Looking for information

I've owned my Mark 1 Golf GLi Karmann Cabriolet for 5 years now but things haven't panned out the way I'd expected when I first bought it.

My original plan was, as I'm sure is fairly common, to devote some serious time and effort on using and caring for the car especially in Summer. First there was number 1 Son, then came number 2 Son and in 3 weeks time I will be blessed with a third!!! :roll:  Those of you with Kids may understand the lack of hours available!

Unfortunately as the car hasn't really seen the light of day for about 3 years I feel it's time that I sold it on to someone who can get more use out of it than me.

I don't know the forum rules on advertising and that isn't really the purpose of my post, I'm really just looking for all your help as you have the knowledge to give me all the relevant information re the background and features of the car. I need to know all the stuff that will make the car appealing to prospective buyers!

It's on a Y plate (first registered May 1983, 25 this year!!!) and is Mars Red in colour with a 1.8 engine. I believe the wheels are original (anybody confirm?)

Any Information to allow me to create a pen picture for my ad would be greatly appreciated!

The wheels look correct for the year. I am assuming yours is a GTI or GLi, the GL didn't have a 1.8 litre engine until later (I think - I had a 1984 A plate 1.6 GL). Best thing to do re: advertising is to be as honest as possible in the advert, give a general description including the reason for sale, then list the good points and bad points. Any recent work done isn't really that relevant, although it might be worth listing anything major. Take lots of pics, including the bad bits, hood up and down, etc.

Most of all though, do your research and decide on a reasonable price for sale, and advertise this (including perhaps a little allowance for bargaining, etc). Many cars remain unsold because the owner overestimated the value of the car and then dropped and dropped it, but the perception was they were after all they could get rather than being honest!

Good luck.

Once you've prepared the advert, eBay is still a useful tool although often you will encounter timewasters on there - its useful to get the views, etc though. There's also Auto Trader (online too). But also there's this site, you'd need to join as a member to sell it (?15, a bunch of other benefits too). If you compare prices for listing on eBay, Auto Trader, and on here, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the ?15 cost!

paul_c said

The wheels look correct for the year. I am assuming yours is a GTI or GLi, the GL didn't have a 1.8 litre engine until later (I think - I had a 1984 A plate 1.6 GL). Best thing to do re: advertising is to be as honest as possible in the advert, give a general description including the reason for sale, then list the good points and bad points. Any recent work done isn't really that relevant, although it might be worth listing anything major. Take lots of pics, including the bad bits, hood up and down, etc.

Most of all though, do your research and decide on a reasonable price for sale, and advertise this (including perhaps a little allowance for bargaining, etc). Many cars remain unsold because the owner overestimated the value of the car and then dropped and dropped it, but the perception was they were after all they could get rather than being honest!

Good luck.

Once you've prepared the advert, eBay is still a useful tool although often you will encounter timewasters on there - its useful to get the views, etc though. There's also Auto Trader (online too). But also there's this site, you'd need to join as a member to sell it (?15, a bunch of other benefits too). If you compare prices for listing on eBay, Auto Trader, and on here, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the ?15 cost!

Good advice, Thanks very much.

Yes it's a GLi, obviously it does have problems as you would expect but I'm  banking on people who are interested in this car being the sort who are equipped to tackle the things that need done.

I've really got no idea for the price, I know what I paid for it but I feel that is no longer relevant. As you suggest I'll do some research before I try and list it anywhere.

I think it'll break my heart joining a MK1 Golf Club to attempt to sell my Mk1 Golf

Don't sell it mate! Stick it away on a SORN if you have to but hang on to it if at all possible. It looks really tidy and you will only regret it in less than a year.

You've got a tidy car there and your sons will love you for hanging on to it and taking them out for a drive in a few years. My two boys like nothing more than helping out with mine and then going for a blast (without Mum telling me to slow down).

Join up and the members on here will have it running sweet in no time.

Tian :y:

Decal_Joe said

I think it'll break my heart joining a MK1 Golf Club to attempt to sell my Mk1 Golf

Join the club and don't sell it - problem solved!

Tian said

Don't sell it mate! Stick it away on a SORN if you have to but hang on to it if at all possible. It looks really tidy and you will only regret it in less than a year.

You've got a tidy car there and your sons will love you for hanging on to it and taking them out for a drive in a few years. My two boys like nothing more than helping out with mine and then going for a blast (without Mum telling me to slow down).

Join up and the members on here will have it running sweet in no time.

Tian :y:

This is what I was worried about!

What it has taken my Wife years to talk me into, you strangers are talking me out of in minutes!!! ie selling the car

You could appease her by putting a rubbishly-laid out advert, with loads of spelling mistakes, on eBay and setting the reserve ridiculously high. Then ignoring your phone calls and emails all week? Or would the bread knife twig it?

Realistically, how about another summer's worth of open top motoring, then sell it in the autumn or next spring?

paul_c said

You could appease her by putting a rubbishly-laid out advert, with loads of spelling mistakes, on eBay and setting the reserve ridiculously high. Then ignoring your phone calls and emails all week? Or would the bread knife twig it?

Realistically, how about another summer's worth of open top motoring, then sell it in the autumn or next spring?

No MOT and no Road Tax mean that even getting it back on the road this Summer is going to cost me a few bob which I'm not sure I can justify or even afford with things the way they are.

I've not really had it out of the Garage the last couple of Summers and that seems to be the overriding factor in getting rid. It is a pity because the weather is great just now.

I've had it SORNed for 3 years, always with the intention of getting back to it but just as 1 bairn seems to be growing up another one comes along!

Decal_Joe said

as 1 bairn seems to be growing up another one comes along!

Well who can we blame for that?

Keep it on SORN and tell her the value is actually going up not down so it's a wise investment.

Tian

Tian said

Decal_Joe said

as 1 bairn seems to be growing up another one comes along!

Well who can we blame for that?

Keep it on SORN and tell her the value is actually going up not down so it's a wise investment.

Tian

 

Be a shame to deprive your self of this fine looking car!

What's up with it?
One thing that may be worth while is putting it through an mot and seeing what it has failed on.  Either way, you would know what is needed, and being able to present a fail sheet to a prospective buyer would be more of an asset to the sale than selling it with no information.  I know I would prefer that assuming is nothing major.

if you don'r really really need the money you should keep her, look at it this way.
if you sell it and get ?1000 for example what will you buy with that.
come next week you'll have spent it and have nothing to show for it.

this car is an investment.

like me, do what you can, when you can.

selling with no MOT will reduce the number of people interested and therefore seriously reduce the price you get. As said getting a failure list would be the next best thing to an MOT.

If the main reason to sell is space then you probably aint going to change that. If thats not an issue I would revisit the reasons why with your partner and point out that withont the MOT you will end up giving it away.

I'm with those that have suggested selling her the 'it's appreciating!!' argument and keeping it. Looks like a lovely car there can't be that much wrong with it *wincing*

MOT it and then you know whats what. It might only need  a few simple jobs and bish bosh bash take missus out for a country pub lunch one sunny weekend and she'll want to keep it to.