I currently drive an A4 Avant. It’s coming up to 3 years old and I have to decide shortly whether to keep it for another year with an extended warranty (as I really like the car) or change it. In preparation for this stage. I’ve been considering leasing next time and I received some very helpful advice and tips from a thread on here a few months back.
I’ve decided that if I do change, I’d like to try a V60. Volvo have recently introduced a 190 bhp petrol engined version which on paper suits me fine. I’ve been enjoying weighing up the pros and cons and veering between changing and sticking, but just today a significant development has thrown it all up in the air again. Carwow have a special leasing deal on my precise model and trim at a monthly payment that suits my budget. I’m holidaying at the moment (in China coincidentally) so it’s hard to be considering motoring matters. Would anybody like to chip in? I’d appreciate a few thoughts to mull over on the long flight back home!
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To me, one of the benefits of leasing is that you can try all sorts of different cars.
Through company car schemes, I had a stream of cars from different brands. Only once did I have a second car from the same manufacturer.
Much more interesting than the people who always buy the same brand, every time.
Edited by NARU on 12/06/2019 at 08:16
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If you like it and can afford it then why not? I like the V60, from the first model through to the current car. All are comfortable and the petrol engines vice free so far. Though the Powershift autos in some previous gen cars could go expensively wrong. I don’t think they still use it as the link with Ford is gone.
Leasing is often the way to go with expensive metal like this but always shop around and watch the small print for onerous terms and mileage penalties. The big leasing firms get huge discounts and this is how they turn a profit with the full term cost of leasing usually less than the depreciation you as a private buyer would suffer especially on high end Volvo’s which tend to drop pretty hard. They make good used buys as a result though.
Edited by SLO76 on 12/06/2019 at 08:49
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Much more interesting than the people who always buy the same brand, every time.
So someone who buys the same make of car all the time is a bit boring?.
A bit presumtous isn't it?, surely an interesting person is interesting regardless of what cars they drive?.
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Hear, hear, BBD!
Senexdriver, from what I've read the new V60 is a lot less stodgy than my 2016 V60 was -and even with the old model, when I was lent a petrol V60 as a courtesy car, I liked it a bit more.
Get a good long test drive and see how it compres with the A4. Things to think about:
- can you live with the heating and A/C being controlled by the touchscreen? Personally I think that's dangerous (so much for Volvo's boasting about safety) but the alternative is to use voice control, which may be OK if it works for you.
- do you go for the R-Design model? The ride is firmer but the handling better.
- as ever with leasing, can you be confident of keeping to the stated annual mileage? With a PCP, this doesn't matter as much provided that you trade in for a new one near the end of the term; but with leasing it does matter.
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Some useful contributions there, guys. Thank you.
I knew that the heating and ventilation control was an issue but I read in another thread this morning that it can be changed with voice control so I’d be prepared to give that a go. I had also surmised from the various reviews I’ve read that the handling on a non-R Line model wouldn’t be up to the A4’s, which is an s-line. That said, however, I find the A4’s suspension too firm and my wife actively dislikes it. Rear seat passengers have also told me that it’s b***** uncomfortable in the back, so I think softer suspension all round would be more welcome. I do occasionally like to use the A4’s handling capabilities, but on balance I think I’d prefer the softer ride.
I also appreciate the comments about the petrol engine’s dependability. Reliability is a big factor for me and I haven’t been able to find out much about the modern Volvo petrol units.
I’m happy with the mileage question. Since I’ve been retired my annual mileages have tended to be higher in the first year of ownership than in subsequent years when the novelty of the new car has worn off a bit. Also, we’ve done a lot of long haul travel since retiring and I think I must have covered more miles in hire cars than my own!
I think I’d be happy to go with a leased V60. I just don’t want to change the A4 before I feel I’ve really had the most enjoyment out of it. The 3 years since I took delivery have flown by and it still feels like a new car. A bit of reflection on the flight home and a few sleepless nights should enable me to take a final decision.
