GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Watts on 09 August 2025, 18:46
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Congratulations to Willni for his S4, nice choice! I've been thinking about a change for a while now and it's not easy. So I wondered what ideas others had been considering and given the breadth of car ownership of people on here, I thought others could chip in with their first hand experience/opinions.
Firstly, I've been considering a TT/TTS, A5/S5 coupe (A5 45 petrol quattro), a new MK8.5 (Clubsport or R) and perhaps a Toyota GR86. The S5 is an issue as I want something fairly new and I don't want a diesel. The A5 may be a bit safe/dull. Not keen on the interiors of the 8.5s nor all the annoying and pointless tech. The TT/S may prove a bit too similar to the TCR but considerably less practical. Finally the GR86, all the reviews say how great it is to drive, it's a manual and doesn't have all the tedious tech. All good points but the interior looks a bit cheap plus the lack of practicality.
Then there's my TCR. There's stuff I don't like, DSG is good most of the time but also can be a pain. I've had it 5.5 years and 55k miles and fancy a change. But it does everything really rather well and everytime I drive it I think why on earth would I get rid of it? It's fast enough, can get very close to 50mpg, gets stuff down the tip and is cheap to tax and service.
Looking forward to lots of good advice and tips!
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The hatchback version of the GR86 would be the Civic type R, can you live with even the stealth version they made? It's the sharpest drive out of all the fast hatches.
Or a proper sports car from Porsche or Lotus, or another German hatch like the AMG45
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Funnily enough Watts I've been thinking of changing my TCR but nothing ticks all the boxes that it does. I've been looking at the Cupra R ST with the ABT upgrade as I almost bought one before the TCR. Then I've thought about going down the TVS dsg software route on my TCR. Still can't decide what to do though.
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I saw this thread earlier today and been pondering it for a good few hours.
Not much I can say about the bigger Audis as I just don’t like big cars. I’m sure the A5 has a lovely interior and munches miles nicely but it’s a bit of a yawn fest for me.
Congrats to Willie though, I’m sure if anyone could buy an S4 and inspire me with some tasteful mods it’ll be willni, the gauntlet is thrown down there.
Let’s go to the GR86 first.
It’ll be small and cramped (cosy and involving), not great for ageing backs to get in and out of (low slung and road hugging) and the engine will lack the mid range of a familiar turbo unit (charismatic noise and loves to rev) and rubbish on fuel (begs to be driven).
There, take your pick from bracketed or unbracketed!
Definitely one to view and drive before committing to.
GR Yaris? Now that might get me interested. If you got an earlier one there’s loads of slight tweaks can be made to them to improve them even further, new ones cost an arm and a leg. Excellent residuals. There’s a white one in the next road over to mine, I walk vaguely past it several times a day most days and always crane my neck to look at it.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend an 8.5 Clubsport or R Black Edition.
Most of the more pointless bits of tech you just ignore. It’s there but not in your face. Ok, the big screen is in your face but you kind of tune it out after a week or two. Dynamically it’s more polished than the mk7 generation but the ride can be brutal at times. Mind you that was my issue with my TCR so it’s probably no worse.
The DSG works more with you and the throttle is more responsive but it’ll still do a TCU brain fart on occasion.
The brakes are excellent.
The vehicle dynamics thingy works really well in the corners.
Lots of negativity about the interior quality but it’s a non issue. Although I’m not a fan of the slab of gloss black in the centre console I actually like the minimalist simplicity.
Minimalist until you get to the screen menus.
But if you’ve had any experience with a modern smart TV and all of the submenus you’ll see it for what it is. Stuff is there because it’s expected to be there no matter how superfluous. The stuff you actually use becomes second nature to find quickly. Most of it you set up when the car arrives home and then rarely gets touched thereafter.
Your TCR will have very low depreciation, unless you get an Edition 50 and keep it a good few years you’ll be hit with big depreciation and £600 a year VED.
I can think of plenty of cars that might be fun to try out for a few months, maybe a year, but few would have the enduring appeal of a Golf TCR.
The TT might run it close.
It’s reasonably timeless to look at, the running gear is a known quantity, the interior is still from the golden age of Audi interiors and has bags of character to boot, and you’ll have a great excuse not to carry passengers.
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Congratulations to Willni for his S4, nice choice! I've been thinking about a change for a while now and it's not easy. So I wondered what ideas others had been considering and given the breadth of car ownership of people on here, I thought others could chip in with their first hand experience/opinions.
