Back to reality . . .

[aajr]

I know I'm popping up all over the gaff on this page

I've done a few valuations on different websites (parkers, glass's, RAC etc) and they all seem to wildly differ with the prices of a used R?

Went to see one today 11 plate priced at £13k - 91k on clock, FSH from VW. MOT due 28/3 along with cam-belt change. Used to be a demo vehicle then was a company car hence mileage. Very 'tappy' engine but otherwise ok.

Is this an average price? Its a guy who buys/sells cars in spare time, so really a private sale (although he was offering a 3month warranty?)

Ended up walking away because of the cam-belt/MOT/engine as he would not even budge £500 my way (only if I didn't want a warranty)

Realistically, what am i looking at to spend on an R? 10/11 plate, black, FSH

Seen many priced around 16k but have been up for sale for some time. Do they actually sell for this?

Ideally 14k for one in good nick was my aim? Is this laughable and do i need to do more homework?

Thanks in advance

[shrink]

that mileage is pretty mega!

my 2010 car with only 30k on the clock and some decent options (dynaudio, 19's, winter pack, xenons etc) was £15,995 and I paid £15,500

Looking around, I consider that an extremely good price, as it is a 1 owner car with full main VW dealer history.

£13k for a car with 3x the mileage sounds like a horrific rip off, but I also think you're unlikely to find a tidy low miler for £14k, I think £15k is probably the minimum

[whiteDevil_170]

Me personally wouldn't buy a car with that kind of millage.

[Cuprabob]

It will have spent most of it's life cruising on the motorway which puts little stress on the engine. As long as it's been serviced correctly, it wouldn't worry.

I would much rather buy a high miler than one that does a couple of miles each day without getting up to temp.

Buy on condition and history, not mileage.

[aajr]

that mileage is pretty mega!

my 2010 car with only 30k on the clock and some decent options (dynaudio, 19's, winter pack, xenons etc) was £15,995 and I paid £15,500

Looking around, I consider that an extremely good price, as it is a 1 owner car with full main VW dealer history.

£13k for a car with 3x the mileage sounds like a horrific rip off, but I also think you're unlikely to find a tidy low miler for £14k, I think £15k is probably the minimum

When did you get hold of that? Recently? Theres a few i have my eye on around 15.5 but valuations on parkers show it to be worth around 13k private sale?? Surely thats not right ??

Me personally wouldn't buy a car with that kind of millage.

Not the mileage that gets me tbh as long as it has FSH and has been looked after!! My current VW is on almost 150k

It will have spent most of it's life cruising on the motorway which puts little stress on the engine. As long as it's been serviced correctly, it wouldn't worry.

I would much rather buy a high miler than one that does a couple of miles each day without getting up to temp.

Buy on condition and history, not mileage.

I agree, was just the sound of the engine putting me off!! I also know how much he bought the car for 2 weeks ago and can't justify paying nearly 2k more than what he paid cos he beat me to it

[MrBarry123]

Is it a DSG? At that mileage I'd certainly want to make sure it's had at least two DSG oil changes.

However... Don't let the mileage put you off! My car is coming up to 65k now and will be on 80k before the year is out. It spends the majority of its time on the motorway at 70mph (to aid mpg) however does get a good thrashing every now and then when the fluids are up to temperature. It's serviced meticulously and wants for nothing. Provided the car in your example has been serviced fully and correctly, I wouldn't hesitate just because it has 91k on the clock. And I'd much rather have that than a R which has 20k on it however has only been driven in and around town.

A few more thoughts from me...

All the cheap PCH* deals around nowadays mean people who can't really afford to run a high-performance car end up in one on limited mile policies; resulting in a lot of high-performance cars being treated awfully. These however will then be sold to their second owner with low miles with the assumption that because of this, they are a safe bet in terms of reliability.

It's a R so is designed to take more punishment than a standard Scirocco and will wear the miles better.

Eventually, the depreciation curve of these will bottom-out i.e. they won't continue to depreciate in a linear manner forever and therefore mileage will cease to become the primary driver of price.

*For the record, I have nothing against PCH plans and it certainly has its place among the car financing methods however I know a number of people who have sourced high-performance cars this way and treat them with zero mechanical sympathy and/or no care for the car's care.

[bitmadmax]

So he sells cars in his spare time?

Sounds fishy to me.. is he a private seller, or a company selling cars privately on the sly to avoid tax/comeback etc..