The "Second Hand" / "2nd Hand" MK6 Golf Thread

[Molotov]

Looking at Carsales and I if I was going to pay 40k for a second-hand MY 2010 Golf Gti I'd probably go for a 2008 Audi TT with 20,000 - 35,00 KM's on it. They're about the same price.

[txjseries8]

I'd prefer the Nissan 350z, but I thought this time I better be a responsible adult and get a car that can accommodate the family as well!
Managed to get a seller down to 37.5k for a my10 with very little options, and I think this is the lowest most sellers would probably go down to without playing the waiting game.

Anyone else out there bought a secondhand mk6 out there?

[Molotov]

Big fan of the 350 and 370z too, but I need a DSG/S-Tronic so that girlfriends, mothers etc. can drive it. A standard auto in the Z cars seems like a bit of a waste.

Fortunately I don't have to accomodate 'little people' so I can still look at selfish cars.

Hence why a 2.0 TT seems like a good alternative. They're about 75,000 new I think so a 2008 model with 35,000km's for 40k means it's depreciated 46% in just under 3 years.

[dood]

points regarding purchase of second hand golf VI

I wish to purchase a demo or lowish mileage golf VI. I'm looking at the 118TSI but may consider a 103TDI.

I have options on manual and DSG. The manual I drove seemed slightly noiser, firmer and had a firmer steering feel than the DSG. Is this normal? The owner's manual made no mention of a sports pack.

I've been told that manuals are much harder to sell when the time comes - should this be a consideration?

Should I be concerned about the clutch issues of the DSG (less than one year remaining on warranty) or does this only affect a small minority of DSGs? Are there any clutch issues with the manual?

I haven't tried the 103 yet - what are the pros and cons over the 118?

Is the sports pack recommended or does it make the ride too uncomfortable on bumpy roads?

Thanks in advance.

[Darth]

I have no knowledge of what 2nd hand cars are worth but I would temper the view that people selling their cars are being unrealistic. The delays in delivery of new cars is such that they can ask higher than anticipated prices. All you have to do is look at in stock prices compared to those that you have to wait for your spec , they are higher because they know you can get it now.

2nd hand cars with low mileage have the benefit of being ready to drive away and generally people that buy the GTI / R take pretty good care of them so they will be in near new condition

Hi Silver, while I accept that you know nothing about second hand car prices, would you mind clarifying:

1. What are "anticipated prices"? And does asking "more than anticipated prices" not mean advertising for more than they think they will get?

2. Isn't being unrealistic the same as advertising for more than they ultimately sell for?

3. If people aren't being unrealistic, does this mean everyone is getting the initial asking price for their GTIs / Rs?

My understanding was that sellers rarely achieve their asking price as sellers typically ask more than they are prepared to accept on the off chance that someone will actually pay it and, more particularly, to provide some room for negotiation.

Does the practice of asking more than they are prepared to accept not make such sellers in some way "unrealistic"?

The idea that GTI / R owners are more fastidious than owners of other makes and models is an interesting angle (albeit I've seen numerous GTIs with blackened front wheels), as is the proposition that GTIs / Rs are more likely be in "near new condition" than other makes and models.

I am just wondering on what basis you state (no need for statistics!) that GTIs / Rs are so different from the rest of the used car market for vehicles of similar age. A lot of people are also fastidious about their Hyundais, let alone Mazdas, Hondas, Subarus, Toyotas and BMWs, aren't they?

After all, if you look at how many near-new used cars there are for sale, you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was a buyers, not a sellers, market, which would tend to undermine the proposition that GTI / R sellers can ask "higher than anticipated prices", wouldn't it?

Do the rules of the second hand car market not apply more or less equally to most makes of cars?

Cheers
Darth Veyron

[SilvrFoxX]

It was a general comment.. it had no bias associated with it, merely a potential explanation why 2nd hand GTIs have the appearance of high prices. But to all your questions the fact is the price of anything is based on what the market is prepared to pay.

[wai]

When comparing prices, remember GST.

On a new vehicle, there is 10% GST.

If you buy privately and the seller has not used the vehicle as a commercial vehicle and claimed depreciation, then they cannot charge GST. If you are not registered for GST and it is for private use, then you cannot claim GST.

Basically, you start with the vehicle being as old as on the compliance plate/build plate in the same way as the vehicle would be valued as a trade in. Then add a reasonable amount for profit and that is your starting point.

You have to set emotions aside. After all, this is the purchase of an item that will almost always go down in value until it becomes a classic, but that is a long way off

[dood]

My 2c worth regarding carsales and redbook.

I have just recently advertised two cars on carsales. I used redbook as my starting point and priced within the ranges. I noticed on casales that all the other sellers of similar cars in my region were asking significantly more. I also noticed that car dealers in town were asking more but the vehicles have not sold for several months.

One of my cars sold in a month and the other has a firm offer and should go this week. Both my cars have lower mileages than redbook states.

So whilst it seems that redbook undervalues cars based on market prices, the actual prices at the time of sale are probably within the redbook range. If I'm wrong I've just sold my good cars for a song.

