After some sensible advice, (money and newer cars)

[bobbarley]

Not all mk4's are bad, just most of them  My 1.8T had been fine for 5 years, just tiny niggles, plus the water pump went once, but that could happen to most cars I guess. Plus it's a huge step forward from a mk3. They're getting on a bit now though, so reliability wise I'd look elsewhere too.

If you can afford the repayments get something now, then later when you want to move out its paid for and one less thing to worry about. That's what my sister just did, 62 plate diesel A3.

[Len]

Never borrowed money for a car in my life.
Better the devil you know I always say!
Oh and unless you do over 10k a year a diesel is not cheaper!

I'm with Chuff if you cannot put up with your 16v anymore then try a really cheap Mk3 diesel.
But I bet you end up hating it!

[T_J_G]

Do you plan on moving out before you'd have paid off the loan?

[Bellend]

Never borrowed money for a car in my life.
Better the devil you know I always say!
Oh and unless you do over 10k a year a diesel is not cheaper!

I'm with Chuff if you cannot put up with your 16v anymore then try a really cheap Mk3 diesel.
But I bet you end up hating it!

Well, 90% of the time it is.

Could take my MK3 to my girlfriends ans back and would be a tenner gone. Do it in the MK4 and I could do it two or three times on a tenner.

[Nino]

Ive had a mk3 and mk4 and as much a my mk3 had its fair share of problems then so has my mk4 lol however i love my mk4 hence why i keep pumping money into it! You see i have a very very cleaver and cunnin theory, by the time i stop spendin money on the mk4 i would of replaced almost every part! Mean hey presto new car hehehehe

But on a serious note, stay away from the bmw series 1 they are a nightmare to work on (the engine is put in sideways) my nieghbour has a deisel and my friends dad has a pertol and after speaking with both of them they both wished they didnt bother buying 1 for example my neighbours bmw has fsh and he wanted to keep the stamps, so to have a garage just do an oil change cost him well over £200!!

When it comes the leons there part of the vag group so thats all good but wait till you sit in one, and look at the state of the interior trust me you will be disapointed when you compire to the likes of a mk4/5 golf.

My cuz has had her mk4 gt tdi for about 7 years, it jas had reg servicing done by myself and her bother and the only work it has ever needed was front wishbone bushes, breaks and tyres! And thats about to hit the 100k miles mark. I lf you can afford to get a loan/finance i strongly reconmend that you look at a car that will A: hold value. And B: be as mantance free as poss.

[rob.043]

Ok, I love this sort of conversation re spending lots on a car to save money (executive summary to my ramblings below - dont bother)....

First, you say you worry about the mk3 breaking down- has it done this much? Any car can break down, a well maintained one stands a better chance, but newer with more electronics and sensors can mean the opportunity for more expensive misshaps where genuine parts are the only option. Bear in mind that new or old, peace of mind costs less than £100 a year in the form of a home recovery breakdown service.

You say your 21 and on your 7th car, so are you really gonna keep a Leon for 5 years?

You want to save money on fuel, by giving more of your money away in DEPRECIATION and INTEREST on the loan. This will cost far more than the fuel saving, I did a quick sum a while back, and over 8k miles, 35mpg petrol vs 50mpg deisel makes the deisel a £500 cheaper option. So the depreciation and interest will easily be more than this over even 6 months.

Why give your money away when you can enjoy burning it yourself?

You must learn to enjoy burning petrol. its great. If your living at home and can afford the fuel, why waste your money on a loan. Buy a Leon or whatever in a few years when they are 2k, and enjoy a multitude of other 10-15yr old cars in the meantime! All for less outlay that a loan on a depreciating newer car.

I think most people spend most of their disposable income on car finance, because they have nothing better to spend it on. This is great for me (currently running a £500 banger), as I can run cheap cars and spend all my money on mountain biking (equipment and travel etc). You could be aiming your surplus at somethign else, or saving for deposit/year abroad etc.

[murraymint]

Thanks for all the replays. A lot of food for thort. I do a lor of miles a year id say about 12/15k. So I think over 3 years which is the length the loan might be. That would save a fair amount of fuel, money.  Also less then half to insurance there's another big saving. I've had 7 cars because most of them have been sh!tters bar my 1.6 mk3 which I had for over two years and my current gti.  I will probably still be living at home while I have the loan because, my other half is still at uni and has 1 1/2 years left to go. And the plan is, after she finishes uni, we Carry  on living at home for a couple years to save for a deposit on a house.

[Len]

I note from your sig that you have had a 16v before! Why did you change that one?

Have you really looked at the cost of the loan and the depreciation on the car you buy?
2 grand depreciation on the car alone!

You can buy 2 good Mk3 Gti's for that!
You really havent thought this through!

[DubFan]

I've been there done that, here's what I'd say.
Getting a 5yr loan sounds great when you're 21 and living at home. BUT, a lot can change in 5yrs.
You probably won't still be living at home in 5yrs, you may not have the same job or even a job full stop.
You may move in with a partner or a friend, have a kid or end up with an unreliable car that costs you loads to keep on the road.
Your living costs WILL go up. So you could reach the point where the loan payments are unaffordable.

£6k sounds like a huge budget for a car, but unless you're picky about age, reliability, mileage and service history, you could end up paying a lot to keep it going for the 5yrs of the loan.

I would stick with cheaper cars for the moment.
Keep the 16v for fun and save up to buy a diesel for the commuting. Or just put up with petrol costs.

[Bellend]

Could you not just insure a reliabl daily derv as well?

My MK3 Will be 59 quid to insure a month or 43 to insure the Mk4 monthly. SDI reliable as sin. Screams cheap. Or a MK3 TDI.

A lot of people finance cars,  two friends are just starting.  One an A3 Sline and one a Leon FR. I just couldn't have the debt personally.  This month I'm fairly quiet so far, last month mental busy. Too much uncertainty and finance companies love it.