Hello!

I'm interested in trading my mini in for a new vrs and I'm due to test drive one tomorrow aft. Should I be trying to haggle for a discount on top of the vat discount or is that as good as it gets? Also what APR should I be expecting from them?

Many thanks!

im still to order a VRS yet, but am very interested. the best deal i have seen in 22% off instead of the 20% off alone, from allelectric.co.uk, the 22% is off the base price and any optional extras that you choice to include.

Would be interesting if any1 else has any better offers?

Cheer max

Hello!

I'm interested in trading my mini in for a new vrs and I'm due to test drive one tomorrow aft. Should I be trying to haggle for a discount on top of the vat discount or is that as good as it gets? Also what APR should I be expecting from them?

Many thanks!

Hi Ding,

vRS is very nice, though not sure it's got quite the premium feel of a Mini; no doubt more practical however especially the estate. What Mini do you currently have?

I wouldnt bother haggling for a discount. Basically what happens is the dealer sells you the car at effectively its basic price, Skoda then bung the garage the margin that they've otherwise lost. Theres no room to scope a deal, still 20% on the car and options is very good.

Only way you get the discount is by going for one of Skoda's finance packages (sold by Volkswagen Financial Services), think the APR is something like 7.1? Cant remember off the top of my head but all in all a reasonable deal.

One thing I will say is that the car is extremely well spec'd as standard, I would go for as bigger saving as possible and not go silly with the options. It's all personal preference but I dont think a car of this calibre really warrants big car options like Climate and Sat Nav, i'd keep it straightforward and keep options to must haves in order to get the biggest saving. For me these were wheel upgrade, parking sensors (wife insisted as its her everyday drive) and electric rear windows (young children will be frequenting the rear seats). Even went white to save some money, bonus is it looks great in white too.

Also just to forewarn you there is a huge wait on these too, all factory orders. We ordered ours on 30th Jan and are still waiting for a build date. Looks like its going to be 3-4 months minimum before its built.

Edited 15 February, 201115 yr by pipsyp

Thanks for that pipsyp!

I have a 53 plate mini cooper s works. I now have a six year old and I need something a little bigger with better all round economy.

I agree with your view on the spec. There's not much i really want to add apart from different wheels. I love it in White too,its a real bonus that it's at no extra cost.

Just hope I enjoy driving it tomorrow. I interstand it won't have the same poke as the works mini but I'm hoping it still flys.

If you're handy with the gear in a Cooper S, then I don't think you'll like the vRS. Mini's handling is just crazy because of the low centre of gravity so even though the vRS has good handling, won't beat the Cooper S. That said, you'll notice a better ride than the mini. I say handy with the gears because to beat a vRS for speed you'll have to be.

Not sure if you're referring to JCW in last part of your post, but yeh, vRS won't touch a JCW for speed or handling. But then JCW is twice the price.

Options is personal preference, so leave that up to you. Just don't get sucked into to buying loads of options because the price has gone lower due to VAT

Edited 15 February, 201115 yr by Reavenger

The wife had a cooper S clubman (stage 1 remap) so not a JCW but similar power. Loved it, and ill tell you now the fabia wont be as good by a country mile. However the mini, even the clubman has a minuscule boot.

Im into powerful cars with very sporty handling. So ill be remapping and improving the handling to get it like i want it, i think its got alot of potential which is why i bought it. then it will be a better all round car. the vRS is is aimed more at the cooper S rather than the cooper S works.

This months evo magazine pits the Polo GTI against the Clio 200, DS3R, Mini Cooper S JCW and Corsa VXR.

Same engine/chassis as the polo so should be similar in performance as well

Its the least powerful by between 11-30Hp yet it still stayed close enough to them. and up until 90 only the mini and DS3R get ahead of it. so they should with a 30hp advantage

they say that it will do those times consistently all day long. Whereas with the others being manual its more than likely that you wont be able to pull it off everytime.

Imagine what it would be like with a stage 1 remap on the TSI when they are running at 220HP.

Guys are getting sub 13.5 seconds with just stage 1 at santa pod. thats quicker than a focus RS by half a second. There also guys who regularly hit 5 seconds 0-60 at GTI international with proper testing equipment.

lots of potential.

I read lots of posts from people saying they were shocked at the acceleration and its a wolf on sheeps clothing. I was interested in a rs200 Clio non cup but the poor economy and the bargain price of the vrs is pushing me more towards the skoda dealership.

it all depends what you have come from. Alot of guys on here think it is reallyquick, i wasnt bowled away at all by the performance. It is nippy though.

FWIW the clio200 is gutless midrange, but quick when really redlined everywhere. the mini JCW has V.Good mid range grunt which is lacking in the fabia. Get it mapped and dont look back is what i say. :yes:

What's the situation with the dsg gearbox once it's remapped? Can it cope with the extra bhp?

What's the situation with the dsg gearbox once it's remapped? Can it cope with the extra bhp?

yes. Most of the talk about it not being able to cope is from the forums from people speculating. Alot of the tuners like APR, and REVO who have HUGE R&D budgets etc have done their research and released many posts (ive linked quite a few on here) rubbishing the claims, VAG always over engineer their kit on every platform.

When the DSG6 was released on the golf all the forums were littered with people who thought it was weak and made of chocolate lol, yet guys have been happily running 300-500hp through it with no issues for years.

