What are the cars really worth?

[fliptophead]

Over the xmas period, I had a day or two of "test driving" a few different cars.

Well... you have to really, to make re-assure yourself what youre really driving.

Part of the premise, was to get an idea of what the Ed30 is worth ( new in may 07 @ 24k+ reasonable spec).
And... I DONT want to sell the ed30, just I like driving cars...

I'm not sure if I was to be shocked or surprised, but a few interesting bits came out of it.

BMW 1 series.... Nice ish.... very frugal, crap gearbox ( the demo car anyway), no space in the back, very slippy (rwd) and std equipment wasnt as bad as some say, but not that much bigger than my missus's Mini, in all reality.... Not a GolfGTI

Civic Type R...  I couldn't decide if I loved it or hated it... seriously.  I loved the space age dash.... for a few minutes, until I couldnt find ANYTHING on it to switch on the aircon (then found out that its not standard!).  Drove well, nice and revvy ... brakes wern't all that good.  I guess as a former Honda driver I could get to like it, but not like I fell in love with the Ed30.... so strike that one.... Not a GOLFGTI

Cupra.... Felt like a golf... bit cheaper, drove well.... but why downgrade?... Not a GOLF GTI.

LandRover Freelander2.... I thought I'd try this as it gets great reviews.... Awful... drove like an american car ( bouncy bouncy suspension ). For such a big car, it doesnt feel very spacous inside, and as I got a little more agressive in one of the corners, part of the panelling fell off!!!! (thats landrover for you).... Not a CAR!... its a tractor.

S3... Hmmmmm the S3....  Joy o Joy....  fab drive, amazing build quality.....  OUCH... how much with a little bit of kit, its near 30k....


So... anyway,

Cutting to the chase....
How much was the Ed30 worth.... Its MINT, and I mean MINT condition.  Washed and polished, hovered and autoglym'd to the hilt.

The BMW garage offered me 20500 for it ( getting a quote from 'nigel' at a VW stealer ), as its 'book price' + 1500 quid discount on the BMW.
The Audi garage offered me 18500 for it ( getting a quote from 'nigel' at the VW stealer ), as its book price. + 900 quid discount on the S3.

So... within the space of 3hrs, the Ed30 had depreciated 2 grand!....

I should have gone armed with the 'online' glass's information, but what it says to me is they're all crook's!   

[Hurdy]

Interesting mini reviews there.

I've held off driving the S3 as it is the ONLY car on the market at the moment that I would be tempted by. For me its only downsides are that it is 3dr and doesn't have DSG as an option

As for the trade in prices, they are probably ballpark figures for depreciation on a 7 month old car. It still sucks though

Just as bad as my MKV GTTDI - Full leather, Xenon, 6CD, Cruise, DSG, 5dr, steel grey £22.5k new. traded in after 18months with 14k miles for £12K . £10.5k in 1.5yrs.

[fliptophead]

10k is a bitter pill to swallow.

Well...

3 doors for me anyway... Family or not, I just love 3 door cars.
As for the lack of DSG, I just cant get away with DSG at all. My Ed30 is manual and its how I like it.

The S3 is a tempting car.... VERY tempting, but the hole in my pocket would be just too big.
I said before probably the biggest problem with it, is that its just a bit normal looking.


What really p's me off, is that you could go down to the stealers a week later and see them having a 4k mark up on your car.

I've also come to the conclusion that Options=smopshons... ie... Options are for the person who first buys the car.  They're worth diddly at trade in time.

BMW were kind enough to tell me what thinks actually add something to the value of a car if you order it, and what they look for on trade ins... ie. Leather and metalic paint. They did say that although sat nav is (circa) 1500 quid, it adds NOTHING to the trade in, neither does Xenons... which I found remarkable.

I'd like to know which was the "real" value that this so called Nigel had given... was it 20 or 18? 

[k4ith]

sometimes we forget they want to make money out of us lol, from the trade in plus the new one we buy, the sales person is in it to make money for him at the end of the day how much xan he afford to let go?
my prev MK2 Leon FR TDi 56 plate they offered me 12.5k best price, i said i would sell privately for £14.5k they didnt think anyone would buy it, advertised in Autotrader tinternet only and got £14k, same with my prev MK4 GTi got more buy selling privately, i would only use the trade in as last resort.

S3 mmm but needed 5 dr car, but your right stick a few basic options on and woosh £Â£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£.

[R32UK]

sometimes we forget they want to make money out of us lol, from the trade in plus the new one we buy, the sales person is in it to make money for him at the end of the day how much xan he afford to let go?
my prev MK2 Leon FR TDi 56 plate they offered me 12.5k best price, i said i would sell privately for £14.5k they didnt think anyone would buy it, advertised in Autotrader tinternet only and got £14k, same with my prev MK4 GTi got more buy selling privately, i would only use the trade in as last resort.

S3 mmm but needed 5 dr car, but your right stick a few basic options on and woosh £Â£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£.

As i said the one i went to go see this weekend had what looked like just sat nav and leather and was priced at 33k... Ridiculous is what i say... all the switches are from the golf. CAbin altho looks nicer than the golf i would have to say is the same quality. The only thing going for it is its looks and speed. If you can live without them then save yourself 10k and get a Gti!

If you got money to burn then the only real undisputed hot hatch king option is the S3.. i just dont think it sounds, drives or is more practical than my R32

[fliptophead]

I think that nails it...

I didnt drive an R32 simply because I have a GTI Ed30. (maybe I should!)... R32 is the dog's danglies....

Audi prices are simply obscene for the badge. I sat and configured an A3 to what my ED30 spec is, and it just wasnt funny to see such huge numbers.

I also reckon that I see more A3's ( and the S3 looks like an A3!) these days than Golf's and the GTI always catches the eye.

When I had my first A3 years ago it was different, funky and definately one of only a few on the road... now its like a Honda civic!