HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

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Thu 11 Apr 2013 17:46

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - Marklew

I decided to go for a VW cc GT and now I am unsure and have got myself quite confused!!! I need to get a new car by the end of the month and am looking at arranging test drives this weekend. I ideally want to spend about £15k, I have been looking and for the money can pick up below. I do about 20k a year, two 4 hour (250 mile) drives a week so need a reliable, comfy car which is hopefully economical and cheap(ish) to run. I'm in a Golf petrol 1.6ltr which I've got to return at the end of the month, which is only getting 25-35 MPG @90 and some of the extra urban figures for below are 60-70 MPG (appreciate this figure isnt at 90). If you can offer some help or advise re below I would be extremely grateful.

VW cc GT - £15,299 - Passat cc GT 2.0 TDI CR (140) 4dr 2010 - 21k (full spec inc sat nav, leather, sunroof etc)

C Class - £14,500 - C220 CDI Blue Efficiency SE 4dr 2010 - 17.5k (basic spec) or

C Class - £14,850 - C200 CDI Blue Efficiency Executive SE 4 dr 2010 -31k (better spec, command nav etc)

3 Series - £14,800 - 318d 2.0 TD M Sport 4dr 2010 - 16k (basic spec) or 2010 32k for £14,450 Business edition with nav system and other upgrades

A4 - £15,989 - A4 2.0 TDI 143 S Line 4 dr 2010 - 20k (basic spec)

A5 - £17,950 - A5 2.0 TDI Sportback 170 BHP 4dr 2010 - 24k (basic spec)

The BMWs and Merc are showing 70+MPG (extra urban), what are the servicing costs and levels for these, anything major coming up that I should be aware of? I know the cc recommends cam belt change at 40k, so I'd be doing this every other year, anything similar on the others and am I going to be paying a lot more at the BMW and Merc service stations compared to VW? Or I can get similar spec cc's for £12-13 with 40k on the clock. With me doing 20-25k a year and looking to keep this for 3/4 years am I likely to run into anything major for this or any of the other cars above? I'm not very clued up on cars and in reality I don't mind the car costing me 500-700 a year in general maintenance (over the 3/4 year period) and whilst I know there are no guarentees I don't want to be stuck with any major issues in a year or two.

Thanks for any help, as I am very confused right now!!!

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Thu 11 Apr 2013 18:46

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - Auristocrat

If you wish to look at the official mpg figures, use the Combined figure. Bear in mind that the official figures are highly unlikely to be achieved in real life.

To get a better idea of the mpg a particular car can realistically achieve look at the Honest John review for that car which shows the 'Real mpg' the car is likely to achieve. For example with the VW Passat CC, if yopu click on the Real mpg box on the first page of the HJ review, you will get a breakdown of what owners are achieving

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Thu 11 Apr 2013 20:10

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - Alby Back

I'd maybe be looking at higher mileage cars. An additional 10k miles is only 5 months away from your start point with any car but values plummet at over 50k. Let someone else have taken that hit and get a better car for your budget or pocket the difference whichever suits you better.

I'd also be avoiding anything with a cambelt on your mileage due to replacement costs. ( I avoid anything with a cambelt anyway having had 3 of the wretched things go on me over the years )

From your original shortlist I might go for either of Mercs ( wafty and comfortable ) or a BMW ( sporty and they handle ) I wouldn't go for a VW CC ( lounge lizard's car ) or an A4 ( estate agent's car )

Well, you did ask !

In reality they'd all be more than ok.

;-)

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Thu 11 Apr 2013 20:29

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - Marklew

thanks for the feedback, if I go for a 50k+ Merc / BMW / Cc will I get 150k out if without any major problems? As i will be putting 100k on in 4 years, or are there hings that will generally go between 50-150k that will cost me a lot?

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Thu 11 Apr 2013 20:37

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - Alby Back

A guy I know has a large minicab firm. Had it for years. Runs about 40 vehicles at any one time. I once asked him how long he reckons to get out of his cars in mileage terms.

He replied that with the mainstream stuff, Fords, Vauxhalls, Nissans VWs etc he feels they are getting a bit tired at 400-500k miles but the Mercs run up to 800k to a million usually before anything major needs attention. Although it would depend what he means by major i suppose.

Kind of says it all.

Edited by Alby Back on 11/04/2013 at 20:39

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Thu 11 Apr 2013 20:55

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - 72 dudes

Some nice cars on your list.

To which I would add the Volvo S60 D3 or D4 in SE or R Design trim. Very cool and just a bit different to the mainstream Germans.

Be aware that if you go for a 3 series in M Sport trim, the ride will be very firm, not ideal for your big mileage, look for an SE instead.

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Fri 12 Apr 2013 07:32

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - Happy Blue!

I am tempted to say that the OP should consider a fully specced Mondeo with the very reliable 2·0 Tdci engine and DVD SatNav system. cheaper to maintain and repair, larger and therefore safer and more comfortable and likely to be cheaper to buy.

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Fri 12 Apr 2013 09:37

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - daveyjp

If the Mercs are autos you will need auto box fluid changes every 40,000 ish miles.

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Sat 13 Apr 2013 09:10

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - Collos25

If the Mercs are autos you will need auto box fluid changes every 40,000 ish miles.

Absolute rubbish where did you get information from.

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Sat 13 Apr 2013 09:24

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - daveyjp

Merc specialists who maintain them and know the consequences if ATF isn't changed regularly. Dealers also now include it as a service item.

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Sat 13 Apr 2013 12:12

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - corax

If the Mercs are autos you will need auto box fluid changes every 40,000 ish miles.

Absolute rubbish where did you get information from.

daveyjp is right - they benefit from regular oil changes - the 5 speed and the 7 speed in particular are good 'boxes that last a long time if this is done. You'd have to be stupid or have deep pockets to neglect them if you were keeping long term. With average mileage that's only once every three or four years.

However if has already done a high mileage it may not be worth it if the filter is dirty - where has all the sludge come from?

All info from an autobox specialist.

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Sat 13 Apr 2013 13:54

HELP!!!! VW cc GT, C-Class, 3 Series, A4/5??? - Collos25

Absolute rubbish your being had big style,tell a German taxi driver he has to change his auto box oil at 50kmiles he will just laugh .

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