Firstly, I've been considering a TT/TTS, A5/S5 coupe (A5 45 petrol quattro), a new MK8.5 (Clubsport or R) and perhaps a Toyota GR86. The S5 is an issue as I want something fairly new and I don't want a diesel. The A5 may be a bit safe/dull. Not keen on the interiors of the 8.5s nor all the annoying and pointless tech. The TT/S may prove a bit too similar to the TCR but considerably less practical. Finally the GR86, all the reviews say how great it is to drive, it's a manual and doesn't have all the tedious tech. All good points but the interior looks a bit cheap plus the lack of practicality.
Then there's my TCR. There's stuff I don't like, DSG is good most of the time but also can be a pain. I've had it 5.5 years and 55k miles and fancy a change. But it does everything really rather well and everytime I drive it I think why on earth would I get rid of it? It's fast enough, can get very close to 50mpg, gets stuff down the tip and is cheap to tax and service.
Looking forward to lots of good advice and tips!
I go through the same debate cycle from time to time and the TCR is our daily. It's a hard car to fault given the breadth of its abilities. It's not far off your mileage and I have been debating what we replace it with when/if the time comes. It's really difficult despite there being such a breadth of choice out there but this is the thought process I've been down as someone who likes 'interesting' cars. It gets a bit left field but maybe interesting or helpful.
Priority for us was something that wasn't massive - we have to drive a lot of B-Roads or single lane with passing and the amount of drivers who don't know how wide their Range Rover is has given me visions that my death will be at the hands of one of them. I did debate something that I wouldn't feel as bad taking on to the verge at times, particularly in winter as well as being able to haul kit + dog + occasional dump/garden centre run. So I looked at something with genuine off road ability not a poseur wagon with quilted leather interior. I considered a Suzuki Jimny (horrific engine and gear box, love the size + capability, interior out of a Christmas cracker but forgiveable if everything else was perfect), Land Cruiser (latest is underpowered, might be better with hybrid but it's vast and will be a pain to park, interior and instrumentation well thought out and decent quality but virtually impossible to buy due to limited imports based on group emissions), Mercedes G Class ('Better than the '80's edition based on the W460 gets rid of the chintz (the '80s name plate would be removed ASAP) and is entirely modern underneath - limited edition but pricing is exploitative and obscene, reviews suggest its thirsty but it has the drag coefficient of a fridge so no surprises). There is a baby G coming which was gauged on the reaction of a body kit Jimny and that might be interesting but no doubt, Merc will be trying to recover their losses on the electric G and will price it stupidly just as they taxed nostalgia with the W460.
Back to more realistic options, I looked at an A35 that was a very tasteful spec and had taken a number of good elements from the A45, notably the Recaro seats which made the cabin. It was a good car but I knew they were ending the A line and it was a case of same but different compared to the TCR. A lack of a local dealership to support was also a factor against it. The steering was a bit dead, a problem I have had with a lot of Audis.
Agree with you on the Clubsport / R comment regarding MK8 and 8.5. The interior feels cheap on both, the 8.5 marginally better than the 8 for the return of a few more buttons but the accountant special scratchy plastic still cheapens it. I think if you're going to go with the hassle of a change, it needs to be significantly better or have something compelling and I find them to be a bit sanitised. I looked at the 50th anniversary edition but it feels marketing led and don't expect it to be much more than an 8.5 in a party frock to drive. No matter how much they push Benny forward with racing references.
I've tried a few Audis, I've always had a problem with their numb steering feel and interior build quality on a few demonstrators lower in the range has shown a level of wear I'd not have expected. I think their cabins are probably the best outside of Porsche in RS trim. I'm also a fan of a heads up display and good headlights - driving at night in the countryside makes you value these things. I think if I was replacing the TCR today, it would be with a MK7 Clubsport or the new Audi RS3. RS3 would have to be in a very dark colour to knock back the Bane supervillain front grille (see below) and I'd debadge it entirely and bring back some brightwork to reduce the drug dealer vibe. I think the aesthetic of the rest of the car is great but I think I'd have to compromise on a few things I value.
