I'm pretty much in the same position, after paying my monthly finance and insurance I have about £100pcm in my pocket out of my car allowance and tax relief on business miles. So, over 3 years I have about 3.5k in my pocket and owe about 8k on the car.

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Having come from two Yeti's that held their value very well; depreciated 1k for every 10,000 miles driven, then I was prepared for a big hit on the Octy, so took out the 5 year warranty with the idea of keeping it at least that long to get some value out of it.

 

Mind the cars electrics might change my plans if the intermittent gremlins get any worse; just about to set off to leave it with the dealer for a week to see if they can get to the bottom of any of the issues; systems effected, maxidot, infomat, radio/media player, ignition and stop start :S

 

 

TP

My plans at the moment are to keep the car probably 5 - 6 years, by then it wil have covered around 120k miles.

Booked at £16k @ 4 months old with 4k miles and excellent condition.

Was expecting a fair old drop but a 7k loss in 4 months isnt v good and think future residuals for the regular Mk3's is a little questionable. My 1 year old £20k mk2 vRS with 11k miles fetched slightly more just as a reference.

Expect the vRS with the current demand outstripping supply will fair better...

 

 

This should have been the new price to start with - no offence to those who've parted with their hard earned cash but I just can't see me buying one at even the discounted prices from new. 

 

I guess PCP deals may have artificially inflated RRPs as most don't buy cars outright anymore, dealers buy them back at a relatively cheap price then have a second bite of the cherry when they sell them on the used market, again at rediculous money.

 

Shame really, cos I love the brand but not the prices!

Booked at £16k @ 4 months old with 4k miles and excellent condition.

Was expecting a fair old drop but a 7k loss in 4 months isnt v good and think future residuals for the regular Mk3's is a little questionable. My 1 year old £20k mk2 vRS with 11k miles fetched slightly more just as a reference.

Expect the vRS with the current demand outstripping supply will fair better...

Mate what's this?! Are you fed up of the elegance already? I'm just as bad to be honest. I'm actually trading in the 120d in a few weeks...... Amazingly didn't have much neg equity considering I only put in a minimal deposit.

New car loses money shocker!

If you like to change cars regularly buy used. If you want to keep it 5 plus years buy new. Not sure why anyone would want to buy a new car and chop it in after 4 months. Unless you just won the lottery of course! If you fall out of love with a car after 4 months you didn't do your due diligence.

Mate what's this?! Are you fed up of the elegance already? I'm just as bad to be honest. I'm actually trading in the 120d in a few weeks...... Amazingly didn't have much neg equity considering I only put in a minimal deposit.

Hiya mate. Nah was just an exercise to see what its worth at this point; expected a good drop just walking it off the forecourt but was a little insulted by the trade in figure offered as know it would sell for considerably (2.5/3k worst case) more quite easily and needs next to no prep. Dealers make better margins on used cars of course and I wasnt talking about buying another so pretty obvious they'd look to pull my pants down most dealers would.

I may look to go back to a company car due to work/life changes (going from doing hardly any to approx 2k/month commuting for work) in due course but not until the cars at least 1/1.5 years old and the equity position has more or less righted.

Elegance is a great car, isnt particularly engaging to drive but as a well equipped, comfortable mile muncher/family holdall does tick all the boxes.....bloody quick for a 150 horse diesel too and makes the Mk2 vRS TDi seem a little limp wristed which is a massive plus. Also unlike some others has not put a foot wrong yet....in fact its the first of my 3 new Skodas thats required no early life warranty repairs which is great. I suppose finally for a car thats essentially a huge well equipped and rebodied 2.0 TDi Mk7 Golf its cheap too. Really cant complain, its the right car for family life and the driving i'll soon be subjected to (just going to increase the costs of ownership a bit) and overall glad to have saved £30-40/month over the equivalent spec vRS TDi as I dont think it would have done it for me.

So mate whys the 120d going...what you getting in its place...so tell??!!

Edited 25 May, 201412 yr by pipsyp

So mate whys the 120d going...what you getting in its place...so tell??!!

The 120d is awesome in just about every way but I've decided to chop it in and treat myself to........ An M135i....!!!!

It's an itch that just needs to be scratched! Lol.

Can't wait for the beast to arrive!

The 120d is awesome in just about every way but I've decided to chop it in and treat myself to........ An M135i....!!!!

It's an itch that just needs to be scratched! Lol.

Can't wait for the beast to arrive!

A proper rear wheel drive driver's car with a great engine. Congratulations and a great choice. I know all about itches that need to be scratched - problem is the itch keeps coming back!

The 120d is awesome in just about every way but I've decided to chop it in and treat myself to........ An M135i....!!!!

It's an itch that just needs to be scratched! Lol.

Can't wait for the beast to arrive!

Fair shout indeed, my Dad has one so appreciate the need to scratch that itch fully! Good work mate!

Fair shout indeed, my Dad has one so appreciate the need to scratch that itch fully! Good work mate!

To be fair the M135i is the car I should have bought first time around but hey you live and learn! The next few weeks are going to drag....

Will post up a few pics when it arrives. Only downside is it's going to make the Fabia feel very sloooow indeed lol!

To be fair the M135i is the car I should have bought first time around but hey you live and learn! The next few weeks are going to drag....

Will post up a few pics when it arrives. Only downside is it's going to make the Fabia feel very sloooow indeed lol!

