2 hours ago, Alex-W said:

Just bear in mind that the the facelift 230 doesn't have the electro mechanical diff.

That's only on the preFL 230 and the FL 245.

 

So is yours without the electro machanical diff? (Is this what the Golf GTD and GTI had - the XDS?)  Looks like you have a 2017 230 but that could be a pre or post facelift from what I can tell. 

 

I'm by no means a traffic light warrior.  For the last 4 years I've driven a 248 Bhp BMW 330e and what I like about that was the effortlessness.  The auto gearbox and the ability to never have to worry if you could.... blend with traffic.... perform an overtake.... and of course chuck it down a quiet B-Road having a little fun.  However,  there's a point where having so much power and capability robs you of that fun as well when the car is too capable that you have to break the law many times over before you extract any fun and also from my perspective.. you need skills not in evidence or experience.

 

The reason for looking at a VRS is to find some of that... without breaking the bank.  I'm treading a fine balance of affordability here.  If I'm paying full fat 245 money.. there are other cars swimming in the same budget pool that I could and would then be looking at.   None of these are a preference but the Golf GTI and R are two.  The other side of the fuel fence is a BMW330D which in estate form would also suite my power and flexibility needs.

 

So how many people own the 220 or 30 without the diff... think that they are missing out?

Edited 2 July, 20205 yr by Insearchofaskoda
spelling :-)

21 minutes ago, Ecomatt said:

To throw another thought in to the mix. The amouny of money you spend on a used Octavia either hp or on pcp. You could wait and probably get a new VRS cheaper per month given the deals Skoda have on now. Plus you would have 3 years hassle free warranty. I know where my money would be going.

Good morning,

 

Plan is not to use HP or PCP,  but you are right.  If I use a private loan I'm paying as much or more for the car each month as a new one.  I've been on a company car scheme for the last 20 years where I've paid out for a lease where the cars I've had I've never owned and now that scheme is closed... I'm left either jumping back on that bandwagon again (PCP) or simply keeping a car with a view to owning it rather than giving it back.  The PCP approach from what I can determine is "cheap" but I get the impression it's inflexible and in these trying times I don't want to be left with the headache of a financial arrangement that leaves me with problems should the worst happen.

 

Appreciate I'm treading carefully but all things are about finding your balance.

The idea is to take the Finance Deal and Service Package offered, then cancel & use your own loan money to settle ASAP while benefitting from what ever the deal 

included.

1 hour ago, Insearchofaskoda said:

So is yours without the electro machanical diff? (Is this what the Golf GTD and GTI had - the XDS?)  Looks like you have a 2017 230 but that could be a pre or post facelift from what I can tell. 

 

I'm by no means a traffic light warrior.  For the last 4 years I've driven a 248 Bhp BMW 330e and what I like about that was the effortlessness.  The auto gearbox and the ability to never have to worry if you could.... blend with traffic.... perform an overtake.... and of course chuck it down a quiet B-Road having a little fun.  However,  there's a point where having so much power and capability robs you of that fun as well when the car is too capable that you have to break the law many times over before you extract any fun and also from my perspective.. you need skills not in evidence or experience.

 

The reason for looking at a VRS is to find some of that... without breaking the bank.  I'm treading a fine balance of affordability here.  If I'm paying full fat 245 money.. there are other cars swimming in the same budget pool that I could and would then be looking at.   None of these are a preference but the Golf GTI and R are two.  The other side of the fuel fence is a BMW330D which in estate form would also suite my power and flexibility needs.

 

So how many people own the 220 or 30 without the diff... think that they are missing out?

 

Mine is the pFL 230, that I specifically went for as it's got the diff (amongst other things).  

Bascially when they did the 220, the 230 was made available with extras such as the diff, full leather etc.

When they did the facelift, the 230 became the entry one (no diff) and the 245 had it.

Then they dropped the 230.

 

For me, having it was more about being able to not get caught out on roundabouts when it's wet and the torque suddenly causes a random understeer.  I've driven a FWD with a mechanical LSD for many years and found it very useful so didn't want to go backwards.   You can have a quaife diff fitted to any of them for about £1500 mind.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

The idea is to take the Finance Deal and Service Package offered, then cancel & use your own loan money to settle ASAP while benefitting from what ever the deal 

included.

 

Or ideally, just pay cash.  

