Golf R's - Used Market - Did someone lose the optional extras list?

[monkeyhanger]

Fred:

I think that most second hand buyers who aren't enthusiasts will not know what is standard and what is optional - especially on a car so well equipped as standard. Everyone expects rear parking sensors, aircon, auto lights/wipers and a multifunction steering wheel at this size/age of car. Wheels, sunroof and Leather are highly visible options, things like rear cam, keyless and DCC people are generally going to be unaware of if they don't see it being shouted about by the seller. Many people will probably think stuff like Xenons, climate control, rear dimming mirror, folding mirrors are options they've scored for.

[JoeGTI]

^ My favoured salesman talked me out of leather by saying it'll retain £300 at trade-in.

I think a car that costs as much as an R does needs better than those nasty (imo) standard cloth seats. If there was an "in-between" option (half leather / alcantara) I'd have picked that, but cloth v leather on an R, it has to be the leather for me. You're sitting in it yourself for 2-3 years, so it can't be all down to "what will I get back on trade in".

[fredgroves]

Each to their own on the leather front.

I wouldn't touch it even on a 40k car.

Half and half maybe is classy, but leather seats are really something I hate.

[Cossieian]

My car will be for sale very very soon if anyone is interested

Limestone, DSG, 19 Prets, Discovery Nav, Winter Pack, High Beam Assist, Rear Camera, Apple CarPlay, Gloss Black Mirrors

[infernox]

Has anyone had any luck in getting the price down on these R's with optional extras that are priced too high? I'm interested in 1 but its around £2k more than I think it should be.

[monkeyhanger]

^ My favoured salesman talked me out of leather by saying it'll retain £300 at trade-in.

I think a car that costs as much as an R does needs better than those nasty (imo) standard cloth seats. If there was an "in-between" option (half leather / alcantara) I'd have picked that, but cloth v leather on an R, it has to be the leather for me. You're sitting in it yourself for 2-3 years, so it can't be all down to "what will I get back on trade in".

Leather seemed a good idea at the time, but with the dull anthracite interior of a performance Golf is given some personality with the cloth seats. The Golf does not need leather - it is no Bentley and £30k RRP is bugger all these days for a new car. VW's cheap leather at a premium price does not wear well as my cousin's GTI clearly shows after 14 months - saggy bolsters and lots of creases, and he's a slim lad. Glad I didn't buy leather.

[JoeGTI]

It's close on a 50k euro car here... and a 50k euro car needs a "premium" interior imo but etto.

No creases or baggy-ness on mine either. Looks as new. I've seen cloth interiors in shocking condition in no time. Cloth is not too forgiving when it comes to spillages, kids, etc. Its more down to the owner and how the car is  looked after, regardless of material imo.

[Mr Savage]

I guess the thing with optional extras on a second hand car is that by and large people don't care.

When I shop for second hand cars its only age and mileage I care about, maybe trim level or number of doors too. Even the colour is largely irrelevant (providing its not Barbie pink or gold (god I hate gold cars)). Red or Blue or White makes no odds.

Whether one has 17's or 18's or with or without a heated windscreen never really comes into it. Certainly not things like park assist or high beam assist or traffic lane assist...

The biggest thing is if its close enough for me to go see it and is it the best price for the age and mileage.

I'm sure most people buying second hand cars think the same and hence the little variance in the retail price.

Obviously if one dealer has two the same I might pick one over the other, but thats quite rare even at a main dealer - usually the age, mileage and price trump everything else.

Don't quite understand what you're getting at here as spec is important even on a used car as your still going to be driving it so it's exactly the same?

[Mr Savage]

But yes it seems it's the old lease cars that are on the market now and hence the low pricing. Probably had a terrible life. Still though, picking one up below 20K and taking it to Revo for a stage 1 is a tempting proposition. What other car can you get that does the sprint in under 4 seconds for that money.

[fredgroves]

I  meant that you (or certainly i) don't go shopping for a used car with the manufacturer configurator. Maybe it's because any second hand car I've ever bought has stopped being made before I'm trying to buy it...