thanks guys,
i doubt VW would object to me praising the value of their used vehicles--i mean, how often does that happen? their depreciation means they are really cheap to buy into (except diesels), and if you luck into one that is relatively reliable, it's gold.
I don't think many would argue that used cars are the better value, but new car shoppers ant the peace of mind of warranty and greater likelihood of a reliable vehicle. used ccar shoppers accept that risk along with the lower prices.... i'm in a unique circumstance (new cars every week/month) that means it would be pretty crazy to take on the expense of a new car.
if i drove thousands of km in my personal car, it would give me a different perspective.