Newbie from Bournemouthshire

Hi, newbie to the site - hoping to be an owner of a GTi cabby in the not too distant future - just in negotiations with the current owner. A little unsure on prices to be fair so if anyone would be kind enough to tell me whether I'm crackers or onto a fair deal I would appreciate it!!

Desc: Black GTI Cabriolet, 1990, 92K, original handbooks with some service history and old MOTs, original radio, paint is pretty good, the roof needs replacing but doesn't leak, there's a hole in the carpet beneath the go pedal, has light grey check seats in good nick, starts first time and idles fine, there are two patches of rust on the rear passenger side  - 1 about 6 inches long where the roof meets the body and one beneath the side trim about 50p size, rear window frame is rusted, the seat release doesn't work, the central locking doesn't work when using the drivers door. All seem like it would make a nice project to keep me busy on the weekends… any of the learned users be able to provide an estimated value of this if possible?

I've clicked on the price guide on the home page but appears I'm not able to view.

Looking forward to being part of the club, my old neighbour had a mint Rivage when I was younger and always loved the shape of the Mk1, especially the cabby. Canne wait!! 

Welcome to the club first of all.

We'd really need to see some comprehensive photos of a car even to give a rough estimate, especially because of the rust!

Don't forget the rust you can see is only a third of it.  

How much is the guy looking for to start with?  

Hi, thanks for the warm welcome and prompt response!

I don't have any detailed pics I'm afraid as the seller's advert was pretty shoddy which sparked my interest… I do have a short video but don't know if I can upload from my phone here? If so, will do… ignore the cringe worthy banter!

He's asking £3k with some wriggle room… it'd be the most I'd want to spend and ideally I was looking for something which needed no work for that price, plus the rust and new roof take the spend up a fair bit.

Based on the above description does this seem reasonable in today's market?

I've driven the 1.8 clipper for sale at c. £4.5k on car and classic which I could've purchased for £2.7 off the private seller last April, however, by virtue of the fact that it's been for sale at the higher price for the best part of a year makes me think the asking prices in the £3.5 - £5k are still optimistic.

Bit of an essay! 

Welcome along mate, not far from you I'm in Swanage
   good luck with the potential purchase

Cheers hubbadubba!

Yep, not too far over the old ferry… I like taking a cruise over studland way so you may see me in a slightly rusty GTI cabby at some point in the not too distant future  

Hi golf cabrio, does my description above and the asking price enable you to give you any steer on whether the price is the right bracket? 

ed_d82 said

Hi golf cabrio, does my description above and the asking price enable you to give you any steer on whether the price is the right bracket? 

ed_d82

For  a new roof you need to have a chat with chortle  

Well as far as pricing goes. 
He's got it and you want it, so that effects the price you would pay to start with. 

If it were me and like you I'd seen it and wanted it.
I'd have £500 in cash concealed about my person and I'd hit him with £2,500 and then don't say a word, wait for his response and go from there! 

If you're not to fussed one-way or another, hit him this two grand!

Every seller has three prices.
The asking price
The price they would like 
And most importantly, the price they will accept 

You can always go up but never down remember!  

Sage advice! He seems pretty adamant that he wants near the £3k mark but I'm beginning to get cold feet with the amount of work that's potentially required and how much that's likely to inflate the price…

Maybe the £2k route is the one to go with!!

Thanks again  

If it doesn't feel right, it ain't! 

Just walk away in the knowledge that it has cost you nothing to gain a little more experience regarding Mk1's!  

Golf Cabrio said

If it doesn't feel right, it ain't! 

Just walk away in the knowledge that it has cost you nothing to gain a little more experience regarding Mk1's!  

This.

Only ever walked away from one car and I know it saved me from a world of pain.

I didn't pay alot for my GTI cabby but it didn't run and hadn't moved for nearly 10 years. I knew I would have to spend more on it in parts that what it cost to buy but I then knew I'd have a good condition car at the end of it.

Roof is a big expense depending on what level you want to be at.
The rear window frames aren't cheap.
So does it need the headliner, the inter liner and the padding changed?
There's the cost of cables, seals etc.
would you fit yourself?
Roofs can be had for as little as £250 up to £600 if you're going back to OEM spec.
That's just for the roof by the way.
Not including the headliner or padding etc or labour.
Plus you'd need to do the body work first. Common issue is the rear cable channel often rusts.
Also where the main pivot hinges are is another.
All fixable but at a price..

Thanks GC and Greavesy - defo have to think about this one, it's the right colour for me but if I take into account the cost of the work required, possibly just waiting for a minter/more reasonably priced car to come on the market might be a better option.

Chortle - thanks for the heads up. I'd looked on line and was hoping to go for a mohair option and replace the current hood and liner (with fitting) - from car hood warehouse  for about £700… assume that's about right? Would be interested if you know anyone with a better price!!

It's a tough one without pics and as has already been said it's worth as much as someone wants to pay.

For my tuppence worth I'd say £3k is steep for one with rust in that area and the labour involved in getting it fixed as well as the variable cost of getting a new hood. 

I imagine there is an attraction of it being fairly local, but for the sake of a day I'd travel wherever to get the 'right' car. £3k for a cabby will still get you a usable example without good and rust if (and I'm sure you're doing this!) look around. 

Good luck in your search!