Is PCP a good way to finance a car?


Correct and Ceist Beag's workings in #206 above using my numbers from Joe Duffy and PTSB also shows the PCP method to be more expensive.
 

Can you confirm that a bank financing the PCP will accept part payment at the end of 36 months, and then allow the financing of the remainder.

This still works out more expensive than the straight loan

Thanks for illustrating that the PCP method is more expensive than the straight loan.
 
From Joe Duffy website.

PCP on Volvo XC 60 D3ES

On the road price €40245
Deposit €12073
Finance amount €28171
36 payments of €390
PAR 4.9%
GMFV €18186

To own the above car through PCP requires 36 x 390 = €14040

But we have established below this person has the ability to save/spend €909 towards cars. Excess of €519 per month for 36 months = €18684
No need for a further loan as the person has saved in excess of the GMFV, leaving them with an excess of €498.

Total amount repayed for the financing of the car with PCP is € 32226

A straight loan from PTSB for the full finance amount of €28171 over 36 months @APR 10.5% would cost €909 per month so total repayed would be €32724.
 
are you assuming that because it suits your narrative or is it based on any factual premise?

It's just my opinion. I don't believe the figures are in the public domain. We know that PCPs are a very popular way of financing car purchases at the moment, which means borrowing is way up. Based on our recent history with increased borrowing when rates are low I am led to believe that many people will borrow too much again with little or nothing substantial in reserve to buy out the car at the end without requiring additional finance. I put that number at 90%. How about you, what percentage of people do you think will have the funds saved if you were to guess?
 

I think you were arguing this with Bronte, but nevermind. I take your point, however the point I am making is that it's fine to say that someone could save the difference between the repayments on PCP and a conventional loan, but in reality I doubt many will. The money will go on other things. I would argue that those who borrow for things are not as good at saving as those who don't borrow for things...in the main obviously and not including a mortgage.
 
I put that number at 90%. How about you, what percentage of people do you think will have the funds saved if you were to guess?

its impossible to opine on so i wouldnt, i can only work with the information that i have to hand i.e. my own circumstances
 
its impossible to opine on so i wouldnt, i can only work with the information that i have to hand i.e. my own circumstances

I beg to differ. Towards the end of the Celtic Tiger it was apparent to all what was going on even though the information was not yet officially public. Can you offer an explanation why the sales of new cars increased by 50% in 2 years from 2014 to 2016? Do you think that level of growth came from savings?
 

i think peoples circumstances and / or consumer sentiment has changed, remember a lot of people held off on changing their car for years due to financial uncertaintly. Both my father and father in law held onto cars they had purchased new in 2005 & 6 respectively until last year, then they both bought new with cash.
 

I agree with the first bit - a lot of people did hold off replacing their cars, but I think most of the new car purchases are on PCP and the majority of those are taken out without the balloon payment in funds. IE, most people are buying on the never-never.
 

perhaps, but its speculation at best, to suit a narrative
 
perhaps, but its speculation at best, to suit a narrative

It's not scientific I agree but I don't think it's speculation either. To me it's more than a coincidence that car sales jumped 50% in 2 years at the same PCPs were introduced all whilst nothing materially improved in the general economy.
 

Interesting that the difference is negligible despite the substantial difference in APRs. The selling point of the PCP are the low repayments. My suspicion, and it's only that, is that the balloon payment at the end of the PCP, where someone wants to buy out the car, would be the subject of another finance deal over 3 ,4 or 5 years. The only way I can see a PCP being more attractive than a straight loan is where a buyer has the funds to put aside to fund the balloon payment at the end of the 36 months.
 
I think the ultimate aim of PCPs from the dealers point of view is very clear, they want you to roll over to a new car in two or three years time. In fact, they will make it very clear to you when you talk to them that this is what they want to happen.

So while they can be attractive to those who want to hold on to a car longer-term, such people are not the target audience of these deals. So when assessing PCPs, you need to look at what they cost for those who typically buy a new car every two or three years.
 

I agree entirely and even then I think I would just buy the car outright and not be bothering with all the hassle.
 
To me it's more than a coincidence that car sales jumped 50% in 2 years at the same PCPs were introduced all whilst nothing materially improved in the general economy.

PCPs were introduced in 2013/2014 from what I can see, it's just they've come to the fore more recently as new car sales have risen. I don't doubt they have helped fuel the market, but so did a huge shortage of good quality cars at a reasonable price.
 

which is what you implied with your initial comparison where you had a 3 year loan costing over 900 a month,

im not sure what point you are trying to make any more
 
which is what you implied with your initial comparison where you had a 3 year loan costing over 900 a month,

im not sure what point you are trying to make any more

I'm trying to figure out the answer to the original question! I think we're getting there. PCPs are expensive if you have to borrow for the balloon payment, and of course you might not get the finance! If you miss a payment during the first 36 months, or otherwise mess up your ICB record, will you pass underwriting criteria to get further finance to pay the balloon payment?
 
PCPs are expensive if you have to borrow for the balloon payment, and of course you might not get the finance!

expensive compared to what? they work out cheaper than a loan (even when 0% PCP isnt available) as shown above.

new cars are expensive but thats the case regardless of how you finance.
 
Just to clarify, PCP + 3 years further financing (eg. 3 year credit union / bank loan), is still cheaper than 6 years of standard financing (eg. 6 year credit union / bank loan).
 
expensive compared to what? they work out cheaper than a loan (even when 0% PCP isnt available) as shown above.

They dont as I've shown with my only worked example.

Just to clarify, PCP + 3 years further financing (eg. 3 year credit union / bank loan), is still cheaper than 6 years of standard financing (eg. 6 year credit union / bank loan).

That's not the case in the first Joe Duffy example I used. What finance company will give you a 6 year loan for a car ?