Used Car Buying Advice. How much is too much?

Ibrahim5

Skoda is one of the most reliable cars whereas Audi is one of the least reliable. That's an important difference too.

peter3hg

Ibrahim5 said:

Skoda is one of the most reliable cars whereas Audi is one of the least reliable. That's an important difference too.

Not sure that is true.

Audi's have a better MOT pass rate ( https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/mot/audi vs https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/mot/skoda ), especially in cars above 80k miles.
This is as unbiased source of reliability data as there is, although still flawed in many ways.

Reliability surveys aren't a good comparison as they are self-reporting, disadvantage cars with higher specs as they have more to go wrong and also tend to be biased by the expectations that consumers have of the brand.

motorguy

Ibrahim5 said:

Skoda is one of the most reliable cars whereas Audi is one of the least reliable. That's an important difference too.

Not true also.

From the What Car? 2020 Small Cars reliability index, theres little separating the Fabia and A1, sitting at 10 and 13th respectively, out of 100+ cars in that class.

https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042

But thats you using smoke and mirrors not to answer the question - why does someone preferring the looks, feel, drive, engine options and spec of one car over another make them less intelligent?  

motorguy

Ibrahim5 said:

The one who buys Skoda would be the more knowledgeable person. The one who gets the same components but pays less. The money saving expert.

When i bought a year old Passat some years ago, the Passat was cheaper than the Superb.  

Still holds true today actually - 2.0TDI, DSG, 2020.

Cheapest Passat - 2.0TDI SE DSG, £19,000.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009153770387

Cheapest Superb of that spec - 2.0TDI SE DSG is £980 more expensive.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102018575385

angrycrow

Ibrahim5 said:

The one who buys Skoda would be the more knowledgeable person. The one who gets the same components but pays less. The money saving expert.

I am another one really not following your logic here. Not an Audi but I have an ibiza, my friend has the same age fabia. Same platform on both cars but utterly different. Skoda is dull, slow unengaging to drive. The seat is quicker, has much sharper handling and looks much nicer in and out.

Would I pay the extra for the A1, probably not because you don't get much extra for the extra money. Would I buy the Skoda or the Polo, not a chance. 

Herzlos

motorguy said:

Ibrahim5 said:

The one who buys Skoda would be the more knowledgeable person. The one who gets the same components but pays less. The money saving expert.

When i bought a year old Passat some years ago, the Passat was cheaper than the Superb.  

I always thought the Passat was in the same class as the Octavia rather than the Superb, but it seems the Passat sits somewhere between the Octavia and Superb.


I also doubt that for most people (who generally aren't car enthusiasts), the spec differences between an Audi and the equivalent Skoda are that significant.

Penelopa.Pitstop

Ibrahim5 said:

I do like the cars from the VW stable. Just have to pick the badge you want. I think it works the opposite for me. I see a Skoda "clever guy". I see an Audi "not so clever".

Skoda Superb even in top spec L&K, will never be Audi A8. On paper they may have similar spec and Skoda will have some items  as standard, in Audi you will have to pay extra. But there will be always difference in quality.

motorguy

Herzlos said:

motorguy said:

Ibrahim5 said:

The one who buys Skoda would be the more knowledgeable person. The one who gets the same components but pays less. The money saving expert.

When i bought a year old Passat some years ago, the Passat was cheaper than the Superb.  

I always thought the Passat was in the same class as the Octavia rather than the Superb, but it seems the Passat sits somewhere between the Octavia and Superb.


I also doubt that for most people (who generally aren't car enthusiasts), the spec differences between an Audi and the equivalent Skoda are that significant.

Passat is generally aligned with the slightly bigger superb rather than the smaller Octavia.  The engines and spec combo are pretty much aligned also.  Personally a Superb is / was too big for my needs - they tend to get the extra length in for rear seat passengers which we never found to be an issue in our Passat anyway.  Plus, the Passat was the cheaper car.

The Octavia is the equivalent of the Golf (or has been in the past).

The spec options may be significant for individuals or the may not, however my point being that chosing one brand over the other does not make an individual "smart" or foolish.

If someone wants standard no nonsense transport then yes, a Skoda would be quite compelling, however that is not everyones requirements.  A car can often be a purchase on the basis of what someone likes, prefers or simply wants, rather than needs.

Car_54

daveyjp said:

All used cars are overpriced at the moment.

Really? By definition, the ones which sell are priced "right.".

[Deleted User]

Like iPhones are not over priced because they still sell. Expensive yes, but not over priced. 

Prices for used cars are very high at the moment due to supply and demand.
the same with housing.