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Passat or Audi A1 now?
Hi. I live in Waterford and I'm looking to buy a used car, mostly for commuting to work but also to travel around the country once a month or so. Though I'm not new to driving (have been for over 10 years in my home country), since I'm getting a licence in Ireland for the first time I shall be considered a novice and that will affect insurance prices. Generally I like saloons, and the only saloons I like on the market right now are the 2011+ Passat or the 2010ish Audi A3/A4. The insurance for these is pretty high for novices. On the other hand, I am also quite attracted to the Audi A1 Sportback which is in the same price range. What I want to know is, if I buy a used Audi A1 right now for about 14-15K, will it depreciate a lot over the next two years for me to be able to upgrade to a newer Passat? Or should I just get a Passat now and keep it for, lets say five years? Thanks!
Our answer:
Hi Pawail,
You’ll need to get your calculator out and do some sums. The A1 won’t depreciate very much, especially if you go for one of the smaller petrol engines. If you buy one today for circa €14,000, keep it serviced and well looked after, and trade it in again in two years, I would expect it to still be worth €9-10,000. What you need to work out is how much extra in insurance the Passat is going to cost you over the first two years, so go and get some quotes and see which offers you the best value, net of all costs.
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