Cars & Motorbikes Let's talk cars... 2019

{Note from mods - this thread continues from here: Let's talk cars... 2018 [Cars & Motorbikes]}

Wow... that is more than my car was!

Reckon I've got a fair idea on what it is now

 

To

Any clues on the mystery car. I would love to see a $153k discount on a car.

 

Nice thoughts Tom, I tested a 230 manual Octavia RS and found interior was nice, badly needed a front LSD as you just spun up the front wheels as soon as you put the foot down our of roundabouts etc. (solved on the 245) but now manuals no longer available new from 2019 as per all VW product (GTI, R) with only the very ordinary DSG left.
Couldn’t go there so went with the Focus RS Ltd Editiion, faster and more space but a lot more basic inside. Gets surprising amount of attention from punters. Great sound too.
Good luck with the Megane!

 

Funny you mention the power down- I'd never driven a FWD with an LSD before the RS245, and didn't even realise it had an LSD at the time. It only occurred to me later that the 'slingshot' effect out of corners I wasn't used to was the magic of a slippy diff.

I definitely notice when a bright blue Focus RS goes past! Seems a bit of a level up from the Octavia though? Did you consider other options like the Golf R, WRX STI, Meg RS, 308GTI270, Civic Type R, i30N, etc?

 

I did fair bit of research and wasn’t too keen on just FWD, but tested the Octavia as it was easy to get access to. Checked out Golf R manual but was a bit too small for boot space which i needed for cricket bags and occasional pram. STI was a bit tired & wasn’t too keen on the Frenchies.
Checked out the Civic R based on motor reviews but couldn’t bring myself to live with the looks.
I30N seems to have very good reports but was a slight level down based on $ available for company car.
Also tested the Kia Stinger GT twin turbo and very impressed but not as much grin & fun factor.
Test drove the Focus RS Ltd edtn and came back grinning like a loon and with the fun factor thought I have to have one of these.
As I said more basic interior than golf R but more crazy fun and quicker with a bit more space which i needed. A manual Golf R wagon if they were available would have gone very close.

Enjoy your wheels!

 

hot hatch now focus rs is def the pick.. unless u can live with the civic looks..for that money another thing i would consider is a commie.. a v8 not the opel crap.. not the same size but same "money".

 

I've got my R booked in for a Sachs organic clutch and APR Stage 1 upgrade in two weeks time. Should unleash the beast a bit more!

 

Is it ever financially sensible to lease a car, or is it better to buy a cheaper car with cash?

 

Of course - but you'd need to do the numbers in both scenarios. In most instances buying the cheapest car possible with cash would work out to be the cheapest option but it depends on a heap of variables. Financing can work if you have use for the capital elsewhere.

 

I've been wondering about this. Several smart & wealthy people I know choose to finance/lease cars they could easily have bought with cash. (Accordingly, a car you can't afford to pay cash for is frankly out of your budget, finance or not)

It seems to basically boil down to whether you have an impending investment opportunity that requires x capital and y serviceability. The biggest advantage of car finance to myself in particular is having a few extra $100k ready to take advantage of what looks to be a year of opportunities in equity markets.

 

I've been brought up on the idea if you can't pay cash for it, you can't afford it, but leasing something affordable and keeping cash for potential bargains this year does make a lot of sense. Time to fire up the calculator and play with numbers.

 

with depreciating assets.. i only see it one way.
always pay cash.

not sure how many people can actually beat the interest you pay on a car, (unless ur on toyota style 0% int) then why pay cash ?

tax deductable via work or not .

 

Which I just did... this morning

Ended up passing on the dream car opportunity and getting a fettled Lotus instead. Here it is stock, Simply Sports Cars are working on it now adding a larger supercharger, intercooler and rear wing.

Shakedown booked in at SMSP 23rd January

 

very nice.. im 6ft and 105kg... u think i'll fit.. ? i tried elise.. no way

exige have the same chasis just different engine and setup?

 

I think you'll fit, they're quite roomy once you're in, but the trick is getting in in the first place. Fitting with a helmet might be tricky though. I'm 5'9" and have 4" headroom maybe more. My car has a custom carbon fibre hardtop which might be helping though.



The tub is the same I think, but the subframes, engine and suspension would all be different.

 

damn.. those open gear shift..

naise.

 

I pay cash for cars. Be wary of these 0% loans.

 

They make up for it in the higher price you pay for the car. A few years back I was going to buy a new car with a low interest rate.

Sales manager would not budge on price. I was in his office trying to negotiate and when he realised I wasn't interested he started swearing like a trooper at me lol.

I then left his office, jumped in my VN and smoked the tyres next to his office window lol.

The only way I could knock the price down was with cash or an ordinary interest rate loan.

 

Yep - I’m just over 6 foot and fit in the Europa S, slightly larger entry (by mm) than Elise & earlier model Exige.
I saw young salesman well over 6 foot slide into an Elise with roof in place in a suit! I was very surprised so it’s all about getting the hang of it.
Nice colour Chylld - you’ll find it drives very different to the Evora. Enjoy!