Getting a car on PCP - tell me what it's all about!

[Audidriver]

Posting for traffic!

I’m looking to buy another car at some point in the near future (not at this very moment due to COVID). I have an Audi A3 which I absolutely love and would ideally like another one. As the one I have is getting older now and doing a lot of miles (which is down to my job but can’t be helped) it is starting to cause me some expensive problems.

I took this car on a HP arrangement over 5 years (in order to minimise the monthly payments) however I still have another 4 years to go and once the car is paid off I imagine it will have done at least over 12000 miles and will be 13 years old. I have to say looking back now the deal wasn’t fantastic and the APR is extremely high but I was in a rush to get it at the time as my previous car gave up on me. I'm also the 5th owner of this car so god knows how well it's been looked after.

I’ve been looking at newer ones on PCP but as I’ve always had cars on HP I have no idea what PCP involves or what’s the process.
I’ve realised that cars aren’t reliable and I really don’t want to be wasting money on something that will eventually give up on me, so I like the idea of PCP as I can trade the car in after so many years (right?)

I’ve been looking on Auto trader and found some lovely ones which are well in my budget and meet all my requirements but their only on a HP agreement. Can any car be put on PCP or is it down to the individual dealership?

Thanks for any help!

They tend to get good reviews from the motoring press

The pseudo journalists at these outlets are always creaming their pants over any German car.

Hardly unbiased or neutral.

FartingInTheFence....I am simply saying what I've read & the fact that we are on our 12th Seat vehicle as a family, with no reliability issues, makes them a pretty decent bet imho. Other people will have differing opinions no doubt but I'm just giving mine, politely.

@purdypuma

I made no reference to your personal experiences. Cool that yours works for you.

My point is that the motoring press fawn over VW-groups cars, which overall, are shit.

Global reliability results prove it. Your car might be reliable, but there will be tens of thousands of other owners, if not millions, that own VW-group garbage who will not have reliable cars.

Your aberration does not make a trend.

Buy a three year old Japanese car ( preferably ex mobility) with a loan and drive it until it dies .
Audi and BMW are two of the most unreliable car brands . People buy them for the same reason they buy Range rovers . The badge .
Buy the most basic model you can live with . Less gadgets means less can go wrong .

We’re about to enter a worldwide recession . Don’t spend money you don’t have .

My husband has a seat Ibiza 16 Years old which flys through it’s mot every time. Not sure where the sour juice come from ? But our seats been great
I’ve just got a seat Ateca
I would not buy a new car it loses too much money & not so keen on paying extra for an Audi badge
Agree is now not a good time to buy a new car?

@FartingInTheFence...I honestly don't know as to why you regard my point of view as an aberration. I am simply giving the poster my opinion on Seat vehicles based on my own & my family members experiences of the brand. Neither am I attempting to start a trend.

Just for the record, if you re-read my post you will note that my current vehicle is a Mini & not a Seat. I will be more happy to have either another Mini or Seat for my next vehicle as they are what I like & what I know.

I think you are getting way ahead of yourself looking at new cars Op.

If you are only 12 months into a 5 year agreement, and I suspect your car would already have been a couple of years old when you bought it, are you in negative equity at the moment? Do you know how much you actually owe, and do you have any fees if you exit the agreement early?

Sorry I haven't logged on in a while! Thank you for all the responses, advice and opinions - it's greatly appreciated 😊. I'm definitely interested in the Seat Ibiza's and have looked at a fair few reviews over the last week or so which seem to be good and highlight their reliability which is definitely a massive requirement as I need something reliable, especially for my job. I'm not going to rush into anything though and will keep doing my research before I make a decision. I've definitely learnt from experience that it's best not to rush into things, especially buying a car!

Just as a side note (not sure if I mentioned in my op) as a few people have asked - no I will not be buying another car for a while. It's definitely not the right time to be making such a big purchase but it's always good to get people's opinions. Thanks again 😊

@purdypuma

You might try wanting to re-read my post again. I never said you were trying to set a trend.

And if you think a BMW Mini is any better than a VW-product, you really are clueless. But then, thats evident from your posts.

Its clear you know nothing about car reliability, much less why no German car has ever topped the reliabilty charts around the globe in the last 40+ years - year after year like Japanese/Korean cars do.

OP get a new Kia. They have seven year guarantees and are great cars.

We have had everything over the years including Audis, Kias, Volvo, VW, Seat and Saab and my fave are Kia and VW by miles.

