The obvious choice or not ?

SilverSpider

SilverSpider

SilverSpider

Associate
Joined
7 Dec 2005
Posts
122
Hi,


If these two cars were to cost you the same per month on a 2 year lease ...


Peugeot 208 GTi Prestige or VW Scirocco GT BMT 180 PS Manual


... Is the VW the 'no brainer' choice ?

Would I be crazy to take the 208 GTi despite it being quicker to 60mph and having some more kit that we would enjoy as a family (Panoramic glass roof for summer drives, heated seats for winter mornings)


I'm not a natural or mechanically gifted 'car guy' despite loving so many different cars from an aesthetic or aural standpoint or even if it's chucking them around tracks in videogame form.

I am now at a stage were I'm a bit worn out mentally and have spent the last month and more using my weekends and spare time researching and trying to figure out my next car choice after testing the Fiesta Zetec S 140, Fiesta ST3, Suzuki Swift Sport, 116i, Focus Zetec S, 208 GTi, Volvo C30 R Design (not in this order - plans changed with different options of ownership methods and research)

As well as considering others Leon, Octavia, Used Type R etc. doing sums and speaking to dealers locally and through CarWow and DTD and seeing that they can't seem to get near lease monthly prices on PCP even with me stumping up a decent deposit and also realising their own lease prices are astronomical.

My missus is fed up and wants me to decide, family and work colleagues cant believe its a difficult process - basically the pressure is on to decide and just when I thought I had settled on the 208 GTi Prestige for 2 years ....

I get offered the VW at the last second, I haven't obviously considered this car upto now or sat in it or test drove it like I have the 208 GTi. Is it the obvious more 'refined' badge snob option or should I go for the Pug with it's smaller frame and faster speed and couple more options like glass roof.

Missus wants me to decide as this is my car but a second car, I can tell she favours the VW even though she liked the 208 GTi (she hated the Fiesta ST3) but thinks I would be daft not to go for the bigger and more expensive car.

As a little added perpsective, I am coming from an '06 Focus 1.8 TDCi that I fell out of love with some time ago despite driving it for the last 7 yrs. I now have no desire to 'own' a car and instead will lease every 2 years from now on.

The clock is ticking ... What to do OcUK ?

Thanks for your time
 
I'd say choose the 208GTi as its meant to be a really good hot hatch. The Scirocco is quite an old car underneath and I wouldn't see it being a great deal more practical. Plus has less kit
 
what is your budget / requirements?

didn't think that 208 and VW were even at the same price point, if you're leasing then surely there are better alternatives for similar money? not considered a MK7GTI, closest alternative to the Scirocco.

Given what you've shortlisted, its likely that whatever you choose will feel quick enough and offer sufficient driving pleasure discounting the significance of its 0-60.
 
Is the deposit on both the same? It's not the monthly cost that matters, it's the total. You can add all the payments up, including the advanced rental then divide by the number of months for a true monthly cost if it helps you work it out.
 
I have a bog standard 208gti and it's lovely, it handles great and the power is lovely for something so little.

However the speakers are awful, they are as thin as 2 sheets of paper, I ripped mine out and upgraded them.

Also the head lights are awful, I've changed the bulbs for nice ones, but the refelctors are hopeless.
 
xs2man said:
Golf R Estate is on £200 per month lease just now (9+23).
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Stop quoting headline rates, they are really misleading. £200 per month on a 9+23 is really £275 a month.

Otherwise we might as well just say the BMW M6 is only £10 a month a right now with a £80k deposit :p
 
[TW]Fox;29372717 said:
Stop quoting headline rates, they are really misleading. £200 per month on a 9+23 is really £275 a month.

Otherwise we might as well just say the BMW M6 is only £10 a month a right now with a £80k deposit :p
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To be fair, this is the first time I've posted such a deal. And moreover, I did actually post the deposit contribution too, so actually quoted the full cost. Not JUST some misleading headline figure. I posted both the monthly cost and the deposit. If someone wants to work out the average monthly cost, that's up to them. I prefer to know the total cost personally, hence stating the deposit too. It's EXACTLY the same information.

