new or used multivan

[arif]

Hi all

I am in the market for a multivan for the family and have to decide between a new van (comfortline 340 wih electric doors) or a 2010 model highline on 49000 km (approx) I think I can get the highline for just under $50000 and the new with electric doors and tinted windows costs jjust undder $55000.


I feel like I should go with the used highline but want to know if there is anything specific that would make that a bad idea (assuming the car has been serviced and well kept and gets good NRMA inspection report)

Any ideas or information would be most appreciated.

Thanks guys and girls

[IN2VWS]

IMO, I would go for the new van @ $55k. Mainly for the peace of mind with the warranty.
Also, Is the new and the used prices quoted, drive away prices? If not, you can at least another $2k on top.

[Transporter]

So, almost 4 years or already 4 years old van with 50,000km on it, for a sake of just $5,000 ?

It's not brainer, I would buy a new one.

It will last you longer and in the 4 years time, you will have the van that is 4 years old not 8 and you should get more for it than for the 8 year old one (certainly more than $5000). Should you decide to upgrade.

[arif]

Thanks guys

so the fact that the used is a highline and the new one is a comfortline is not a big enough deal to make a difference? our main need is the electric doors and the comfortline does have them I can add the navigation radio so that only leaves the leather and the seats and 400 engine as a significant difference

[Sunny43.5]

One thing just ask the dealer how old the navigation software is , some VW owners have been complaining that the software in 2013 VW is up to 3 years old and they want $700 for an update . Leather is a nice option as long as you have kids who behave and keep you up the maintenance , trust me on this one as I am a motor trimmer with over 40 years experience and for me I would never fit leather into a car . The environment is just too harsh well maybe for us Qld people , also watch out for dealer fitted leather as opposed to the leather that comes from the factory . There is a huge market that has grown up around leather conversions in Australia and again with very close contact with at least 3 companies here in Brisbane who do the conversions I can say without fear that the quality is at best ordinary compared to the European stuff , all the kits that are dealer fitted here in SE Qld come from Thailand or some other Asian country so buyer beware . There is no substitute for quality leather sourced from Europe as in my old business we sourced all of our leather back in the 80's and 90's from Europe only . The best comparison of quality is that European leather sold by the square metre was around $160 if you add up nearly 10 metres for a car $1600 then the labour to fabricate covers nearly two days the average cost for us to do a conversion was around $2400 with door trims etc . The Asian kits only cost the companies here around $1100 completely made up and only need to be fitted so the dealer will pay around $1650 and you will pay between $2500 and $3000 so the mark up is huge .

[IN2VWS]

What do you plan to do with the van, tow heavy trailers etc.? If no, then the 103kw engine will be fine.

There haven't been many major problems with this series of the T5, except the EGR valves failing. If you had to pay to get it replaced at VW, you will be up for approx. $2500-$3000. A new van will be under warranty, so it won't cost you a cent to get it replaced.

[arif]

Thanks Guys

It looks like 'that little bit of luxury' is slipping through my fingers before I even experience it

[Sunny43.5]

Hey don't let my comments put you off , if leather is what you desire go for it I only wanted to let you in on some industry tricks . The one thing is never let a dealer upsell you on anything you probably can source from an outside supplier yourself .

[arif]

Hi Sunny 43.5 its not just your comments it seems the consensus is I am much better off buying new. the seats in the highline aas faar as I know are factory fitted leather, but I was considering aftermarket leather with the comfortline so I appreciate the info

Hey don't let my comments put you off , if leather is what you desire go for it I only wanted to let you in on some industry tricks . The one thing is never let a dealer upsell you on anything you probably can source from an outside supplier yourself .

[Sunny43.5]

No problem hope you enjoy your ride keep us up to date with progress . Oh yes as was told go for new get the comfort of a warranty for 3 years .

