Where would you go next...

JoeA3 wrote: »

I think some people (myself included if I’m honest) just ultimately want the new car, the latest tech, the most modern interior, the newest/latest model available. Especially if spending big coin.

Without trying to sound condescending at all, I feel sorry for people that need those things in a car. I've realised that I'm completely happy with around about 2008 levels of interior and driving aids, which gives me so many more interesting options, for the same price as a brand new 1 series or GTI. On the other hand, if that's what you like, then that is the car experience for you, I suppose.

conor-w wrote: »

Without trying to sound condescending at all, I feel sorry for people that need those things in a car. I've realised that I'm completely happy with around about 2008 levels of interior and driving aids, which gives me so many more interesting options, for the same price as a brand new 1 series or GTI. On the other hand, if that's what you like, then that is the car experience for you, I suppose.

I'm missing rear camera or sensors, heated wing mirrors and heated seats in my Mark V. I'm looking into getting them done.

I retrofitted bluetooth stereo and cruise control and couldn't be without them.

Other than that, I'm good.

If everybody wanted the same things it would be very boring.
Personally I couldn’t live on a daily basis without some of the modern conveniences in newer cars.
Something like a lotus Elise would fill me with horror to have to face everyday.

Got similar offer to VW from Audi yesterday for my own against new S3. At least when there all more or less the same it gives a realistic value on the car.
By the way every garage is flat out busy with new orders. Both BMW and Audi say up fifty percent in pre orders on this time last year. The VW garage where I bought last gti said the car they have the most orders for is the new electric Id4 suv that nobody has ever driven.

What creature comforts or tech are in the new one that aren't in the old one? Genuine question

James Bond Junior wrote: »

What's a new S3 coming in at these days?

54650 euro before delivery and essential options.
Actually would suit those on here that say they can live without modern creature comforts as it is pretty sparse as standard.

James Bond Junior wrote: »

It's an Audi, they always are.. I had an SE A3 back a few years ago, climate control was as good as it got. Didn't even have a multi function display, crap considering it was a 2007 so not exactly hi tech at the time.

A new X6 landed on the family fleet back in Ireland this week, replacing a 2017 one. The new owner compared it to being more like the 7 series spec and interior quality wise, BMW reallu upped the ante.

Mercedes have really increased their level of standard spec aswell.

carsfan2 wrote: »

Here is an example of how the government is dictating our car choices and pushing us out of petrol/diesel.
Specced up two identical m sport 3 series in the dealer yesterday. 330d and 330e.
The 330e pre vat and vrt is actually 200 euro more expensive. After taxes and grants for the 330e it was 11k less expensive than the 330d.
Identical cars others than engine and I guess in the real world the 330e is probably not any cleaner from what I’ve read as how phev are not as green as people think.

No brainer really then. Instead of banning them outright they seem to be just phasing them out through taxation. Where does a 330e sit compared to a 320d in the price range? That's the real comparator as regards volume even if not exactly comparable for performance, 330d hasn't been a big seller recently anyway.

Edit: just went on configuration and 330e msport was 54000 and says you can get 7500 in vrt rebate and seai grant. You said yourself you got a quote for 45000. 330d is listed at 61,000

Is this not an even bigger gap than 11k...

If a 330e can be got for 45k euro here it makes it same price as in the Uk more or less. Listed 42k stg on bmw uk. Or would the dealer contributions over there bring it down?
If that's the case lads embrace it if we are getting cars same price as uk.

Buddy Bubs wrote: »

No brainer really then. Instead of banning them outright they seem to be just phasing them out through taxation. Where does a 330e sit compared to a 320d in the price range? That's the real comparator as regards volume even if not exactly comparable for performance, 330d hasn't been a big seller recently anyway.

Edit: just went on configuration and 330e msport was 54000 and says you can get 7500 in vrt rebate and seai grant. You said yourself you got a quote for 45000. 330d is listed at 61,000

Is this not an even bigger gap than 11k...

The configurator pre selects m sport plus pack for some reason. It’s actually a few grand cheaper as base m sport. The 2.5 k relief is gone but vrt halved from 14 to 7 per cent which was more than the 2.5 k so it’s gone down in price for 2021.
320d not a huge amount cheaper than 330d.
Edit configurator is correct now. Just take 5k off for 330e

The x30d were always traditionally more expensive here though, hence why they sold such small numbers until used UK models became more affordable. There was always about a 10k gap between them and the x20d variants here.

