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WHY!!!!! Can't I get rid of my golf?!!?

3K views 16 replies 13 participants last post by  GOLFGTTDI230 
#1 ·
Been trying now properly for 6 damn months to sell my 1.8T Y reg golf. I've had so many tmiewasters its stupid. Someone was supposed to come along today and see it, 2 infact and have they turned up....no.

Its at an absolute ridiculous price now, no one on here seems to be interested, its in excellent condition and the 1.8T everyone seems to go on about. Ok so its got 109k on the clock, but the price, which is WAY under trade value reflects that.

I've taken the plunge now. Going to a car auction, I desperately need the money now, its effecting my mortgage application. Whatever I get I get [:(]

Sad end really, someone could have had it literally for half the price I paid for it just 15 months ago.

Anyone else having trouble selling theres when there seems to be loads of people on the look out for the model you have?

Its cost me a small fortune in advertisments, ebay winners havent collected it or even been to see it, the people who ring up about it want to knock me down even further. Now the car auction place is gonna take a big cut. Damn cars.
 
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#2 ·
I'm having similar slow take up on my 1.8T as well at the moment. Lots of time wasters tyre kicker & the like of.

Had one couple who had apparently just sold a CTR, complaining that it didn't have any low down power which is sort of right but then when the wife (who the car was for) drove it I could see why, as she changed gear every time at 2000 rpm.

Had some other blokes come at look the other night (6hrs after they said they'd come) who seemed genuinely interested. Though I wasn't to keen when I took them out for a test drive as they all insisted on coming along - so it was me by myself and these 3 fairly big blokes in the car, at night. They called back a day later and offered me 1k less than the best offer I had so far - which I had told them about when they came to see it.

I also had someone who wanted to px my golf and a bit of cash for an E36 M3 - but so far the majority have been boy racers who just seemed to be interested in how much power it has got and how fast it is
 
#3 ·
Only ever offer a test drive on one condition.... that you have agreed
a price and the person is going to buy the car at that price.

A test drive on a private sale is not to see if you like the car it is
sto see if it is mechanically sound and drives as it should.

nEVER WAIT IN FOR A BUYER IF THEY WONT LEAVE A LAND LINE AND NAME FOR YOU TO CONTACT THEM (Damn caps lock)

When doing a test drive insist on the buyer giving you there keys... so there friend/partner cant do a bunk if it goes wrong.

Graham do you know anyone in the market for a new / used car..... They
could use your car as the part ex and give you the cash... I have done
this a few times.

Its a pity you have the mk3 as i would have advertised it wanting a a
cheap part ex.. Maybe still try it I know you will be left with
yeat another motor, but you can always shift a car this way
 
#4 ·
I did actually offer part exchanges when I was first selling it. Then it sold and I went to buy the MK3. Then the buyer came up with loads of crap about not being able to drive because he went into hospital with internal bleeding. Offered to take the car to him (hes a trader) and he came clean. Didnt want it because his buyer had now got a golf. Therefore, I presume he couldnt make a quick buck.

So, i was left them with the MK3 and the MK4, something which I did not want to happen because the only reason I'm getting rid of the MK4 is to clear the loan so that they can stop being so stupid with the mortgage.

The only part ex offers I have had have been 'swaps'. One Fiesta XR2i and one 02 plate corsa with 28k on the clock. Thanks but no thanks. The whole point is I need the money to pay off the loan.

Just people timewasting constantly. Someone rang me yesterday saying they have the cash now, they will come and look tommorow (today) and hopefully if everything is ok and a deal can be had, will drive away. He arranged everything over the phoen just yesterday at 4pm. So I text him today to ask roughly what time he plans on coming over so I can deffo be in. Nothing. So I rang about 2 hours again, he cancels the call (know its cancelling as after a couple of rings I get voicemail). What is the point?! Whats the point in ringing me asking for loads of details about the car, arranging times etc just to completely ignore me after. He'd seen the ebay ad, read it all, knew what he was getting, but cus I wouldnt go for ?3900 because it has a months tax left dont think he wants to know, even though he said he still deffo wants to come and have a look and re-negotiate.
 
#5 ·
Sorry you have had no luck mate. I have only ever sold one car
privately, and that was the Bora V6. I got lucky because a UK-MKIVer
wanted it having seen it at a show. I advertised it for a week on Ebay
and got nothing put stupid offers, endless questions and people who had
not done their homework on the model - people who were just looking for
a 'car' IMO. I swore againts ever buying or selling privately again...its risky, you take
comments about the car personally, people take the mick, it takes time
and money, etc etc. Just not worth the effort?

Used dealerships WILL offer you cash, its just a
case of how much they offer. It will always be the wrong car with the
wrong spec (no matter what you bring them!), but ignore that and ask
for a price. If I were you I would get down to Marsh Barton and offer
it to all the
used guys around there. VW will not want it, but there is a VW
Specialist at the back up behind TVR/Bentley who would be in the right
market.
 