Know what you mean. If I could get away with a car that size right now and cover the fuel on my fuel card (unfortunately 2.5 litre limit) id be all over it, with the discounts available whilst still not a cheap car an awful lot of car for the money.

Every now and again get that niggling doubt that I should have got a vRS TSi estate and have been done with it!

What spec you going for mate?

Edited 26 May, 201412 yr by pipsyp

Know what you mean. If I could get away with a car that size right now and cover the fuel on my fuel card (unfortunately 2.5 litre limit) id be all over it, with the discounts available whilst still not a cheap car an awful lot of car for the money.

Every now and again get that niggling doubt that I should have got a vRS TSi estate and have been done with it!

What spec you going for mate?

Going for:

M135i 5-door

Mineral Grey with Coral Red leather

Sports Auto

Business Nav

Driver Comfort Pack

Sun Protection Pack

Heated front seats

HK Audio

Full Black Panel display

Really wanted the Adaptive Suspension too but have to draw he line somewhere!

The fuel economy is the one drawback but it's still pretty decent for the level of performance available. My mileage has actually worked out a lot less this year than it used to be which will help.

This one is going to have to do me for a long while tho as I'm not sure what I'd go for next without jumping up to an M3 at near twice the cost! (And SWMBO will kill me if I change again haha)

Luckily space isn't required much for this motor as the Fabia Estate is comfortably doing the baby/load-hauler job for now. I''m having the M135i for my immaculate toy and be quite happy to let the Fabia get used and abused / sustain child damage over the next 2-3 years lol!

vRS TSI would be a good shout, I'd be tempted to wait and look towards something like a 330d/335d Touring at some stage if were you though (assuming the boot is big enough). 10k is easily achievable off a new 335d at the moment -crazy!

Going for:

M135i 5-door

Mineral Grey with Coral Red leather

Sports Auto

Business Nav

Driver Comfort Pack

Sun Protection Pack

Heated front seats

HK Audio

Full Black Panel display

Really wanted the Adaptive Suspension too but have to draw he line somewhere!

The fuel economy is the one drawback but it's still pretty decent for the level of performance available. My mileage has actually worked out a lot less this year than it used to be which will help.

This one is going to have to do me for a long while tho as I'm not sure what I'd go for next without jumping up to an M3 at near twice the cost! (And SWMBO will kill me if I change again haha)

Luckily space isn't required much for this motor as the Fabia Estate is comfortably doing the baby/load-hauler job for now. I''m having the M135i for my immaculate toy and be quite happy to let the Fabia get used and abused / sustain child damage over the next 2-3 years lol!

vRS TSI would be a good shout, I'd be tempted to wait and look towards something like a 330d/335d Touring at some stage if were you though (assuming the boot is big enough). 10k is easily achievable off a new 335d at the moment -crazy!

V nice indeed mate. Best phrased as "well jeal!"

Nice spec and v much like the colour combo. Pro nav is lovely but not worth 2k, i think youve hit the spec sweetspot there.

BTW my Dads one is v highly spec'd but also does not have the adaptive suspension. He is quite sensitive to ride quality having had a few rock hard M suspended BM's in the past and ideally wanted it but this one is v good without it so dont worry about leaving that off the list....less to go wrong too.

Agree a 335d x drive Touring despite being smaller and alot more money than a vRS (though no doubt good value with discount and PCP arrangements) would be my ideal car.

My works company car scheme has massively improved though and opened up options such as 120d M Sport manual w/ business nav, 320d ED Business saloon auto/touring manual and a 518d SE saloon manual so could end up getting a company BM in due course.....Mk7 Golf GTD with and without DSG too so that could be up for grabs!

Edited 26 May, 201412 yr by pipsyp

V nice indeed mate. Best phrased as "well jeal!"

Nice spec and v much like the colour combo. Pro nav is lovely but not worth 2k, i think youve hit the spec sweetspot there.

BTW my Dads one is v highly spec'd but also does not have the adaptive suspension. He is quite sensitive to ride quality having had a few rock hard M suspended BM's in the past and ideally wanted it but this one is v good without it so dont worry about leaving that off the list....less to go wrong too.

Agree a 335d x drive Touring despite being smaller and alot more money than a vRS (though no doubt good value with discount and PCP arrangements) would be my ideal car.

My works company car scheme has massively improved though and opened up options such as 120d M Sport manual w/ business nav, 320d ED Business saloon auto/touring manual and a 518d SE saloon manual so could end up getting a company BM in due course.....Mk7 Golf GTD with and without DSG too so that could be up for grabs!

Ahh good to hear about the adaptive. I don't have it on the 120d and that rides beautifully but people on the bmw forum are saying its a 'must have'.... As you say less to go wrong, especially if this becomes a 'keeper' lol!

Good news on the company car scheme, having a company Beemer to thrash would be very niiiiice.

......10k is easily achievable off a new 335d at the moment -crazy!

Pretty much what I got off a 335d X-Drive M Sport Touring - and five years servicing thrown in for good measure!

Pretty much what I got off a 335d X-Drive M Sport Touring - and five years servicing thrown in for good measure!

Niiiice! I did think about a 335d they look awesome and I'm told the 6-cyl diesel sounds pretty awesome too?

Niiiice! I did think about a 335d they look awesome and I'm told the 6-cyl diesel sounds pretty awesome too?

 

Yes it does sound different to any diesel I know....this is the 435d X Drive but identical drivetrain

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGBMZDR5x1Y