Newbie seeking Mk 5 GTI

[Blowers]

Hi
 
I am a newbie/very recent widower/50 yr old who (maybe just part of the grieving process) is set on p/ex my 2 yr old Volvo state for a Red 3 door GTI DSG leather plus sunroof.

Now that spec seems to be difficult to find second hand ....and prices seem to be almost as much as new. One VW dealer offered me £14k p/ex  against a red manual no sunroof  without seeing the Volvo.

Any recommendations welcomed:

1. Hold out for a used model specced as I want it (or change mind re colour!)
2. Bite bullet and order up new spec from VW dealer (any tips on negotiations ...I guess they won't discount much)
3. Try one of the on line people like Motor providewr that have a standard DSG for £18495 ...which could be specced up and be a lot less than the dealer.


I get lower back pain and the electric manual seat i sat in seemed to give more support than the manual lumber on non-leather ....my imagine or perhaps the manual lumbar was defective?

Great to see I could get fulls set of golf clubs and electric trolley in the back...delighted.


Any tips on the "buying process"...what the VW dealer may throw in...whether they will discount...use an on line company...or indeed any other "must have" accessories would be welcomed..


Many thanks indeed


Geoff

[wantmygti]

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear the bad news.

I reckon the sun roof is the bit that'll be hard to track down. Red is very popular along with black, and DSG and leather are both common also, but I personally haven't seen many with a sunroof. With climate control i'm not sure there is a need for it, other than to let in light.

I went for a new car as it was 100% my spec and not abused for the first year or so of it's life, plus i couldn't save enough on a year old model to make it worthwhile.

Discounts on new cars are minimal from dealers at best, but push your luck, hold tight and try to play a few dealers off against each other.

Go for an import if you want to save a bit but i think it is harder to spec your car, but mine is a UK car so i'm no expert here.

I would also recommend you add in xenon lights for better illumination, 18 inch wheels are very popular, and an arm rest is nice.

I'd be surprised if you can't find something close to your exact spec second hand, but I doubt you'll save much.

[Tony D]

Hey Geoff, welcome to the forum & sorry to hear the bad news.   

I'd say you might be better off ordering a new GTI that way you can spec it to your exact liking.   

As mentioned above the 18" wheels, armrest and xenon's are good desirable items to include as these add some nice touches to the car.

It will probablty be hard to get any discount from VW but if they give you a good part-ex value then this may help tip the balance.

All the best and let us know how it goes!   
 

[acwats]

I've got an import "in build" with Motorprvid8r. Seems simple, you can spec the car you want and I paid £21k instead of giving VW £25k.
(yes no third year warranty and reduced residual - I'm sure the £4k will cover this though )

Not sure why but I sense an "us and them" situation on this site when it comes to imports.  Discuss! 

[wantmygti]

Not sure why but I sense an "us and them" situation on this site when it comes to imports.  Discuss! 

Not from me! I've just never bought an import so can't really comment. Personally, when spending £20k+ I take some comfort from getting it UK supplied, UK compliant and UK warranted. Prob me being a bit OTT but after spending that much the little bit extra which will increase the residual tips my vote.

[Blowers]

Thanks very much all.
So the on line sites are imports with reduced warranties from what you tell me. I assume in all other ways they are treated by VW just the same as UK cars?
The reason for the sunroof is indeed to let the light in. I have seen a Vienna leather model in  a cream ...but it looked too yellow for my liking. I had black leather in my previous BMW 530i sport (which I could never get comfortable in) and found it all to dark without a sunroof. My Volvo has a nice light cream leather plus sunroof so makes it airy (Great car only problem -dull to drive.... use a  gallon  of fuel every time I park... and a turning circle larger than luxembourg) So red/black leather and sunroof is my preference. Any comments re the lumbar support....I must test drive one with leather electric lumbar.   

[the_stig]

Hi, I just ordered a new GTI (Metallic paint, 18" Monza's, ipod in armrest, luxury pack and highline computer) from a main dealer in the north east. They discounted the car by nearly £1100 so discounts are available (although they did offer £300 less for my part exchange than anywhere else so the real discount was around £800). The best price for a new UK car I could find was drivethedeal.com (but they don't take trade ins) and Lloyds TSB car select, who were around £50 more than drivethedeal but would have taken my car in part exchange.
 
I did a LOT of research in to buying the car and in to finding the cheapest available UK car and decided in the end to go with the main dealer at a cost of £236 more than if I had gone through Lloyds carselect. I heard good and bad stories about using online dealers but I found them a lot more helpful (and most of them more friendly) than the local dealers (apart from the one I bought from!!).

I would recommend printing off some of the internet deals and taking them with you to the local dealer and see if they'll match it or get close to it. Most of them said they wouldn't but eventually I found one who got close enough for me to go for it. Hope this helps.  

[Blowers]

Thanks
Using the VW on line  configurer seems to come up with a higher retail price than the recommended retail on most of the websites!!!!.?


2.0 FSI  £21580
DSG      £1330
Leather £1645
Xenons £750
Arm rest £120
Sunroof £515
Winter pack £200
6 CD £275

Total £26140 Ouch.....maybe back to considering  lower specced 2nd hand.!!!



 

[wantmygti]

There was a fairly recent price rise across the range including options so maybe VW is more up to date.

Small consolation but you can get a combined armrest/6 cd which (I think) is a touch cheaper than arm rest plus in dash 6 cd changer.

Not sure winter pack is worth £200.

[Simonet]

If you buy the Edition 30 you actually save money on the Standard GTI + Leather?? I know it's half leather but you get a few more bits too and of course the "slightly" different engine with 30+ BHP

Bargain!!