Thank you to our local personal lease customer, from Bolton (Lancashire), for sending pictures of their new car – the VW Tiguan SUV.
Without a doubt, the SUV market has become the most highly-competitive aspect of the automotive industry, as more and more customers clamour for this type of vehicle. With pressure on the home economy, many families are looking to procure just one vehicle which can meet all their requirements – boot space, size, aesthetics and specification. The modern crossover just fits this criteria.
There is no right or wrong answer with leasing vs buying; it is very much about doing something which is suitable for your needs and requirements.
In terms of the car shown here, the Volkswagen TIGUAN DIESEL ESTATE 2.0 TDi BMT 150 SE Nav 5dr Manual, this is based on the following configuration:
· Urano Grey Solid Paint
· Rhombus cloth – Titan black
· 18″ Patagonia alloy wheels + anti theft wheel bolts
As standard, the car includes – leather multifunction steering wheel, remote tailgate release, trailer stability programme, comfort seats, front and rear parking sensors, discover navigation with an 8”, cornering fog lights, 18” alloys, high beam assistant, rain sensor windscreen wipers, DTC, ESP, front assist with emergency braking, hill hold control, Bluetooth, front and rear carpet mats, fatigue detection, lane assist, adaptive cruise control, distance control assist, auto dimming mirror, electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors, DAB radio, cornering/leaving home lights, silver roof rails, XDS differential lock, space saver spare wheel, immobiliser and alarm. In terms of additional factory options, consider the fully electric tailgate and keyless entry/start, the winter pack and the 18” Kingston alloy wheels.
On the technical-side, company car and business users can note the P11d at £29,535.00 and the CO2 at 125 g/km for car tax calculations. The 1968CC 6 speed manual engine delivers 150ps, 58.9 combined MPG and 0-62 times of 9.3 seconds. Service intervals on the diesel VW Tiguan are every 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever lands sooner.
So would you select the Tiguan as you next SUV leasing option? Or would the Seat Ateca or Skoda Karoq get your vote?
The hardest part of the process is finding the right vehicle.
Taking the VW as an example, you have an equivalent choice with the Seat Ateca and the Skoda Karoq, which are fundamentally based on the exact same platform. Over the last 10 years, both the Seat and Skoda brand (under the Volkswagen umbrella) have become very trusted and recognisable brands, surprisingly overtaking VW in some areas. When you think that at one point customers would literally run from these brands, it is amazing to see how engineering, marketing and some good aesthetics can turn a manufacturer around.
Having choice in the market offers a customer value but, at the same time, makes the buying/leasing decision a tough one.
The customer in this transaction, who was new to leasing, not only had the tough decision on which car BUT they also had to work out how leasing a vehicle is different/better/worse than buying one. Thankfully, as you will see from the Trustpilot review our team made sure the process was carried out professionally and efficiently.
With contract hire you will never own the vehicle and so this is not suitable for those customers who are looking to own a vehicle; fundamentally it is about using a new car for 2/3/4 years and replacing it.
With leasing, the price you pay is fixed per month and with an ability to add to maintenance (servicing, tyres and breakdown recovery), you can achieve certainty of cost apart from your fuel and insurance. If a car’s value changes, this risk will remain with the finance company rather than you. When you return the car, they will have to manage the loss in value. However, one thing to note with leasing a car, is that it is a fixed term; you cannot just hand the car back if you no longer like it. You have to go through a process known as early termination, which means that you will have to pay at least half of the remaining rentals to return the vehicle.
When you buy a car, this is clearly suitable for those customers who want ownership of a vehicle; if you are looking to retain a vehicle for the long-term i.e. 5 years and more, then this is the ideal solution for you. When you own the vehicle, there is clearly more flexibility, in that you can sell the vehicle at any time and without the permissions/restrictions of the finance company. However, do bear in mind that you will be subject to market conditions and residual values; if there has been a drop in the value of the vehicle, then you will absorb this risk. The “hassle” of the selling process is another element which can be off-putting for some people. Going into a dealership or selling online or even to an online car purchaser can be time-consuming and frustrating.
If you are changing your car every 2-3 years, this might not be an ideal solution.
With car purchasing, you cannot always include a “maintenance” package, which means the cost of all servicing, tyres and breakdown will have to be managed by you. The whole life costs of a vehicle are very important in working out the best value. By not having the maintenance package, this may be more cost prohibitive.
Find the webs best deals on the awesome VW Tiguan right here @CarLease UK – you can also check out more VW reviews below…
