Which SUV to get on PCP

System

Let me guess, you want a SUV because you think they'll be safer? Got some bad news for you. They take a longer distance to stop and because of a higher centre of gravity they are more prone to rolling over if there is a sudden change of direction, such as having to change from one lane to another rapidly on the motorway if something happens in front of you.

In addition to that, quite a lot of them are lower NCAP ratings than hatchbacks and the like meaning that in the event of an accident there is more likelihood of a compromise of the passenger safety cell and more chance of injury in an accident whereas something smaller but with a higher NCAP rating you're likely to be able to open the doors and walk away from.

You will also find that most SUVs have smaller boot space than cars like Mondeos and the like, much smaller in the case of cars like the Nissan Juke and the like.

Mercdriver

I suspect it is for practicality issues rather than safety. A higher car means less bending to strap a child in. You're right about the rest though. Boots are bigger in an estate for example.

The Audi A4 Allroad estate is a little higher than a normal Avant and has a decent sized boot (though not as big as a Mondeo Estate or an Octavia Estate) and has decent poke.

DanM1701

Mercdriver wrote: »

I suspect it is for practicality issues rather than safety. A higher car means less bending to strap a child in. You're right about the rest though. Boots are bigger in an estate for example.

The Audi A4 Allroad estate is a little higher than a normal Avant and has a decent sized boot (though not as big as a Mondeo Estate or an Octavia Estate) and has decent poke.

Yes, it's for practicality. Also, I am a real !!!!!! and I enjoy looking down on others wherever possible so the elevated driving position will inflate my sense of self worth as will the fancy badge. I am 100% serious on that, this isn't a passive aggressive jab at premium SUV drivers.

I still don't fully understand why people are so hostile to PCP. For the X3 I'm eyeing up, it has 20k mileage on NU17 reg and will cost £1995 deposit plus £400 a month for 3 years. That's a total investment on my part of £16,395 over 3 years. When done I just give the car back and get a newer one.

The alternative option is to pay £10k up front and then take out personal loan for the other £16.5k. This will mean monthly repayments of around £480 per month over 3 years (£17,300 total) and has the drawback of a large lump sum payment as well. At the end of the 3 years the loan is paid off and I've paid £27,300 total for it but I own it and can sell it.

Given what I've seen of their reliability around this age there will likely be some other fees to consider and from what I've seen of other 4/5 year old X3's they are worth around £14k, but I can't see a garage paying that for one. Let's assume then I get £13k for it....That's £27,300 total investment minus £13,000 recouped on resale, so total investment over 3 years is £14,300 or thereabouts. This is compared to PCP which is £16,400.

So I am roughly £2k better off over the 3 years by not doing PCP assuming I can get £13k for the car after 3 years, I think it would have around 50k mileage.

Is this the correct way of looking at it?

neilmcl

DanM1701 wrote: »

Yes, it's for practicality. Also, I am a real !!!!!! and I enjoy looking down on others wherever possible so the elevated driving position will inflate my sense of self worth as will the fancy badge. I am 100% serious on that, this isn't a passive aggressive jab at premium SUV drivers.

I still don't fully understand why people are so hostile to PCP. For the X3 I'm eyeing up, it has 20k mileage on NU17 reg and will cost £1995 deposit plus £400 a month for 3 years. That's a total investment on my part of £16,395 over 3 years. When done I just give the car back and get a newer one.

The alternative option is to pay £10k up front and then take out personal loan for the other £16.5k. This will mean monthly repayments of around £480 per month over 3 years (£17,300 total) and has the drawback of a large lump sum payment as well. At the end of the 3 years the loan is paid off and I've paid £27,300 total for it but I own it and can sell it.

Given what I've seen of their reliability around this age there will likely be some other fees to consider and from what I've seen of other 4/5 year old X3's they are worth around £14k, but I can't see a garage paying that for one. Let's assume then I get £13k for it....That's £27,300 total investment minus £13,000 recouped on resale, so total investment over 3 years is £14,300 or thereabouts. This is compared to PCP which is £16,400.

So I am roughly £2k better off over the 3 years by not doing PCP assuming I can get £13k for the car after 3 years, I think it would have around 50k mileage.

Is this the correct way of looking at it?

Yet you've answered your own question.

Alanp

No one has mentioned ..what mileage will the op be doing, if it!!!8217;s low and mainly used for short journeys then diesel is a no no, which might limit the choice of suv,s, some don!!!8217;t do petrol versions.

Mercdriver

DanM1701 wrote: »

Yes, it's for practicality. Also, I am a real !!!!!! and I enjoy looking down on others wherever possible so the elevated driving position will inflate my sense of self worth as will the fancy badge. I am 100% serious on that, this isn't a passive aggressive jab at premium SUV drivers.

I still don't fully understand why people are so hostile to PCP. For the X3 I'm eyeing up, it has 20k mileage on NU17 reg and will cost £1995 deposit plus £400 a month for 3 years. That's a total investment on my part of £16,395 over 3 years. When done I just give the car back and get a newer one.

The alternative option is to pay £10k up front and then take out personal loan for the other £16.5k. This will mean monthly repayments of around £480 per month over 3 years (£17,300 total) and has the drawback of a large lump sum payment as well. At the end of the 3 years the loan is paid off and I've paid £27,300 total for it but I own it and can sell it.

Given what I've seen of their reliability around this age there will likely be some other fees to consider and from what I've seen of other 4/5 year old X3's they are worth around £14k, but I can't see a garage paying that for one. Let's assume then I get £13k for it....That's £27,300 total investment minus £13,000 recouped on resale, so total investment over 3 years is £14,300 or thereabouts. This is compared to PCP which is £16,400.

So I am roughly £2k better off over the 3 years by not doing PCP assuming I can get £13k for the car after 3 years, I think it would have around 50k mileage.

Is this the correct way of looking at it?

You don't just get a new one - you have to find the deposit again. If the garage has told you that you will have enough equity left to fund the next deposit, they are not being entirely honest with you.

DanM1701

Mercdriver wrote: »

You don't just get a new one - you have to find the deposit again. If the garage has told you that you will have enough equity left to fund the next deposit, they are not being entirely honest with you.

That's true.

But there are still plenty of deals with zero deposit.

DanM1701

Alanp wrote: »

No one has mentioned ..what mileage will the op be doing, if it!!!8217;s low and mainly used for short journeys then diesel is a no no, which might limit the choice of suv,s, some don!!!8217;t do petrol versions.

8k a year tops. Yes, being used for for shorter runs

Mercdriver

DanM1701 wrote: »

That's true.

But there are still plenty of deals with zero deposit.

At the moment for certain cars, but how many for the cars you are looking at - in fact there is a deposit for the one you are looking at now. How do you know what will be available in 3 years time? If you have a reliable crystal ball, that would be a fantastic investment

Mercdriver

DanM1701 wrote: »

8k a year tops. Yes, being used for for shorter runs

Dicey for diesels. My wife has an X5 (40D SE with Msport pack) and left to her own she would only be doing about 9k. But she does at least drive it 2/3 times a week on A and B roads on 40 mile round trips. I also make sure it gets a regular long run. It's 2012 model and is on 67k.