So, err. Do one, with your pedantry.

It's not like I posted an M6 for £10 as you suggested, missing out the repayment schedule (8000 + 23). It is, in fact, completely different. Since all the info is there.

At least it was more info than the OP posted. He said nothing about how much per month, or deposit size.

And is £275 per month really that bad on a Golf R Estate? I suspect it would depreciate faster than that. Certainly any finance quote I've ever had suggests so.
 
iaind said:
Is the deposit on both the same? It's not the monthly cost that matters, it's the total. You can add all the payments up, including the advanced rental then divide by the number of months for a true monthly cost if it helps you work it out.
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Yip ... (deposit+however many months+admin fee then divided by 24/36 = true monthly cost)

Thanks, this is what I have been doing from early on, which is why I was so shocked at PCP deals even after negotiating a big chunk off the RRP (upto £4k on some cars like the ST3) but then even with a good low APR (Ford 0.9%) dealers just set the GMFV so low that you are still covering massive depreciation over a 2yr term and the numbers still can't get near leasing even with the PCP being spread over the dealer preffered 3yr term. They make no financial sense if you plan to hand back, walk away and try another brand/car for your next 2 years.

I've basically wasted a bit of time learning all this but have gone from knowing very little about buying/leasing/car finance a month ago to feeling like I am a lot more confident and have my numbers right on how it all works and how some models have such rapid depreciation that they should only be considered on lease if you want to change car often.


My budget is self imposed but flexible to a degree (£200-250) a month total cost at present. I could afford more but will only use the car a few days a week, the odd school run twice a week with one child and I only have a short commute to work myself. Being a 2nd car I don't want to spend too much a month on it only to look out the window or walk past it on the days not using it and think I am being seriously wasteful with money.

I have only had one car, the Focus diesel and have only done (17k) in it in 7 years due to many factors but I have enjoyed low cost motoring for all that time and things are financially sound in our life. So why not spend some spare monthly cash so I can fall in love with driving again (or for the first time as some might see it). A part of me still feels like a new driver due to owning one boring car all this time and doing low mileage.

Thanks for all replies - please keep them coming.
 
xs2man said:
Then that's their fault.

£275 per month is also misleading, as that doesn't actually state the repayment schedule.
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No, but it is what it actually ends up costing you over the term which is surely way more relevant.

Too many people let low monthly payments fool them into a deal where the overall cost is high. Not so much the case with the Golf r but it's a good principle to always include the amortized monthly cost.
 
Diagro said:
208Gti with all the toys.

That would be my choice.
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Not really worth putting all the toys on a 2 year lease. It will massively impact the monthly cost as the full cost of options are spread over the 2 years. If you want a fully loaded motor, you basically have to buy it. Over a 4 year lease it might not be so bad, and more comparable with a PCP or the like, but even then, probably not. And 4 year leases are generally terrible value for money anyway.
 
xs2man said:
Not really worth putting all the toys on a 2 year lease. It will massively impact the monthly cost as the full cost of options are spread over the 2 years. If you want a fully loaded motor, you basically have to buy it. Over a 4 year lease it might not be so bad, and more comparable with a PCP or the like, but even then, probably not. And 4 year leases are generally terrible value for money anyway.
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To be fair to him the 208 GTi Prestige comes standard with all the toys - apart from a £70 centre armrest I would want.

But yeah your point totally stands in relation to the Scirocco - it's £9 a month to choose paint and if I stuck other options like Xenon lights and glass roof etc, it tends to get silly and then there is the wait for factory order also to factor in.
 
I do like the 208 after sitting in one! IMO they're pretty nice inside and look great on the outside and to be honest, I'm a bit bored of Sciroccos.
 
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