Do I change or not (again)

[Sootchucker]

Hi all, bit of a marathon this so bear with me.

I have a bit of a dileema which I would like to share with you all for your input / comments. A few months ago I was toying with the idea of keeping my 2 year old GTD when it's PCP finished next year, and just paying off the balance when due (we have the money sat in one of our accounts, so no need for a loan). Now for reference, my GTD (touch wood), has been bullet proof, not one single problem (no rattling suspension, no electrical gremlins, no rear spoiler blade issues etc), so I'm almost loath to get rid in case I buy into problem on a new car (this one was obviously built correctly).

I was all set to do this, then I was talking to a mechanic family member of mine who said with these modern very high tech cars, he wouldn't want to own one out of warranty (especially with the expensive DSG gearbox), and that in my position, he would get a new car and enter a new PCP. Now I know that's not exactly a true reflection of modern cars, and like a great many other brands, VW's can, and do go on for many years with faultless service, so long as they are serviced and looked after properly.

So, that being the case, I started to look into extended and third party warranties (for peace of mind). Then all of a sudden, I got a call yesterday from a dealer I know well (about 25 miles away), who had quoted the last 4 VW's we purchased and missed out on them all due to purely price. Now it's a great little dealership (not one of the bigger ones), and it is in fact where we have our VW's serviced (not at the supplying dealer as their service department is shocking).

When I mentioned to him that it was always price that they failed on, he said to me he knew, but that they had just had a £1m facelift (to bring the dealership in-line with VW's new image), and that the new targets they had were quite stiff, and it was more after shifting numbers of cars. I told him I would be using online brokers like Carlow, Drive the deal and Orange wheels, and it was those sort of prices (or very near) I would be looking at. To my surprise he said they were well aware of online brokers prices, and that in his opinion to win our future business (we have now owned 8 new VW's), they would get very close to those prices.

So I have decided to give them a try and started speccing a new car on one of the broker sites to get an idea on price.. Problem 1 - I'm not sure if I should go for another GTD (which I love and am really used to the 45-60mpg), or a GTI ? Not had a petrol in a good few years, but love driving the wife's Polo Blue GT. Love the sound, the smoothness and the near instant warm up in winter. Also, obviously the GTI is a good bit quicker than the GTD, however it's £500 is more expensive as well (countered by the fact that VW finance are contributing £1250 to GTI's but not GTD's). However (no offence meant here) I hate the GTI alloys, so would have to spend nearly a grand on the 19" Santiago's (which look lovely) - I'm re-speccing Adaptive Chassis anyways again. My thinking is that for my limited annual mileage, the 10-15mpg of so hit, won't in the long run cost a fortune per month ?

However when speccing we now have the new MIB II head units to contend with. When I purchased my GTD I went with Nav Pro after reading lots of stuff on online connectivity, google maps etc, only to be disappointed when it arrived to find out that stuff was only available abroad when specced with the Premium phone pack (with the additional SIM), which we didn't (and as far as I'm aware) still don't get in the UK. Now whilst the 8" Screen looks great in the dash, I've seen the new 6.5" Screen in the new Polo and it didn't look half bad. I obviously wouldn't pay nearly £1800 again for the Nav pro, but I see now that as part of tech pack, it's only about £700 more than the standard nav (if selecting Dynaudio on the standard Nav - which I would). Question is, apart from the HDD built into the Nav Pro, is there any real funcationality difference between the 2 units. I.e. do they both have App Connect (Apple Car play, Android Auto and Mirrorlink), as well as the VW Car Net "Guide and Inform" (on line fuel, parking, weather etc), or is that only available with the Pro Nav ?

So in summary, I guess 3 questions.

1. Would you change just because the car would be 3 years old and out of warranty ?

2. GTD or GTI for doing about 8k miles per year

3. MIB II 6.5" Standard Nav or Still the 8" Pro unit.

[TwoSheds]

3.  MIB II 6.5" Standard Nav - you'd need to spec App-Connect as an £100 option.
     MIB II 8" Pro Nav - App-Connect included in the Tech pack price.

[remlapeel]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, have you looked at the R?

