Downgrading from Audi TT please help.

Dazmus

Hi guys need a bit of help deciding on a decent 1.4 or 1.6, hatchback preferably. I've had my 02 Audi TT 225 (95k miles) rare enough colour combo (moro blue with white leather) for almost 2 years, I've had it remapped and a couple of other minor mods, drives like a dream but I've started college (4yrs) now and need to 1/2 my running costs.
So just need some advice on what would be the best way to go around downgrading or doing a swap? car is worth around 7.5k, what would I expect to get from a garage if I were to trade? cheers for reading

EPM

Firstly you'll lose out of this deal no matter what. Is using a bike or a bus for shorter journeys an option?

Sell the TT privately and buy with cash if at all possible

Dazmus

Ya I know I'm gonna loose out big time, I paid 10.5k for it with 88k ive only put 7kmiles on it since but really don't have a choice.
Are you suggesting I sell and take the bus which is an option, or keep onto it and take the bus. Its tax and insurance thats the killer, its not too bad on fuel but really need to half all 3.
Cheers

Swampy

Don't downgrade. You'll never forgive yourself.

rebel.ranter

I think the recommendation would be to avoid trading it in as you will be offered half what you think it is worth on a trade against another car in a garage. Better to advertise it in Donedeal, Carzone or whatever for a competitive price, say €6.5k to ensure a quick sale.
You would then be in a better position to buy a replacement smaller engine car.
The thing to remember when trading in a car is not what the garage are offering you for your car that is relevant, it is how much it is costing you to change. For example you could get offered €6k trade in value for your car against a car asking €10k, but the asking price is held artificially high (or bumped up) to give you the impression that you are getting a great deal for you car, say they bump it up to €11k. Your cost to change is €5k.

Take the other scenario, you sell your car privately for €6k, then you go to the garage to negotiate on that same €10k car, you could be able to get it for €9.5k buying without trade in, meaning your cost to change is €3.5k.

The other advantage is if you sell privately you have more options open to you for source of replacement cars, for example other private sales.

Dazmus

Ya I get you thanks for advice. I just wanted to avoid going down the long road. I'd be happy to trade for a volkswagon golf privately. When advertising the Audi in carzone would it do any harm to suggest that? Also the Audi tt's in donedeal seem to be a couple K cheaper then carzone any reason? cheers again!

EPM

They are cheaper because the prices on done deal are more realistic.

If you want to save money the long road will probably get you a grand extra at least

mickdw

Carzone most likely over priced. Still surely a 02 225 bhp TT is worth 7.5k? Very close to it at worst I would think.

Dazmus

Dazmus wrote: »

Ya I know I'm gonna loose out big time, I paid 10.5k for it with 88k ive only put 7kmiles on it since but really don't have a choice.
Are you suggesting I sell and take the bus which is an option, or keep onto it and take the bus. Its tax and insurance thats the killer, its not too bad on fuel but really need to half all 3.
Cheers

You did ok with that when you bought it, a friend paid €11K for a 2001 225 quattro less than 2 years ago with almost 130k miles on it. He was told it was a 1 owner car, turned out it had 1 onwner since it came into Ireland 5 or 6 years ago. Bumper paint started peeling off, turned off it was crashed and repainted badly, nothing structural damage wise but a bit of a sh1tter, he has nearly 140k miles on it now so he wouldn't see €6K for it unless a right tit came along.

BAck to yours, as they are not too bad on fuel or tax really (only 1.8) the only real saving will be on insurance so when you consider the sting you'll take selling it and getting something smaller engined you may well end up regretting it. If you won't save over €500 on insurance I reckon it's not worth it.

Dazmus

Lousy on your friend eh! But ya i worked out that if i brought insurance from 1k a year to 600 and fuel from 30 to 20 per wk and taxt from 550 to around 300, im on back to education which is 188 so its a big difference per wk. But thanks for all the advice I might put some ore thouight into it

Dazmus

Dazmus wrote: »

Lousy on your friend eh! But ya i worked out that if i brought insurance from 1k a year to 600 and fuel from 30 to 20 per wk and taxt from 550 to around 300, im on back to education which is 188 so its a big difference per wk. But thanks for all the advice I might put some ore thouight into it

In my opinion it's only worth it if you sell the TT for a decent price and buy a yoke for €2000 max to replace it.

