that you guys are right about the rear parking sensors being essential. I don't dislike the idea of alcantara actually,which saves a bit. Cruise ?? Important for that car for resale or pure loss ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Sport does have stiffer suspension, I've had a cab with and without Sport spec. Is full leather standard with S-line? Thought it was half leather? Heated seats are ace in the cab. Parking sensors extremely useful, wouldn't be wihout. Wind deflector essential but buyable for less on Ebay (and sellable seperate to the car also). Centre armrest standard on the cab. Think Chav went for gloss black rather than metallic as he prefers it. I suspect 2.0 diesel better for residuals than 1.8T petrol in Cab, but no one knows yet. I prefer the 1.8T (which my car has) but been in Smittens 2.0Tdi with roof down and it is impressively refined for a diesel. Can't imagine cruise makes any difference to residuals and is retro fittable if anyone is that bothered anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickfrog Posted May 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Thing is, in B7 form, Sport is still there with no mention of sport suspension but only S-line has sport suspension, called S-line sport suspension. Super confusing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmmlmmam Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I also prefer the flat black to the metallic. Gives a higher shine. Another vote for heated seats and wind deflector. Combined they give comfortable top down action all year! Sounds like you don't really like the diesel. I really don't think the cost of ownership argument washes. The percentage difference between 1.8T and 2.0TDi will be tiny. Surely if minimising costs is the priority then you should be looking at second hand. Although both of these engines are OK in the cab the larger enignes are much much nicer. (and apart from initial purchase price don't cost that much more to own... really). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickfrog Posted May 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I never buy a new car, as second hand always a better bet. BUT,this seems to be the exception. I can't find a 1.8T B6 cab with less than 35,000 for less than £19k...! And never the right colour or grey leather etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 Ari, full black leather is now standard as part of the S-Line pack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Think Chav went for gloss black rather than metallic as he prefers it. [/ QUOTE ] Exactly. Metallic black looks like charcoal to me rather than black! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I am about to place an order for a CAB A4 2.0 Tdi Sport (providing I can secure 10% off RRP) and I would appreciate advice on speccing it. My only concern is residual value. The car will only be doing 7,000 miles a year. 1 – Is the 2.0 tdi likely to retain more value in % or £ terms than the 1.8t ? The answer would be yes for any other car but for a cab ? 2 – I really believe extras are worth next to nothing come resale. I only want to have leather at £1,275 as we can live without the rest (hopefully). Am I taking a risk by not buying parking sensors, heated seats and cruise? Is this a false economy ? 3 – Colour. We only like triple black. Is it worth paying £500 for metallic ? Both blacks are a PITA anyway. Will going for flat black affect residuals by more than £500 ? Will it affect residuals at all ? Is flat more fragile or it this a myth ? 4 – As Audi have decided not to make a proper B7 cab brochure but just a fancy price list, I can’t find out, nor the dealer, if the Sport has Sport suspension or not. It looks like only the S-line has it. Does anyone know ? 5 – I am purposely not buying the S-line as 18 wheels affect the ride too much IMO. Also, the profile of the tyres is too low with all the risks that this presents when the wife drives it near kerbs. It’s not a sports car anyway (I come from Boxster ownership). When speccing leather, S-line is in fact less than £400 more than Sport, despite the bigger wheels, ostentatious badges, sport sus and nicer steering wheel. Does anyone think I am making another mistake with regards to residual, given that S-line includes leather and might be more sought after when I sell ? Sorry about the length of the post and all the questions ! Cheers guys. [/ QUOTE ] Have you driven a 2.0TDI? If not, test drive first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJ Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] The car will only be doing 7,000 miles a year. [/ QUOTE ] Perfect - S4 Cab is the way way to go then !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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