[goodbyalfa]

So, I wondered when it would arrive. I finally got that phone call from the the Stealers, not quite yet 3 yrs into a 4 Yr PCP.

"So, I hope you are still happy with you car. Is there is anything we can do etc. Oh and I see it will be 3 yrs old come April. Have you thought about replacing etc.."

So, firstly I am perfectly happy in my car. It does everything i could want from it and more. I still haven't decided what to do at the 4 yr point (if I get there), but with the diesel doom mongers currently pissing into the wind, the balloon payment looks increasing likely to be so far way off the mark that purchasing at the end will be a difficult equation to balance...

I do ~18k miles, so sadly I don't think a x40i is on the cards.

So, what would you do? If I do move to change it, I really don't feel like piling in a few £k into the next deposit to make the monthlies reasonable either, if i go that way.
I currently pay ~£450/month for a fairly well specc'ed F30 330d, and don't fancy that going any higher. To be honest, I'd rather it was lower if possible.

Options ladies and gentleman...

[Jack_is_Back]

In your position I'd be hanging on for the new 3 series.

[454697819]

Buy the car at the end, regardless of the balloon payment, unless you can hand back for 0 cost, then shop around come the time.

[isleaiw1]

well the longer you leave it the bigger the gap to finance but the quicker you change the more the depreciation per month you crystallise...

I doubt 3 series deals will get worse in the new year - and if its 3 years old in April it is really only just more than 2.5 years old.....

I'd get some numbers from the usual internet brokers and a base price for yours from WBAC and let them do some numbers now but I would really be looking to change next Feb (pre reg change) or May, June, July pre next reg change...

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

I got a phone call from my dealer inviting me to a new car special event, they were confident they could get me into a newer higher spec car. This call came one week before I collected my brand new car from them!

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

well the longer you leave it the bigger the gap to finance but the quicker you change the more the depreciation per month you crystallise...

I doubt 3 series deals will get worse in the new year - and if its 3 years old in April it is really only just more than 2.5 years old.....

I'd get some numbers from the usual internet brokers and a base price for yours from WBAC and let them do some numbers now but I would really be looking to change next Feb (pre reg change) or May, June, July pre next reg change...

I appreciate this thanks for the thoughts.
I was considering the fact that with build times etc, and perhaps to align with the 3 yr out of warranty period, April could be a good time to be in new metal. maybe...

[moff]

No harm in getting a quote for another 330d and a 335d fully specced to how you would like it, especially given the amazing deals.

Yes the new G30 is due next year, but my preference is alway facelift / LCI models.

However, if new models are your thing, wait.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by goodbyalfa

I appreciate this thanks for the thoughts.
I was considering the fact that with build times etc, and perhaps to align with the 3 yr out of warranty period, April could be a good time to be in new metal. maybe...

well if you want the best deal buy a stock car and not a factory order.... and less wait too!

[Torque of the Devil]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

well if you want the best deal buy a stock car and not a factory order.... and less wait too!

TRL does better deals on factory orders

[Nobby Clark]

Originally Posted by Jack_is_Back

In your position I'd be hanging on for the new 3 series.

This is what I'm going to do (but for a 4).
I had the same sort of call 2 years into a 3 year deal. I'm perfectly happy with the car so I'd be pretty much be buying exactly the same thing again albeit a 435 this time.

The diesel scare, IMHO, is just that. It surrounds older cars. People will still want diesels for whatever reason and a scarce supply in future may only help residuals of the current Euro 6. Don't believe all you read in the papers!

Also be wary of valuations. I think it extremely unlikely in a negative equity situation, you would be able to hand your car back and buy the same car again and have change. And why would you take that risk?

I'd pay off the car, run it a year or two to let any neg equity peter out and use the vehicle as deposit on the next one. Let's fact it it will still be worth £10k

[Ads4]

I got the same call with 6 months left of my 330d also. I do 25k miles a year and am now in a lovely 340i

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

TRL does better deals on factory orders

That might depend on current quarter offers and what stock the group are holding that needs paying for soon - working capital management is critical to dealerships.

[Herr Dreier]

Originally Posted by Nobby Clark

The diesel scare, IMHO, is just that. It surrounds older cars. People will still want diesels for whatever reason and a scarce supply in future may only help residuals of the current Euro 6. Don't believe all you read in the papers!

Also be wary of valuations. I think it extremely unlikely in a negative equity situation, you would be able to hand your car back and buy the same car again and have change. And why would you take that risk?

I'd pay off the car, run it a year or two to let any neg equity peter out and use the vehicle as deposit on the next one. Let's fact it it will still be worth £10k

This

[JustChris]

520D Msport

[ADS-UK]

I'd certainly start looking around now even if it's to see what deals are there. There are few 0% deals going on which might help you lower your monthly payments while getting a new car at the same time. I'd not put down anything more than £1k to 2k as deposit unless you plan on owning the car in the long run.

You'll be surprised what some dealers are offering via CarWow, etc. I was in a pretty similar place to yours with my 430d. Got a deal that was hard to refuse for a 530 specced to my needs.

[330Stevie]

Ironically I had a call from Alfa today to test drive the Giulia Veloce. Going in Monday. I’m slightly behind with three years out of four coming up in the spring. Doesn’t hurt to start research in advance.
I wouldn’t be too hasty on the diesel call, yes they are hated at the moment due to city air quality issues however you will see the crack down will be anything combustion related in the near future. City centre charging, as has happened in London, will be going after both fuels! The rest of the core cities will follow on from this

[essjay21271]

Have a look at the TRL deals, I recently went from a 330d to a 335d better spec and lower monthlies, this was pre built but ticked all the options (and more) I wanted. I only had to wait a week

[Nobby Clark]

Originally Posted by essjay21271

Have a look at the TRL deals, I recently went from a 330d to a 335d better spec and lower monthlies, this was pre built but ticked all the options (and more) I wanted. I only had to wait a week

And the cost change was free?
So you are now tied into another x years and have the “problem” or GFV as I like to call it differed.
At the end of the day, you always have to pay. Either by paying the GFV or another spell of monthlies.

[nascot]

Also got a call a couple of weeks ago about my car which has a year left. I'm waiting to see the details of the new M340i. If that's out of my price range I'll still be moving over to high level petrol engine.

I've been in 2 minds about getting a good deal on the current 3 series or waiting for the new one. As we know new models may have a few issues and the LCI is usually worth waiting for.

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by nascot

Also got a call a couple of weeks ago about my car which has a year left. I'm waiting to see the details of the new M340i. If that's out of my price range I'll still be moving over to high level petrol engine.

I've been in 2 minds about getting a good deal on the current 3 series or waiting for the new one. As we know new models may have a few issues and the LCI is usually worth waiting for.

Is a difficult time for sure. I really like new gadgets, so ideally I'd like the new g20. However realistically the discounts will be nowhere near what is available right now for quite some time so I'd would expect that getting the very best deal towards the end of the f30 cycle will be the cheapest option, even taking into account the higher likely depreciation of an old model.

[RustyBitz]

Order a LCI F30, it’s the best thing I have ever done.

Moving from a 65 plate F30 to the latest LCI F30 feels totally different. New iDrive, Petrol engine and nearly every option ticked

Monthly payments aren’t much more than the 320d F30 I had.

I might move to the G20 M340i in 5 years but that’s a very big might.

[Rbrown]

Anybody know when the G20 is coming out? Wondering when the best time will be for getting current model reduced.