I rang a skoda dealer today to enquire about a current 1.4 tsi and the situation for new cars in stock. he told me there are no new cars in stock, as the new model comes out in April. The nearly new models I see for sale are way overpriced in my opinion, for a run out model. Two things occurred to me. Firstly, the dealers are increasing prices, sniffing an increase in demand for petrol engines since the recent string of diesel bad news stories, including disgraceful panic inducing comments by politicians, like the explicit warning against buying diesels by that oleaginous creep Chris Grayling (the transport minister who committed an offence when he opened a car door onto a cyclist, causing significant injuries). It's unusual for run out models to increase in price.

Secondly, the tas regime changes so that pre April 2016 cars will cost £30 road tax, whilst post April cars will cost, I think, £140. People seem to be panic buying all the new and nearly new stock, even at inflated prices. I considered doing the same, but I have thought about it. Firstly, rather than pay 18K for an Octavia, I'd prefer to pay an extra 3K or so for an Audi A4 Avant. The margin is not enough to do otherwise, as the nearly new Octys seem well overpriced in my opinion. The Octy is a good car ( I have a Mk 2), but Audis are quiter, more refined etc. It also occurred to me that the MK 3 will depreciate more rapidly than the facelifted model. It just will. Even for those who dislike the new front end, it will grow on people as it becomes more familiar. It is likely that a new 17 plate revised model will be available at decent discounts, so in a year or two, the gains made in annual tax will probably be wiped out by having a car that's worth more, as a 17 reg will be worth more than a 66 or 16 reg. just a few weeks or months older, and is also likely to be better specced. The new VRS is more powerful, and I believe some additional extras on all models are inclusive , such as Appleplay etc, although I haven't compared the equipment lists thoroughly.

I understand the urge to buy quickly before the tax changes, as is being encouraged by dealers, but I think it could end up being a very expensive saving for many people, given that depreciation is the biggest hit we take. I've never been bothered about having the latest model, or the latest gadget, and if I could have found an SE Sport for what I consider a reasonable price, I would have bought it, but sometimes we need to take the long view, I think.

 

Edited 3 March, 20179 yr by harrylime
spelling errors

I started this discussion with a different, long winded heading, with no response.

 

I'm thinking of changing my Octavia 1.9 tdi. I rang a skoda dealer today to enquire about a current 1.4 tsi and the situation for new cars in stock. he told me there are no new cars in stock, as the new model comes out in April. The nearly new models I see for sale are way overpriced in my opinion, for a run out model. Two things occurred to me. Firstly, the dealers are increasing prices, sniffing an increase in demand for petrol engines since the recent string of diesel bad news stories, including disgraceful panic inducing comments by politicians, like the explicit warning against buying diesels by that oleaginous creep Chris Grayling (the transport minister who committed an offence when he opened a car door onto a cyclist, causing significant injuries). It's unusual for run out models to increase in price.

Secondly, the tas regime changes so that pre April 2016 cars will cost £30 road tax, whilst post April cars will cost, I think, £140. People seem to be panic buying all the new and nearly new stock, even at inflated prices. I considered doing the same, but I have thought about it. Firstly, rather than pay 18K for an Octavia, I'd prefer to pay an extra 3K or so for an Audi A4 Avant. The margin is not enough to do otherwise, as the nearly new Octys seem well overpriced in my opinion. The Octy is a good car ( I have a Mk 2), but Audis are quiter, more refined etc. It also occurred to me that the MK 3 will depreciate more rapidly than the facelifted model. It just will. Even for those who dislike the new front end, it will grow on people as it becomes more familiar. It is likely that a new 17 plate revised model will be available at decent discounts, so in a year or two, the gains made in annual tax will probably be wiped out by having a car that's worth more, as a 17 reg will be worth more than a 66 or 16 reg. just a few weeks or months older, and is also likely to be better specced. The new VRS is more powerful, and I believe some additional extras on all models are inclusive , such as Appleplay etc, although I haven't compared the equipment lists thoroughly.

