Would you buy a 2010 VW Passat CC privately?

vf949

Hi folks,

I have a 2010 VW Passat GT 2.0 TDI 140bhp Bluemotion with 24,000 miles that I bought in the uk at the end of last year and am considering buying a 2011 version and selling the 2010 one.

I am thinking of doing this as I think in theory I should be able to come up a year for little or no money.

Would I struggle to sell it myself? Would people buying this type of car (approx €24k) be slow to buy privately and prefer to buy from a dealer? Would most people want to trade in a car?

Thanks!

bazz26

In this price range most people will want to buy from a dealer for a few reasons:

1. Peace of mind and warranty.
2. Anyone borrowing a loan or financing, their bank will nearly always insist that the car be bought from a franchised dealer as a condition of the loan or finance.
3. Many people may have an older car to trade-in or try and sell themselves first.

BTW I think you are being very optimystic thinking that a 3 year old Passat CC will fetch €24k privately. There are 2011 high spec models from dealers that are asking under €27k before any haggling and include warranty.

MuppetCheck

€24k is a lot to spend privately. To have a chance it has to be considerably cheaper than an equivalent car from a dealer with a warranty, sale prepped etc.

Plus many will find it difficult to get finance on a private sale.

It's not impossible, and is a desirable car. Price will be the key.

vf949

bazz26 wrote: »

In this price range most people will want to buy from a dealer for a few reasons:

1. Peace of mind and warranty.
2. Anyone borrowing a loan or financing, their bank will nearly always insist that the car be bought from a franchised dealer as a condition of the loan or finance.
3. Many people may have an older car to trade-in or try and sell themselves first.

BTW I think you are being very optimystic thinking that a 3 year old Passat CC will fetch €24k privately. There are 2011 high spec models from dealers that are asking under €27k before any haggling and include warranty.

Thanks for your frank and quick response!

Your points 1, 2 & 3 are the types of things I wanted to get peoples opinions on. These are the issues that are causing me to be a bit nervous about the whole thing.

The price of €24k was only a ball-park figure. I would have the 2011 one landed from the uk with everything paid for approx €23,700 so realistically I would be happy with approx €22,500.

bazz26

Dealer asking for €22,900 for this 2010 low mileage example with extras:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Passat-CC/2.0-TDI/33213644941330420/

Privately you would want to be shifting yours for under €22k.

vf949

bazz26 wrote: »

Dealer asking for €22,900 for this 2010 low mileage example with extras:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Passat-CC/2.0-TDI/33213644941330420/

Privately you would want to be shifting yours for under €22k.

Ya I see what you mean I need to be cheaper than the dealers. Mine is the GT version with the 18" Interlagos alloys & tinted rear windows but I'm not sure if everyone will appreciate these differences.

Leprechaun77

I am currently looking at buying a car in this category/year and I can tell you my line of thinking on these cars....

I have about €20-25k to spend on the car, but havn't decided to use full cash or part cash-part loan. The idea of spending this much money on a private sale is a bit daunting unless there is a vehicle cheaper/better spec/lower mileage than that of a garage. I can tell you that there is a bit more haggle room on carzone prices for these cars.

Again, this is only my opinion, but your car is a 2010 import so is less desirable to me. I don't have any major problem with imports as the digital speedo can be changed to kmh through the display buttons on the VW. (the mph clock is a major issue as my wife will be driving the car, and well...you get my drift) If I was to decide to get a UK Passat CC, I would probably go there myself with cash and get your car from a dealer cheaper (on the basis that a 2011 can be landed for under €24k as per your post).

I would hazard a guess and say it will be difficult to shift unless the price is very enticing to a private buyer. I think the days are gone where you can import a car and then sell it a year later for the same price, presuming exchange rates don't fluctuate massively. Just my tuppence worth anyway.

mullingar

@op,
.
Do you really hope to jump up a year for just €1200?

You will only get €20-21k max for your 2010 privately.

Personally, i would not bother upgrading to an identical car just to show off a fresher registration plate, madness in my book unless you were doing starship mileage

ottostreet

Why bother, for the sake of a change of number plate digit?

djimi

As a buyer there isnt a hope in hell that I would spent €20k+ on something that I have virtually zero comeback or warranty for once I hand over the cash.

Drummerboy08

vf949 wrote: »

Ya I see what you mean I need to be cheaper than the dealers. Mine is the GT version with the 18" Interlagos alloys & tinted rear windows but I'm not sure if everyone will appreciate these differences.

The wheels and tinted windows make absolutely no difference to the value of the car. It might make it easier to sell, but it's worth the same as a standard model.

Henry Ford III

Is there any manufacturers warranty left on a 2010 VW?

maceocc2

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Is there any manufacturers warranty left on a 2010 VW?

Don't think there would be, IIRC VW do a two year warranty as standard.

Drummerboy08

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

The wheels and tinted windows make absolutely no difference to the value of the car. It might make it easier to sell, but it's worth the same as a standard model.

so your saying a bog standard version would be worth the same as a high spec model all other things being equal

bazz26

maceocc2 wrote: »

Don't think there would be, IIRC VW do a two year warranty as standard.