Personally I'm a big believer in just spending money I have and no more.  Ultimately, you pay less.    I'd always rather go without and save, then spend the money and not have a future commitment as you never know what's round the corner.    You can then start saving again.   Otherwise you're basically paying interest for ever.  But I'm probably not in the majority with my philosphy!

 

2 hours ago, Insearchofaskoda said:

So is yours without the electro machanical diff? (Is this what the Golf GTD and GTI had - the XDS?)  Looks like you have a 2017 230 but that could be a pre or post facelift from what I can tell. 

 

I'm by no means a traffic light warrior.  For the last 4 years I've driven a 248 Bhp BMW 330e and what I like about that was the effortlessness.  The auto gearbox and the ability to never have to worry if you could.... blend with traffic.... perform an overtake.... and of course chuck it down a quiet B-Road having a little fun.  However,  there's a point where having so much power and capability robs you of that fun as well when the car is too capable that you have to break the law many times over before you extract any fun and also from my perspective.. you need skills not in evidence or experience.

 

The reason for looking at a VRS is to find some of that... without breaking the bank.  I'm treading a fine balance of affordability here.  If I'm paying full fat 245 money.. there are other cars swimming in the same budget pool that I could and would then be looking at.   None of these are a preference but the Golf GTI and R are two.  The other side of the fuel fence is a BMW330D which in estate form would also suite my power and flexibility needs.

 

So how many people own the 220 or 30 without the diff... think that they are missing out?

I had the same dilemma with the money aspect but I found that the other cars in the price pool where a couple years older and there wasn't as much space in it as in the vrs. 

@Alex-W

Not that common for someone to buy a home to live inwith cash they have though, unless they sold one they owned.

 

I might have £15 - £25 grand in my hipper and still not pay cash on a new  or pre-loved car when cash is not king.

But if i can save money using a cash payment and not have the hassle of opening a carrier bag and putting the money on the table and then having to answer questions on money laundering i will do that.

Mony a mickle maks a muckle in the car trade.

 

Edited 2 July, 20205 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

Hey I'm in exactly same bucket just looking for Estate 

This was listed yesterday https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202007010730448

They say it is a 230 VRS version so with LSD I assume but it should be on 19" wheels and have colour logo on seats correct? 

My second options is https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202006150160940
 

Engine and DSG remap, intake and few other parts added 



I noticed somebody mention that FL 245 is a lot better car but how? Apart of bigger screen navi? Is car any more refined inside? Better sound isolation or materials? 
 

6 minutes ago, got3n said:

I noticed somebody mention that FL 245 is a lot better car but how? Apart of bigger screen navi? Is car any more refined inside? Better sound isolation or materials? 
 

I can't comment on the sound isolation but I am led to believe and smarter people than me will be along to correct me if I'm wrong, the dsg on the 245 is 7 gears instead of 6 but also different turbo and new engine inners. Like I say thats about as technical as I can get but someone will be along soon with more info. 

 

Also I'm probably biased but I prefer the meteor grey 😄  

Edited 2 July, 20205 yr by Scott235

1 hour ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

@Alex-W

Not that common for someone to buy a home to live inwith cash they have though, unless they sold one they owned.

 

I might have £15 - £25 grand in my hipper and still not pay cash on a new  or pre-loved car when cash is not king.

But if i can save money using a cash payment and not have the hassle of opening a carrier bag and putting the money on the table and then having to answer questions on money laundering i will do that.

Mony a mickle maks a muckle in the car trade.

 

 

Granted, with a house it's not often possible.  Although a house generally appreciates at a greater rate than a mortgage interest, so it still makes you money.

I hate the whole money laundering questions thing.  I've walked away from a car before because they started rudely questioning how I would have cash and started telling me I should take out their finance deal and invest in my house with the cash.   Even my wife lost her rag at that point.  

Most garages I went to asked me about my finances before even asking me about what I'm looking for in a car.

They have a car, I have the money.  They want to sell the car... questioning where I have got the money from or thinking a second hand car saleman is qualified to give out financial advice is both rude and also breaking regulations I believe.

 

With my present car I just paid on my debit card, job done.  Didn't even get a phonecall from the bank, weirdly.  The fact that the buying process was without all that 'how are you going to finance this' questioning was part of the reason I went to that garage.  

