The official I have ordered/received my new MKVI thread

[Mariani]

Yeah no worries no offense taken. But the OP was just after opinions, and I gave him mine which I see as completely logical. If you have made your mind up otherwise, just let him know!

But valuing the GTI badge as a pro over the R's badge is a bit of a stretch and probably would not agree with everyone really?

I just see it a simple case. Im saying it is like saying you should just get a 330CI instead of a fully loaded 325CI.. Not for everyone - but I would definitely take the 330CI everytime.

I really dont understand how you can see it any other way.

As for tax implications and bla bla bla.. The guy is just asking about buying a car.. if he has some side issues - let him mention them and we'll discuss it further.

To the OP - Definitely go for whichever one you can afford mate, but it sounds like you can afford either!

And I stand buy my comments, a better car will always a) be nicer to own b) be worth more later down the track. Everytime.

cheers

What is a 325/330 CI? : )

So putting aside all comments of perceived value, are you convinced that if I drive your R against my GTI I would be sold in an instant?

Went for a mad spin in my nephews newly purchased Evo 8 import last night. Man that thing hammers hard. So much power, like scary s***.

How long did you wait for your R? 12 months is crazy stuff. Imagine waiting for 12 months. This 6 month wait on the GTI is already killing me and I have heaps to go.

Coming out of a Cooper S a decent size boot is important to me. 275 litres doesn't cut it these days.

What part of Sydney you from? We have to catchup for a spin when my car arrives.

Mic

[Mariani]

... not to mention the difference in waiting times!!!

I need the car to write off tax... I wanted an R, but couldn't wait that long into the next FY, plus the LCT implications of the higher price means the GTI is the car I can fully write down (when including the options I want!).

Not very sexy reasons for choosing a car, I know... but this is the reality for some of us!

Same same. Use my car for work and write off on tax also. Mini goes back to BMW early July an am without a car for 2 months until GTI arrives.

Not sure what you mean by sitting under luxury car tax threshold. Hw would that make a difference?

Mic

[Corey_R]

Luxury Car Tax needs to be reported on your Business Activity Statement each year. If you want more information, there's a 16 page PDF document on the ATO website on the subject. So to some people, a car incurring LCT does make an impact

[chopper]

Not sure what you mean by sitting under luxury car tax threshold. Hw would that make a difference?

We have our own company, and we can only claim up to the LCT threshold ($57,466 FY10/11) for the car. Anything over that price, and it is not able to be deducted!

For example... my wife's 6 figure 4WD was only claimable at $57,000ish (last FY). The rest of the car had to come out of post tax profit, which is probably OK for a once off purchase... but I hate giving the Govt. more money than is absolutely necessary, so I wasn't keen on doing it again.

Like I said... would have loved an "R"... but the wait is SO long, PLUS it was going to cost me a whole lot more than the couple of thousand dollars the price difference suggests (because I wanted a fully featured car, pushing the R over the LCT threshold), so I'm happy with a GTI.

Besides... it is important to note, the GTI is still a FANTASTIC car!!! It is MUCH better than most of the other cars in the price bracket, and as Mariani says, it does have a few advantages over the R (like the fact I can fit a pram in the GTI boot... that didn't fit in the R, due to the increased floor height!). Heaven forbid... I could have ended up with a Camry or a Commodore!!!

It's funny how your priorities change over time...

[REXman]

So regarding the TAX situation when buying a car..

You can claim up to around $56/57 thousand dollars.. but say you spend about $62K on an R.. that means that $6K maybe wont be able to be deducted for tax purposes..?

Is that it or am I missing something? And you guys change your decision of what car you want - for that?

I mean in all honesty - you could get a normal spec R for less than the LCT threshold anyway.. Im just giving a realistic scenario where you get a descent list of options on an R..

You want an R you buy an R!

[QIK-R]

i got mine for just over the tax threshold. but it wasnt for business purposes so m reasoning is invalid.

[SilvrFoxX]

@REXMan - everyone has a right to their own opinion hehe, i personally prefer the styling of the GTI front to that of the R's. The only real draw-card of the R in my view is the AWD. Saying that, if I had the money to go that next bracket up i too probably would have bought the R. considering the options i wanted it was too much of price hike.

I have to admit I think the GTI front end is "pretty" but the R is nice and muscular /aggressive.. The R has more of the MKV format which many felt was more aggressive than the MKVI

[Mariani]

We have our own company, and we can only claim up to the LCT threshold ($57,466 FY10/11) for the car. Anything over that price, and it is not able to be deducted!

For example... my wife's 6 figure 4WD was only claimable at $57,000ish (last FY). The rest of the car had to come out of post tax profit, which is probably OK for a once off purchase... but I hate giving the Govt. more money than is absolutely necessary, so I wasn't keen on doing it again.

Like I said... would have loved an "R"... but the wait is SO long, PLUS it was going to cost me a whole lot more than the couple of thousand dollars the price difference suggests (because I wanted a fully featured car, pushing the R over the LCT threshold), so I'm happy with a GTI.

Besides... it is important to note, the GTI is still a FANTASTIC car!!! It is MUCH better than most of the other cars in the price bracket, and as Mariani says, it does have a few advantages over the R (like the fact I can fit a pram in the GTI boot... that didn't fit in the R, due to the increased floor height!). Heaven forbid... I could have ended up with a Camry or a Commodore!!!

It's funny how your priorities change over time...

Gotcha! First I've heard of it. Will need to check with my accountant about this.

I'm in the same boat with the pram situation. Wouldnt fit in the boot of the R. to shallow. Need the 350 litres.

Almost ended up with Tiguan. GTI saved my life : )

Mic

[Ideo]

Gotcha! First I've heard of it. Will need to check with my accountant about this.

I'm in the same boat with the pram situation. Wouldnt fit in the boot of the R. to shallow. Need the 350 litres.

Almost ended up with Tiguan. GTI saved my life : )

Mic

That's why I practice safe sex.

I don't want a child or any other form of STD.

[7R]

Picked up... after two months wait and 10 days pre-delivery the car came without MDI or Bluetooth... they promise me it will be installed at the first service on May 1st. Is noone checking this stuff? Whats PD for? Anyway its a great drive, fun but very different from my last car. Happy to finally have it. Will snap some pics later and post them tonight.

Here are the pics from today... I'm off to Tunehouse in the morning.

As agreed I turned up to the dealership yesterday to have the premium bluetooth and mdi installed. I asked for the MDI to go into the centre console. Was assured by all and sundry that these would be exactly as per factory fit. Rocked up at 4pm to collect my car and found the blank in the glovebox punched out and a cable hanging out with the iPod MDI cable attached to it. Reaches only into the glovebox. Asked the tech how I was supposed to use my iPhone from a closed glovebox in a moving car. He says bluetooth.

Pushed the steering wheel button to operate the phone and the tech tells me that I didnt get that functionality. The kit they installed only lets me answer the phone with the button on the wheel and nothing else - no screen integration, no nothing and that THAT is the standard install for MDI and bluetooth if not factory installed.

So I did my naa-naaa in the service reception and told them I ORDERED the car with these items as factory installs. I ended up taking the tech, the spare parts person and the salesman down to the sales manager's office at the dealership. They were very apologetic and have assured me the genuine premium B/T and 'just like factory installed' MDI will be fitted to the car on May 6th.

Unbelievable...