If you're looking at a GR86, I'd look at a Cayman. Arguably far more practical and better build quality. You have a crossover of 718 and 981 between the £30-40k mark. You'll also find one in manual.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fT6yrMMC/Audi-RS3.png) (https://postimg.cc/6yfB7J24)
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I've imagined what I would consider changing my TCR when the time comes in circa 5 years. Won't know until the time comes, but it's concerning as besides the RS3 and a couple others, there aren't really any new cars that I'd bother with. And the cars that I'd be inclined to go to are already 5-7 years old today so in the future will likely be impossible to find a good example (without paying a stupid premium), let alone how they might age regarding servicing and maintenance. Worrying times as I don't see myself getting in anything from VW that has come out since as isn't really an upgrade in any meaningful way to me. But I do think cars from 2017/8 until everything went ipad + cheap trim, etc. may actually remain relevant far longer than cars of that age ever were in the past. Shall see!
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There is always the factor to consider of the love you lost and hankering for it again :)
Loved my TCR, but at 3 years of driving had little choice but to let it go and was replaced with the BMW 128Ti, a perfectly capable car but not a patch on the TCR for drive and walk up to feeling.
Had an opportunity to pitch back in on a GTI TCR a couple of years ago, but as it was wife car, the AWD and little extra BHP plus a great deal steered us to a 2019 Golf R which she loves and has proved to been a good purchase.
BMW 128Ti is up for change in December and did look at going private and looked at the TCR again, but decent ones are retailing at near £25k ++ and so on that aspect, you are in rare position of your price for change being decently reduced.
On this change, looked at Audi and VW and quite sterile was feeling that was left with in styling and interior outside of the performance range, as personally would have a Black Edition R or GTI Clubsport but they sit outside of my allowance.
So, looked a little wider and was really impressed with the styling and interior of the Cupra Facelift, so how about a Cupra Leon VZ2 or VZ3 with 300 BHP? with the Matte Paint, its really nice looking car, and pretty much everything is standard and there is lots of deals, seen some big discounts.
There is the Formentor also but obviously moving away from maybe your preference?
So impressed was with the Cupra, that have ordered the VZ1 272BHP Terramar, which has a really lovely interior and seats and some nice styling.
Will go back how started this reply and on the grass is greener caution, as I would love to have my TCR back and still can see me still indulging myself with a 9 year old one little bit futher down the line, best car for overall package that personally driven in last 20 years and if see one in wild, which is rare, always has me reminiscing.
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Not an easy one Watts, the key point being, you still enjoy your TCR when you drive it. On the basis, you know the car and haven't had any issues with it, why not hang on to it a while longer.
In a similar vein, I have had my Ed40 manual 6 years this month, I have a few other silly cars to drive and keep the Golf as the sensible car. With the pointless tech added to newer cars which are still Euro 6 like my old Golf, i am currently think I will hang on to it indefinitely.
I have driven the Toyotas mentioned, RS3/Rs4 and most Pork.... as an allrounder the sporting Golf is still be best daily, yet fun car to run without breaking the bank?
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Thanks all.
David25 - I'm sure the Honda is well engineered and great to drive but it's a bit OTT for my taste. Boxster/Cayman is a possibility, I have looked but at my budget it'll be older and I'd be concerned at excessive running costs.
McMaddy - there's something about Cupra that just doesn't float my boat. And this change has to be for something really good given how difficult an act the TCR will be to follow.
Exonian - great to see your positivity with the 8.5s. I might just be able to nudge the budget to a new one with the drive a deal discounted prices and an Edition 50 might be of interest. But I just don't like the way things are going with new cars now, I don't even have a smartphone so the tech and screens might be too much for me. Not counted out though.
AGB - I too find B roads tricky at times with oncoming traffic, some people just have no idea of where they are on the road. Come the day when I'm in charge, all the idiots will be banned :evil:
jcrollie - some good points!
Hertsman - congrats on your new order, hope it suits you well.
Clubsport - I think you are right, I have recently taken out the VW all in one plan so pretty much covered for another two years but I did promise myself something fun to drive when I retired and that's nearly a year ago and nothing has happened!
Back to the drawing board, I just don't know what to do. The TCR has been so good and totally reliable, I'd be gutted to get rid, spend a pile of cash and get a Friday afternoon motor.
I suppose ideally I need 2 or 3 cars to get what I want but parking is limited to 1...
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Controversially just Keep it if its paid for, and don't become a sheep :grin:
We all get sucked into accepting massive and continual depreciation in the name of desire, which is most likely the 2nd biggest purchase in our lives behind a mortgage. Imagine if we traded up in property every few years to then take a massive hit at resale, and then repeat like we do with cars! :rolleyes:
Every car after 2020 has more features you don't want, and things that are more complicated to turn off, or what's worse can't be turned off.
