Lots of questions

[stealthwolf]

Seeing as how all my posts are gone, I need to kinda re-ask them all.

1. Finance: Dealer's offering finance on 6mth old GTi. Works out at 12% apr. Makes for easier repayments of £300pcm instead of £500pcm for bank loan. Is finance a good idea or not?

2. Checks: Since I'm looking at 2nd hand car from dealer/VW approved, is there anything specific other the checks listed here?

3. Extras:Dealer's offering full tank of petrol, free autoglym treatment and 25% reduced GAP insurance (all after significant coercion). What else should I have asked for?

[SteveP]

Seeing as how all my posts are gone, I need to kinda re-ask them all.

1. Finance: Dealer's offering finance on 6mth old GTi. Works out at 12% apr. Makes for easier repayments of £300pcm instead of £500pcm for bank loan. Is finance a good idea or not?

12% APR seams very high to me, 8-9% is the average I have typically been quoted in the past.

3. Extras:Dealer's offering full tank of petrol, free autoglym treatment and 25% reduced GAP insurance (all after significant coercion). What else should I have asked for?

I would give the autoglym treatment a miss IMO and the dealers GAP insurance price (even at 25% off) will still be more expensive then you could get else where.

I personally (if it's a dealer I am going to use for servicing) would try to get my next service complete free, also you could get them to pay for the 12 months rfl.

[gazbutmk5gti]

You can get gap insurance for about 200 quid compared to VW's 400, the lifeshine is pish, a good coat of quality wax by yourself will save you a few hundred quid, tell him this and improve your bargaining prowess, he'll know you done your research

[stealthwolf]

the lifeshine is pish, a good coat of quality wax by yourself will save you a few hundred quid

But it's free!?!?!

You can get gap insurance for about 200 quid compared to VW's 400

Where are reputable places to look? Never knew about GAP until on this website.

[SteveP]

the lifeshine is pish, a good coat of quality wax by yourself will save you a few hundred quid

But it's free!?!?!

Lots of things are free but that doesn't mean you would want to do them. I have read some reports of poorly applied autoglym stuff making the car look worse!

I agree with Gaz but either get it detailed properly or invest in some good products.

[stealthwolf]

I already have some decent stuff but would be happy to spend more on this car in terms of cleaning products.

WRT to the APR it's a lil high (but I calculated it) but the car's worth £21k. I am able to get £15k from bank (@8% apr) + £7k of my own = £22k but need some of the extra cash. Best loan I could get. Paying £5k as deposit and rest in lower monthly payments makes my life a little easier.

[gazbutmk5gti]

the lifeshine is pish, a good coat of quality wax by yourself will save you a few hundred quid

But it's free!?!?!

You can get gap insurance for about 200 quid compared to VW's 400

Where are reputable places to look? Never knew about GAP until on this website.

Try click4gap.co.uk got a quote the other day 500 quid cheaper than the Audi version I was being quoted

[2007GTI]

I got my GAP insurance from click4gap.  much cheaper, whether they pay out is another matter and hopefully I wont have to find out.

[bobotheclown]

Regardign Finance, VW Finance bloke said they can use Fortis which quoted me 3.5% APR in April 2008 when I ordered the car and when I picked up the car in June 2008 the rate was still the same.

This was on a new car though, so I don't know if they can offer that sort of deal on second hand ones. Can always try.