My buddy is a bit of a poser and not too shrewd so 'twas no ones fault but his own, to put it in perspective I'm sure he still thinks he got a decent deal.

Oringina

I have a TT same situation high mileage but loads done to the car real head turner and its costing me a fortune to keep on the road, they only do about 25MPG max and the tax is mad money, I'm thinking of buying a 2008 2.2 diesel civic, the tax ix only €156 per year and it does 52MPG so I worked out that after the payments on my car if i changed to the civic and got another loan I'd still be saving about €300 a month on petrol, maintanance, tax and insurance!!! not a recession car, I'm goin back to college part time in sept too so need the money for the fees!!! I do love my TT though, very hard to part with for a normal car!!

Dazmus

Ya I dunno its a bit of a catch 22 situation eh! I could get a diesel and hate it yet save money. Even though TT's dont have the best rep, I've never had any problems except for front bairing, but im guessing if I change car it will break down every 2nd week and cost me more. How much you looking for your TT?

thirtythirty

Oringina wrote: »

I have a TT same situation high mileage but loads done to the car real head turner and its costing me a fortune to keep on the road, they only do about 25MPG max and the tax is mad money, I'm thinking of buying a 2008 2.2 diesel civic, the tax ix only €156 per year and it does 52MPG so I worked out that after the payments on my car if i changed to the civic and got another loan I'd still be saving about €300 a month on petrol, maintanance, tax and insurance!!! not a recession car, I'm goin back to college part time in sept too so need the money for the fees!!! I do love my TT though, very hard to part with for a normal car!!

You'll like the Civic - I just parted ways with an RX for one. V happy with it

dr.fuzzenstein

Don't buy a 1.4 Golf or Focus sized car, you'll be loosing your will to live within half an hour.

Oringina

Oringina wrote: »

they only do about 25MPG max and the tax is mad mone

€550/annum motor tax is hardly mad money now is it?

Oringina

Yea if i change I'll be getting something post 2008 in a low tax band, there 150k on the clock and 99 but same never any problems I need a part for the exhaust at the moment that I'll probably get end of the month and its so great in the snow with 4 wheel drive it was a blessing the last 2 winters, I haven't done anything about selling it yet but would probably try get in the 4k price region, has a full body kit, porche alloys, dvd player, full leather etc etc, or else scrappage, its a pain in the ar*se though trying to work out whats best to do!!!

Oringina

tax is expensive when you consider you can tax a 5 series BMW for €150 if its post 2008!!!

mickdw

Oringina wrote: »

tax is expensive when you consider you can tax a 5 series BMW for €150 if its post 2008!!!

Now I am usually one to argue in favour of buying 08 onwards for the tax benefits & healthier resale due to tax etc but to state that the tax is mad on a 1.8 TT is just silly. For what you get (powerwise), it is one of the most tax 'efficient' cars of its time. If you are considering going to college, it is not going to make sense to get an 08 car anyway.

I had a 00 180 bhp TT. Great car, never a bother with it & ran it for 2 years from 06 to 08 for less than 4k depreciation total. Cheapest car Ive ever had to own.

Oringina

Oringina wrote: »

tax is expensive when you consider you can tax a 5 series BMW for €150 if its post 2008!!!

Weight up the price of tax against the cost to change to a post 08 car and I think you'll find the €550/year tax the cheaper option

Oringina

I was able to afford the car before the recession but got made redundant n working for half nothing at the min so between the petrol, tax, tyres, insurance bla bla bla just can't afford it any more need something more efficient. goin to college part time so will still be working but big fees!!
But do love the car it will be a sad day if i part with it!!! (

Can't afford to run a 1.8TT but can afford to buy a post 08 car? Unless you plan on buying a super mini I can't really get my head around that.

Oringina

ok heres the situation, still have a year left on the TT loan, it will be worth nothing in a year. Apart from the loan it costs about €300 a month to run, If i change and up grade I'll be saving half that at least per month and have a newer car less mileage more efficient etc etc (obviously be paying off the newer car but will work out the same or less per month for the loan) so i'll be saving over all!!