 

 

 

14 minutes ago, got3n said:

Hey I'm in exactly same bucket just looking for Estate 

This was listed yesterday https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202007010730448

They say it is a 230 VRS version so with LSD I assume but it should be on 19" wheels and have colour logo on seats correct? 

My second options is https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202006150160940
 

Engine and DSG remap, intake and few other parts added 



I noticed somebody mention that FL 245 is a lot better car but how? Apart of bigger screen navi? Is car any more refined inside? Better sound isolation or materials? 
 

 

First one is a 220.  No black exhausts, no colour logos.  It's a well spec'd 220 mind.

The second is (was) a 230.

What often matters is if someone has an old car or no car and gets a job & needs a vehicle for work / business and requires a reliable one.

Buying or running a 'Bargain Banger' which is all they have enough cash to buy or maybe not even enough cash even for a deposit might well borrow.

It is a tool of the trade, & a necessity and not an investment but will allow you to earn a living.

 

Leasing and buying on the tick is the only way for many to get buy.

There are those that spend as much on phones and data monthly than a car might cost them on the never never.

25 minutes ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

What often matters is if someone has an old car or no car and gets a job & needs a vehicle for work / business and requires a reliable one.

Buying or running a 'Bargain Banger' which is all they have enough cash to buy or maybe not even enough cash even for a deposit might well borrow.

It is a tool of the trade, & a necessity and not an investment but will allow you to earn a living.

 

Leasing and buying on the tick is the only way for many to get buy.

There are those that spend as much on phones and data monthly than a car might cost them on the never never.

I started off with the plan of buying outright but when I applied for the loan the interest rate wasn't what they had said online 51% of people needed to get and I would have ended up paying 80 pound a month more than I had planned so pcp was the way I decided to go. Ended up getting a 2 year extended warranty so worked out well enough for me. 

4 hours ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

The idea is to take the Finance Deal and Service Package offered, then cancel & use your own loan money to settle ASAP while benefitting from what ever the deal 

included.

Yeah - I'm sorry but I don't get this.  If I was on a PCP deal I'd be there for affordability.  If I was to cancel,  I presume there would be cancellation fees involved and they would be added to the debt.  I'd then need to finance (loan) the repayment which will be higher per month as the loan it aimed at settling the debt whereas PCP is not.

 

As I'm not one of those folks lucky enough to have the odd 15 or 20K lying around I have to deal with the finance constructs that are available i.e. PCP (lowish cost monthly but you never own the car) or HP which is what looks to be a high interest way of paying off what could be a Personal loan which is generally available at lower interest rates.

 

Where I am currently lucky is that I do receive a car allowance... and before you say "great - just do a private lease or PCP"  I'm fed up "renting" a car.. I would like to have something to show for the money I'm spending each month even if it is a very small amount ... I won't get that from a lease/PCP deal.

4 minutes ago, Insearchofaskoda said:

Where I am currently lucky is that I do receive a car allowance... and before you say "great - just do a private lease or PCP"  I'm fed up "renting" a car.. I would like to have something to show for the money I'm spending each month even if it is a very small amount ... I won't get that from a lease/PCP deal.

Yea by all means everybody on here has their opinions of what they prefer and if you can get a personal loan at a good interest rate 👌  brilliant do that and get the car that suits you. Good thing is you can do what you want and not worry about anything when it comes back to handing back time like me. Personally though atthe moment 245 bhp is more than enough power and enjoyment for me. 

@Insearchofaskoda

OK if you do not get it, someone will explain,

'Presumption'  is an issue, you can cancel in 14 days and be better off not worse.

2 hours ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

What often matters is if someone has an old car or no car and gets a job & needs a vehicle for work / business and requires a reliable one.

 

 

Sure, although I think that reason is the minority.  Usually if you NEED it for work, you get the allowance or the car supplied.

Many people are getting a car on finance because the one they want costs far more than the one they need, but they don't have the cash.

 

You can buy a reliable car that more than capable of munching up the miles with no issues at all for under £10k. 

Buying a vRS Octavia isn't a need for transport, it's a want for a shiny thing.   If you just need transport you guy and buy a 1.6 astra or a kia or whatever for much less money.

The reality is we live in a world where people want things now, don't want to wait and are willing to both pay that extra in interest and also take the risk of the commitment of the outgoings.