[SilvrFoxX]

So whilst it seems that redbook undervalues cars based on market prices, the actual prices at the time of sale are probably within the redbook range. If I'm wrong I've just sold my good cars for a song.

could well be the case.. if your price is lower than the others and all things being equal you are going to have the quicker sale.

That aside as I said before it is all what the market is prepared to pay.

[Darth]

the price of anything is based on what the market is prepared to pay.

Yeah, that comment about the market is obvious. But above this post you were developing the idea that GTI / R owners could ask more than "anticipated price" (which term is new to me and undefined).

However, as sellers are generally optimistic when they anticipate what they will get for their cars, I gather "anticipated price" must be greater than, or equal to market price. In that case I guess, based on your above post about the market prevailing, while GTI / R owners can ask for more than the anticipated price, they will be most unlikely to achieve it.

So if you're correct about many GTI / R owners seeking a higher asking price than market price, that would suggest that they must make deeper concessions during negotiations and receive fewer enquiries in the meantime as buyers are drawn to those GTI / R sellers with more realistic prices.

[Corey_R]

Darth, I think you forgot that purchasers always expect a discount. Even if they're buying a new car, which is on sale AND they have corporate discount, they expect further discount. This also exists when buying second hand.

So really, if the price you want as a seller is say $20k, you'd be an idiot to list at $20k, because no purchaser will pay that. You need to advertise for $22k so that you can negotiate down to $20k so the purchaser thinks they played the game well and got a good deal.

[Darth]

Darth, I think you forgot that purchasers always expect a discount. Even if they're buying a new car, which is on sale AND they have corporate discount, they expect further discount. This also exists when buying second hand.

Buyers' expectations were well known, I believed and were not in question. I was commenting on the ability of GTI / R owners to, as Silverfox suggested, to ask above "anticipated price". Buyer expectations is another reason why they can't.

So really, if the price you want as a seller is say $20k, you'd be an idiot to list at $20k, because no purchaser will pay that. You need to advertise for $22k so that you can negotiate down to $20k so the purchaser thinks they played the game well and got a good deal.

That's one way of selling a used car... but horses for courses ...

For a quick, fuss-free sale, there is something to be said for advertising at ones lowest acceptable price so long as you have the fortitude to stick to your guns. A "take it or leave it" approach on the basis of a realistic price gives the seller credibility and usually puts a degree of pressure on the buyer to make a quick decision, and achieves the desired outcome of a reasonable price in short order.

So, no, I would not regard a person whose time is so valuable that they seek a quick sale as an "idiot".

[SilvrFoxX]

Yeah, that comment about the market is obvious. But above this post you were developing the idea that GTI / R owners could ask more than "anticipated price" (which term is new to me and undefined).

However, as sellers are generally optimistic when they anticipate what they will get for their cars, I gather "anticipated price" must be greater than, or equal to market price. In that case I guess, based on your above post about the market prevailing, while GTI / R owners can ask for more than the anticipated price, they will be most unlikely to achieve it.

So if you're correct about many GTI / R owners seeking a higher asking price than market price, that would suggest that they must make deeper concessions during negotiations and receive fewer enquiries in the meantime as buyers are drawn to those GTI / R sellers with more realistic prices.

It is a moot point.. park the GTI/ R example.. any vehicle which has a following will have odd behaviors around what the price should do on the second hand market. There are cases where folk have placed an order to find they are on a 1 or 2 year waiting list and will sell their place for more than the asking price.

Now my referencing GTI / R is that these are sought after cars and the waiting list is long, this then defines the word you are stumped by "anticipated". As the usual rules of depreciation over time of both asset and money can be affected.

The Seller expects more because the market appears to perceive the value is there. All you have to do is read the other threads on the long and protracted waiting periods for cars which have been ordered at a good price compared to those picking them up off the lot at almost retail

[txjseries8]

When I was enquiring about used mk6's there weren't many sellers willing to drop their price much, only met one guy who was willing to do business. Add to that stamp duty costs of 2k and it worked out that less than 4k would get me a brand new car. I think the fact that not one of the mk6's had sold since the time I started looking, and had already been listed for some time before that, must give some indication of the markets willingness to purchase a secondhand mk6 at this time. Referring strictly to Perth market by the way.

[GTREA]

I just bought an MY10 Octavia vRS Wagon with leather for $34000, she had it on Carsales for $34250, it was a good price, I was'nt arguing with her, she sold it within a day or so of advertising.

Is she an idiot?

No, I would and do the same, take Perth for example, if I were to sell my MY11 5dr Golf GTi tomorrow (theoretically Corey) , with 5800kms, 18" Detroits, DSG & MDI this is what I am up against.

So I would price it at $40'000.

I know my products good, and at that price point it beats the competition.

If it did'nt sell within a week or two, there is no market.

Or you may argue the cars already there are overpriced, but in my experience and i've bought and sold maybe 5 in the last few years, if you have a good / better product, price it at the bottom end of Carsales it will sell