I've owned an 07 octavia vrs pd170 in black for about a year and a half.

It's a very good car, massive boot loads of room in the passenger area, comfy, quiet, cheap to run and quick now I've had DPF/EGR delete and a re-map. It really is as close to perfect for my needs that I'm going to get.

So why do I spend all my days looking at other cars on the autotrader?

Currently occupying my thoughts is a Renaultsport Megane 230 F1 dealer team R26 and a couple of Ford Focus ST's

Both of these cars would cost more to run and wouldn't be as good at the important daily stuff that my skoda does.

I also still owe more on my Skoda than its worth in PX.

What can I do to make the skoda appeal more?

Should I lower it/space the rear wheels etc or is that just throwing money at a car that ultimately I still won't want?

This is why I would never ever buy a car in finance

I've owned an 07 octavia vrs pd170 in black for about a year and a half.

It's a very good car, massive boot loads of room in the passenger area, comfy, quiet, cheap to run and quick now I've had DPF/EGR delete and a re-map. It really is as close to perfect for my needs that I'm going to get.

So why do I spend all my days looking at other cars on the autotrader?

Currently occupying my thoughts is a Renaultsport Megane 230 F1 dealer team R26 and a couple of Ford Focus ST's

Both of these cars would cost more to run and wouldn't be as good at the important daily stuff that my skoda does.

I also still owe more on my Skoda than its worth in PX.

What can I do to make the skoda appeal more?

Should I lower it/space the rear wheels etc or is that just throwing money at a car that ultimately I still won't want?

I'm the same. Love my vRS but am always looking and thinking about changing, and probably always will be!

BUT, I always end up realising I've already got the best car for my wants & needs .....

.... for now at least!!

This is why I would never ever buy a car in finance

How do you pay for your cars then? This is the 1st time I've not bought outright but before now the most I'd spent on a car was 2k. I suppose part of the problem is I'm that used to changing cars often.

Chasing the impossible dream...

You could try a diesel to petrol swap with a Skoda dealer, or find someone to buy yours privately.

I went through this with both my previous Skodas (an Octy estate L&K and a Superb Greenline), but I asked again a few months later and the situation had changed, I was offered a better deal.

It could be worth asking a few dealers, maybe a broker, or even seeing if they can take yours in PX, which won't clear the finance, but adding the remainder to whatever you buy may not see an increase in monthly payments.

Or win the lottery...

There will always be something that you perceive to be better than one you currently own. Im on about my 15th car so far.

I would personally avoid the renault at all costs unless you fancy getting real friendly with their service department and

enjoy warning lights on the dashboard every week. (For my sins i have owned 5 sporty clio's, one R5 & an espace). All lovely

cars when working. I have toyed with Audi's, Seats, Nissans and VW and the last 3 cars i have bought have all be

Skoda Octavia VRS's I think that speaks volumes. Its only when you start looking to buy another car seriously that you realise

that for the money there is very little else that ticks the same boxes. My current ideal car is the Audi A5 3.0. tdi. I nearly bought one

second hand but then backed out and got the new blackline for a lot less money. I still find my self worryingly drueling over an

A5 on autotrader but the sensible part of my brain knows i made the right move and financially im not screwed.

Mate of mine and I were looking at Autotrader yesterday. He's single, has about 15k to spend and only does about 5k miles a year.

He's after a powerful petrol saloon ideally. We were looking at Superb 3.6 4x4s. Quite pricey, as he wanted an estate due to his perception that the hatch looks odd at the back - I agree. But lots of car for the money.

But then we then looked at Passat CC R36s. We found one in silver, 10 plate, 40k miles with ALL the toys.

0-60, 5.6 secs. 4WD. Under 14k at a stealer! How tempting is that if you like VAG products and don't do too many miles!!

Ooh, and that's a niiiiiice looking car as well!

Would a 3.2l Quattro SE not be a similar price? Cheaper to buy brand new than this, and only slightly less powerful, but don't know what the resale value is comparitively.

Edited 8 November, 201213 yr by blackspaven

How do I pay for my cars cash ... Save up and live within my means never chase a debt .. Last car was 4.5k ... My superb was 2k my BMW k1200r was 6.5k ... Always cash and outright. Yeah maby I don't have the newest nicest cars etc but if I sell it tomorrow it's all my money and I ain't driving a car that if I sell it I'm still paying for ...

Ooh, and that's a niiiiiice looking car as well!

Would a 3.2l Quattro SE not be a similar price? Cheaper to buy brand new than this, and only slightly less powerful, but don't know what the resale value is comparitively.

Audis about 17-18k in comparison. Have only had a quick look though.

(@OP - sorry for the thread hyjack)

Edited 8 November, 201213 yr by dunc69

I usually get bored around 2 years in, at the minute I'm not bored of the cupra 40 months in, but the firm suspension and and that it's 51/2 years old mean I'm toying with something newer. I like the vaf 2.0 petrol or the 1.8, so I can either get a 4 year old a4, a 2 year old vrs or a 6month 1.8 for my max budget of 12k

How do I pay for my cars cash ... Save up and live within my means never chase a debt .. Last car was 4.5k ... My superb was 2k my BMW k1200r was 6.5k ... Always cash and outright. Yeah maby I don't have the newest nicest cars etc but if I sell it tomorrow it's all my money and I ain't driving a car that if I sell it I'm still paying for ...

No mortgage then?

