118 tsi best driveaway price?

[MaccaTSI]

I drove the Maxx Sport prior to buying my 118TSI as well.

Maxx Sport is a great little car, but the Golf just feels classy and expensive while still being sporty and fun to drive.

The interior is just so far above anything else in its class. Honestly, even my Dad's SLK 350 interior doesn't feel as nice since we got the Golf and it's the limited edition Designo version with all the extras and nice bits (I haven't told him that yet hehe)

Also, another point when comparing the cars is servicing. I'm not sure what the Mazda costs or how regular the service interval is, but the first Golf service is 1yr/15,000km and I'm pretty sure it keeps going at that interval..

[Frankenstrat]

Nicandlance, what you're going through is a classic head vs heart debate. Head says Mazda, heart says Golf.

If you compare the previous model Mazda3 with the Golf MkVI it's a really tough call. However the current Mazda3 is as ugly as sin, that grinning mouth makes it look like a cartoon car.

And the winner is... Heart by the narrowest of margins.

[DGR]

Yes I'm a manual girl...like to 'drive' a car! (and like you, I am also on the Mazda forum)
I have driven the 118tsi - excellent. The performance is so much better than the Mazda, but Mazda reliability seems to be better (we also have a 10 year old Astina - excellent car, and never a problem). Mazda also offer many more things as standard - particularly on the maxx sport.
It's so confusing!!! Growwwllll!

Have you driven the SP25? So far I've tried a 2.0litre Mazda 3 and the 90TSI, but of course if you're thinking 118TSI then only the SP25 is a fair comparison and about the same price too.
Test driving is loads of fun, so make sure you try them all!

And while it's confusing, it's nice confusing... like choosing which Tim Tams to buy in the supermarket...

Nicandlance, what you're going through is a classic head vs heart debate. Head says Mazda, heart says Golf.

If you compare the previous model Mazda3 with the Golf MkVI it's a really tough call. However the current Mazda3 is as ugly as sin, that grinning mouth makes it look like a cartoon car.

And the winner is... Heart by the narrowest of margins.

Yeah, I kind of agree, although I'd always thought of head saying Golf (more fuel efficient, more traditional design) and heart saying Mazda (sexier and more fun)....... proving again how close the decision is!

I wish more people would choose Golfs in colours other than white and silver though. Round my way it's like they don't make them. And red is faster!!!

[pologti18t]

The MAzda has 6 monthly servicing...

[Frankenstrat]

DGR, while I agree that red cars certainly do go a lot faster, white is the more sensible choice in our climate *if* the vehicle has to sit in the open for long periods.

You may not have noticed, but red fades faster than any other colour (the term is 'fugitive'). Just look at any older signs around town and you'll see the red paint fading quicker than any other colour. The sign on the front of the building where I work in Rockingham is a good example.

Maybe that's why you guys in red cars have to drive them so fast, because in a year or two's time it will have faded to grey!

[soogs]

DGR, surely u didn't have timtams in the UK? When I spent some there years ago all they had was those awful digestive biscuits.

BTW the Golf's new red is rather nice.

Frank, I think it's the non-metallic reds that tend to fade.

[Frankenstrat]

DGR, surely u didn't have timtams in the UK? When I spent some there years ago all they had was those awful digestive biscuits.

Over there they have Penguin biscuits that are similar to TimTams. Nowhere near as tasty, of course.

Frank, I think it's the non-metallic reds that tend to fade.

My post was made tongue in cheek with respect to red cars, I would expect that duco paints are UV stabilised.

[PassatB6]

Its all about technology. VW use it when its new and cutting edge and if you want cutting edge technology you have to expect some teething problems. If you want to wait until it trickle down to Mazda you can get better sorted tech but 3 yrs + behind the leaders. Its up to you.

But don't think a Mazda 3 is new tech its old tech with a new body.

[Brendan_A]

Its all about technology. VW use it when its new and cutting edge and if you want cutting edge technology you have to expect some teething problems. If you want to wait until it trickle down to Mazda you can get better sorted tech but 3 yrs + behind the leaders. Its up to you.

But don't think a Mazda 3 is new tech its old tech with a new body.

Your right about that mate!! I was talking to my local VW specialist and he said the same thing.