I have no idea whether my car is HP or PCP (in my defence DP works for one of the big manufacturers and deals with anything car related). I’ve been doing it since 2006 with a new car every 3 years. My payments have gone from £99 per month back then to £150 now, but I have a bigger and nicer car now.

I’ve always gone over the mileage but they’ve never been bothered if you’re swapping for a new car. I currently get 0% finance so it’s not worth buying the car outright. I also only get cars that I’d be able to afford to buy - nothing fancy. Over 14 years I’ve spent about £20K through the schemes.

FartingInTheFence...."your aberration does not make a trend"...your words not mine.

I don't know where you think I've stated that a Mini is in any way better than a Seat? I don't appreciate words being put in my mouth.

For the record I am far from clueless. I worked as a bodyshop & a service advisor in my 20's. I have been driving for 23 years & yet I am only on my 5th vehicle as I have chosen vehicles which have lasted me well with no major issues. This includes:4 x Seats, 1 x Ford & 1x Mini. This strongly suggests that I am more than capable of choosing a reliable car. Then I choose a vehicle i do my research & it took me a year to find my current car. For me a car Is never bought on impulse. I also take a mechanically knowledgeable friend to check over whichever car I am looking at.

You may well have your preference towards certain Marques of vehicles & believe that German vehicles are overrated. However that does not give the excuse to be vile & nasty towards me which you have been. There is absolutely no justification for your behaviour & I suggest that you get a grip & grow up.

Typo error...3 x Seats, 1 x Ford & 1 x Mini

@purdypuma

your aberration does not make a trend

Yes my words - still makes no reference specifically about you setting any trends. Its a generic statement.

I don't appreciate words being put in my mouth

Neither do I. Nor have I been vile and nasty. Thats your perception. It doesnt make it fact.

You may well have your preference towards certain Marques of vehicles & believe that German vehicles are overrated

My preference is totally irrelevant. The undisputed facts are there for all to see - and that that is German cars are not superior in reliability to Japanese/Korean cars.

German cars ARE shit.

@Fartinginthefence - strangely, it is also my perception, that you have been exceptionally nasty in a thread where the is absolutely no reason to be. Your language, your condescension, and your whole attitude is out of line.

This is supposed to be a helpful, chatty thread about the relative merits of one car loan over another.

If you truly think that your posts are appropriate, then I pity you. What a deeply unpleasant person you must be. Not my opinion, just based on facts in evidence.

FartingInTheFence

"And if you think a BMW mini is better than a VW product, you really are clueless. But then that's evident from your posts".
I have not at any point stated that this is the case. Yes I do percieve it as nasty & vile as you know nothing about me but yet are insulting me based on the fact that I recommended Seat cars when the poster asked about that particular marque. All because you believe Japanese/Korean cars to be better.

I have not stated in any of my comments that I believe German vehicles to be superior to Japanese/Korean. I can't truly have an opinion on vehicles I have never owned. I have driven brand new Kia's for work purposes & they were okay but I wouldn't personally have one for me. I like what I've chosen. This is you making assumptions about what think I believe in.

Your preference is clearly relevant to the post as you seem determined to bang the drum that korean/Japanese cars too the reliability surveys & that "German cars ARE shit". I know people that own German cars, Japanese, Korean, French, Swedish etc. We have all chosen what we like for ourselves. The original poster asked about Seat cars as she liked the Ibiza. I gave her an account of mine & my families experiences with the brand.

I strongly suggest that you re-read the comments that you have made. They are nasty, vile & inappropriate. That is a fact, regardless of whether you like it or not. There is a way to speak to people & to express an opposing view & you need a lesson in this, clearly.

Iborgia...thank you for your supportive words. Very much appreciated.

@lborgia

This is supposed to be a helpful, chatty thread about the relative merits of one car loan over another

Amazing how the OP found no issue with what I wrote - and my first couple of posts in this thread were specifically directed at the OP. As you rightly say, just based on facts/evidence.

But if you think I'm a bad person, then I will happily apologise unreservedly. So i hereby, apologise.

@purdypuma

Yes I do percieve it as nasty & vile as you know nothing about me but yet are insulting me based on the fact that I recommended Seat cars

Last time I will highlight this - I have denigrated German cars etc - I readily admit. I have not however, insulted you personally or directed any sort of verbal attack on you as a person or individual.

I cant influence the way you see/perceive what I have written, but again, I have not in any of my posts directed or in response to you, made any personal attacks.

Sorry that you are unable to see the wood from the trees.

Best of luck in your car search OP!