Oringina

Well, surely whatever you replace it with will cost €150/month to run minimum, ie half the TT running costs. So if it costs you anymore than €150/month to finance getting it you'll be saving nothing. Of course, the main thing is that I reckon you like the idea of

Oringina wrote: »

..........have a newer car ..............

Just for the craic, what sort of stuff are you considering replacing it with?

Oringina

I don't think you understood the point, I am paying a loan on the TT at the min and the costs I mentioned are apart from the finance I'm already paying, so the repayments will stay the same if i get a newer car and the running costs will go down just means I will be adding a few years on to refinance.
have been looking at the likes of a civic as per the previous threads!!
What du drive yourself?

Zubeneschamali

But in a year, you'll own the TT, no more finance costs!

Oringina

in a year it will be 13 years old and have 160/ 170k on the clock!!!! and I'll still have to change it anyway after spending another year running it and keeping it on the road and won't be able to sell it!!

Zubeneschamali

Oringina wrote: »

I'll still have to change it anyway

eh, why?

Oringina

Oringina wrote: »

I don't think you understood the point, I am paying a loan on the TT at the min and the costs I mentioned are apart from the finance I'm already paying, so the repayments will stay the same if i get a newer car and the running costs will go down just means I will be adding a few years on to refinance.
have been looking at the likes of a civic as per the previous threads!!
What du drive yourself?

I do understand, to save €150 max a month on running costs you are going to add €300/month finance onto yourself for a few more years. lol at the "just"

I drive a 2002 MG ZT at the moment, €1000 ish/annum to tax as I only tax it 3 months at a time (she could be for sale tomorrow if I bought something I fancied), €60/week petrol @ 20mpg, insurance is about €500/€600 (I'm 30 with full NCB and no points), I do oil changes and basic stuff mysef, she got a set of tyres for €500 and a battery over Christmas for €125. Paid €2250 for it 6 months ago, I reckon all in it's saving me money compared to buying a post 2008 cheap to tax car

Oringina

as per previous post!!!!! the whole point of this conversation is that its costing me too much to run at the moment!!!

Oringina

Oringina wrote: »

in a year it will be 13 years old and have 160/ 170k on the clock!!!! and I'll still have to change it anyway after spending another year running it and keeping it on the road and won't be able to sell it!!

You reckon it's worth €4K now but next year it will be unsellable?
If you want a new car just buy one but your logic for doing so doesn't add up at all.

Oringina

Oringina wrote: »

as per previous post!!!!! the whole point of this conversation is that its costing me too much to run at the moment!!!

So you'll save €150/month for the next year by getting rid. If you keep it you'll be saving that €150 a month for however long it lasts as in 12 months you won't have any more finance payment if you keep it.

If you actually want to save cut down your motoring costs by a late 90s Corolla in good nick.

Zubeneschamali

Oringina wrote: »

the whole point of this conversation is that its costing me too much to run at the moment!!!

But your finance costs are part of the cost to run it and they stop in a year, so the cost to run the TT is going to drop by whatever you are paying in finance. What's that, €250 a month or something?

I think if you do all the sums, total cost of ownership including depreciation and finance divided by total number of months you'd finance the new purchase over, that you'll find you end up saving buttons to be in a much worse car.

mickdw

It seems like you just want a new car. Only when its gone will you realise how good the TT is. I can speak from experience. You will find it hard to go to 2 wheel drive again too.

Just Keep it. I never found it very expensive to run. If you hang out at the dealer if would cost you a fortune but service items and most parts are similar to golf etc & readily available at motor factors. Only petrol & marginally more expensive tyres would be additional costs over any other car. If I was you, I would fund these additional costs for the next year in the knowledge that after 1 year, the finance is finished.
Alternatively, get a similarily priced very cheap to run car for the untimate saving.

Zubeneschamali

mickdw wrote: »

It seems like you just want a new car.

Mind you, nothing wrong with wanting a new car. No-one's saying you shouldn't buy a new car if you want and can afford one.

The reason I think you should do more sums is because:

a) I think you'll hate a diesel hatchback after the TT and

b) You won't save much, if any, money.