I understand the urge to buy quickly before the tax changes, as is being encouraged by dealers, but I think it could end up being a very expensive saving for many people, given that depreciation is the biggest hit we take. I've never been bothered about having the latest model, or the latest gadget, and if I could have found an SE Sport for what I consider a reasonable price, I would have bought it, but sometimes we need to take the long view, I think. Still undecided as to what to do 

No need to rush to have a vehicle First Registered before April because of VED changes, offers and discounts of Petrols & Diesels will be plentiful after that and new cars, more economic cars and BREXIT might or might not mean more expense or less expensive with the exchange rates after Article 50.

 

Do you need or want a diesel and does City Congestion / Emissions/ Resident Parking charges affect you, or does a Diesel make more sense because of the miles you do or do you tow?

 

Right now is likely not a good time to trade in a diesel, but then there hardly ever is a good time.

The Budget is this coming week and then you will know what Philip Hammond MP proposes as a way of reducing emissions & pollution from vehicles,

and if running a diesel will be penalised.

He could change the Tax & Duty on Diesel, but that is unlikely, but who knows until he makes his budget statement.

13 hours ago, harrylime said:

Secondly, the tax regime changes so that pre April 2016 cars will cost £30 road tax, whilst post April cars will cost, I think, £140.

I think that's a typo as the change is from April 2017 not 2016.

If you are worried about Diesel BS propaganda. Then get na EV.

I'm not worried about the diesel BS at all, to be honest, I want a petrol because of likely DPF issues, as I do low annual mileage and predominantly short trips. I was commenting on the seeming rush for petrol run out model Octavias, resulting in a shortage, and pushing up prices. This has made it impossible for me to get a decent deal on a 1.4 Sport. My car's not worth a lot so I may keep it for a while, or look elsewhere. The other reason I don't want a diesel is that it's not an issue of whether the  City Congestion / Emissions/ Resident Parking charges will affect me, it's whether they affect many buyers in a few years time. I can see these knee jerk Government and local authority measure causing the value of diesel cars to plummet, as if depreciation isn't bad enough already. I don't want to invest in a diesel car because all the signs are there

It may, in the near future, become possible to take my 4 litre V8 Lexus into city centres, but not my 1.9 litre Octavia. Ridiculous

Fear, doubt and uncertainty are commonly used tools of marketing, and of course, politics.

And the majority of the public fall for it every time.

 

As an ex-pat who now gets by on the standard 800 words in the Australian vocabulary I had to look up 'oleaginous' and 'Chris Grayling', apparently they are largely interchangeable terms (?).

 

Skoda's general design philosophies currently suit me very well but if I saw what I thought was a better buy elsewhere then I would probably go for it, and I would not blame anyone else for making a similar decision.

 

 

 

Edited 4 March, 20179 yr by Gerrycan

Threads merged

2 hours ago, SWBoy said:

I think that's a typo as the change is from April 2017 not 2016.

Yes my mistake 2017

36 minutes ago, Gerrycan said:

Fear, doubt and uncertainty are commonly used tools of marketing, and of course, politics.

And the majority of the public fall for it every time.

 

As an ex-pat who now gets by on the standard 800 words in the Australian vocabulary I had to look up 'oleaginous' and 'Chris Grayling', apparently they are largely interchangeable terms (?).

 

Skoda's general design philosophies currently suit me very well but if I saw what I thought was a better buy elsewhere then I would probably go for it, and I would not blame anyone else for making a similar decision.

 

 

 

800 words is more than enough for anyone and Australians seem more than capable of expressing themselves. I don't usually use a big word where a small one will do (although I am Welsh so can be a wordy ****** at times, much more so when writing). However, when I thought about Chris Grayling's comment, I had read a book recently in which a character had been described as oleaginous, and the word seemed to fit so beautifully, I could not resist.  

16 hours ago, harrylime said:

I rang a skoda dealer today to enquire about a current 1.4 tsi and the situation for new cars in stock. he told me there are no new cars in stock, as the new model comes out in April. The nearly new models I see for sale are way overpriced in my opinion, for a run out model.

Pre Reg 1.4 TSI Sport on Skoda used car locator - not too bad at £16450.

