Optional Extras and Resale Value

[Al]

Chaps,

I am seriously looking at a facelift 240PS Cupra or Cupra R/Bocenagra/265PS Cupra. As it will be new, unlike the Cupra I have right now which was a pre reg with no options, this time, I have a clean slate.

Looks like on the facelift model, there is a pack which contains;

Front Parking Sensors
Rear Parking Sensors
Xenon Lights
Sat Nav
Bluetooth
Auto dimming mirror, auto lights and auto wipers.

This pack costs £1400.

My question is however how this expensive pack relates to resale, and the Glass guide does not account for much in the way of options.

Realistically, all I want is Bluetooth, Xenons, Rear Parking Sensors and black wheels, but this will cost about £1k itself.

I should be able to confirm individual option prices, but black wheels are gonna be approx £200, Sat Nav alone £600, Xenons alone £600, Bluetooth £200 and rear parking sensors £200.

I am also trying to figure out which colour given that I already own the best colour available and dont want the same colour again........

 

[DeanJ]

What I believe is that they don't really make any difference when you come to sell. Might make the car easier to sell but doubt you'll be able to scrape back much of what they've cost so just enjoy them while you have them.

 

[warren_cox]

The only options which seem to make much of a difference on resale of new cars seem to be OE Nav and paint colour. On the S3's you get your money back on the Nav (£1700), and the colour can make up to £3k difference depending on whether you go for something conventionally re-salesable or something 'personalised'. The rest of the options don't seem to make much of a difference to resale as when we looked at trading in, we got barely any extra offered than a lower spec car. It's just easier for the dealer to sell a well specced one. Funnily enough at point of initial sale we were told a lowly specced S3 would command a much lower resale (all hot air I'm afraid, and a way of scamming another few grand off us!!).

Bluetooth is an option I wouldn't live without now as its so convenient, as is Nav, but most of the rest of the stuff is just tinsel really. The uprated sound system was nice though as it meant I didn't have to peel the car apart to get acceptable sound.

The options packs are much better value (Audi are currently doing a 'Black' pack on the A3 S-Line for £900 instead of a full RRP of nearly £3k), so worth going for it for the savings.

 

[Tfsi_Mike]

Would certain aftermarket gear be transferable from Mk2 to facelift i.e. coilovers, arbs, cooler, inlet?

 

[Al]

Would certain aftermarket gear be transferable from Mk2 to facelift i.e. coilovers, arbs, cooler, inlet?

I believe so mate. I have one or two bits to swap over myself

 

[Tfsi_Mike]

I believe so mate. I have one or two bits to swap over myself

Shhhhhh lol. 1st facelift 300+ bhp Leon? haha

 

[Al]

The only options which seem to make much of a difference on resale of new cars seem to be OE Nav and paint colour. On the S3's you get your money back on the Nav (£1700), and the colour can make up to £3k difference depending on whether you go for something conventionally re-salesable or something 'personalised'. The rest of the options don't seem to make much of a difference to resale as when we looked at trading in, we got barely any extra offered than a lower spec car. It's just easier for the dealer to sell a well specced one. Funnily enough at point of initial sale we were told a lowly specced S3 would command a much lower resale (all hot air I'm afraid, and a way of scamming another few grand off us!!).

Bluetooth is an option I wouldn't live without now as its so convenient, as is Nav, but most of the rest of the stuff is just tinsel really. The uprated sound system was nice though as it meant I didn't have to peel the car apart to get acceptable sound.

The options packs are much better value (Audi are currently doing a 'Black' pack on the A3 S-Line for £900 instead of a full RRP of nearly £3k), so worth going for it for the savings.

I agree that it makes or breaks certain sales, and that the worst colours you could probably have with regard to selling the car on are the marmite colours like Yellow, Orange and possibly White although White seems to be the new black therefore perhaps making it as safe as solid Red. I think I have narrowed my choice to Black or White.

With regard to Sat Nav, I thought about that also, and am aware that you can buy a nicer aftermarket system for the £600 SEAT will charge and take it with you/sell it on when you are finished with the car.

For sure, I would have Bluetooth, and I love Xenons although I know you can fit illegal HID kits to achieve brighter light for 1/3 the cost of OEM Xenons. Parking sensors would be handy too.

The Black Kit on the S Line Audis is really nice. If they did a K04 2.0T Sportback option, I would have one. To me, the S3 Sportback is overpriced especially when you add a couple of bits and pieces to it.

With regard to savings, I think the pack I mentioned above for the Cupra might end up being popular when you price it all individually. Its pretty clear to see SEAT probably had very few customers buy the original Sat Nav system at £1500 or spec Xenons for £800 after they dropped them from Cupra in 2008. If you add up the £350 for Parking Sensors at both ends, £600 for Xenons, £600 for Sat Nav, £200 for convenience lights/wipers, £200 for Bluetooth, there is a saving to be had there although not a huge amount.

 

[Al]

Shhhhhh lol. 1st facelift 300+ bhp Leon? haha

Na - Boot liner, mud flaps and floor mats mate

 

[rllmuk]

£1400 for all that is a bargain - however it won't be the RNS510 you get if the pics of the facelift are correct.

 

[phil3012]

Optional extras make the car more desirable that's about it. You need to consider if you will get the benefit from spending £1400 on the extras. If you want them and can afford it then go for it, otherwise don't bother.

Most people coming to buy used including dealers won't have a clue what's optional or not anyway. Only enthusiasts for the model will take any notice.

Colour and Sat Nav may be two exceptions, colour has a big influence when it comes to selling a car on and apparently the prices quoted for some models (generally prestige brands) assume Sat Nav.

 

[andycupra]

everyone is different.
id certainly not pay anymore for factory fit sat nav.
Why would you when you can get a good unit for £100? - but i appreciate some are willing to pay for it!

 

[Al]

everyone is different.
id certainly not pay anymore for factory fit sat nav.
Why would you when you can get a good unit for £100? - but i appreciate some are willing to pay for it!

Thats something I agree with. My mate just had a unit fitted with an in built TV, DVD player, bluetooth etc etc for £600 which he can take with him when he comes to sell the car.

 

[phil3012]

everyone is different.
id certainly not pay anymore for factory fit sat nav.
Why would you when you can get a good unit for £100? - but i appreciate some are willing to pay for it!

I think the factory fit OEM Sat Navs look the business and on a new car would be prepared to spend a few hundred pound on one, they're normally £1500 so never have.

On a used car it will usually be out of date anyway, unless the previous owner has paid for the updates. It would be cheaper buying a unit for £100 and loading the latest update (usually free) than updating the unit in the car, so your just paying for something that looks good.

 

[mhill]

The options packs are much better value (Audi are currently doing a 'Black' pack on the A3 S-Line for £900 instead of a full RRP of nearly £3k), so worth going for it for the savings.

Not a bad pack that one

I personally wouldn't look at any car that dosen't have HID's or Bluetooth the Nav would just be a sweetener to the deal. Yes that looks a lot on the top of it but the options you mention will make a nice car that little bit better.

 

[chrisboyle999]

looks good value to me al.

at the end of the day its your cash and your car to drive. its easy for us lot to tell you how to spend your money.
ive got the bluetooth, convenience pack, rear parking sensors ans sat nav, and i dont regret getting any of them, and i would spec them again.