I've had my 306 Gti 6 about a year now. I really enjoy it at times but at others I don't.

I bought it when I was part of the whole modified "scene" which recently I've decided to get out of due to continual b*tching and other problems, in all honesty I haven't enjoyed the whole modifying thing for about a year and a half now as IMO its become about being a face on the scene rather than about the cars as it used to be.

I do enjoy my 6 its a nice quick car and handles well and this weekend I went to York and had quite an enjoyable drive there and back. Its the GTi version so it has leather and is fairly comfy as a result.

However my circumstances will be changing soon, me and my girlfriend are wanting a house before the year is out and I feel the need to get something more sensible and have been looking at MK1 skoda octavia VRS's my thinking behind this is that my 6 is 10 years old its done 110,000 miles and its getting on a bit, its still a good car but I get the feeling its going to cost me more and more to keep on the road. Plus the octavia will last me a few years and in that time I'll probably end up becoming a daddy and the octavia has the added practicality of rear doors and a huuuuuuuuge boot but its still a good, quick car.

What would you do in my situation? I could extend the loan I have and get a octy but is getting into more debt just before buying a house a good idea? I've worked out budgets and can afford it but would more debt against my name affect the way that someone potentially giving me a mortgage will view me?

Should I get the skoda and have a more sensible car or should I keep the 6 and carry on being anti social (it has a loud exhaust amongst other "mods" )

I'd keep the 6, and maybe put a quieter zorst on it.

Time enough to look at a vRS (or an L&K TDi) when you've someone to put in the back. Meantime you'll have a bit more free cash to come and go with.

Worth getting some mortgage quotes with and without the loan in place. The loan will affect your "affordability" results and banks have a fixed way of working out if you can afford it.

It will also depend what reg Octy you're looking at and how much the loan would be for - if it's an Octy outside warranty, there's nothing to say it's going to be any more reliable than the 6 and then you'll need to find extra money on top of the loan to repair it.

Lots of questions, but worth working out some scenarios - Cheap loans | mortgages | credit cards | home & car insurance - moneysupermarket.com is a good source

Chris

306 is cheap to service, esp if you DIY.

I'd probably pay a local garage to give the brakes, and everything a health check and then put a quiter exhaust on yours. Spotting the problem before it gets to anything serious can save you ££'s

The tyres on a 306 are cheaper, there is no turbo to go wrong, the thing is simpler as a whole.

Comming from a modified 306 (I assume suspension too) I think you would be very disapointed in the handling of a MK I Octy VRS and want to modify that too.

Thanks for the advice, I'll be keeping the 306 for now and if I'm keeping it, well I may as well keep the exhaust on it, it does sound good and if I get rid of it I know I'll miss it I think I'll wait a couple of years until the price of the MKII octy comes down a bit and get one then and since my GTi-6 will by then be worth about as much as a packet of wotsits I can keep it as a track car ... I just need to convince my mrs that thats a good idea lol.