I've had a good few nice cars (to me), I've lost a lot of money on nice cars, and its taken me till 54 to work this out :grin:
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Controversially just Keep it if its paid for, and don't become a sheep :grin:
We all get sucked into accepting massive and continual depreciation in the name of desire, which is most likely the 2nd biggest purchase in our lives behind a mortgage. Imagine if we traded up in property every few years to then take a massive hit at resale, and then repeat like we do with cars! :rolleyes:
Every car after 2020 has more features you don't want, and things that are more complicated to turn off, or what's worse can't be turned off.
I've had a good few nice cars (to me), I've lost a lot of money on nice cars, and its taken me till 54 to work this out :grin:
You are of course 100% correct. But I tend to keep my cars for a few years so I may only have a few changes left in me before I get too doddery to be safe behind the wheel and I really fancy a treat. Or two. Especially if I can get my OH to pay, she's loaded!
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Thanks all.
David25 - I'm sure the Honda is well engineered and great to drive but it's a bit OTT for my taste. Boxster/Cayman is a possibility, I have looked but at my budget it'll be older and I'd be concerned at excessive running costs.
Could you live with the stealth sport line version, with the small spoiler and red seat delete? The cockpit is still full of buttons!
https://www.bramley.com/stock/2021-honda-civic-type-r-sport-line/14391
Another proper sports car option is the Alpine A110 or how about a fast BMW? Loads of models to choose from, maybe the compact M235i go older and you can find a 6 cylinder version.
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Controversially just Keep it if its paid for, and don't become a sheep :grin:
We all get sucked into accepting massive and continual depreciation in the name of desire, which is most likely the 2nd biggest purchase in our lives behind a mortgage. Imagine if we traded up in property every few years to then take a massive hit at resale, and then repeat like we do with cars! :rolleyes:
Every car after 2020 has more features you don't want, and things that are more complicated to turn off, or what's worse can't be turned off.
I've had a good few nice cars (to me), I've lost a lot of money on nice cars, and its taken me till 54 to work this out :grin:
You are of course 100% correct. But I tend to keep my cars for a few years so I may only have a few changes left in me before I get too doddery to be safe behind the wheel and I really fancy a treat. Or two. Especially if I can get my OH to pay, she's loaded!
:grin: :grin:
Nice problem to have, you want a change, also want something fun, but can only have one car?
In that regard cars are like trainers, (hear me out) one pair trying to do it all. Ideally you want one pair for running, one pair for smart, one pair for walking the dog in the winter etc. It becomes such a compromise to only have one pair trying to do everything. Buying an RS3, A35 etc is only a slight change from your TCR imo. I kept the Golf but bought a small sports car, compromised for space, but great on B roads. It could never be our only car as its impractical for normal stuff, and the Golf could never be as fun to drive as its, well a FWD car but does everything else.
And to contradict my previous comment, now I have depreciation on 2 cars :grin:
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You are of course 100% correct. But I tend to keep my cars for a few years so I may only have a few changes left in me before I get too doddery to be safe behind the wheel and I really fancy a treat. Or two. Especially if I can get my OH to pay, she's loaded!
If its a last hurrah then RS3 or some sort of mid life crisis/willy extending Porche...
Personally I'm thinking very hard about a small car with long travel suspension given that the government can't maintain the roads any more (I've had 2 knackered shocks and a cracked wheel in the last year ffs) so possibly a Daccia (!!!) with steel wheels or more probably a new (electric) Renault 5
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Controversially just Keep it if its paid for, and don't become a sheep :grin:
We all get sucked into accepting massive and continual depreciation in the name of desire, which is most likely the 2nd biggest purchase in our lives behind a mortgage. Imagine if we traded up in property every few years to then take a massive hit at resale, and then repeat like we do with cars! :rolleyes:
Every car after 2020 has more features you don't want, and things that are more complicated to turn off, or what's worse can't be turned off.
I've had a good few nice cars (to me), I've lost a lot of money on nice cars, and its taken me till 54 to work this out :grin:
You are of course 100% correct. But I tend to keep my cars for a few years so I may only have a few changes left in me before I get too doddery to be safe behind the wheel and I really fancy a treat. Or two. Especially if I can get my OH to pay, she's loaded!
