How long do you plan to keep your GTI?

[lew321]

Always plan for 3 years but always ends up being 2

[monkeyhanger]

Always plan for 3 years but always ends up being 2

That is usually me to a tee! There is always something better around the corner. This might be the first time that VW 2.0TDI tech stagnates for a good few years after a noticeable but not revolutionary power increase - unless they finally get around to bringing a twin scroll turbo out.

You usually find with VAGs that between years 2  and 3, the monthly cost and monthly depreciation are almost equal.

I got a 2.0 TDI 140PD MK5 Golf on a 55 plate, kept it 2 years and then:-

I got a 2.0 TDI 170PD MK5 Golf on a 57 plate after my dad got one on 07 plate and it was massively better on performance. Once a bus clattered that at 2 weeks old and it took me another 7 weeks to get it back, it was never the same. It had a sh!te repair by Benfield and went back for lots of remedial work. The car was tainted and I resented it until…

The Scirocco 140CR GT came out and I got one on 09 plate. 2 months after I got it, the 170CR was announced and I wanted it.

Waited 2 years to get one on 11 plate because I’d have lost too much p/x-ing before that.

Scirocco 170CR was just under 2 years old when I ordered my GTD, knowing that the car would be 2 years old when I got my GTD.

A new gen Audi TT is the most likely cause of temptation coming out in the foreseeable.

[monsta]

4 years usually, thinking 2-3 this time 

[Jimi]

I'm the odd one out here I think - probably 10 years

I've had my current car for 10 years and I'm really going to enjoy the step-change. I'm looking forward to getting attached to the next one too!

[monkeyhanger]

I'm the odd one out here I think - probably 10 years

I've had my current car for 10 years and I'm really going to enjoy the step-change. I'm looking forward to getting attached to the next one too!

10 Years – long time! Do you get better warranties over there like Yanks getting 8 year powertrain warranties etc? Looks like you’ve timed the jump right – lots of new tech on the MK7 that I can’t see getting hugely surpassed in at least the next 5 years, maybe longer – as well as a new Chassis design that VAG will retain for a very long time.

I can imagine the MK8 not improving much over the MK7 like the MK6 didn’t improve much on the MK5. The MK7 is arguably the biggest single evolutionary step of the Golf, the DSG is only a small step away from being capable of driving itself.

[dubber36]

I had my last Passat for 8 years, so I'm more than happy keeping a car to get my full monies worth out of it.

When I get my ED40, I intend to keep that for ever. It's not as if it's going to get driven that much.

[Jimi]

10 Years – long time! Do you get better warranties over there like Yanks getting 8 year powertrain warranties etc?

Nothing like that I'm afraid, though some cars like the R are detuned for our climate to give them a better chance of lasting. There are probably a few reasons for keeping it for a while; leasing seems less common (cultural?) and I need to pull my head in and buy a place next (I'm 28).

Mostly though, I'm probably not on the same level of car obsession as the rest of you - yet. This is only the second car forum I've looked at with the other being the Australian equivalent where we mostly whinge about not getting the same options as you guys. Maybe this place will be the gateway drug that changes it all when I become envious at you all driving around in Mk8s.

[Snoopy]

I can unserstand the 10 year thing but 2 or 3 years just goes so quickly for me.
I have friends that change regular every year or 2 and ive never understood it as they basically just forking out £250+ a month for ever or in their case the past 20+ years for  what basically in reality is just renting a car and they never really actually own one. Thats lot of money over the years.

[JellyB]

I would love to be able to stay in a GTI for 10 years, but I think the mileage I do will cut that short in my case. 

[monkeyhanger]

I can unserstand the 10 year thing but 2 or 3 years just goes so quickly for me.
I have friends that change regular every year or 2 and ive never understood it as they basically just forking out £250+ a month for ever or in their case the past 20+ years for  what basically in reality is just renting a car and they never really actually own one. Thats lot of money over the years.

I don't feel like i've bought a car ever when I change every 3 years - for a car that comes with high residuals, losing £3k a year over 3 years, fully under warranty with everything new isn't that bad compared to losing £2200 a year over 10 years (£26k car realistically worth £4k after 10 years) and having to pay out for tyres/brakes/clutch and the risk of something big failing beyond warranty. An extra £800 a year for the reassurance of warranty and saving on the aforementioned consumables doesn't seem a bad deal to me. Cars are only getting better too with more tech etc.