Does anything jump out at you?

darsar

HI guys, I'll keep short as possible.

Little background to me first. 3 years ago I got a car from small unreliable garage. 3 month warranty and needless to say it packed up after 5 or 6 month while I am still paying by finance! So things are good at work (up north) and I get a bigger personal loan (20,000e) and pay off the broken car and buy new car. Two years later I have my loan down to 13,000e and a car worth imo 6,000e (Audi A3, 115,000 miles still on northern plates).

So as expected customs give me seven days to pay VRT. I have no problem with this as it is not their problem my company went bust, although I feel sorry for myself as I would not have bought the car knowing what I know now!

Up north it was GP210stg per year to tax car and 738e here now to tax after 1473e VRT.

I don't feel it is worth putting more money into the car with that mileage etc so I have 3 cars on a shortlist.

At the moment I drive 5/6 days a week 60km to work and 60km back (motorway from leaving my estate to my workplace) in my 2.0TDI and a few small trips to the town and weekends nothing major. Usually putting 60-70e diesel in lasting approx 6 days.

So there is a

2005 Nissan Primera SVE 1.8 petrol costing me 3,000e after trade in, taxed until Feb 2011

2006 Opel Vectra Njoy 1.9 Diresel costing me 3,000e after trade in, tax approx 600e

2006 VW Passat 1.6 petrol costing me 6,700 after trade in, tax 445e

What I would like opinions on is

do you think I will spend more or less on petrol in a 1.8 than I did in my 2.0TDI considering straight drive?

I love the Passat the most but the extra 4,000e is alot to me and I am only half considering due to lower engine and the lovely appearance. What do you guys think? It would bring me right back up to a 20,000e loan!

I have never heard bad of a Nissan or Opel, have you? I have had Two Audi and renault that all were troublesome. My VW polo first car was trouble free!


Your views are greatly appreciated.

darsar

Anan1

I'd keep what you have and look after it, TBH. Don't get too hung up on tax, it's only a small part of the overall cost of ownership. Is your A3 a 2.0TDI? If so, it won't be €738 to tax, think it's €615.

-Corkie-

Anan1 wrote: »

I'd keep what you have and look after it, TBH. Don't get too hung up on tax, it's only a small part of the overall cost of ownership. Is your A3 a 2.0TDI? If so, it won't be €738 to tax, think it's €615.

Your right id prefer the A3 all the rest are dull and boring except the passat but that 1.6 engine is slow compared to your 2.0 tdi what year is it

darsar

SARASON wrote: »

Your right id prefer the A3 all the rest are dull and boring except the passat but that 1.6 engine is slow compared to your 2.0 tdi what year is it

2004 A3 2.0TDI.... I kind of need a bigger car too as my son is now 15 months so getting annoying to climb in the back to strap him in etc.. The 1.9 tdi is 650 afaik?

I have had a drop in wages and a child since buying the A3 so it is more difficult keeping up with all the costs! I am looking at getting a newer car with 70,000 less miles and taxed for 800e more than paying VRT and Tax on the A3.

-Corkie-

Tax for the audi is 612 per year. A 1.9 is 582 euro. Ill sell you my 07 A8 if you like:D

Anan1

Here's a link to the current tax rates: www.motortax.ie

Remember too that changing car at a dealer will involve a couple of grand slippage over and above the cost to change, which will IMO more than negate any short-term savings on running costs.

darsar

Anan1 wrote: »

Here's a link to the current tax rates: www.motortax.ie

Remember too that changing car at a dealer will involve a couple of grand slippage over and above the cost to change, which will IMO more than negate any short-term savings on running costs.

thanks for clearing up the tax.

I have the weekend to think about this and what I am thinking is I have an A3 in need of 4 new tyres, €1473 VRT, €612 tax, engine management light on(manifold flap needs replacing) that the Audi garage want 2 hours labour and €400 for the parts. needs an overall service too so that's the guts of €3500-4000 I need to put into my car and I can have a new car just serviced , nct'd, warranty etc for €3000.

Whether I pay the VRT or trade I need a loan as I wasn't prepared for this situation. I just want to make a right decision for once so thanks to all replying.

-Corkie-

Well shop around a few garages and get the best price for those repairs and tyres, theirs plenty of bargains to be got if you shop around

The Primera and Passat will cost you a good bit on fuel than the A3. Of the cars you list I'd take the Vecta. You obviously want rid of the A3 so go for it

mickdw

SARASON wrote: »

Ill sell you my 07 A8 if you like:D

Are you actually selling your A8

-Corkie-

mickdw wrote: »

Are you actually selling your A8

Yes high running costs and the recession means something will have to go. The tax is the biggest killer and the mpg, my right foot is a big one....

darsar

RoverJames wrote: »

The Primera and Passat will cost you a good bit on fuel than the A3. Of the cars you list I'd take the Vecta. You obviously want rid of the A3 so go for it

It's not that I want rid of it, I just am caught between the sense of getting a newer car with 75,000 less miles on it therefore less likely to run into major problem without tempting faith. Warranty etc or the approx same money as doing my car up and no fall back. This time next year I'd have a car with about 145,000 miles then you know?

