I am currently a company car driver. I drive a MK4 Golf GTI T which is cheap to lease due to minimal depreciation. I have had it for a couple of years and I am bored with performance. Apart from that I can barely fault the car. I now have the option to opt out of company car scheme and run my own car. I really like scooby's, I know they cost more to run than VW's but with the extra money I will have for loosing my company car I reckon I could buy & run a 98 scooby.

I really know nothing about them, reliability, running costs, what model to go for, are they resellable at 5 years old with 100K on clock?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Nutty

 

Certainly reliable and will go on for miles.

2 things though.

Insurance can be expensive, especially if you live in a city/high risk area (possibly 4 figures even with full NCB.)Group 17. Imports more expensive still.

Petrol consumption can be heavy ( you will probably lose out if your firm operates a mileage rate based on engine size.)

Also you must have decent alarm, plus a physical security device e.g Barrier Deadlock

Don't let me put you off.

Get a UK turbo with full history, you will not look back, and if you did you would see all those Golf GTI drivers!


Ed

[This message has been edited by EdwardH (edited 23-06-2000).]

 

Nutty - I'm in the same position as you. I opted out and bought a MY98 (Model-Year) around this time last year.

IMHO - go for the Turbo, otherwise stick to something like the golf.

Mileage is a killer, expect around 20mpg. 25mpg is you really drive careful. It sounds like you do lots of miles (like me), so you may be able to string it out a bit.

Remember you can claim tax relief on running your own car - details on Inland Revenue www site. I'm claiming around £2000 this year.

Balloon type loans (where you pay a lump sum off at the end) is a popular scheme for company car drivers opting out.

Insurance for me (in centre of London, 26 years old), so probably one of highest is £1200 (not 12000, ahem!) a year.

Colour seems to have an affect on 2nd hand scoobys, so go for DBM (dark blue metalic) or Silver. 4-doors command a premium too.

For me, it costs a few grand a year (approx £2000 of my own money) to have the scooby rather than a company car. But then I get a really crappy mileage rate. I also wasn't patient enough and bought a car that was over the odds.

Hope that helps ... good luck. Whatever happens though, you're heart will make the decision rather than your brain


[This message has been edited by James Neill (edited 24-06-2000).]

 

James I hope you meant £1200 not £12000, that would be painful

 

Yeah I spotted that one as well Paul, £12000 WOW !

 

You would be NUTTY not too(HEH HEH HEH )!!!

 

Nutty, The question is'nt should you buy a scooby, It should be what scooby should i get. Go-on you only live once treat yourself.
As for reliabilaty it's Japanesse that say's enough.What model STI but i'm biased. Insurance group 20 for the STI. Running cost depends how you drive but should average 20ish.Don't worry about what it will be like in five years because it's the same as any thing if it's serviced and maintained it willgo-on indefinatly. hope this helps.rik

[This message has been edited by rik.c (edited 24-06-2000).]

 

nutty, rik c said it.

just get one ! i wondered if i could really justify 22k on a car but decided in the end i'd never forgive myself if i didnt !

i went for new uk one for peace of mind with warranty etc, esp down in the SW where there are not so many specialist dealers for STI's.

test drive a couple and make your choice.

happy driving

 

Nutty,

I was in the same shoes a few months ago and went for the Scooby. I looked at used cars first but the prices were crazy - almost the same as new. So I bought a new one - UK Turbo. I arranged the financing in such a way that I break-even with the Scoob compared to a Co car scenario (took into account car allowance, no tax on Co car benefit, cost of insurance and servicing and in my case higher compensation for business miles for a private car). If you are interested e-mail me off-line and I can give you details.

After 3.5 months of ownership and 6500 miles - still no regrets. No, actually I am more and more happy every day

Go for it, mate! You'll be thanking us later!

 

I was in exactly the same position as you last year - it seems to be quite a common "decision"!

My company scheme operates through Leaseplan, and you pay a monthly payment based on depreciation, servicing and insurance over the period. (Got mine over 4 years)
They gave me what I feel is a "pessimistic" resale value of £8000 so the scoob works out loads more than the golf. Hopefully I'll recoup a lot of cost if I sell it on at the end of the term.
I got a DBM MY99 and must say I am delighted. Fuel consumption is a killer, but reliability appears to be good, and the car is a hell of a lot more fun, even though i loved the 3 Golf Gti's I had. It gets far more attention than the Golf and loads of admiring glances and street-cred from the guys at work. Even if you only go for it once, it is worth it if you can afford it.

Differences in my view:
+'s
Performance (obviously)
Grip (you won't believe how quick it is around roundabouts)
General Ownership "Joy"
Dealers? (If JD Power is to be believed, but my VW dealer was excellent)
Street Cred
"Community" feel - most other owners give you a wave.
-'s
Fuel Consumption
An interior that marks very easily
Paint that chips when you breathe on it
Door skins of Bacofoil - park well away from anyone else in the supermarket!
Paranoia of it getting robbed (Get a disklok!)

It's a far different proposition to the Golf - more "extreme" and less refined, it's all a matter of choice.

Happy contemplation

Smudge

 

Yep....

Buy one now. I'm on my second and I also do loads of company miles but and here lies the reason for buying said motor car! Every time I drive it, I try and find an "interesting" route to go, even if it's miles out of my way and three years on, I still do this. YES, the car IS that much fun.

Could bore you for ages. Just go for it. What's the worst that can happen, you'll decide you hate it (very unlikely) and have to sell it.

Have fun... I know that I do.

 

Thank you all very much for responding. I am sure I should buy a Scooby, I just have to work out the economics.

I might try and persuade my MD that I should get an improved business mileage allowance as I will get to meetings more quickly with a Scooby!

 

Nutty,

Go for it - you won't regret it. The only downside I have experienced is the frequency with which I have to visit the petrol station, but this is soon forgotten about on the next country road.

As for model go for a UK MY99 or later if you can. For the MY99 they added the STI brakes, revamped front spoiler, big rear spoiler, upgraded lights, Phase 2 engine and, although they won't admit it, better suspension. I had a MY97 and moving to the MY99 was a welcome revelation - and I thought the MY97 was good. The MY99 was available from late 98 onwards and seems to keep its value better then its predecessors.

Good luck,

tiggers

 

Don't buy one yet,new shape to be shown in Aug or Oct.
Wait and see if it's up to the current models handling.
Price and power to be same(about) as current model.
Wait and see.

 

bumcrack?

 

Yes, isn't it!

Nutty, don't. They're terribly noisy cars and all they do is drink petrol. Their owners are all anti social anoraks who work in IT.

OK, OK you don't all work in IT. And the rest might not be true either.

Of course, what else!

 

Yeh!..erm me too..Bum crack????????

Whats that all about then???????

 

Yes.

You shouldn't have to ask the question.