:grin: :grin:
Nice problem to have, you want a change, also want something fun, but can only have one car?
In that regard cars are like trainers, (hear me out) one pair trying to do it all. Ideally you want one pair for running, one pair for smart, one pair for walking the dog in the winter etc. It becomes such a compromise to only have one pair trying to do everything. Buying an RS3, A35 etc is only a slight change from your TCR imo. I kept the Golf but bought a small sports car, compromised for space, but great on B roads. It could never be our only car as its impractical for normal stuff, and the Golf could never be as fun to drive as its, well a FWD car but does everything else.
And to contradict my previous comment, now I have depreciation on 2 cars :grin:
Without having driven anything else to compare, I'd agree the A35 sounds like more of just something different (and frankly less interesting) but the RS3 does have a more interesting engine which that alone sets it apart in my eyes (especially a saloon). The problem now is most cars are 2.0 4cyl and whilst that's not a bad thing in itself, it can make it challenging to get some variety when hopping into and out of cars.
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You are of course 100% correct. But I tend to keep my cars for a few years so I may only have a few changes left in me before I get too doddery to be safe behind the wheel and I really fancy a treat. Or two. Especially if I can get my OH to pay, she's loaded!
If its a last hurrah then RS3 or some sort of mid life crisis/willy extending Porche...
Personally I'm thinking very hard about a small car with long travel suspension given that the government can't maintain the roads any more (I've had 2 knackered shocks and a cracked wheel in the last year ffs) so possibly a Daccia (!!!) with steel wheels or more probably a new (electric) Renault 5
I like the newer Dacia's with the revised front end, really nice actually. Lexus LBX might suit as a premium option?
Back on topic: I'm not sure I look at an RS3 (Econobox with more power) as a last hurrah regardless of the engine. Lots of power can get boring quickly when you are running to Dunelm for a new lamp shade on a sunday. And the only people I see driving them have one hand on the steering wheel at 12oclock, a big watch, and love a traffic light GP. :grin:
Only kidding they are nice cars
Perhaps with all the traffic fun doesn't really exist anymore with modern cars.
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If the Mrs is going to be treating you from her millions Watts why not revisit the TT?
TT’s are popular with the ladies for various reasons (smaller but not too small, classy badge on the nose and rump, funky interior and plenty of conservative panache).
The last ones will still be under factory warranty (always better than any finance company derived warranty at least in the initial stages of ownership to ensure there are no hidden mechanical horrors) and have good spec on many of them.
It’s a car that will feel special sat at the traffic lights and supremely confident in anything you throw at it thereafter. It’s useable.
A proper sports car will set your pulse racing - but only when you’re on the right roads and in the right conditions.
I still think a GR Yaris would be a good bet as it’s genuinely practical for two people and has a smaller capacity engine meaning you actually get to drive the thing rather than be a semi passenger in a large engined auto box equipped mega power car that’s virtually unusable in the UK unless you do track days or live in parts of Wales or Scotland that have great roads and few tourists.
The thing for me is the GTI TCR when clean and presented looks at good as almost anything in all the right ways, and it’s easy to forget with familiarity what a fantastically accomplished engine and chassis it has. It’s just whether you actually use its best virtues owing to that familiarity issue.
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Controversially just Keep it if its paid for, and don't become a sheep :grin:
We all get sucked into accepting massive and continual depreciation in the name of desire, which is most likely the 2nd biggest purchase in our lives behind a mortgage. Imagine if we traded up in property every few years to then take a massive hit at resale, and then repeat like we do with cars! :rolleyes:
Every car after 2020 has more features you don't want, and things that are more complicated to turn off, or what's worse can't be turned off.
I've had a good few nice cars (to me), I've lost a lot of money on nice cars, and its taken me till 54 to work this out :grin:
Wise words.
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Controversially just Keep it if its paid for, and don't become a sheep :grin:
We all get sucked into accepting massive and continual depreciation in the name of desire, which is most likely the 2nd biggest purchase in our lives behind a mortgage. Imagine if we traded up in property every few years to then take a massive hit at resale, and then repeat like we do with cars! :rolleyes:
Every car after 2020 has more features you don't want, and things that are more complicated to turn off, or what's worse can't be turned off.
I've had a good few nice cars (to me), I've lost a lot of money on nice cars, and its taken me till 54 to work this out :grin:
Wise words.