[Freo Boy]

Just a little thing that you may not know that may let you get what you want in terms of those luxury items for your price range.
I had just the same issues as you and probably did the same as you haggled with the dealer re price.
Where I work allows me to salary package a vehicle as part of my salary, having done this before and worked out the math it wasn't an appealing option!!!
However if you are eligible to do so, you are also eligible to get "fleet" discount. This is how it works, when you salary package a car the company you deal with arranges a fleet discount with VW you then pay all there fees etc and a standard rate of repayments, the story goes on.
You can do this yourself, I got a letter (the VW garage have a formatted letter for you to use) from my employer to say I'm "eligible" for salary packaging my cay and thus a fleet discount.
I took this to the VW garage and they send this to VW as proof of how they justify their discount.
Thus my 2013 multivan which should have cost $57,000 end up at $48,000.
I don't know where you work but it may be worth enquiring if you are eligible???

[arif]

thanks Freo Boy my workplace goes through sgfleet and the $55000 price for the new car is thee fleet price sgfleet got through its tendering. also why did you feel the packaging is not worth it? I don't get the math but everybody keeps telling me it is worth it.

[Freo Boy]

It's only worth it if you do lots of k's, really about in excess of 25,000 per year then it brings down your tax threshold according to your earnings.
The reason I didn't go with it is that when I looked at the package including the rego, insurance and service costs I found that I could negotiate this cheaper myself especially when you use the fuel savers from the supermarkets.
The too big things why I didn't go for one again after my last lease, were that I could negotiate a better deal on finance than the salary package people, I got rate of 6.5% fixed for 5 years(be careful to negotiate the fixed rate deal with VW and not go down the road of their 0% option as all they do is stick another $5,000 on to the cost of there car to cover the interest costs, it's a con essentially but it looks good!! . The salary people could only get to 9% variable. Also when you finish your lease you have a balloon payment to own the car if you want to. Usually about $15,000 on a $55,000 car over 5 years. With my rate using VW finance I will own the car outright after the 5 year period.
So all in all although you may save $8000 in tax savings but you will be worse off over the 5 years by about $10,000 net and you won't own the car. Which if you wanted to would still be worth about $30,000 give or take. Also if you wanted to change jobs in the lease period you wouldn't be faced with paying out the total price of the loan to the lease company, remember that you don't get the full value of the monies you have paid until the end of the lease period.
If thou have got a good accountant its worth showing them the lease costs and they will explain if it's worth your while.
hope this helps??

[arif]

Thanks Freo Boy

I will check with an accountant.

It's only worth it if you do lots of k's, really about in excess of 25,000 per year then it brings down your tax threshold according to your earnings.
The reason I didn't go with it is that when I looked at the package including the rego, insurance and service costs I found that I could negotiate this cheaper myself especially when you use the fuel savers from the supermarkets.
The too big things why I didn't go for one again after my last lease, were that I could negotiate a better deal on finance than the salary package people, I got rate of 6.5% fixed for 5 years(be careful to negotiate the fixed rate deal with VW and not go down the road of their 0% option as all they do is stick another $5,000 on to the cost of there car to cover the interest costs, it's a con essentially but it looks good!! . The salary people could only get to 9% variable. Also when you finish your lease you have a balloon payment to own the car if you want to. Usually about $15,000 on a $55,000 car over 5 years. With my rate using VW finance I will own the car outright after the 5 year period.
So all in all although you may save $8000 in tax savings but you will be worse off over the 5 years by about $10,000 net and you won't own the car. Which if you wanted to would still be worth about $30,000 give or take. Also if you wanted to change jobs in the lease period you wouldn't be faced with paying out the total price of the loan to the lease company, remember that you don't get the full value of the monies you have paid until the end of the lease period.
If thou have got a good accountant its worth showing them the lease costs and they will explain if it's worth your while.
hope this helps??

[Tig-uan]

another thing to support the 'new' case is that VAG do running updates to common components all the time without particular annoucements. For example, when a new-design airbag sensor comes out, it goes into airbags for entire model range. Thus a newer car can have a bunch of newer generation parts throughout, whereas seemingly the same model of a few years ago is running with the older parts.