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Does selling my 5-year-old Vento TDI DSG for a Virtus/Taigun make sense

I'm madly in love with my VW but I started having second thoughts ever since I drove the Virtus & Taigun.

BHPian Links4u recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Amidst so many new car launches, an enthusiastic car owner is bound to get confused when he /she thinks of buying/upgrading a new car.

I am also going through the same turmoil for some time now.

With my Vento TDI DSG, I have completed a happy 55k in the last 5 years with very minimal niggles. The tyres were upgraded to Continental CC6 at 42k kms and running beautifully now. I had done very long trips in the car - Bangalore - Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar - Gangtok - Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar - Pune - Bangalore, within the last 9 months. When I drive this engine, I feel I am the most powerful driver on the road.
Overtaking, sprints and long non-stop drives are just pieces of cake for me, with this vehicle. The mileages are great still - around 19 on Highways and around 12/13 in the city.

So, if I say, I am madly in love with the car, I won't be wrong.

But here comes the twist, I just drove Virtus & Taigun. And now like any extra-marital affair, my heart and brain are dwindling. To go for it or not! To sell the Vento or not to!

I told my love affairs with the Vento. Here are some things which are creating second thoughts about it.

  • The recent DSG story of a friend - He had ran out of warranty of his Ameo and then he had a mechatronics failure that made him cough up around 1.45 lakhs.
  • Vento is officially out of market - Getting the parts for this older vehicle might get difficult as the current vendors have moved towards Virtus and Taigun route.
  • The resale value of Vento TDI-DSG - It is not that difficult to assume the truth of this statement.

So recently I evaluated my Vento with:

  • VW showroom - Price of Rs. 7,20,000 was quoted upfront by the VW dealer - Catch was I had to go with Virtus GT.
  • Spinny - Horrible evaluation done by them. I was given a range of Rs. 5,50,00 - Rs. 6,95,000 before the evaluation. Post evaluation I was handed a quote of Rs. 5,54,000. Disappointed experience.
  • CARS24 - I was given a quote of Rs. 6,45,000. Negotiations are still on.

Now the real confusion. Should I:

  • Upgrade to Virtus - replacing one entry-level sedan with another?
  • Upgrade to Taigun - move to a little taller version being a 184cm tall person.
  • Or keep my Vento and continue the love affair - keep it for some more time and convert it to a second car, and buy my dream SUV later.

With the Virtus or Taigun:

I would be losing out on the mileage, the diesel engine, the beautiful driving dynamics, the one-touch up and down anti-pinching windows, the greater interior material quality and maybe the build quality too. Though I would be getting a refreshing new look and feel with new gizmos, sunroof, infotainment system, virtual cockpit, and powerful BS6 petrol engine.

I am not convinced with either of the options and also have a little budge constraint now.

So I would appreciate the fellow Bhpians if anyone can help me out by putting up their experiences with Virtus and Taigun with honest ownership reviews.

And also if any Vento/Ameo/Polo owner, who upgraded to either Virtus or Taigun, can share their reasoning and experiences, I would be very thankful.

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say about the matter:

I think TDI DSG is a good drivetrain to keep. This weekend I drove a Laura TDI DSG with 1.8L km that's not maintained well (factory errand car) and I was impressed.

TSI + DSG is not robust which means you need to be ready to spend money. It's a great drivetrain, no doubt, but given that you already have TDI DSG and are limited by funds, don't go for it.

Interiors are a bit dated by modern standards but IMHO they are ergonomically superior and have a more solid build. Your Vento won't let you down where it matters the most - on the highways! Keep it.

Here's what BHPian asit.kulkarni93 had to say about the matter:

Your three concerns:

  • DQ200 is troublesome. It's a known fact but the mechatronics failure can be avoided if slot to N in traffic. The multi-clutch will wear out eventually and will need replacement. Find a competent FNG and you are sorted with a VAG.
  • Vento is based on a global platform and hence finding parts will never be a problem. In fact, suspension, clutch and brake upgrades are definitely possible with the Vento.
  • Going forward the resale of diesels, specifically diesel autos, will go crazy. Lack of options in the new car market will make sure this happens. Vento has a decent demand in the pre-owned market.

Your car has barely run - 55k KMs. Find someone who can give it a refresh. A remap, some additional features, better brakes and when the time comes you can get a better suspension set up. A Taigun/Virtus is hardly an upgrade for a Vento owner.

Here's what BHPian Rajeevraj had to say about the matter:

Personally, I don't think it makes sense to upgrade to a Virtus/Taigun from a 5-year-old Vento. You don't seem to have any significant issues with the Vento and running is also not significantly high. It is really not enough of an upgrade. More of a lateral change for which you need to shell out 60-70% more money.

On your reasons for the upgrade, yes the DSG failure is always a concern, but has VW stopped giving the 6th and 7th-year warranty? My Vento was covered for 7 years. Worth checking. Spare parts will never be an issue considering the number of Polo/Vento running on the road. And being global models, it would be easier for multi-brand service centers to source any part.

Would suggest maybe doing some mods to satisfy the new car itch and continuing for another couple of years.

Here's what BHPian JoshMachine had to say about the matter:

From someone who has recently moved on from a ~7 yr/87,000 km Vento TDI DSG to another car, I can possibly relate to some of your matters, kind of deja vu.

  • First up, the Virtus will not be much of a "real" upgrade: size-wise + interior space, it is almost the same. However, as compared to the current Vento's 105bhp, the Virtus (GT) will have a 50% bump. And you will get to enjoy the DSG albeit now mated to a good petrol engine. Plus some other comfort features.
  • The Taigun will give you that CSUV feeling, but you will have to really determine what is it that you like in the Taigun to make the shift. If you are looking for better GC and some AWD/4x4 etc., then the next higher CSUV segment can perhaps offer you a lot.
  • Your current mileage of 55k kms in 5 years is actually not that high to warrant a change, just based purely on this condition. As for the anxiety of the DQ200, that's totally right and you should immediately buy the add-on warranty for the 6th and 7th year, one year at a time.
  • Your Vento's TDI + DSG combo is perhaps the best out there in that segment. And since you have some good memories with it, I feel you can spend at least a couple of more years with it. Do a refresh, get that makeover done inside-out, change the RCD 320 head unit (if not done already), and the Vento should feel sparkling new!
  • Having said this, the resale value that you are getting is quite attractive. And this value will go down eventually over time. When I was in the market couple of months ago, I got significantly less for my Vento since it had seen ~7yrs.
  • Not sure about your budget, but if you really want a sizeable upgrade, then you may want to go above the Virtus/Taigun segment and look at other options. It's a different matter that even to stay in the same segment, prices have spiralled exorbitantly in the last 2-3 years.

In conclusion, there's a tradeoff you have to make:

  • Continue to drive and love your current Vento with some makeover for a couple of years at least.
  • Avail of that good resale value right away and move on.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

 
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