Well, unless buying before and then selling in a boom you’d have to recover stamp duty, solicitors fees, removal costs, all the bits of necessaries you have to put into a newly bought house and if you bought a new build (equivalent of buying a new car but also needs flooring, furnishing, garden sorting, curtains, blinds, shelving etc etc) then you’d certainly see a huge hit to your finances.
Houses are longer term investments just like stocks and shares.
Cars depreciate far less once (ironically) they’re out of warranty and the associated risks actually increase, so could be argued a far better long term purchase like a house if nothing serious goes wrong. Unfortunately the last of the VW’s you could actually sit on your drive and fix with basic tools and a swear box would be an up! which went out of production several years ago. Anything newer than that is just a motorised iPad and heaven help us when they get old.
Plus I’d argue that buying a sports car or hot hatch isn’t sheep like these days as the sheep all “drive” SUV’s. And I use the term drive loosely. Real sheep would actually do just as good a job of piloting those things as your average human driver.
And then there’s renting. Rent a house and you’re at the mercy of the landlord, your costs will go up and not down as the market changes and if the nice lady who rented you the house pegs it then chances are the family will sell it and boot you out. At that point it gets very financially painful, I watched my sister go through that process a year or two ago.
Most buyers of new cars are technically renters.
I still think a well kept mk7 is worth hanging onto, just like mk2’s and mk5’s stood the test of time (only the former two were arguably better built).
What to do eh Watts?
Maybe talk the wealthy wife into buying a house with a bigger drive and space to fit a car to suit each of your moods?
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I walk more miles now than I drive most months, especially in the spring and summer so struggle to justify in my head re. a new car, but each to their own. I opted out of the company car scheme in 1999 and was fortunate to have a generous car allowance that easily paid for the GTI before I retired from there 3 years ago, so in terms of capital, its cost me nothing.
I know loads of folk who are religious car changers after a couple of years, each to their own.
I have an itch however for an old new car to keep as a ‘project’ in addition to the GTI and keep getting drawn to a Jaguar XJR Supercharged😂
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Something like the XJR sounds like an ideal retirement project. Charismatic and fixable on a driveway for most routine jobs. :afro:
There’s one up on axle stands on my estate being fettled with here and there. Tucked away nicely on the driveway which no doubt annoys their neighbour as it’s a shared drive! Not as much as the bloody great Range Rover he also parks taking up most of the road though :rolleyes: 😁
Anyway, my previous rambling point being any expensive purchase can cost a lot of money in losses in the short term if not held onto, but hopefully look after you in the longer term if you keep it.
Unfortunately neither myself or Watts have had posh jobs with company car freebies so had to do it the hard way. In my case I did lots of small hop changes turning cars over rapidly as that was the only way of doing things bringing up a family where if a large car fund was gradually built up (for less frequent) changes the money would’ve been reappropriated by others for other expenditure long before a car was purchased! :grin:
Watts is more “slow and steady wins the race” but saving up that way tends to make one want hold on to the money and deliberate long and hard about spending it.
Money takes far longer to save up than it does to spend.
Can’t wait to retire myself either. There’s not a day goes by where I don’t consider putting that letter in to HR. When I do the Golf will go and be replaced by something simpler and older and I’ll mostly walk everywhere (as I’ll be living on a shoestring!)
I think I’ve rambled on enough in here.
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If I was to sell the Golf I would buy an Alfa Romeo 280 Veloce, the most beautiful car in the world.
I’ll get my coat……..
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Something like the XJR sounds like an ideal retirement project. Charismatic and fixable on a driveway for most routine jobs. :afro:
There’s one up on axle stands on my estate being fettled with here and there. Tucked away nicely on the driveway which no doubt annoys their neighbour as it’s a shared drive! Not as much as the bloody great Range Rover he also parks taking up most of the road though :rolleyes: 😁
Anyway, my previous rambling point being any expensive purchase can cost a lot of money in losses in the short term if not held onto, but hopefully look after you in the longer term if you keep it.
Unfortunately neither myself or Watts have had posh jobs with company car freebies so had to do it the hard way. In my case I did lots of small hop changes turning cars over rapidly as that was the only way of doing things bringing up a family where if a large car fund was gradually built up (for less frequent) changes the money would’ve been reappropriated by others for other expenditure long before a car was purchased! :grin:
Watts is more “slow and steady wins the race” but saving up that way tends to make one want hold on to the money and deliberate long and hard about spending it.
Money takes far longer to save up than it does to spend.