1 hour ago, harrylime said:

I'm not worried about the diesel BS at all, to be honest, I want a petrol because of likely DPF issues, as I do low annual mileage and predominantly short trips. I was commenting on the seeming rush for petrol run out model Octavias, resulting in a shortage, and pushing up prices. This has made it impossible for me to get a decent deal on a 1.4 Sport. My car's not worth a lot so I may keep it for a while, or look elsewhere. The other reason I don't want a diesel is that it's not an issue of whether the  City Congestion / Emissions/ Resident Parking charges will affect me, it's whether they affect many buyers in a few years time. I can see these knee jerk Government and local authority measure causing the value of diesel cars to plummet, as if depreciation isn't bad enough already. I don't want to invest in a diesel car because all the signs are there

It may, in the near future, become possible to take my 4 litre V8 Lexus into city centres, but not my 1.9 litre Octavia. Ridiculous

 

I do low mileage and live in the capital city no DPF issues. Hear in Croatia things are different. Diesel cars hold more value and depreciate slower then petrol cars and are more expensive to buy. But diesel is cheaper than petrol here.

 

Still after driving EV I would recommend you wait and buy Tesla model 3 and hold for a while with the new car. Things are starting to change, and they come more quickly on the west than over here on the east of Europe. Skoda will probably lunch an eOctavia or eSuperb by 2018 - 2020. Probably Octavia IV.

 

If I had the money my next cat would probably be EV. Tesla model S P100D dream car.

Edited 4 March, 20179 yr by Croat

47 minutes ago, Octy0GG said:

Pre Reg 1.4 TSI Sport on Skoda used car locator - not too bad at £16450.

That's about the best price I've seen, especially as the same car is on somewhere else for around 19.5k. Metallic white not for me though. The discounts offered are paltry as well, it seems cash is no longer king, they want you to borrow. No wonder the country's in the state it's in, with record levels of debt

The Octavia is becoming too expensive, unless you really need the space.

 

I'm looking at a 6 month old Mercedes C200 petrol auto next time for £18k.

 

Dealers and the motoring press are making the most of this tax change.

In reality if you have to pay list price for a  £30 tax car your savings are wiped out by that.

Best to sit tight and see what the market does this year.

Edited 4 March, 20179 yr by glosrich

1 hour ago, Croat said:

 

I do low mileage and live in the capital city no DPF issues. Hear in Croatia things are different. Diesel cars hold more value and depreciate slower then petrol cars and are more expensive to buy. But diesel is cheaper than petrol here.

 

Still after driving EV I would recommend you wait and buy Tesla model 3 and hold for a while with the new car. Things are starting to change, and they come more quickly on the west than over here on the east of Europe. Skoda will probably lunch an eOctavia or eSuperb by 2018 - 2020. Probably Octavia IV.

 

If I had the money my next cat would probably be EV. Tesla model S P100D dream car.

That was always the case here until very recently, when the experts who advised us that diesel was cleaner pushed us into buying diesel cars, encouraged by lower taxes. They very recently discovered the toxic nature of diesel, even after all the expensive and unreliable controls put in by car makers. These experts are responsible for slashing the value of expensive cars pwned by millions here, and even more seriously, for countless early deaths due to pollution. The trend will now reverse, I guess, with the problem being addressed in the only way politicians know, with the unimaginative blunt instrument of hitting motorists hard in the pocket.

I once spent a holiday in Croatia by the way, in Istria. I think Porec ? I remember sailing a dinghy down the coast, trying to avoid some very large ships before stopping at a campsite for lunch. It is a very beautiful country, with very friendly people.

 

11 minutes ago, glosrich said:

The Octavia is becoming too expensive, unless you really need the space.

 

I'm looking at a 6 month old Mercedes C200 petrol auto next time for £18k.

I agree, they are still good cars, but the value for money is going downhill, I think

What are you getting for £18K though? A prison spec SE model? They're cheap because nobody wants them. You need to compare a like for like spec really. 

1 hour ago, SC03OTT said:

What are you getting for £18K though? A prison spec SE model? They're cheap because nobody wants them. You need to compare a like for like spec really. 

 

Spec is ok, electric everything, climate, cruise, Merc fake leather, Garmin sat nav is an add on module for £250.

Alright they don't have as much boot space or back seat space, but they are more desirable.

2.0 petrol turbo 7 speed auto, 187ps, 140mph 7 secs to 60, almost as fast as a Vrs

 

2 hours ago, glosrich said:

The Octavia is becoming too expensive, unless you really need the space.

 

 

Yes if it's Golf/A3/Leon/Octavia the Octavia will always win on space.

Also it does Skoda no harm that the Octavia is able to occupy the size territory between Ford Focus and Mondeo.

