Where would you go next...

I love estates and the 3 series touring looks mint. Can’t understand why so many people opt for soft roaders when such superior estate car options are available for a lot less cash

Congrats carsfan2, it looks a beauty.

Buddy Bubs wrote: »

Lovely 330e. I assume there's little or no negative effect on the boot being a touring?

Boot floor is raised slightly to accommodate batteries but to be honest you don’t buy any 3 series touring if ultimate space is your priority. In practice it won’t be an issue for me. There is some loss of space over regular models but not enough to make a difference to me. I like the convenience of a hatch over a saloon and prefer the looks.

carsfan2 wrote: »

Cheers.
The red brake callipers are available as part of the m sport pro pack. They are a relatively new addition to the options and I only spotted them while playing on the configurator. They’re about 350 extra but I asked the dealer to include them to seal the deal which they did.
I thought briefly about going x drive but don’t really need it and only adds weight and less efficiency plus we have this on the other car if conditions require.
The seai grant is going in July on PHEV cars like mine that have a pre grant price over 60k so in theory will be 5k more expensive to buy.
Edit
Did I see on another thread that you’ve ordered a VW id4

Yeah, went for an id4 for my other half. Very nice family car, really nice to drive, looking forward to getting it, probably be July at this stage.

Have you a link to the SEAI grant going? Hadn’t realised that and was most likely gonna get a phev for myself so that would definitely put a bit of urgency into my decision. As we have been managing fine with one car for now, but will need a 2nd one again in the summer as I go back to the office hopefully.

Casati wrote: »

I love estates and the 3 series touring looks mint. Can’t understand why so many people opt for soft roaders when such superior estate car options are available for a lot less cash

This 100%

I see on that fully electric cars over 60k lose the grant too.
Good old Irish begrudgery I’d say in the department of finance “Why should Porsche taycan drivers get a subsidy when I can’t afford one?”

This is probably the thin end of the wedge and all the financial buying incentives to go electric/hybrid will be removed by government I reckon.
If incentives were the carrot, now they will resort to the stick by ramping up further, the vrt on combustion engine cars in the manner they already have.
Once most start opting for electric they will have worked out a way to get more annual motor tax out of these people. In the end owning an electric car will probably be as costly as running a combustion vehicle has been in the past as government needs the money.

Took my car out last night to try the laser lights. Unbelievable light spread and brightness. I had the matrix beam led on the 5series which were great but these are incredible.

Im helping parents with getting new car.
They are moving out of passat and want to get something higher for getting in and out of.
They will buy new or slightly used.
Budget 35k max.
Staying with vw - tiguan looks mad expensive while the smaller vw offerings are out.
Kia sportage is long in the tooth so i dont think its a sensible buy.
New tucson they dont like the look of.

They currently have radar cruise, self parking, heated seats and steering, keyless etc in passat.

Whats the best of the current crop in this price range.
They want diesel but really dont need it.

carsfan2 wrote: »

I see on that fully electric cars over 60k lose the grant too.
Good old Irish begrudgery I’d say in the department of finance “Why should Porsche taycan drivers get a subsidy when I can’t afford one?”

I'm sorry, but it's ridiculous that taxpayers' money is being used to subsidise very wealthy people (which you've got to be if you can afford a Taycan) to engage in middle class virtue signalling. In a world where so many people have lost their jobs, or had their hours reduced because of Covid, the last thing we should be doing is giving massive handouts to those least affected by the pandemic. I say this as someone who's not lost his job and saved a not inconsiderable amount of money because thanks to the pandemic there's nowhere for me to spend it - so I'm very conscious of how lucky I have been in the past year on that front.

Not that I want to buy a brand new car (let alone an EV) of course, but if I did, I think it's outrageous that someone in my middle class job (which is pretty much as recession proof as you can find) should get another €5k from the hard pressed taxpayer for buying a very expensive new car. If anything, people like me should be paying more tax and having these little loopholes closed down to give a leg up to all the people who've lost their jobs, had their hours cut, pay cut, whatever it is that Covid has impacted on other peoples' finances in a way it just hasn't for me.

I'm delighted the limits and grants are being reduced. It was always going to happen once enough people started buying them anyway. One thing that is guaranteed even in a world of low or zero emissions vehicles - motoring will not get one cent cheaper, the motorist has always been a cash cow, and will always continue to be.

Aside from that, congrats on your recent purchase, looks absolutely stunning! When I see cars like this, I really can't understand why so many feel the need to buy an SUV - when a car like this will do everything they do, but be faster, more economical, cheaper to buy, handle better, weigh less, be more comfortable and cheaper to run all thrown into the bargain.

Leonard Hofstadter wrote: »

I'm sorry, but it's ridiculous that taxpayers' money is being used to subsidise very wealthy people (which you've got to be if you can afford a Taycan) to engage in middle class virtue signalling. In a world where so many people have lost their jobs, or had their hours reduced because of Covid, the last thing we should be doing is giving massive handouts to those least affected by the pandemic. I say this as someone who's not lost his job and saved a not inconsiderable amount of money because thanks to the pandemic there's nowhere for me to spend it - so I'm very conscious of how lucky I have been in the past year on that front.

I'm delighted the limits and grants are being reduced. It was always going to happen once enough people started buying them anyway. One thing that is guaranteed even in a world of low or zero emissions vehicles - motoring will not get one cent cheaper, the motorist has always been a cash cow, and will always continue to be.

Aside from that, congrats on your recent purchase, looks absolutely stunning! When I see cars like this, I really can't understand why so many feel the need to buy an SUV - when a car like this will do everything they do, but be faster, more economical, cheaper to buy, handle better, weigh less, be more comfortable and cheaper to run all thrown into the bargain.

But tax payers money isnt being used to subsidise these cars. The price of the new car is made up of a huge chunk of tax, far in excess of the 5k reduction.
In reality, its a lower tax take on the ev which would appear to be in line with green thinking. The purchaser is still contributing tax by buying, the opposite of a grant really.

mickdw wrote: »

Im helping parents with getting new car.
They are moving out of passat and want to get something higher for getting in and out of.
They will buy new or slightly used.
Budget 35k max.
Staying with vw - tiguan looks mad expensive while the smaller vw offerings are out.
Kia sportage is long in the tooth so i dont think its a sensible buy.
New tucson they dont like the look of.

They currently have radar cruise, self parking, heated seats and steering, keyless etc in passat.

Whats the best of the current crop in this price range.
They want diesel but really dont need it.

Kia Niro plug in hybrid?
Seems to have all the kit except maybe the heated steering wheel, excellent warranty and very cheap to run apparently.

It’s a few quid more but would the ID4 work for them if they’re doing small miles? Maybe a demo in a few months might be close on budget.

mickdw wrote: »

Ya i was showing them the formentor but i dont know if it would suit.
They wont go full ev. I cant persuade them to go phev either.
They had diesel but dont need diesel. They have only 85k km on 2016 passat since new.
They will go to 1 year old - that might open up some further options.

Why won’t they go Tiguan if already in a VW?
Seems the obvious choice.