I've known a number of people who have got cars on finance and then are screwed when they want to move house or have kids or whatever as their outgoings are such that it's too restrictive.

 

It's all personal choice and what you feel comfortable with.  

 

3 minutes ago, Alex-W said:

 

Sure, although I think that reason is the minority.  Usually if you NEED it for work, you get the allowance or the car supplied.

Many people are getting a car on finance because the one they want costs far more than the one they need, but they don't have the cash.

 

You can buy a reliable car that more than capable of munching up the miles with no issues at all for under £10k. 

Buying a vRS Octavia isn't a need for transport, it's a want for a shiny thing.   If you just need transport you guy and buy a 1.6 astra or a kia or whatever for much less money.

The reality is we live in a world where people want things now, don't want to wait and are willing to both pay that extra in interest and also take the risk of the commitment of the outgoings.

I've known a number of people who have got cars on finance and then are screwed when they want to move house or have kids or whatever as their outgoings are such that it's too restrictive.

 

It's all personal choice and what you feel comfortable with.  

 

True we are all Magpies when you break it down to basics despite what we may tell ourselves regarding what we need.

£10,000 is £10,000 and does not grow on trees and many need to borrow to drive a 10 grand car.

2 hours ago, Insearchofaskoda said:

Yeah - I'm sorry but I don't get this.

 

Many places, especially on new cars, offer big PCP incentives vs a cash buyer. 

 

Imagine a pretend car that you've negotiated to £20,000 - they may offer you PCP that means you get a 'manufacturer deposit contribution' of £2,000, thus making the car effectively £18,000 headline price to you compared to the £20,000 they'd ask for cash. Other inducements can include service packs, extra warranty etc. specific to each deal & dealer involved.

 

If you then withdraw from the finance within 14 days (the terminology here is relatively important) and settle up with your competitive rate loan / big bank balance / mattress full of dodgy notes, you can usually retain these inducements and 'contributions' and thus get your car cheaper than if you just tried for a straight cash purchase. You can also just settle after a few months instead but that way you have to check where you'd stand on any early settlement fees and you would of course have been paying some interest off in the mean time.

 

I'm sure there are threads on moneysavingexpert or the like discussing the process in detail, it's quite common for 'cash buyers' to do this now i think, now that dealers are more interested in selling you a finance deal than they are a car.

 

Edit - as an example, take the Superb Sportline on carwow (ignoring the Octavia as there are no manufacturer inducements on the runout stock)


Superb 2.0 TSI 190 DSG
 2 litres  Automatic  Petrol  5 doors
RRP
£35,300
Cash
£31,057
PCP Finance
£28,209
With finance deposit contribution of £3,000
Representative APR 4.1%

That's near enough a £3,000 saving just by taking the finance deal and then withdrawing or settling early, because Skoda will contribute a nominal £3,000 to the finances.

 

The even more remarkable thing about stuff like carwow and other brokers these days is you're looking at nearly £7,000 off list with virtually no haggling effort involved. I bet most of the 'approved used' stock at a year old is up for more than £28,209.

Edited 2 July, 20205 yr by Kenai

BMW are offering £19,000 off a new M4 while they try to shift the last few models before launching the new M3 and M4 effectively saving customers from paying £73,000 plus interest to just £54,000 plus interest which is a good deal if you keep such a car for 10 years.

15 minutes ago, Kenai said:

 

Many places, especially on new cars, offer big PCP incentives vs a cash buyer. 

 

Imagine a pretend car that you've negotiated to £20,000 - they may offer you PCP that means you get a 'manufacturer deposit contribution' of £2,000, thus making the car effectively £18,000 headline price to you compared to the £20,000 they'd ask for cash. Other inducements can include service packs, extra warranty etc. specific to each deal & dealer involved.

 

If you then withdraw from the finance within 14 days (the terminology here is relatively important) and settle up with your competitive rate loan / big bank balance / mattress full of dodgy notes, you can usually retain these inducements and 'contributions' and thus get your car cheaper than if you just tried for a straight cash purchase. You can also just settle after a few months instead but that way you have to check where you'd stand on any early settlement fees and you would of course have been paying some interest off in the mean time.

 

I'm sure there are threads on moneysavingexpert or the like discussing the process in detail, it's quite common for 'cash buyers' to do this now i think, now that dealers are more interested in selling you a finance deal than they are a car.