[Sootchucker]

Love the R, however I think that when I spec the Pretoria alloys (really dislike the standard ones), then add the missing tech that I have on the GTD such as Winter pack, Nav, DCC, Keyless, rear camera etc, the price combined with the extra fuel costs would make it prohibitive for me.

Whilst I know a lot of you will say you don't need all the toys above on an R, the performance, handling and noise are the only toys you need (and they all come as standard), in all honesty, I don't think I could trade all the added creature comforts I have on the GTD, just for the extra performance. Also looks wise I personally prefer the front end of the GTI / GTD's models with the fog lights - the R at the front looks (dare I say) a bit bland (heads for cover)  Do absolutely love Lapis Blue though !

[Snooze]

Not sure why u ever got a diesel if you do such few miles?

[Booth11]

Is it a GTI PP you are thinking?  In your position I'd go GTI with your chosen wheels.  Taking into account your mileage, and surely another GTD will just be too similar (even though you've loved your current one)?  If you need to claw back some of the cost of the 19s, spec the 6.5" starndard nav plus the £100 App connect.

It kind of sounds like you have made up your mind anyway.

[remlapeel]

Love the R, however I think that when I spec the Pretoria alloys (really dislike the standard ones), then add the missing tech that I have on the GTD such as Winter pack, Nav, DCC, Keyless, rear camera etc, the price combined with the extra fuel costs would make it prohibitive for me.

Whilst I know a lot of you will say you don't need all the toys above on an R, the performance, handling and noise are the only toys you need (and they all come as standard), in all honesty, I don't think I could trade all the added creature comforts I have on the GTD, just for the extra performance. Also looks wise I personally prefer the front end of the GTI / GTD's models with the fog lights - the R at the front looks (dare I say) a bit bland (heads for cover)  Do absolutely love Lapis Blue though !

No I completely agree with the look of the front end, the R looks bland unless you know what to look for, which of course unless your on this forum you don't lol.

I had a GTI previous to the R and it's a great car, the tramping issue and poor traction in the wet pushed me over the edge to an R, but no way I would get a basic spec R. Mine has prets, DCC, keyless, winter pack and dynaudio and it bugs me it doesn't have nav so understand the need for the toys

[dubber36]

I'd stick with your current car. Granted, you take a gamble with a car out of warranty, but even the cost of a replacement gearbox will be a lot less than the money you would pay out to drive around in a new car. My Passats DSG has been faultless in the 52,000 miles it's done so far. It's nearly 4 years old now and I've no concerns about keeping it a good while longer.

It is nice to change cars, but going from one Golf 7 to another, I think you'd soon loose that new car feeling, despite it having a different engine and having more power.

These PCP deals are pushed by manufacturers to give people a decision to make at the end of the term. Most people will happily carry on paying similar monthly payments that they have got used to and get a new car, but why pay out each month when you don't really have to?

[p3asa]

Also, obviously the GTI is a good bit quicker than the GTD,

If the traffic light grand prix is your kind of thing    Once moving I wouldn't say its a "Good bit quicker"

I think the fact the changes from build week 22 with Nav, Winter pack and Keyless being added plus VW contribution would sway it for me.

If I had that kind of cash lying about in an account I think I'd rather it stayed there than plough it into a car, plus for minimal outlay you could probably move to a new car with no worry about repair work. Factor in if you did go back to a broker, you would have the hassle of getting rid of yours. If this dealer is genuinely going to come close to a brokers price with a reasonable trade in similar to what you'd get with just an average discount then that is a bonus. Just be wary of what you are given as price to change.

I had a dealer phone me when I had the mk6 promising the earth and thy couldn't deliver their promise.

My worry about stopping monthly payments is when it comes to changing the car, where do you suddenly find £200 - £400 again unless you can be really controlled and continue to stick it away each month.

One other thing, is it confirmed the UK don't get the SIM slot? Otherwise (I've said this once or twice before  ) how would you get online and access the services, fuel, parking, news weather etc, if you had an iPhone?

[dubber36]

My worry about stopping monthly payments is when it comes to changing the car, where do you suddenly find £200 - £400 again unless you can be really controlled and continue to stick it away each month.

Use it to go towards your mortgage if you still have one. It will be much more beneficial in the long run.