Golf R

No, only seen video reviews and heard them drive past.   I think I'll have a go in the new one when it's launched, as it's the only small hatchback that I think I could be interested in. 

Our local VW dealer has a dark grey R estate 2020 model with 4k miles up for £35k. Given the new model is now out that's a pretty strong price.

Was passed by an A35 AMG in black on my way home from Edinburgh tonight. Very understated compared to the A45 variety, and the first time I've looked at one and thought "yes, that looks good".

I've just had an email through from Listers about VWs 'All In' plan, which includes 2 years extended warranty (£0 excess), 2 years breakdown cover, 2 x services and 2 x MOTs.

All that for £25.08 a month, so £602. We paid just under £400 for 1 years Warranty last year and it's just under 50% of a years warranty/breakdown for my car.

Bit too long term for me, but that's a bargain.

Yes, a couple of exceptions as you'd expect (wear and tear), but pretty good and zero excess. 

Very good value.

I have just reached the end of my warranty and took a year's extended warranty with BMW which cost £800 with a £250 excess but it is all inclusive incl hire car and recovery if required. Without the excess it was over £1,100 which seems a bit daft unless they expect more than one claim a year (in which case it will be sold!)

So do I.  I have very little interest in the new Golf R.

5 years old today, the longest we've ever kept a car by 6 months. It had an minor service and MOT last week, £211 all in, so another cheap year as I didn't end up extending the warranty last year as I thought we were bound to change it.

Good point.  Doesn’t feel like an upgrade to me either.

Looks very tidy and must be a rarity in not being ragged to death!

Looks in better condition than ones half its age.

Is that Radio 1 on the screen? Keepin' down wiv' da kids eh? I think you need to tune to radio 2, have a National Trust sticker in the window and a blanket on the rear parcel shelf top get the best price offer.

The Motorway auction has finished, it only went on at 7pm yesterday and finished at 3:30 today.

It’s due a service and MOT in 2 weeks, it’s booked into the local dealer to get that done but rightly or wrongly we decided to sell it now. It’s also had a chip on the windscreen which has been there for 5 years but it’s really low down below the level of the dashboard meaning you can see it, so we were waiting for another one before replacing the screen. When we listed it; they reduced the estimated sale price from £18,279 to £17,970 because of the screen and how close it was to needing a service/MOT.  

As the service/mot/screen excess would have been over £300 that seemed fair. As that was based on a more standard car (they pick up leather and upgraded sound system only), I was hopefully it would get up to around £18,500.

I was wrong, it sold for £19,690 to a dealer in High Wycombe!

If I add on what we’ve saved not getting the service done, that’s a total depreciation of £14.4k over 71 months or £204 a month.  Will have a look at the other costs at some point, but that’s not a lot at all.    It hasn’t had any issues at all in nearly £60k miles (not even a rattle) and thanks to running winter tyres, has only needed one new set.  The brakes are original, so no costs other than fuel, servicing, insurance and tyres.

I’ll say it again. It’s a great car.

Someone will be getting a very well looked after car

. You only ever see Lapiz but that blue you have Martin is a great colour

That would be my perfect spec (apart from the Leather as I prefer the fabric)

Lindsay spoke to the dealer in High Wycombe who bought the car yesterday. I didn’t know this, but with Motorway it’s a blind auction, you just submit your best and final bid and have no idea what the other bids are or even if there are other bidders.

He’s really happy with the ‘win’ though and thinks it will sell easily / quickly.