Thanks - So while I said I didn't get it,  it is what I suspected.

 

So again perhaps I need to spend more time looking into this and perhaps I'm naive but this seems to skate on thin ice.  If I was in the market for a new car with new car inducements and prepared to "salvage" or settle a PCP deal then for me that would only be by displacing that with a personal loan.  I can't see me bringing one of these types of deals into 17K final value territory.

 

However,  I'll look into it to see how it might work. Thanks for the explanation.

 

7 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

BMW are offering £19,000 off a new M4 while they try to shift the last few models before launching the new M3 and M4 effectively saving customers from paying £73,000 plus interest to just £54,000 plus interest which is a good deal if you keep such a car for 10 years.

Thanks - but well outside my budget - even over 10 years 🙂

It's definitely worth looking at, even in the £15k to £17k realm, there is a good chance a dealer will be offering a few goodies to convince you to sign up to a high APR PCP deal that gets him a wedge of commission, so whilst maybe not as dramatic as a £3,000 deposit contribution as outlined above, you may be able to land yourself with things like service packs. Second hand PCP is generally a fools game IMO, the APR is usually so high you'd be paying thousands in interest if you were intending to see it to full term but what that does mean is that there is still margin for them to try and convince you it's a great idea.

I've got a FL 230 2017 and it's great. Would've rather got the 245 for the VAQ diff to be honest but I wasn't prepared to wait for prices to drop to a level that I could afford. I just about managed to afford a FL! Snapped this one up as soon as it came available.

 

Winter pack, canton and alcantara extras. I've since done all the cosmetic stuff like black grille/mirrors, aftermarket 19s, etc etc so it looks the part now,

 

Would I have paid another 3-4k for a commuter car to have an electronic diff? Nah, I'll get a proper mechanical diff at some stage for this one. Electric seats sound great, but how often do you actually adjust the seat!?

 

It had to be a FL though, the PFL looks a bit plain now and the interior in a FL is miles nicer.

6 minutes ago, DC04R said:

I've got a FL 230 2017 and it's great. Would've rather got the 245 for the VAQ diff to be honest but I wasn't prepared to wait for prices to drop to a level that I could afford. I just about managed to afford a FL! Snapped this one up as soon as it came available.

 

Winter pack, canton and alcantara extras. I've since done all the cosmetic stuff like black grille/mirrors, aftermarket 19s, etc etc so it looks the part now,

 

Would I have paid another 3-4k for a commuter car to have an electronic diff? Nah, I'll get a proper mechanical diff at some stage for this one. Electric seats sound great, but how often do you actually adjust the seat!?

 

It had to be a FL though, the PFL looks a bit plain now and the interior in a FL is miles nicer.

Thanks,  nice to hear from someone who has compromised.

 

While I came to the forum for viewpoints... I was beginning to feel as if anything other than the very best was not good enough.  I've stated time and again that I have a budget yet I feel like I'm almost getting the "hard sell" though I appreciate people are trying to impart their experience and I'm taking that advice and using it in my investigations... even if it means I compromise with eyes open about the compromise.

 

I don't need electric seats... never have seen the point of a car that's driven by only one person.

Ok - I'd like the Winter pack and the Canton... but frankly they aren't a deal breaker for me either... this car is already a set of compromises.... these I'm willing to compromise.

 

Do I need the diff..... Well I had a Golf GTD for 2 years and that was great fun.  It just had the XDS system... which is what these 230's have and although I found that a little nose heavy (diesel lump and lack of clever diff) I was sorry when it went back.  So I can live without the diff.

 

Someone here put it perfectly...."I'm willing to compromise extras for condition and low mileage."   If I can find one with a few bells and whistles... great but I don't want to pay over the odds and there are a lot of cars out there that are well over the odds.

 

 

XDS is as much use as a chocolate teapot. Good tyres, alignment, rear arb (£160) and a strut brace (£90 - genuinely, it works! first car a strut brace has done anything at all) and it's great. obviously a diff would be the icing on the cake and once I get the JB4 on it might be more of an urgent upgrade for the boy racer inside me, but it's not gonna be worth the extra for a road car at all.

 

If you can get a 230 for 2 to 3k less than a 245 it's a no brainer. Parts are dirt cheap too, even from the dealers.