Bad News

[Autopia]

I'm glad I'm not an emo otherwise I'd be slashing my wrists right now.

After serious discussions with my financial controller (the wife) it has been decided that the R36 is an unnecessarily expensive car for us at the moment.
The wife is determined to pay down as much of the home loan as possible whilst the interest rates are low. My head knows that this is a sensible thing to do but my heart wants to declare war.
Man I'm pissed!!!!!

Looks like I need to look for an alternative now. I like the Jetta but it feels a little small. Wish we had the 147 wagon here like they do in the U.S.

I don't know where to look.

Accord Euro is a great car but gutless.
Liberty is....well a Liberty.
Holden Sportswagon is....a Holden.
Skoda Octavia doesn't have enough street cred although I do like the car.
Ford G6E Turbo is stupidly quick and it does appeal to a certain degree but the resale is ****e.

HELP!!

[Tim]

the best time to own an expensive car is when interest rates are low!

Does the financial controller own a car of her own? Sell that and buy her a bicyle

[Lance B]

I'm glad I'm not an emo otherwise I'd be slashing my wrists right now.

After serious discussions with my financial controller (the wife) it has been decided that the R36 is an unnecessarily expensive car for us at the moment.
The wife is determined to pay down as much of the home loan as possible whilst the interest rates are low. My head knows that this is a sensible thing to do but my heart wants to declare war.
Man I'm pissed!!!!!

Looks like I need to look for an alternative now. I like the Jetta but it feels a little small. Wish we had the 147 wagon here like they do in the U.S.

I don't know where to look.

Accord Euro is a great car but gutless.
Liberty is....well a Liberty.
Holden Sportswagon is....a Holden.
Skoda Octavia doesn't have enough street cred although I do like the car.
Ford G6E Turbo is stupidly quick and it does appeal to a certain degree but the resale is ****e.

HELP!!

Realistically, you will probably lose way too much money on the R36 as a trade, or even sold privately, and whatever you get for it will probably only be a little more than a new Jetta/Liberty/Holden/Skoda etc anyway, so there will be precious little to make any real impact on your home laon. I think that what you are doing is false economy unless you step way down to something much cheaper and therefore be in a position to pay off a substantial amount.

The other thing to remember is that your home loan is also cheaper than any lease or hp for when you decide to repurchase another R36(or similarly priced vehicle) in the future, so what you may save now may be more than offset by any future lease or hp purchase in the future.

What I am trying to say is that you've already done your major depreciation on the R36 once you drove it out the showroom, so I doubt that selling it off now will make much of a difference because when it comes to repurchasing the R36(or similarly priced car) at some future date the lease or hp costs will more than outstrip the home loan saving that you may get now. Another thing to remember is that you make more of an difference if you pay off big licks of your home loan when interest rates are high as this is where it makes the most impact. When interest rates are low, any extra payments make less of an impact.

I would think very seriously about what you are doing as I don't think it is all that wise *unless* you do not plan to upgrade from the hack that you decide to step down to for your next car.

[Autopia]

Realistically, you will probably lose way too much money on the R36 as a trade, or even sold privately, and whatever you get for it will probably only be a little more than a new Jetta/Liberty/Holden/Skoda etc anyway, so there will be precious little to make any real impact on your home laon. I think that what you are doing is false economy unless you step way down to something much cheaper and therefore be in a position to pay off a substantial amount.

The other thing to remember is that your home loan is also cheaper than any lease or hp for when you decide to repurchase another R36(or similarly priced vehicle) in the future, so what you may save now may be more than offset by any future lease or hp purchase in the future.

What I am trying to say is that you've already done your major depreciation on the R36 once you drove it out the showroom, so I doubt that selling it off now will make much of a difference because when it comes to repurchasing the R36(or similarly priced car) at some future date the lease or hp costs will more than outstrip the home loan saving that you may get now. Another thing to remember is that you make more of an difference if you pay off big licks of your home loan when interest rates are high as this is where it makes the most impact. When interest rates are low, any extra payments make less of an impact.

I would think very seriously about what you are doing as I don't think it is all that wise *unless* you do not plan to upgrade from the hack that you decide to step down to for your next car.

Thanks for your informative comments but perhaps you misunderstand.
I don't actually have the R36 yet so there is no money to lose.

[Black R36 Sedan 09(alfie)]

You can always keep trying with the wife..

or

Here are a few options...