A car is often the second most expensive thing you'll buy in life, it's acceptable to buy a house with a 25 year loan, a £10K loan over a few years to pay for a car isn't exactly living outside of your means.

Exactly, seems Welsh is a dreamer.

R36 Estate too my fancy big time

BMW 335i an M3 without the silly body kit a wolf in sheeps clothing!

I found my est a real wallowy dog and I really regretted swapping from my 1U. It now has Whiteline Rarb, Superpro front bushes - the ones similar to WALK bushes, I also had a 4 wheel alignment.

Having had proper brake fade traversing the alps, I also upgraded the brakes, I sourced some new (106 miles only) 312 hubs, discs, calipers, pads and lines from ebay, this meant I needed new struts, unfortunately, time and wallet dictated standard replacements. After two years they are getting soggy again and will be replaced with Bilsteins hopefully - hoping for improvements in both ride AND control.

Now stops and handles to my requirements, ie you can drive through a bumpy French bend and not stop for new knickers. You can make progress without having to thrash the gutless 105hp engine, just maintain corner speed. It has 17" alloys and the Hankook v2 evo's have surprised me with their grip, handling, quietness and wear.

Not perfect but good enough to be entertaining when necessary.

Several others on here have done some, all or more than the above. Seems to work.

Cost all in, was about £700, includes a major service, and cam belt. Oh, the alignment was separate, circa £60, they changed rear camber too as well as centralising the steering wheel.

I don't drive on a circuit, just real world, often quite bumpy roads, I like comfort too much to lower the car, and having smashed one sump while in France, don't wish to go through that hassle again. I fact I occasionally wish I had more ground clearance.

Or get a motorbike, doesn't need to be exotic, a decent secondhand 600cc sport will stomp everything this side of super cars, and give you more thrills than you can shake a stick at. Or a 10 yr old Hyabusa (never thrashed - where can you do 190mph? faster than EVERYTHING to 100) for a couple of grand.

Most fun bike I have ever had was a 1937 BSA M20, girder forks, rigid rear, about 15 hp and most smiles per mile. No tax, cheap insurance, cheap spares and maintenance, no danger of speeding, or getting in over your head. 80mpg. You'll be going barely faster than a cyclist, so no expensive leathers. What's not to like?

I'm a dreamer ? No just would never buy a car in finance I would hate the thought I'm still paying off for example 12k left of 15k and the cars actually only worth 10k

And to add to above a 10 year old bussa won't do 190 standard .. And a zx12r out accelerates it to 150

No mortgage then?

A car is often the second most expensive thing you'll buy in life, it's acceptable to buy a house with a 25 year loan, a £10K loan over a few years to pay for a car isn't exactly living outside of your means.

I only earn 28k and have a single person mortgage but I could afford that, so it's not unheard of.

And to add to above a 10 year old bussa won't do 190 standard .. And a zx12r out accelerates it to 150

Oh dear, my argument crumbles to dust!

How do I pay for my cars cash ... Save up and live within my means never chase a debt ..

Fair play to you but I don't do that. I have and I've driven around in sheds for years. This is the first car I've financed. I thought since I have a mortgage, credit card, bank loan and hp on my kitchen one more payment a month wouldn't make much difference. (And it doesn't) I think that as long as I can comfortably afford the payments and also the other things in life then I am 'living within my means'

I've decided that a silly car is silly I don't drive for enjoyment anymore so a hot hatch that does 20mpg is possibly the worst idea I've had. I'll stick with my octavia and tidy it up (wife's run it down a bollard and the wheels are curbed) and probably also mildly improve it. I'm thinking h&r cup kit, spacers, colour-code the grille and maybe upgrade the brakes.

Hot hatches / toys are fun but I guess with the current fuel prices etc that there just weekend toys like my Lwt tdi . 22mpg and 189£ a tyre etc just a Sunday mud toy superb does 2x the mpg and 2x the comfort etc

I'm a dreamer ? No just would never buy a car in finance I would hate the thought I'm still paying off for example 12k left of 15k and the cars actually only worth 10k

If you'd paid cash for a car there is always the chance that, sometime in the future, you may need the money that you've ploughed into it. If you had financed it then you may still have some cash spare.

I know that in a perfect world we'd all be millionaires with no mortgages or debt and would be able to buy our toys without worrying about it but unfortunately most people just get by month to month, so as someone has already said as long as you can manage the extra cost of the monthly payment then why not have something nice to drive instead of some old banger.

Why's this turned into an arguement about how to pay for cars? It was originally about me being too stupid to realise what I want/need in a car.

To test if you can afford the payments, put the amount of money into an inconvenient savings account the day after pay day for 3 months (inconvenient so you can get to it if you really need to, but it's not as easy as walking up to a cash point) - then you'll know how much not having that money hurts.

At the end of the three months - either you have an extra amount to put down on the car or you have some cash to get a treat for you and yours ... or you might not get the car but you like the security that having the money in reserve gives you *shrug*.

Myself, I'm not that bothered about the aesthetics of the car from the outside ... I don't really look at it apart from when it needs cleaning, I'm interested in that it's good to drive and not too expensive to run (and has a nice wireless - sad git!)

Why's this turned into an arguement about how to pay for cars? It was originally about me being too stupid to realise what I want/need in a car.

Fair point. So to answer your op I'd say bin the Octy (as you don't really like it) and get something you do like!