On a side note. The government taxation incentives on hybrids reminds me of the policies they had with diesels 12 years ago where the general consensus was the new stuff was better for the environment than your old car so the tax polices encouraged buying them. Fastforward a few years later and we know how that worked out, are they doing the same thing now with these hybrids? After all they still have a combustion engine under the bonnet and big batteries in the boot. Car manufacturers are sticking the word hybrid or mild hybrid on most of their model ranges now because lets face it the word hybrid has been drummed into us since dieselgate as kind of a cleaner alternative to diesel and cheaper alternative to full electric. Also

However the 330e does on paper looks like decent value with the tax incentives and that's probably the bottom line for most but I think the perception by some that the government pushing us away from diesel to hybrid with tax payer's money is a good thing is similar to 2008 imo to be honest. Role on 2030 and they will be telling us that actually those hybrids we bought, those batteries are the scourge of mother earth as is the petrol engine that charges them. Wash, rinse and repeat.

Surely for the environment - Hybrids are the worst of both worlds.

What's your verdict on the 330e carsfan? Driving and interior? Would you be tempted away from the hot hatch idea with one?

Wailin wrote: »

What's your verdict on the 330e carsfan? Driving and interior? Would you be tempted away from the hot hatch idea with one?

It’s a completely different proposition to the f30 model I had. A lot more sophisticated.Much quicker and smoother. Real Jekyll and Hyde character. Quiet and smooth in town but very quick and enjoyable on the open road. Standard adaptive suspension too so ride is good. Lots of tech.
Financially the numbers on the surface are better as best trade in offer, service pack, lowest tax and running costs.
The other contenders, the golf gti club sport is 55k on the road when you add the 19” wheels, heated seats and reverse camera which I want. A mark 8 golf doesn’t feel like a 55k car regardless of performance. I sat in the R line which would have similar interior and it just didn’t.
Audi S3 is base just under 55k but add paint, black pack, park sensors, heated seats folding mirrors and adaptive lights, ambient lighting it was 60k but the interior while not as good as previous Audi was still better than VW. It feels like worth more than 5k over golf.
Interestingly I got pcp figures even though unless it was zero per cent I have no interest in but the gmfv for golf is 22k but Audi is 20k. I’m guessing both would be closer to being worth 30k in three years but who knows?
I know it shouldn’t matter but the last golf gti I had attracted unwanted attention and a neighbour had his s3 stolen from the drive in 2018 so that kind of puts me off them a little.

carsfan2 wrote: »

It’s a completely different proposition to the f30 model I had. A lot more sophisticated.Much quicker and smoother. Real Jekyll and Hyde character. Quiet and smooth in town but very quick and enjoyable on the open road. Standard adaptive suspension too so ride is good. Lots of tech.
Financially the numbers on the surface are better as best trade in offer, service pack, lowest tax and running costs.
The other contenders, the golf gti club sport is 55k on the road when you add the 19” wheels, heated seats and reverse camera which I want. A mark 8 golf doesn’t feel like a 55k car regardless of performance. I sat in the R line which would have similar interior and it just didn’t.
Audi S3 is base just under 55k but add paint, black pack, park sensors, heated seats folding mirrors and adaptive lights, ambient lighting it was 60k but the interior while not as good as previous Audi was still better than VW. It feels like worth more than 5k over golf.
Interestingly I got pcp figures even though unless it was zero per cent I have no interest in but the gmfv for golf is 22k but Audi is 20k. I’m guessing both would be closer to being worth 30k in three years but who knows?
I know it shouldn’t matter but the last golf gti I had attracted unwanted attention and a neighbour had his s3 stolen from the drive in 2018 so that kind of puts me off them a little.

I've an S3/Mx40i in mind in 2022 but this worries me slightly too. Don't want to have some scumbag holding a kettle over me some night looking for the keys.

digiman wrote: »

Speced up an X5 45e this weekend with all the extras:
Tanzanite Blue
White Merino leather
Sunroof
Msport plus pack
Comfort plus pack
Technology pack
Surround cameras
Visibility pack

List price was €106k, €5k grant and €5k dealer reduction so €96k for a brand new one.

3 year PCP at 5.9% worked out at about €1200/month with a €10k deposit. The biggest surprise was the GMFV was €56k which is 58%, really shocked at that, didn’t expect it to be so high.

But the biggest problem with the PCP is that the interest was €12,600, they won’t seem to budge on that rate which is crazy high really.

I’m saying all that, pricing the same car on the UK website and it was coming in at £86,150 so it’s not bad price at all. For comparison the 30d in Ireland is €125k list price, pcp is 3.9% but the GMFV was down at just under €38k. Hard to see who is going to be buy a 30d while the VRT and rebate is in place for the 45e

You negotiate a 5k discount from the dealer on the car?

Guy I deal with told me they have no orders for diesel X5 as it is now so expensive. Glad we got ours this year. Would have gone hybrid except no seven seat option.
there is a shortage of stock apparently of phev's and they are not able to get as many x5 45e as they could sell he told me. They had one left that they were going to run as a demo but a customer rang and offered list price for it over the phone. They debated whether to sell it as they need a demo he said but took deposit in the end.