I haven't totally gone off the idea. Despite everything I've heard about the market, Skoda in particular don't want to negotiate in any shape or form. Pretty much list for the car and bottom book for p/x. This made the price to change the same for an Audi as for a Skoda and the badge then becomes a factor when depreciation kicks in.
I am keeping my eye on the Skoda website, as their facelift demonstrators should start coming through in quantity soon. The few on their at the mo are up to twenty grand, which, rightly or wrongly, is too much for that car.
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I would go for a more powerful Skoda any day of the week. I don't think the badge is an issue for 90% of buyers now, we find that percentage-wise Skodas depreciate no worse than VW or Audi. In fact we find that the Fabias hold their value extremely well and the vRS's sell as soon as they go on forecourt. Pesoanlly a 120bhp A4, especially in estate fom would be be underpowered for me (and I'm no boy racer) it would have to be a vRS estate. Great cars,better than the bog-standard Audo A4.
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You could always chip the 120 if you found it insufficiant?
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You could always chip the 120 if you found it insufficiant?
That's true, but by the time you've paid for the chipping and any extra insurance for the modification you might as well buy something more powerful in the first place. I'd start with an Octy vRS and chip that if necessary.
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I haven't totally gone off the idea. Despite everything I've heard about the market Skoda in particular don't want to negotiate in any shape or form. Pretty much list for the car and bottom book for p/x.
Drive the deal have 3 to 4k off new Octavia, I doubt they're the only ones.
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Unfortunately, DtD don't p/x and trying to sell privately at this time of year (in anything other than banger territory) is not easy.
I'm not a badge snob in any way shape or form. I drive a (very good) Peugeot!!! :)
But if the price to change is the same between a pre-reg Audi and a new Skoda, then I think the sensible money is in the Audi. They'll always be worth more than the Skoda. I'd happily have a VRs tomorrow if I could get an acceptable deal. (As long as it was in race blue :) )
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But if the price to change is the same between a pre-reg Audi and a new Skoda then I think the sensible money is in the Audi. They'll always be worth more than the Skoda.
That would very much depend on the spec of the cars, a higher spec/power Skoda would be a better buy than a poverty spec Audi. We sell mainly 3-6 year old cars and we pitch ourselves as VAG and BMW specialists. I am not in sales myself, but I know that if we put a Furby or Octy vRS out front they go very quickly for what seems quite strong money. Late clean Furby vRS can make a silly price at the moment
I'd happily have a VRs tomorrow if I could getan acceptable deal. (As long as it was in race blue :) )
I think I'd be ringing around a few Skoda deaklers. Maybe plan a day out taking in half a dozen dealers.
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DtD don't do PX but you might find the dealer they put you on to would be interested in your car?
If the dealer can get your car for trade price and knock it out for retail why wouldn't he do it?
If the DtD dealer isn't interested webuyanycar will give you a price, it'll be at the low end of the range, but the price to change will probably still be lower.
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The Audi is S-Line trim, so it's hardly poverty spec.
I've done the 'webuyyourcarifyou'rereallydesperate' and am using that as a benchmark for the p'x. I'm not so desperate to change that I'm going to give my car away for nothing. A lot of dealers seem reluctant to deal on the phone (when they can be bothered to actually reply to e-mails/phone calls)
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The Audi is S-Line trim so it's hardly poverty spec.
If youre comparing it against the Octy 2.0 diesel 170bhp vRS then there's going to be a tremendous difference in performance. On the 170 you could map out the DPF and take power up to about 200bhp at modest cost, that would be quite a car!
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Don't do mapping, chipping or anything else. My car stays just as the manufacturers intended.
Threads drifted a touch anyway. There's no denying the VRS will be the better performer. But I think I've got the answer that I needed and the Audi power would be adequate (if not perfect).
Thanks to everybody who responded. (I'll probably end up with a Mondeo :) )
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Recent experience of making the Octavia versus Golf decision for SWMBO was that the whole life costs were broadly similar - Octavia was cheaper but worth less after 3 years. First VW dealer tried the bottom book / full price negotiating stance and lost a sale, another slightly less local dealer was happy to deal so I suppose it must depend on other factors such as their sales target attainment ? There is an awfully long waiting list for the TSi Golf at the moment though.
As for the cars in question, the Skoda won't have a full compliment of airbags as standard and the Audi will not have a glovebox light or cruise control unless someone ticked them as options....
Personally I'd look to see whether someone has a 143/170PS A4 out there somewhere or even perhaps a 1.8T? But I must admit to having a 'thing' about 'dressed up' low power variants of cars (318i M Sport 3 series spring particularly to mind).
