What to change a 7.5 for?

[Watts]

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!

[david25]

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

[mcmaddy]

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.

[Exonian]

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.

[AGB]

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.

[jcrollie]

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!

[Hertsman]

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. 

[clubsport]

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?

[Watts]

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

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...

[EB2019]

Controversially just Keep it if its paid for, and don't become a sheep 

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!   

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