#6 ·
Sorry you have had no luck mate. I have only ever sold one car privately, and that was the Bora V6. I got lucky because a UK-MKIVer wanted it having seen it at a show. I advertised it for a week on Ebay and got nothing put stupid offers, endless questions and people who had not done their homework on the model - people who were just looking for a 'car' IMO. I swore againts ever buying or selling privately again...its risky, you take comments about the car personally, people take the mick, it takes time and money, etc etc. Just not worth the effort?

Used dealerships WILL offer you cash, its just a case of how much they offer. It will always be the wrong car with the wrong spec (no matter what you bring them!), but ignore that and ask for a price. If I were you I would get down to Marsh Barton and offer it to all the used guys around there. VW will not want it, but there is a VW Specialist at the back up behind TVR/Bentley who would be in the right market.
It's a good idea. Might just do that before I put it through the auction, in effect, cutting the auction out.

However, I did ring round about 2 months ago when I was looking for the cheaper car. They wouldn't even part-ex the golf for a lower priced car. Some of them point blank refused and others said they can pick them up at auction for a couple of grand (which I know is not true). I think I might have a harder time just trying to sell straight to a trader.

Will give it a couple of weeks on the trader again for ?4500. Though I will accept a few hundred less than that. I've tried the route of advertising it real cheap, then they just try and knock you down even further, so decided to price it higher and let it go for a lot less. Hopefully then someone might actually come along and see the car (no one actually has even though 2 people have bought it!!) and offer me lower, which is what I wanted anyway, if they don't, cha-ching!

Here goes another ?16...and its not just that, I got to insure it again now.
 
#8 ·
I feel for you mate,

was in the same position a while back where i had to sell my mint xr3i and my mk2 golf gti.

Had the same hassle as you with tyre kickers and no shows, so in the end i took the xr3i to auction.( a very very sad day) Then got a phone call telling me the selling price and asked if i wanted to let it go (i think they felt sorry for me) anyway the price was really poor so i decided not to.

So a few more weeks went by and had to get rid off it, so went to the local second hand garage and he offered me roughly the same as the auction(as he said that was going price). So i bit the bullet and the deal was done. Felt good about getting rid of it finally but at a poor price ohh well.

Then there was the gti, so off it went to auction with no reserve and no second chance, was shocked at selling price!!

So if you do take it to the auction be prepared and take a leather belt to bite on[:'(]

But bought my current golf at auction for a bargain, so as they say what goes around comes around[:D]
 
#9 ·
IMO trade ins are not automatically the wrong route to take. You can't
see their margin on your trade in as a loss, because you can never get
that price, and they are running a business. I couldn't be a car
dealers as I actually LIKE cars, and would get to emotional about it
and offer too much!

I'm usually left to sort out my familys' cars when they want to change,
and it can go either way - I have lost money and made money. I have
watched Mercedes dealers add ?4,000 to the price of a car they gave me
?20k for and all they have done is polish it, but I have also seen cars
go on the forecourt for less than they paid me, so it can go either
way.
 
#10 ·
I hate buying from a dealer and then trading in when its time to change again - you have to pay higher dealer prices (understandably as they have to make a living) and trade in prices can be poor.

If you haggle properly you can get a discount off a dealer price if you don't trade in.

Also if you buy from a dealer, and then a month later decide to sell, you will loose probably at least ?2k. If you buy privately at the right price, you could probably sell on a month later (should the need arise) for what you paid.

I have sold many cars privately - had the odd time waster or fail to turn up type but generally had no problems - in fact a car I sold 5 years ago I still get Christmas cards from the buyer telling me how the car is going!

I have sold 2 cars on ebay and got good prices - suppose it just depends on the car.

And as I said above, if you buy at the right price, (and I have on 2 occassions) bought cars, used them for over a year and then sold them on for the same as I paid.....Nice when it happens.
 
#11 ·
The problem can be as that the golf has been one of the most popular selling car in the uk for the past years(they are usually in the top 5)...meaning lots about so can be harder to sell.

I work at a dealer ship, and i can tell you, we really do make sod all on trade in's on say cars over 3 years old, as they usually go to the auction and some make a profit, many lose money. Only make money if they are within 3 years old, the brand that you work for and can be sold on the pitch, and then yes you will be gutted to see how much more the car can go on the pitch for.

But back to the post, wish you guys luck... it is definately a buyers market at the minute. Looking for a 1.8t myself.... just in highest spec as possible!
 
#13 ·
Finally!!!

My car has turned into a pile of cash. Bit low at 4k, but seems people just were not interested. So the new owner has just gone off with a smile on his face knowing full well he got himself a bargain.

Just thankful it finally sold.....only took me 6 months.
 
#14 ·
Glad you got it sold mate and im sure you feel pretty sick at losing it , never mind having to sell it for cheaper.

I have decided never to sell mine and be one of those guys with a mint motor covered up in the garage ten years from now.

chris your mk5 is lovely and im sure it will sell pretty fast.
 
#17 ·
Hi Mate,

Im pretty sure the mileage on your Golf was the reason it took 6 months to sell.....I have just asked everyone in the office if they would buy a VW Golf MK4 with 120k mileage is it?on the clock even though it is in v good condition all 26 people said no, its the anything over 100k is due to fail mentality......which unfortunatly people swear by even though not necassarily true
 
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