Lots of guys on seatcupranet running stage 1 maps. Some guys have even fitted hybrid turbos and stage 3 maps with no issues.

" made of chocolate" haha!

So does it void the warranty remapping? I'm new to the remap world to be honest.

" made of chocolate" haha!

So does it void the warranty remapping? I'm new to the remap world to be honest.

I think I previously read it only voids the warranty on the parts which are directly related to and including the engine and transmission.

it will only void on a fault directly related to the remap. so engine/gearbox. Everything else will be covered unless you fiddle with them as well.

This is what you will get with a stage 1 map. stage 2 is still in develpment, due to be released March 1st

Thanks for that pipsyp!

I have a 53 plate mini cooper s works. I now have a six year old and I need something a little bigger with better all round economy.

I agree with your view on the spec. There's not much i really want to add apart from different wheels. I love it in White too,its a real bonus that it's at no extra cost.

Just hope I enjoy driving it tomorrow. I interstand it won't have the same poke as the works mini but I'm hoping it still flys.

Understood, shame though as the S Works is some car! I've always hankered after a Cooper S but lack of a proper boot has always stopped the dream!

I personally think wheels are really the only must have option. The standard ones are too plain. I went dark chrome in the end, love the black painted + diamond cut finish though no doubt will be a pig to refurb if they ever get kerbed...never mind worry about that when we get to it (hopefully never!). Almost opted for black but the wife thought they were too pimp my ride. Dont like the white ones.....just seem even blander than the normal ones.

I think you'll like it, at the end of the day its a fairly cheap (albeit well built) supermini on steroid, not the premium product you drive now. They do drive really well but it probably wont be in quite the same league as an S works. Less frenetic but still fun and I can confirm they are bloody quick, DSG is nice too and v practical, a great all rounder I think.

The mrs has just seen a White vrs and thinks it's a boy racer mobile!?!?

The VRS will be my first super mini, and i am really looking forward to it. On a value for money basis, and especially with the 20% off through Skoda picking up the VAT it really is a steal. Personally i like the white wheels, but then i believe it is throw back to the Peugeot Rallye's, but with everyone, it really is a matter of personal choice.

The only drawback is the wait. However, the exact colour i want (race blue, white roof and wheels) is currently sat in my local dealers showroom, and they have offered this to me at a real steal of a price (i think they must have made a mistake or really need to get rid of the car as it is not everyones choice). The one real option i wanted was cruise control for the journey to/from work, and they have been able to fit this. So rather than having to wait until May or June, i get to pick it up on the 2nd March.

As to performance, when i test drove a VRS i found it very responsive, kept it on the country lanes and was suitably impressed, the DSG box kickdown so smoothly when required which made passing vehicles an absolute dodle. I just know i am going to seriously enjoy this car.

Best of luck with yours, Jerry

Edited 15 February, 201115 yr by JerryT

Hello!

I'm interested in trading my mini in for a new vrs and I'm due to test drive one tomorrow aft. Should I be trying to haggle for a discount on top of the vat discount or is that as good as it gets? Also what APR should I be expecting from them?

Many thanks!

i ordered my vrs on saturday from citygate skoda, in colindale. After a lot of shopping around this was my best price:

With all the extras i wanted the (-vat) price come up to £14950

We did the deal at £14229

so thats a saving of £721 after the 20% off,

the apr over 3 years is @ 2.25 %

im putting down £2229 leaving a total of £12000 to pay, thats only £12818 including interest,

i told the manager what i wanted over the phone and he come back with a price, then on the day of signing i got him to add electric back windows and mot for life in with the deal,

think i did ok for myself! good luck! only bad thing is now i have to wait 5months to drive it!

That's a really good deal! Is that APR on hp or pcp?

That's a really good deal! Is that APR on hp or pcp?

hire purchase, standard from skoda finance,

it is good... I'm on 6%! :'(

i would def be looking for the same kind of deal,

just tell them you've had a quote, and can they match it!

also when they give you a price for the part exchange tell them you wanted more, then get them to add some extras to compensate,

I think in the end we managed to wangle £300 off (after the 20%), plus 3 yrs servicing and discounted paint/interior protection.

It's hard to figure out once the deal's done... they really do their best to confuse you with the numbers!

We did originally go for finance and then changed our minds, so don't know if that had a bearing on how much of a discount they were willing to offer.

Just had my test drive. Was impressed with the dsg and the power. The bad points were I felt too high up and the interior was a tad dull compared to the mini. Once it came to haggling there was nothing after the 20% at all. Im going to have a longer test drive at the weekend so I can have a better look at it.

Just had my test drive. Was impressed with the dsg and the power. The bad points were I felt too high up and the interior was a tad dull compared to the mini. Once it came to haggling there was nothing after the 20% at all. Im going to have a longer test drive at the weekend so I can have a better look at it.

Ring a couple of other franchises and see if they'd like the business instead.

Also make a point of having a grumble about the long waiting times....

Just had my test drive. Was impressed with the dsg and the power. The bad points were I felt too high up and the interior was a tad dull compared to the mini. Once it came to haggling there was nothing after the 20% at all. Im going to have a longer test drive at the weekend so I can have a better look at it.

But you always have to consider what a new Cooper S JCW (22-27k)costs compared to the Fabia vRS (£13.6k)