Golf R32
Subaru Imprezza, Forester, STI Tuned Liberty
F6 Typhoon FPV
SS Commodore
Honda Civic Type-R sedan 4 door
Alfa Romeo 147 GTA Monza
Mini John Cooper Works R56
Saab Aero X
Mitsubishi Evo


But most importantly, what do you want.. Fast in a straight line, fast through turns and bends, european, jap, muscle and obviously BUDGET....

[Black R36 Sedan 09(alfie)]

The New Honda Legand is there as well.. Read about it mate.. its got a funky system that makes the car handle better.. I remember watching the review. However, i forgot if it was top gear uk or fifth gear..

[Black R36 Sedan 09(alfie)]

ow yea.. Audi S3 is there as well

[Autopia]

You can always keep trying with the wife..

or

Here are a few options...

Golf R32
Subaru Imprezza, Forester, STI Tuned Liberty
F6 Typhoon FPV
SS Commodore
Honda Civic Type-R sedan 4 door
Alfa Romeo 147 GTA Monza
Mini John Cooper Works R56
Saab Aero X
Mitsubishi Evo


But most importantly, what do you want.. Fast in a straight line, fast through turns and bends, european, jap, muscle and obviously BUDGET....

We spoke about it long and hard and deep down I know she's right.

The budget is now no more than $55K. Most of the cars you've listed above are too expensive. There are only a few that will fit into the price point once all discounts are considered. The most difficult thing for me is to find a car that provides the same kind of rush you get from driving a R36 without getting into a V8.
The G6E turbo, Jetta 147 and Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart are all I can think of that I might like.
The Lancer has the SST gearbox, AWD and a turbo engine that you can ECU tune for some big power.
The Jetta has DSG and turbo but the whole front wheel drive thing is something I was hoping to get away from. Although when I drove it a while ago it does go pretty damn hard. Jam in an ECU tune, full exhaust and bodykit and it'd probably beat an R36 in a straight line

Decisions decisions.

[Rocket36]

HELP!!

Ditch the bitch, buy an R36!

[Jayse]

Ditch the bitch, buy an R36!

Rocket might be onto something..divorce could be the cheaper option...

Nah man, sorry to hear this happen to you..i know people are doing it tough out there...good luck with your search though.

The new Mk6 GTI or R20T coming out maybe??? Not sure if they're too small for your needs though?!!

Cheers,

Jayse.

[Autopia]

Ditch the bitch, buy an R36!

I knew somebody would tell it straight.

[GHW]

I know you say "a Liberty is well..a Liberty" but for your $55k you could get either a 3.0RB wagon or likely atm a GT if you hammer hard enough, it's an outgoing model so there's bound to be bargains.
No it's not an R36 and no it isn't European but here's my experience;
Cheap to run
Cheap cheap cheap to service (av $200)
(in my case) extremely reliable
Better than most for resale (even in this climate it's fairing o.k)

I've just ordered my R36, it drives better, it's more powerful, the interiors nicer but so it should be for the extra $$$$
The Liberty has been an excellent car and much better than my previous A4TQ in every respect bar interior so don't right it off so easily!
I would say there isn't much around in a family wagon with AWD, decent power for the $$$ that would touch it or maybe you should look at a new Skoda? looks very well priced for what you get (not sure how resale would go on one of these though)
my2c FWIW

[passatpout]

At the risk of sounding a plod, how about just a normal Passat? Still gives you 90% of what you're after, saves the dollars, and while it's not going to keep up with an HSV or FPV, it'll stick with an ordinary Falcodore.

Then, after you buy it, take it and get it chipped to get the performance back up to where you want it...

[Lance B]

At the risk of sounding a plod, how about just a normal Passat? Still gives you 90% of what you're after, saves the dollars, and while it's not going to keep up with an HSV or FPV, it'll stick with an ordinary Falcodore.

Then, after you buy it, take it and get it chipped to get the performance back up to where you want it...

Good idea!! A standard 3.2lt V6 Passat may be an option.

[Lance B]

Thanks for your informative comments but perhaps you misunderstand.
I don't actually have the R36 yet so there is no money to lose.

Yes, I am sorry, I did misunderstand.

It is a shame that this didn't come up earlier as I had my 3.2lt V6 4 Motion wagon for trade a month back when I obtained my R36. Only 33,000kms and never raced or rolled. My trade in price would have pleased you.