[nicandlance]

Nicandlance, what you're going through is a classic head vs heart debate. Head says Mazda, heart says Golf.

If you compare the previous model Mazda3 with the Golf MkVI it's a really tough call. However the current Mazda3 is as ugly as sin, that grinning mouth makes it look like a cartoon car.

And the winner is... Heart by the narrowest of margins.

I can see where you're coming from but having owned a 2006 beetle, the cartoon face is not an issue for me. I actually like it and think it looks sporty and fun.
Unfortunately, going with your heart is not always the best option - particularly when I had so many issues initially with my beetle..... that was a heart decision, and I regretted it for some time (although I do love my buggy, the quality is missing in some areas, and I went through a VERY frustrating stage of taking it back to the dealer 12-14 times for them to pinpoint and get rid of an annoying groan that came and went when I accelerated)
Back and forwards, back and forwards I go....

[Corey_R]

Yeah, but the Beetle has a 'cute cartoon face' whereas the Mazda 3 is just a 'ridiculous ugly cartoon face'. The Mazda 3MP3 even more ridiculous and ugly!

The Beetle has long been critised for it's sketchy quality and reliability...

[Frankenstrat]

I spotted a white Mazda3 on the freeway this morning heading in the opposite direction to me. Yep, cartoon ugly is the best way to describe it. Ironically some minutes before I had been overtaken by two of the previous model Mazda3s (one dark blue, the other a kind of greyish-bronze) and they are far and away better looking than the current abomination. Not that I'm trying to put you off Nicandlance, no not me, not on a VeeDub forum!

Personally I happen to think VW dropped the ball when they introduced the 'new' Beetle. The only thing it has in common with the classic air-cooled flat-4 rear-engine model is a vaguely similar shape. Dr Willi Porsche knew what he was doing when he designed The People's Car.

[Dubya]

Hoping to have changeover at no more than $16,000. Does this sound reasonable, and has anyone bought similar?

It is usually better to negotiate the best price you can on a "cash, no trade" basis before asking for a valuation on any trade-in. After the best purchase price has been offered, the offer on the trade-in should equal its wholesale value as anything more would amount to a discount on the car being acquired.

But if there is no subsidy, you will know how much the dealer is really prepared to pay for your trade-in. If low, it might warrant selling your car privately instead.

Car buyers are often swayed towards deals that include trade-in prices that look generous having been inflated courtesy very little discount on the object of desire, it being virtually impossible to get a steep discount and a generous trade-in.

If you are willing and able to sell your car privately, you will generally achieve a higher price than the wholesale price (which the dealer is really offering) and have more scope to negotiate a better price on the car you're buying.

[tazza]

This what I Got

Trying to strike a deal this week.

The Best I got for VW Golf 118TSI:
118 TSI RRP:::::::::::::::::$32990
Sunroof::::::::::::::::::::::$1900
Bluetooth::::::::::::::::::::$1000
MDI w/cable::::::::::::::::::$330
Rear Veiw Camera:::::::::::$500
SatNav w/ DynAudio::::::::$4000
Leather Seats:::::::::::::::$3300
Fog Lights:::::::::::::::::::$400
Metallic Paint::::::::::::::::$700
----------------------------------
Total::::::::::::::::::::::::$45100 plus ORC($4000)

got the dealer down to 45k driveaway......
Reckon I can do better?

[logger]

Trying to strike a deal this week.

The Best I got for VW Golf 118TSI:
118 TSI RRP:::::::::::::::::$32990
Sunroof::::::::::::::::::::::$1900
Bluetooth::::::::::::::::::::$1000
MDI w/cable::::::::::::::::::$330
Rear Veiw Camera:::::::::::$500
SatNav w/ DynAudio::::::::$4000
Leather Seats:::::::::::::::$3300
Fog Lights:::::::::::::::::::$400
Metallic Paint::::::::::::::::$700
----------------------------------
Total::::::::::::::::::::::::$45100 plus ORC($4000)

got the dealer down to 45k driveaway......
Reckon I can do better?

Dunno, but if you are currently looking at paying 45100 + 4000 = $49100 there is plenty of room to move. That is way over the odds. Check out the MK 6 spreadsheet and see what others are paying. Even your $32990 for a basic 118TSI is way over best price. You can get one with 118TSI DSG7 for that or a lot less with corp. discount.