Can’t wait to retire myself either. There’s not a day goes by where I don’t consider putting that letter in to HR. When I do the Golf will go and be replaced by something simpler and older and I’ll mostly walk everywhere (as I’ll be living on a shoestring!)
I think I’ve rambled on enough in here.
With respect to retirement, don’t wish to hard for something as you might just get it - I was back in work after a year through choice, bored out of my skull and driving the missus bananas😂
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Watts is more “slow and steady wins the race” but saving up that way tends to make one want hold on to the money and deliberate long and hard about spending it.
Actually I'm just tight!
Can’t wait to retire myself either. There’s not a day goes by where I don’t consider putting that letter in to HR. When I do the Golf will go and be replaced by something simpler and older and I’ll mostly walk everywhere (as I’ll be living on a shoestring!)
Go for it asap, not going to work is great! OH is going to do it next year at 56, I'm going to have to find more things to do out of the house....
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If I was to sell the Golf I would buy an Alfa Romeo 280 Veloce, the most beautiful car in the world.
I’ll get my coat……..
You’ve got Alfa wheels on a Golf, best of both worlds! 😁
With respect to retirement, don’t wish to hard for something as you might just get it - I was back in work after a year through choice, bored out of my skull and driving the missus bananas😂
One thing I wouldn’t be is bored! Skint, yes. Bored, no.
So much to see and do and it needn’t involve spending money all the time.
@ Watts, get a camper van!
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A Veloce is certainly a beautiful thing.
Exonian, don’t let my experience on retirement put you off,👍
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If I was to sell the Golf I would buy an Alfa Romeo 280 Veloce, the most beautiful car in the world.
I’ll get my coat……..
:grin:
Never seen one before, don't think it will be on my short list, are we looking at the same car?
All this talk of retirement doesn't make me want to wish my life away but, I'm sort of counting down the years, but its more like 10 years :sad:
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Sorry, it’s the Giulia Veloce.
Totally the opposite to a German hatch, a less common sight but interesting as long as it has enough power.
Heavy depreciation means affordability but only if it’s a keeper!
I looked at one last year but Mrs P likes hatches and thinks 3 box body styles are for old men.
What does that make me???
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Sorry, it’s the Giulia Veloce.
Totally the opposite to a German hatch, a less common sight but interesting as long as it has enough power.
Heavy depreciation means affordability but only if it’s a keeper!
I looked at one last year but Mrs P likes hatches and thinks 3 box body styles are for old men.
What does that make me???
I was driving behind a Quadrifolio yesterday in Misano Blue. Looked great and sounded good, think it must have had a modified exhaust. Somehow buying an Alfa or any Italian car in anything but Red, Black or Yellow feels like some sort of cultural slight. My wife made a similar comment if that makes you feel any better.
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Only the Italians could make ‘Four Door’ sound sexy😂
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Only the Italians could make ‘Four Door’ sound sexy😂
Or four leaf clover ;)
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I did a thing today - chopped in my 7.5 PP for a TCR. Managed to find a nice 3dr grey with 30k miles on. I'd been scouring auto trader for weeks and couldn't find anything else that really interested me.
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ooh tell us more! any pics of your 7.5pp ? intrigued to see what it looks like!
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ooh tell us more! any pics of your 7.5pp ? intrigued to see what it looks like!
I've got a thread of mine on the gallery section. Will upload some pics of the TCR when I collect but it's fitted with DCC and Belvedere's.
I really racked my brain as to what I want to get next and everything I thought of, I just had this nagging at the back of my mind that really, for what I do with a car - I don't need anything more than what the Golf does for me. Great running costs, reliable, plenty of power. So thought why not just go for the TCR and hold on to it for as long as I can.
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I really racked my brain as to what I want to get next and everything I thought of, I just had this nagging at the back of my mind that really, for what I do with a car - I don't need anything more than what the Golf does for me. Great running costs, reliable, plenty of power. So thought why not just go for the TCR and hold on to it for as long as I can.
Congrats! Hope you are happy with the change :smiley:
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I really racked my brain as to what I want to get next and everything I thought of, I just had this nagging at the back of my mind that really, for what I do with a car - I don't need anything more than what the Golf does for me. Great running costs, reliable, plenty of power. So thought why not just go for the TCR and hold on to it for as long as I can.
Congrats! Hope you are happy with the change :smiley:
Thank you! I'm very much sure I will be when I collect!