But the UK had a 3 year warranty well before Ireland got one so it is plausable that the OP's car may have some warranty left on it.

But I agree with the others that trading up a year to the exact same car is a bit pointless. The car you have now might be giving you no trouble but the newer car end up being a lemon.

_Kaiser_

allinthehead wrote: »

so your saying a bog standard version would be worth the same as a high spec model all other things being equal

I'd have to say yes. The Irish buyer is more concerned with the digits on the front than any spec level.
It's why there's so many new/newish cars with wind up windows or steel wheels for example

Back to the topic.. they're a very nice car, bit different, and decent spec - but no way would I hand over 20k without any comeback if something went wrong.

scamalert

allinthehead wrote: »

so your saying a bog standard version would be worth the same as a high spec model all other things being equal

Since when window tint and alloys means high spec 150e will get any car tinted,alloys cost depending on make and shape size,taste.Basically items that anyone can easily get done cheap if need to.

vf949

Thanks for all the replies folks. The car has VW warranty until 31st Dec 2013 as it was 1st registered on 31st Dec 2010 and has a 3yr warranty.

The only reason I would upgrade to an 11 reg car would be if I could do it for small money. Judging by your responses I won't be able to doit for small money!

_Kaiser_

vf949 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies folks. The car has VW warranty until 31st Dec 2013 as it was 1st registered on 31st Dec 2010 and has a 3yr warranty.

The only reason I would upgrade to an 11 reg car would be if I could do it for small money. Judging by your responses I won't be able to doit for small money!

I'm assuming that's a UK import then that you have now if it has a 3 year warranty?
If so I'd imagine an ROI dealer won't honour it without a fuss (stand to be corrected though) so it'd mean a trip up North if anything went wrong?

I agree with the others.. seems a bit pointless to be trading up to the same car with just a newer reg plate? Maybe if there was a dramatic change in the spec or a mid-life refresh but not otherwise.. plus as someone else said, you know your own's history which would be a gamble on the new one.

scamalert

scamalert wrote: »

Since when window tint and alloys means high spec 150e will get any car tinted,alloys cost depending on make and shape size,taste.Basically items that anyone can easily get done cheap if need to.

Should have been more clear on my point. Op said his was gt spec with nicer alloys and im assuming that was factory tint. Take for example two bmws one has m sport kit other is bog standard. msport is much more valuable. If i had lets say 15k to spend on a car and i came across two identical, one with m sport one standard, m sport owner is asking 15k other owner wants 14k i would pay the premium for the m sport or sline audi or whatever. I do however accept the point that not every irish car owner cares about these things. For me, desirability has value.

lomb

Id say its worth 20k cash which is about right when you say the 1 year newer machine is 24k inc hassle factor. About 20% per annum depreciation is the going rate+ trade/cash sale margin loss. I wouldnt think there would be much trouble in shifting it at 20, its a desirable car and will sell quick.

bazz26

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I'm assuming that's a UK import then that you have now if it has a 3 year warranty?
If so I'd imagine an ROI dealer won't honour it without a fuss (stand to be corrected though) so it'd mean a trip up North if anything went wrong?

I agree with the others.. seems a bit pointless to be trading up to the same car with just a newer reg plate? Maybe if there was a dramatic change in the spec or a mid-life refresh but not otherwise.. plus as someone else said, you know your own's history which would be a gamble on the new one.

The UK manufacturer's warranty is usually pan European and should be valid over here.

bazz26

allinthehead wrote: »

Should have been more clear on my point. Op said his was gt spec with nicer alloys and im assuming that was factory tint. Take for example two bmws one has m sport kit other is bog standard. msport is much more valuable. If i had lets say 15k to spend on a car and i came across two identical, one with m sport one standard, m sport owner is asking 15k other owner wants 14k i would pay the premium for the m sport or sline audi or whatever. I do however accept the point that not every irish car owner cares about these things. For me, desirability has value.

Irish spec Passat CCs are actually a little higher than UK spec models. Irish spec models had half leather/alcantara seats as standard whereas UK spec models had cloth seats but did get a touch screen stereo. UK GT spec is similar to the Sport spec they offered here but not identical.

The only real premium prices being fetched on these models are for the full leather heated sports seats, touch screen sat-nav, adaptive chassis and panoramic sunroof which are plentiful in the UK.

goz83

First registered 31st December 2010. You'd be paying thousands for a registration plate!!! AND the newer reg might even be an oolder car. My dads Octavia was reg'd in 2009, but was made in 2008 for example. Would you be satisfied with a car egistered January 1st 2011 if it was costing you an extra 2 grand?

If so, that's just crazy. A brand new car might appeal to me, but I wouldn't trade my car for an identical model, one year newer if it was costing me nothing. Why? Well, I take care of my car. I know it and trust it and I would be jumping into unknown terrirory with a newer reg plate.