Re: fuel, woud you reckon a 1.8 petrol is costing much more than the 2.0 diesel. I know there's approx 10 cent at the pump but in mpg with the 120km return trip per day I do?

TestTransmission

SARASON wrote: »

Yes high running costs and the recession means something will have to go. The tax is the biggest killer and the mpg, my right foot is a big one....

Didn't you just buy another newish car?

darsar

SARASON wrote: »

Tax for the audi is 612 per year. A 1.9 is 582 euro. Ill sell you my 07 A8 if you like:D

Straight swap is best I can offer :P

-Corkie-

TestTransmission wrote: »

Didn't you just buy another newish car?

That is the plan. Im thinkin of going back to a A6. A 09 2.0 tdi would do the job for me. A lot of things have taken a turn for the worst latley so no point in spending money on luxuries for the moment...

Armin_Tamzarian

darsar wrote: »

So as expected customs give me seven days to pay VRT.

Why are they asking for VRT to be paid?
AFAIK if you've been the registered keeper of the car up North for at least 6 months then you're exempt from paying VRT.
VRT would only need to be paid if the car is sold within 6 months / 1 year of the car being imported down here.

darsar

Armin_Tamzarian wrote: »

Why are they asking for VRT to be paid?
AFAIK if you've been the registered keeper of the car up North for at least 6 months then you're exempt from paying VRT.
VRT would only need to be paid if the car is sold within 6 months / 1 year of the car being imported down here.

I never said in OP so as to keep short as possible. Basicly, first year and a bit living there my mother lived up there too and it was bought and insured in her name. When she moved back to Republic a couple months ago everything was changed to me and then job went bust. I had a contract that ran for another two years so I never expected to be living here so soon..

R.O.R

darsar wrote: »

Re: fuel, woud you reckon a 1.8 petrol is costing much more than the 2.0 diesel. I know there's approx 10 cent at the pump but in mpg with the 120km return trip per day I do?

I have the same journey as you. 120km per day - all straight R Road or Motorway once I leave the estate.

In my 2.0i Petrol it costs €72 to fill the 55 litre tank and with easy driving I can get around 750km (6 days).

I haven't managed to do a full to empty tank run on a diesel, but based on the on board computer a 55 litre tank in a VAG diesel should return 1,200km (10 days) and cost €58.

4 weeks work in the Petrol (20 days) will cost €240. 4 weeks work in the diesel will cost €112.

Over a year that makes a difference of €1,356.

darsar

There is no way I could drive this journey for €112 after four weeks work. I'm spending at the very least €65-70 every 6 days and at very least €50 of this is the work journey.

-Chris-

darsar wrote: »

2005 Nissan Primera SVE 1.8 petrol costing me 3,000e after trade in, taxed until Feb 2011

2006 Opel Vectra Njoy 1.9 Diresel costing me 3,000e after trade in, tax approx 600e

2006 VW Passat 1.6 petrol costing me 6,700 after trade in, tax 445e

What I would like opinions on is

do you think I will spend more or less on petrol in a 1.8 than I did in my 2.0TDI considering straight drive?

I love the Passat the most but the extra 4,000e is alot to me and I am only half considering due to lower engine and the lovely appearance. What do you guys think? It would bring me right back up to a 20,000e loan!

For what you're thinking, I'd go for the Vectra out of that bunch, even if the Passat was the same price.

JHMEG

darsar wrote: »

2005 Nissan Primera SVE 1.8 petrol costing me 3,000e after trade in, taxed until Feb 2011

2006 Opel Vectra Njoy 1.9 Diresel costing me 3,000e after trade in, tax approx 600e

2006 VW Passat 1.6 petrol costing me 6,700 after trade in, tax 445e

That's not right. Does it even have electric windows in the back?

darsar

JHMEG wrote: »

That's not right. Does it even have electric windows in the back?

Why wouldn't it be right? The garage it's in was offering a good bit less trade from my own car so leaving me the make up the rest. The garage the other two cars are in are doing a reasonable price trade.

Im totally split here! Realistically I can't afford Passat so I looking at straight decision between Vectra and Primera.

Anybody know how Vectra's are for driving comfort and reliability?

JHMEG

darsar wrote: »

Why wouldn't it be right?

It's not right that at that price it's on your list. Passat hasn't much going for it, certainly nothing to justify that price, and there are literally millions of them in the country.

darsar

JHMEG wrote: »

and there are literally millions of them in the country.

So I have noticed! Every second car I have seen this weekend is s Passat 06 or 07! There was two of them parked outside the pub that shooting was in Friday night! I would have thought an 06 Passat priced at 12,500-12,995 was reasonable price?

-Chris-

If there's 4k in the difference then either the Passat is overpriced or your trade-in is undervalued. The end result is the same.