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Well...a 318 msport touring was high on the list. Unfortunately, the diesels command very strong prices and everything I've read says stay clear of the 318 petrol as it's particularly unloved, as it offers no real advantages as an overall package.
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Well...a 318 msport touring was high on the list. Unfortunately the diesels command very strong prices and everything I've read says stay clear of the 318 petrol as it's particularly unloved as it offers no real advantages as an overall package.
Yes, I can't comment, I have a 330d SE Touring, an economical wolf in sheep's clothing, which is how I like it.
I'm not sure that the 318i is all that bad, a colleague has one but admits he misses the torque and power delivery of his previous 320d and has been disappointed by the fuel economy.
I can't comment on 120CR A4 (I have driven the 170CR variant), I have gradually over the years got more and more powerful cars, however, SWMBO's 122PS TSi Golf goes just fine, is sprightly even, so I think it might be time to reappraise my attitude, if you have driven the 120CR and like it then that's fine.
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Talking of 318 BMs, I have what they call a 318D, a touring one. It's 143 BHP and goes pretty well, esp now its done 25k and has lossened up a bit. It delivers 50mpg in average driving. SWMBO had a 110 BHP Mk IV Bora, which went very well, though most likely was a lot lighter than a modern equivalent. That did over 50 MPG and was a great car, not quite so nice to drive as the BM.
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Well, I'm not doing very well!
The Audi was sold this morning, so decided to have another go at Skoda. Straight in sat at the desk and clearly stated I'm there ready to sign the paperwork. Went through the preliminarys and then offered a quite laughable amount in p/x. Then made what I though was an amazing quote. "Come back in february after the vat free offer ends and I'll give you a lot more" It would seem they're pocketing a lot of extra profit on the strength of Skoda's discounts. Well, that brought things to a quick end. It made me feel they were quite untrustworthy.
It would seem my faithful Pug really doesn't want to go anywhere. I think it'll be easier to buy my eldest a bus pass! :)
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Want an old Mondy mlc ? Cheap mind ! Drove mine today while the Nissan was being interfered with. Reminded me why I've kept it so long. Great car. You know it makes sense. ( I'll get PU to do the negotiating tho' if that's OK ? )
;-)
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Bag of sand and it's a deal (literally, I've got some left over from building the garden wall!!) :)
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>>Well, I'm not doing very well!
I must be living in a parallel universe or something. I've been mucking around looking to change my Merc saloon C270 - not low mileage & not perfect, but full MSH.
I've been talking exclusively over the phone to several dealers about new/used cars - some in the range you've mentioned MLC - and have found several good offers. I give full details of my car (warts & and all) & after they HPI I usually get full book price & at least 10% off used or near DtD price on new. It's only my reticence that's stopped the deal - (sorry dealers!)
I always make it clear that I need delivery, so mutual viewing/testing of cars won't be possible - a risk for me maybe, I don't know, but all cars have full AUC or new car warranty anyway.
The cars I've been looking at have been: diesel/petrol Octavia VRS, diesel Octavia estate L+K, Octavia estate 1.6CR & Yeti diesel - so not market lemons or shift-at-any-price models by any means.
I don't suppose I'm a better negotiator than you MLC - so why the difference I wonder?
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Because you've got a Mercedes and MLC has if I remember right a Peugeot 407 coupe. The dealer can sell your Merc or trade it out and get a good price for it, but although I'm sure the Peugeot is a good car the market doesn't like big French cars.
Maybe MLC should try Suresell?
Edited by Avant on 19/12/2009 at 16:17
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I like my car far to much to give it away for nothing. I've had offers from Audi that meet the 'book' price, but with nothing the other end.
I think one of the issues is that I'm far to hard as a negotiator. I tell them what I'm prepared to pay and that's it. If they've not got the margins, then so be it. I don't want any car badly enough to bankrupt myself.
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Totally agree MLC. That's partly the reason I haven't 'succumbed' to getting a new(er) car so far. It's a fever that comes & should be resisted until normal reasoning is resumed.
The killer question for me is: if I spend £X,000s what am I getting extra that will make my life more complete & happy. Sounds a bit daft I know, but I haven't come up with a good response in the current round.
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I do agree with you there WB. Even to the extent that often when I have bought a new car I miss the old one. There is undoubtedly a pleasure in the aquisition of something new mostly driven by anticipation. Cars though, fairly quickly just become "the car" and life continues much as before with the downside of having less money in the bank.
This knowledge will not of course prevent me, or most of us I suppose, doing it again in the future...
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 20/12/2009 at 09:23
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