1983 VW Golf 1.3 CL - low mileage...value?

Hi everyone,

I'm looking at purchasing a low mileage example of a Golf 1.3CL, and wondering what I should be looking at paying for it. This particular example has been in dry storage, incredibly low mileage for age, but just want to check that I'm not going to paying over the odds for it.

Thanks for your help,

Nick 

Nick don't feel offended butI have a question for you.

I'm looking at buying a house looks like it might be in good shape so how much do you think I should pay for it? 🤔

Now hopefully you understand why you are not getting any feedback. We need a lot more information than that.

All the details and with photos if possible, the more we know the better chance we have of giving you an honest opinion. 👍

Mike

Hi Mike,

I'm not that easily offended..thanks for your comments.

The vehicle pictures are attached.

It's a 1983 1.3CL 5dr which has been dry stored for a number of years, and is on the DVLA as having around 17,160 miles. From the pictures, it looks in great shape but I'm just wondering whether £6500 is a high end price or good value?

 

I have seen this advertised for a while and other nice time warp cars the garage has.

I would ask what do you want it for - if it's to make money on then you are going to struggle I think to see this appreciate in the short term, the number of people who want a standard MK1 over a GTI must be much smaller.

If you want what must be one of (if not the) best 5dr MK1's out there to keep as it is, then try and find another one. If you can afford it then maybe it is worth the price, if it is exactly what you want then get it, you might never come across another, just remember if you ever need to make a forced quick sale you won't get your money back for a few years but that's no different than going and buying any modern car.

Finally, still got to make better financial sense than finding a wreck and restoring it.

Oh wow, what a cracker and I'm thinking if it is all it appears to it's worth every penny but let's keep our feet on the ground.

Now I'm sure others will be giving their opinions which is what this club is all about. 😉

But if it's 100% the real deal.
Clearly you've made contact with the seller, so go there with 5k cash in your front pocket, and another 1k split between your two back pockets.

Look, be sure and don't let emotions take over and then just hand him the 5k cash and say do we have a deal? 🤔

But don't say another word! Let him speak first.
If you speak, you've lost! 👍

You've always got the backup cash but fight to save it.

Well that's another trade secret given away but I'd love to own that car.

Good luck mate! 😉👍

Sent from my Smartphone 📱

Love you Richard! 💕😉

Thank you all for your advice!

Richard - my main aim is to drive and enjoy it..I appreciate it won't make money as it's not a GTI.

Mike - thanks for the 'inside' advice!!

I saw this too and it falls into the "too nice to use" category. Its worth so much due to the condition and mileage. Its almost a museum piece/ornament rather than usable vehicle.

Regular use will mean mileage will increase and condition decrease, unless you only use it high days and holiday for the odd show in perfect weather. It will need to be kept indoors in a dry ventilated garage. When you drive it anywhere you will be worried about parking next to other cars or where you can't see it from the pub window….

This also means you need to tax, MOT and insure, potentially £500++ to do a few hundred miles a year.

Very well said. 👍

UKD has a tendancy to buy good, low mileage cars at lower prices and then stick very high prices on them.

I know the Derby he has. He bought it for £3200 from ebay from a friend of mine then had it up for sale at over 7k.

Of course he's entitled to do what he wants, but it gives you some idea of what he probably paid for it………

As siad above, if you want a perfect example to polish and to take to concourse shows then that's the one to buy. Assuming you can afford it.

If you want something to use a bit more often I would probably try to find something else.

It'll be a bit slow (60ish BHP) and noisy (4 speed box) and comfy (softly sprung). if you want to cruise around to the odd show and have a nice garage to keep it in, crack on.

If you want to smoke boy racers at the lights. Well, it'd be a shame to ruin it, but they do say 'start with the best one you can afford as it'll cost you less in the end'

even I'd keep this one standard (well perhaps some twin carbs and an exhaust just because you can!), and just roll it as is.  

Please don't put beaded seat covers in it and a roof rack on it though  

Just my thoughts.

Ian

Hi Ian,

Thanks for your advice. I'm looking at keeping this standard and my days of 'smoking' boy racers are gone. I just want a nice example to enjoy, and drive (slowly).

Nick

Nick,

I've read this whole post from top to bottom at least a dozen times, I can criticize the photos until the cows come home but that's my former job raising it's ugly head.  

That car without question is very special and I would love to see it with my own eyes, outside in daylight etc…
And find out just what this car is all about. The whole history and nothing but the history in hard copy, not bull shït from the dealer!  

Now assuming (dangerous I know) it is for real, you clearly understand what it means to own such a rare Golf Mk1 and in someways the big responsibility you take on I'd go for it.  

Last thing, once you've done the deal don't forget to buy your AGM tickets for the Mk1 event of the year and as I will finally be there, this will be one of the first cars I will visit!  

Nick

Where are you based?

I am in Bristol and so is UKD, I first noticed them on the scene probably 2+ or so years ago.

Their first stock seemed to be polished turds to be honest, they had average cars which they cleaned up as much as they could and asked very strong money for them, they had a white cabby for a while which was really rough and they were asking 5K

That said they have had some much nicer stock in over the past 12-18 months . This has been for sale for a while and when I saw it go up I thought it looked clean, if you are some distance away I could try and pop in and give it the once over for you.

They have a rather attractive lady that works for them so silver lining and all that lol

Think their stock is more of a mixed bag now but this one does looks very nice, they are built to be used but this looks super clean to use, I would probably dust it off about 3 times a year and be worried about if being damaged etc when its out

Given the history of the Mk1, and people not in the know thinking every single Mk1 is rare and will go up in value by the day! I am surprised it has not sold yet, but maybe it is not quite as described / pics show?

I wouldn't say for a garage £6500 is silly money, but if they are sticking to their guns and people are offering £5500-£6000 then maybe that's why its still there ?

Hi Richy Hill,

I'm actually based in Edinburgh…a little far from Bristol! If you're passing UKD then I'd really appreciate popping in to see it, but please don't go out of your way!

Thank you so much, in advance!

Nick

The more we learn, lowers not only the emotion but the true value as well and therefore the price.

I learnt real fast this rule +33 years ago, keep the emotions high and the profit will follow!  

Another trade secret for free!