I'm trying to compare the total cost of ownership over three years of a new Octavia vRS Petrol vs keeping my current Alfa 159 3.2 Q4.

 

Can anyone help me refine these costs / assumptions about the vRS? I'm confident the Alfa figures are correct as I have owned the car for 3 years (I must admit I was surprised at how much it came to!)

 

Fuel - 10,000 miles per year, petrol at £1.37 / litre

 

Alfa: 21mpg - £8,883

vRS: 35 mpg - £5331.27 - is this realistic?

 

Insurance:

 

Alfa : £2,250

vRS: £1,050

 

Tax:

 

Alfa: £1,470

vRS: £280 (first year free)

 

Servicing / consumables: 

 

Alfa: £4,500

vRS: ?

 

Depreciation:

 

Alfa: £4,000

vRS: £14,000

 

Total cost over 3 years:

 

Alfa: £21,103

vRS: 

 

Many thanks in advance!

 

 

 

 

its just 1 service a year isnt it? £250 according to my mk2 vrs tdi

Crikey, what's the £4,500 for servicing/consumables for the Alfa for?!?  If it's to mend broken bits, excuding wear & tear items, would an aftermarket warranty bring this cost down?

Crikey, what's the £4,500 for servicing/consumables for the Alfa for?!?  If it's to mend broken bits, excuding wear & tear items, would an aftermarket warranty bring this cost down?

Because it's an Alfa.

 

Goes wrong when it wants to..... Strange given the normally legendary Italian electric reliability...oh, hang on, maybe got that bit wrong.

Servicing usually comes to about £500, I also do 6 monthly oil changes at £100, tyres are around £600 for 4 (I've gone through 2 sets in 3 years - 4WD eats tyres). The rest has been replacing failed parts, e.g. the exhaust back box starting rattling, the rear springs (due to pothole), ignition coils, replacing the power steering reservoir. Nothing really major but it certainly adds up

 

A comprehensive warranty for the Alfa is around £500 a year - not worth it in my opinion.

Not had my mkIII serviced yet but my skoda dealer were charging about £190 per service on variable servicing (upto 18k miles or 2 years) for my mkII vRS CR.

That's honestly a myth these days. The Alfa has been no less reliable than any of the other cars I've owned. The parts costs & labour rates are quite a bit higher though even at good indy Alfa specialists.

Do skoda still do 0% and free servicing?

Would pcp be a cheaper way of doing would save a bit?

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Do skoda still do 0% and free servicing?

Would pcp be a cheaper way of doing would save a bit?

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0% is no longer available on vRS models. It's up at 2.9% now I think.

0% is no longer available on vRS models. It's up at 2.9% now I think.

Fair enough, maybe still working if the interest is less than 3 years servicing depending how anal about saving money they are.

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That's a hard choice - the Alfa 159 is a stunning car, and you've got the right variant.

 

I'm trading in my MiTo Cloverleaf - unfortunately there have been a few Alfaisms (including a heater knob not glued on by the manufacturer   ) but it's been a superb car.  I'm not sure the Octavia will give me the same joy of ownership or tendancy for the long lustful looks back after parking up, but after taking up a daily M25 commute of 40 miles each way in August, the MiTo is no longer the right car for me - no sense having 170bhp and burning petrol at a rate of 35mpg when you could have an oil burner and 180bhp with 50mpg.  That said, I will miss the noise....

 

Why not wait for an Alfa 6 next year?  Snapshots look promising...

 

£4k depreciation on Alfa 159 over the next 3 years?  I take it you're not intending to drive it in that time?!?!

Edited 20 February, 201412 yr by fiisch

The Alfa will likely work out cheaper overall because you have already taken the biggest financial hit with depreciation. The VRS may also feel a little "characterless" compared to the Alfa V6, although the VRS will be a lot more practical and most likely more reliable.

 

As a pure money-based decision there is no point in changing. However if you desire something newer and shinier the premium should not really cost that much.

Personally, I think 35 mpg is a tad too optimistic and 30 is probably more realistic if you want to enjoy the TSI vRS.

 

Regards

T

Hi

 

Personally, I think 35 mpg is a tad too optimistic and 30 is probably more realistic if you want to enjoy the TSI vRS.

 

Regards

T

Hi Your assumption of 35mpg for the VRS is very realistic, I have had on now for 4 months and 6K: average is 36mpg

Del

Edited 20 February, 201412 yr by kopo

@fiisch £4-6k is it's current trade in value, so after 3 years I'm guessing it'll be worth about nothing! The new Alfa Giulia does look amazing but I could be waiting years for it to actually arrive. I'm also now not sure if it's ever worth buying a big petrol engined Alfa new as the depreciation is worse than almost any other brand (see my car for example). I will certainly miss that v6 though, and people coming up to me to compliment the car

 

@orville I've taken future depreciation into account, so I should be left with the real cost over the next three years. Unless I've forgotten something? I have other reasons for needing a new car (primarily space) but wanted to see if I could justify it on cost alone.

 

So far then: about 35mpg is realistic and around £190 - £250 per service.

 

What about consumables - how is the vRS for tyres, what do they cost roughly? I'm guessing with FWD and 216bhp it'll go through the fronts in about 7,000 - 10,000 miles?

Edited 20 February, 201412 yr by fool

Mines diesel and auto and likes to wheel spin even when not accelerating fast, obviously maybe more on petrol unsure but iv done 5000miles and got about 5.5mm left on front, iv also done some big burnout playing with the launch control that controls nothing haha so i reckon 10k is reasonable if not doing big motorway miles

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You don't have to buy a new vRS either so that will take a bit off the depreciation bill.

Ian

On one year...

I spent around £1700 on fuel in a year on my old Astra twintop 1.8lt  around 28 mpg

hope to save £500 per as now have Tdi

Insurance gone up to £600 per year from £500 

i will save on services and MOT's £250 per year 

RAC cover saving £130

Tax..  free this year £30 next year saving £220 this year

= saving around £1000 per year  

Hi

 

Hi Your assumption of 35mpg for the VRS is very realistic, I have had on now for 4 months and 6K: average is 36mpg

TonyD, this guys used to a V6 Alfa, I don't see him being that conservative with LOUD pedal, might be wrong but, I'd be willing to put money on it I'm that sure.

Regards

T

Edited 20 February, 201412 yr by themanwithnoaim

TonyD, this guys used to a V6 Alfa, I don't see him being that conservative with LOUD pedal, might be wrong but, I'd be willing to put money on it I'm that sure.

Regards

Not sure what you are implying here, if you assume my driving style is conservative you are wrong. If that was the case I would have bought the 1.2TSI. Oh I see that is what you are driving, perhaps you need to keep your comments and input on this forum to things you have experience and knowledge of.

T

Not implying jack Tony, also not driving a 1.2 TSI or got one on order, suggest you read, think, then re-read cause obviously something ain't working for ya & No I don't want an row either, otherwise I'd just talk to the missus.

Regards

T

Now, now ladies.

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That is crazy money for a 159 V6.  I wish I had the balls to buy that off you!  In that case, I'd be very tempted to stick with the 159, unless you're craving a new car.