Topic: Getting Better Trade In Value For Rediculously Low Mileage

[The Mighty Duck]

A buddy of mine's girlfriend recently bought a 1997 VW Golf (gas) with 7000 km on the clock.  She paid about $9000 in Victoria.  Not sure on the black book value of a 97 Golf, but I'll let you draw your own conclusions.  IMO, a great deal with that number of km, though.

[dougjp]

I know this is an old thread, however I wanted to thank everyone for their comments and let you know what I did.

I tried for a long time going after what James' mentioned, a late model higher mileage (upscale) car, however I grew tired of people trying to steal my trade/make easy money/holdout for more etc. On reflection, my experience was valuable - its really a sick and illogical industry because all these people wasted their time and made no money off me, when there was money sitting right there in front of them to be made. If they had a brain and (a) came out with their best shot and (b) gave the impression of working with me. In fact there was only one guy who did even one of these - (b) but held back on (a) big time in terms of the trade value until it was too late. Sick and stupid selling techniques from the 1920's or thereabouts, the most unproductive business people I've ever met.

I concluded you have to know someone on the 'inside' of the industry to buy a late model upscale used car, unless you are prepared to be taken. "Taken" as in, one or more of; bad vehicle/normal price, poor trade value, too high price etc.     

I got the value out of my car on a trade for.....and a good price on, a 2006 Jetta 2.0T with DSG and the Luxury package! The 6 speed DSG transmission is worth the price of admission on its own. Nothing but this or the BMW manumatic could have got me out of a manual transmission after some 40+ years  Everything else I'm aware of  out there is a slushbox. Many thanks to the Audi R8 @ LeMans and ALMS racing programme for bringing this technology, direct port injection etc. down into passenger cars especially at the low price point of the Jetta. A happy ending! 

[dorin]

Thanks for the update Doug.  Enjoy your new Jetta w/DSG.

I do agree with you that buying a late-model used car from a dealer seems to be a sucker's game.  Too bad, because a friend of mine is looking for such a car and all he's been able to find are bad vehicles with normal prices or good vehicles with really high prices.  The handful of good vehicles with normal prices that he found were all gone by the next day.

[dougjp]

Here's one pic to make the thread "useful with pic"  I'll post some more in the Reader's Rides section:

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Congrats on the car!

I test drove the 2.0T DSG and loved it myself...
http://www.cartalkcanada.com/forum/index.php/topic,41507.msg248038.html#msg248038

Yours looks really great - I like the silver on it a lot, as it looks 'perky' and fresh. Rather sick of seeing all those Platinum Grey ones 

Did you find VW Villa a good experience? I hear they're pretty professional, but not necessarily inexpensive when it comes to servicing.

Congrats once again 

[dougjp]

Yeah I just read your excellent review, missed it before because I didn't have the GTI on my list.

Its WAY upscale compared to my MkIV 2003 in every way. I was originally looking at used Acura TLs and Infinity G35s, all things considered, glad I decided to go with this. The standouts are the suspension and DSG. The transmission "makes" the engine and car, by improving "the driver" .  It keeps and/or places the engine in its torque/power band at all times, which makes the car feel very quick despite it being quiet (that usually reduces the feeling of speed). I find myself changing between the three ways of driving the transmission, each one being interesting; manually shifting, normal 'drive' mode auto and 'sport' mode auto which has very different shift points. The 2.0T is a big improvement over the 1.8T especially in response and smoothness at low revs.

The combination of the two (engine/transmission) decided me on this car. I always have looked at 0-60 times when comparing cars. It donned on me that while some of these higher HP V6 cars I was looking at were 6 or low 6 second 0-60, while this car is high 6 second, what actual times would an experienced stick driver actually do in real life, repeatedly? I don't mind the idea of a little technology helping me along   

VW Villa was fine, its where I bought my last car and that experience was OK too. I didn't have any service needs over 3 years except one recall for seat heater replacement and a few oil changes with VW Club discount coupons, so little money changed hands and I can't comment on that part. 

[wing]

Congrats on the car!

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Good point Doug - I feel the same way.

A lot of comparisons are for 0-60mph/100kmh, but I think the more important everyday measure for me are the passing times... 50-70, or what have you. Gunning it from stop lights isn't as important as good passing or acceleration power on demand, and I think the 2.0T has mastered that need for sudden speed without the necessity of downshifting or a V6. It's effortless in that car.

Enjoy as much as I did during my short drive!