For me at least, the Focus was just a bit too small and the Mondeo a bit too large.

Good spec is nice to have, but I for one would prefer money to be spent on noise and vibration reduction than some unnecessary gizmos. The cars I remember with fondness  are the ones that made smooth, quiet , refined progress, not the ones with more gismos (more to go wrong anyway). Some were years old when I bought them but were of such good quality they drove better in some ways than toda's new cars, Makers, including Skoda, tend to add more extras as the life of a car progresses, to make us think we are getting better value for money. these are visible gadgets, wheras sound insulation, vibration damping and more time spent preventing rattles and squeaks etc. are invisible annoyances that don't appear until later, when you have to live with the road noise, booming noises and irritating cabin noises.

I think the Skoda Octavia is the perfect size, it's one of the few cars in which the estate is unnecessary as the hatchback is usually enough. It manages acres of space while still fitting into normal car parking spaces, and I'm amazed that other makers have not caught on to this as a USP. It's not the bargain it used to be though in my view and the margin between the skoda and more refined cars has narrowed. I'm considering an A4 Avant although I will try to resist driving like most Audi drivers seem to,

7 hours ago, glosrich said:

 

Spec is ok, electric everything, climate, cruise, Merc fake leather, Garmin sat nav is an add on module for £250.

Alright they don't have as much boot space or back seat space, but they are more desirable.

2.0 petrol turbo , 7 speed auto, 187ps, 140mph 7 secs to 60, almost as fast as a Vrs

 

Yeah, your only losing a third the boot and rear seat space, E Class is the true equivalent but, thats not available in petrol!!!

Edited 5 March, 20179 yr by themanwithnoaim

13 hours ago, Octy0GG said:

Yes if it's Golf/A3/Leon/Octavia the Octavia will always win on space.

Also it does Skoda no harm that the Octavia is able to occupy the size territory between Ford Focus and Mondeo.

For me at least, the Focus was just a bit too small and the Mondeo a bit too large.

The mondeo has a smaller boot than the Octavia. 

4 hours ago, tigermad said:

The mondeo has a smaller boot than the Octavia. 

Ford advertise the boot over 700 litres here in Australia and this is constantly repeated by the media.

Read the (very) fine print in the brochures and Ford admit it is to the roofline. Really annoys me

20 hours ago, harrylime said:

That was always the case here until very recently, when the experts who advised us that diesel was cleaner pushed us into buying diesel cars, encouraged by lower taxes. They very recently discovered the toxic nature of diesel, even after all the expensive and unreliable controls put in by car makers. These experts are responsible for slashing the value of expensive cars pwned by millions here, and even more seriously, for countless early deaths due to pollution. The trend will now reverse, I guess, with the problem being addressed in the only way politicians know, with the unimaginative blunt instrument of hitting motorists hard in the pocket.

I once spent a holiday in Croatia by the way, in Istria. I think Porec ? I remember sailing a dinghy down the coast, trying to avoid some very large ships before stopping at a campsite for lunch. It is a very beautiful country, with very friendly people.

 

Another legacy of Gordon Brown and Tony Blair isn't it ? Short sighted and misdirecting the public to favour diesel for a decade or so.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11368568/Labour-made-wrong-decision-over-diesel-car-tax-admits-shadow-minister.html

 

Doesn't particulary bother me though, I've had my value of my diesel Fabia for 10 years, which is now closer to worthless, but wouldn't get another in light of the decisions now being made everywhere that decisions are to be made.

 

To buy a diesel car new now though, IMO you'd have to be be a bloody fool. I'd also not swap large sums of money for a high spec used car.

It will become a non problem I'm sure, perhaps in the next decade - or two its maybe even possible they control and no longer serve it direct to the public ( possibly freight though).

I would personally keep it available to freight though to ensure to encourage industry, i.e. controlled. I think it would be a mistake to heavily tax hauliers as long as they are only polluting the motorways type road - not urban where they would be banned from in my mind

13 hours ago, themanwithnoaim said:

Yeah, your only losing a third the boot and rear seat space, E Class is the true equivalent but, thats not available in petrol!!!

 

Have a set of roof bars and a roof box for the odd big load and any big family trips, or I might look at the estate for £500 more used.

Edited 5 March, 20179 yr by glosrich