We buy any car versus private sale ???

[Wayne]

A quick search on Autotrader shows similar cars up for £13k to £15k.

This makes the WBAC offer look very reasonable. You could probably get £14k for yours if you tried, but you'd be up against dealers offering warranties, p/x and finance. Never used WBAC, but I wonder whether they'd try to reduce the offer when they see the car by being REALLY picky?

They do, complete pain to deal with to be honest.

I would try Autotrader.

[GtiJames]

I aint thinking of selling but went on WeBuyAnyCar to see what mine was worth:

Got a reply saying 13k ish but every week since then I get a new email saying its gone up in value...

Roughly £500 per week so far 

Im holding on for a few more months at this rate I might get what I paid for it   

[M30GLF]

Hi - Brand new to the forum but just bought privately yesterday so I guess my research and actual purchase is valid comment 
Bought an ED30 yesterday '07 plate 26k miles with Sat Nav. Paid 14.5 which was not bad...I think 
Full VAG service history and great condition - didnt want to let it go to another I guess...
Advertised price was 15 so not much leeway but I think price was keen from the start
Others seem to vary greatly and not just trade/dealer versus private - often "much loved" private examples are really optimistically priced but are still there since I started looking in earnest 4 weeks ago.. 
Anyway - nice to meet you all...!
Mark

[rotor]

Hi - Brand new to the forum but just bought privately yesterday so I guess my research and actual purchase is valid comment 
Bought an ED30 yesterday '07 plate 26k miles with Sat Nav. Paid 14.5 which was not bad...I think 

14.5 is a very good price. Can I ask where you found it? The reason I ask is I've been looking for a few weeks, and I'm tracking all the cars that meet my spec in a spreadsheet, and I haven't got that particular spec in my spready, so wondering if I'm missing somewhere to be looking for cars. 

[M30GLF]

Hi Rotor - I did think I was getting a bargain perhaps 
The car was on Autotrader but is not there now (Trader removed immediately and kept his word, to be fair)
The trader bought it directly from the local VW garage, who had taken it as a trade in.
Picking it up Tuesday afternoon so now getting very excited 
I have had a Mk 2 and a Mk 3 but never anything as powerful as an Ed30 so am 40 percent scared 60 percent excited right now.
Keeping my licence would be a good thing I feel. 

Where are you in the country Rotor? I will happily keep my eyes out for anything that looks good for you, if you like 

[moffspeed]

Qureshia -- my advice would be stick it on PistonHeads at £14.500.

If you're not familiar with PH take a look - costs £15 to place an advert with as many photos as you wish to upload. Very much an enthusiasts' captive market - unlike Autotrader which has a web site that is a nightmare to navigate and always seem to crash.

As an example I have sold nicely specced Golf Mk 3 & 4's this year on PH - asking price each time and gone within 48 hours of the ads appearing. Equally I have recently bought a Mk5 GTI off the site - I was on the phone to the guy within 30 mins of the advert appearing and he was still having the phone ring off the hook when I picked it up a couple of days later.

Usual disclaimers - no I'm not a dealer and not emploved by Haymarket (owners of PH)  !! ...

[rotor]

Where are you in the country Rotor? I will happily keep my eyes out for anything that looks good for you, if you like 

I'm in London. I think I know why my search didn't pick up the car you bought -- I'm looking for DSG and since you don't mention it, I assume you bought a manual?

Basically I'm looking for,

Must-haves:

• 2005 - 2007
• 40,000 miles max (preferably less)
• DSG

Nice to haves:

• Not red or white
• 17" wheels (more comfortable than 18")
• Cruise Control and Parking sensors
• Sunroof

I'm really enjoying the hunt!

[M30GLF]

Ha Ha it is manual - Spot on 
I have cruise and sat nav but no sunroof, sensors or 17 inch wheels..
I will keep an eye out as mentioned, especially as we are onlt 30 miles apart 

Cheers Mark

[rotor]

I will keep an eye out as mentioned, especially as we are onlt 30 miles apart 

Awesome, thanks!

Just out of curiosity, how does cruise control work on a manual transmission?

[M30GLF]

I will tell you once I actually collect the car on tuesday   
Had a BM 320d before (Blasphemy I know) and that required a button press to set at current speed, which could then be adjusted by a plus or minus button on the steering wheel controls and could be switched off by pressing same button again or sudden breaking...
Imagine something similar maybe...??