What would you do?

[Moro]

I retired a couple of years ago (but I am under 60yo) and have 2 cars - a 2013 Golf GTi and a 2015 Citroen C4 Cactus Flair 110 - both purchased new, each loaded with options. The Golf was bought with a 5 year warranty, the Cactus warranty expires in March; the Golf one runs until October.

I don’t really need two cars anymore as I now do about 8k miles every year in total...but I do want to own a car which achieves 0-60 in less than 9 seconds - my manual Cactus manages this for your information.

The Citroen has been VERY unreliable, but has performed faultlessly for the past 8 months...not a great recommendation I know...

So...

I can justify spending £40k on another vehicle; however, I will want enough options to mean a Golf R will exceed this on list price, even if not on actual transaction cost. I am unhappy to be trousered on the VED by HMRC.

I can spend up to £50k but require hatchback practicality...Audi RS3 anyone?

So I think my options are either to keep this pair of cars, or sell them both to buy a Golf GTi PP DSG with Art Velours (I need to justify it being different enough from my current car) and pano roof and other stuff...or?

I know the Cactus has a poor residual, and I can accept this but I cannot find a replacement with a dual clutch gearbox and acceleration of  0-60 in under 9 seconds...in a car of a similar size.

The up! GTi would be good (if a little small) if it were only available with a DSG gearbox; a Polo GTi is a bit too dear (with options) and other similar MQB0 VAG products seem to fail on some condition or other...so over to you guys...

[wantmygti]

Sell the Citroen, keep the Golf, save the money for a Mk8 GTi in a couple of years.

[CHB100]

I retired a couple of years ago (but I am under 60yo) and have 2 cars - a 2013 Golf GTi and a 2015 Citroen C4 Cactus Flair 110 - both purchased new, each loaded with options. The Golf was bought with a 5 year warranty, the Cactus warranty expires in March; the Golf one runs until October.

I don’t really need two cars anymore as I now do about 8k miles every year in total...but I do want to own a car which achieves 0-60 in less than 9 seconds - my manual Cactus manages this for your information.

The Citroen has been VERY unreliable, but has performed faultlessly for the past 8 months...not a great recommendation I know...

So...

I can justify spending £40k on another vehicle; however, I will want enough options to mean a Golf R will exceed this on list price, even if not on actual transaction cost. I am unhappy to be trousered on the VED by HMRC.

I can spend up to £50k but require hatchback practicality...Audi RS3 anyone?

So I think my options are either to keep this pair of cars, or sell them both to buy a Golf GTi PP DSG with Art Velours (I need to justify it being different enough from my current car) and pano roof and other stuff...or?

I know the Cactus has a poor residual, and I can accept this but I cannot find a replacement with a dual clutch gearbox and acceleration of  0-60 in under 9 seconds...in a car of a similar size.

The up! GTi would be good (if a little small) if it were only available with a DSG gearbox; a Polo GTi is a bit too dear (with options) and other similar MQB0 VAG products seem to fail on some condition or other...so over to you guys...

Check below the spec of my R 7.5 that set me back only £31500 OTR! Whatever spec you go for you'll struggle to spend £40K unless you are lazy and don't do some groundwork.
I'm over 70 btw.
Mind you, not everyone's cup of tea as so bloody fast and thirsty. If that matters a GTI your best bet.

[Exonian]

What options are so important to you Moro?
It's the options that lose you the money, what can't you live without (aside from DSG)?

[Watts]

Sell the Citroen, keep the Golf, save the money for a Mk8 GTi in a couple of years.

Great advice!

[Guzzle]

Sell the Citroen, keep the Golf, save the money for a Mk8 GTi in a couple of years.

Great advice!

Yep, I think the same. Ditch the Citroën now before it costs you any more money. I'd hang onto the Golf for now, or at least until the warranty runs out.

[I wanted a GTi]

Sell the Citroen, keep the Golf, save the money for a Mk8 GTi in a couple of years.

Great advice!

2nd that advice although burning the sh!tron would be a close second choice for me.

[fredgroves]

Check below the spec of my R 7.5 that set me back only £31500 OTR!

I don't think the OP is talking about 40k being a cash problem, more a VED one.

New vehicles with a RRP (RRP not ticket price) attract an unattractive extra road tax.

[Moro]

I thought I’d let the dust settle before posting again...

Yes, I am opposed to the VED increase for 5 years on cars with a list price of over £40k (and yes I know it is pennies in the scheme of things, but I have a particular hatred of taxes due to HMRC issues) so that is niggling me, but I may concess this in time. I know I would strike a “good enough” deal to purchase my ideal R at way less than £40k transaction cost.

I have a big spec on my current GTi (see below) but have already kept it for nearly 4 and a half years now so don’t feel I have “wasted” money on any of the options I chose. Opened the pano sunroof on a trip today, and love the stereo and big display - more so than the performance if I am honest. This car is quite quick enough for today’s roads but I do NOT rule out owning another fast car “one last time”. I bought several over 300BHP cars in the 1990s, most 4wd but noe was rwd. Possibly wouldn’t bother with a reversing camera again, but I would choose Adaptive Chassis, Keyless, extended warranty, service plan, Panoramic Roof, upgrade stereo - and possibly the biggest display screen too, but not sure that is necessary with the size of the new display - even in my world. Together with an optional paint finish, leather (I do not like standard R interior) and DSG the list price on a 5 door would exceed £40k.

In reality I only need one car for my use now.

There were no surprises in your comments regarding my Citroen...

I had not considered waiting it out for a Mk8 but that may well be a good idea for me. For information, my 2013 GTi is still showing under 16k miles so should have some useful life left in it, and I do have reservations about buying a car towards the end of its production cycle.

[I wanted a GTi]

Does the sh!troen have GAP insurance?




I've got a can of petrol