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I just don’t want to change the A4 before I feel I’ve really had the most enjoyment out of it. The 3 years since I took delivery have flown by and it still feels like a new car.
Not intended as a criticism - rather an observation on UK car-buying habits - but why is there this culture of changing a good, reliable car every 3 years?
As a private buyer I just don't get it - why should I incur the additional costs of depreciation when motoring is already an expensive element in household budgets?
I understand if someone has bought a car which no longer suits their needs (eg growing - or shrinking - family; change in annual usage; desire to change fuel, etc.), or if one has bought an unreliable vehicle which is going to be expensive to maintain when out of warranty ... but just to change because the calendar has registered 3 years since purchase for me (I'm sounding like a "Green" spokesperson now!) would be an unjustifiable self-indulgence - to say nothing of the feedback I would receive from my wife!
Stick with the A4 I say ....
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Quite simply, it’s personal preference.
I’ve done bangernomics when I couldn’t afford anything better. Nursing a car home on long journeys with fingers and toes crossed with a sleeping family on board is no fun.
When the finances improved, I could afford to buy better, newer cars, but not the models I really wanted.
I’m now retired, no mortgage, decent income and I love cars. Why not indulge myself?
I love the excitement of a new car. If that’s not something you enjoy, I can’t convince you otherwise. I’ve also enjoyed the new technology that comes with each new generation of cars.
I’ve had my share of breakdowns and expensive repairs in the past, but with a new car I get 3 years’ warranty, 3 years’ breakdown cover and so far, with each new car I’ve bought I’ve only ever paid annual servicing costs.
With the A4 I bought my first ever automatic. I’ve been worried that the gearbox would fail out of warranty so one reason for considering changing is to avoid that unwelcome expense.
That’s my rationale.
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Exactly - it's personal preference. My feeling is that it's best either to go for a new one every 3 years or so, and get a good deal on the next one, or keep a car long-term, cherish it and do as much work on it as possible oneself. Like Senexdriver, I choose the first option but there are people on here who favour, and much enjoy, the second, and they have my great respect (having mechanical skills that I don't).
In this case I suspect that Mrs Senex's vote on the suspension will be the critical factor. Fortunately I had the option on my Q2 of the standard, rather than sports, suspension, and it seems to find the right balance between ride and handling.
I've often said on here that although finance is a crucial factor in choosing and buying a car, it isn't the only one, particularly if you enjoy driving.
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Update. This morning I’ve received figures for the personal lease deal I have in mind and they aren’t enticing. Just that bit higher than I’m prepared to commit to, so no doubt we’ll juggle with mileage, initial deposit and term to accommodate my magic figure, but if it ain’t right I won’t proceed.
The critical one for me is mileage. With my last car I did 17,000 miles in 26 months; with this one 20,000 miles in 34 months, so you could say that 8,000 miles would suit me fine. However, I don’t want to drive with a potential excess mileage penalty over my head if my driving habits change so I’ve been working on 10,000 a year. On the other hand, there’s no point in paying for miles I won’t drive. Maybe the lower mileage figure will clinch it.
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Had both my cars for over 4 years each now, one is 7 years old and the other 11years old. They run fine, depreciation is not a problem, no payments to make, service them on time. I can see why folks who love new cars may lease them but I'd buy and keep until I need to change.
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I lease my Volvo V40 at the moment, petrol T2 R Design and I like it. It's our second car, my work car, with 80% of the miles being expensed at 45p a mile - which pays for my private mileage. Our main car is a 6 year old Zafira we bought new for 11 grand with the lifetime warranty. Different circumstances lead to different solutions. Each mile in the Volvo has/will cost 22p, in the Zafira 17p so far and falling on average each journey. Next year the V40 will become an XC40 and the main driver, the Zafira become a used Mini Convertible that we will keep for seven years then use for the (now nine year old) boy to learn to drive in
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