Are 205S Actually Selling At The High Prices People Are Asking

[m@ttc 30]

acording to classic car weekly this week they have put these prices on the 205 gti

 

project £1000

usable £2500

excellent £6000

concours £8000

 

also i quote '' at the other end of the scale, some unrealistic prices are begging to be asked for low milers in mint condition''.

[Anthony 1,003]

maybe to you but not the majority of buyers out there. I bet given the choice of 2 similar condition cars, one with 80k and the other with 160k, the former would get the most interest.

You're both right.

 

When you're talking cars of this age, mileage counts for very little and you buy on condition first and foremost. Indeed, unless you've a mountain of paperwork to back up the mileage, I'd treat the number on the odometer as meaningless anyway as they're so easy to clock and many, many cars have been at some point in their lives.

 

However, to the vast majority of buyers, low mileage is more desireable thanks to the bizarre belief that low mileage equals good condition. That has a direct impact on prices - low mileage cars are worth more and it is almost a pre-requisite that a top-dollar car will have very low miles on it. People will discount cars without even looking at them because of an arbitary number they've decided is "too high".

 

The attitude is infuriating in many ways - one of my 306's has nearly quarter of a million miles on it but is an trusty workhorse that I'd happily jump in and drive across Europe in tomorrow with no concerns whatsoever. Uses no oil or water, starts on the button, doesn't miss a beat, and is undoubably in far better mechanical condition than most of the tired examples out there with less than half the mileage. However, it's all but worthless thanks to the number on the odometer and will likely end up being scrapped later this year (I need an estate) even though most of those miles have been plodding up and down the motorway

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Stick for sale on here Anth, with your reputation I reckon some one will have it off you in no time.

[GLPoomobile 958]

People will discount cars without even looking at them because of an arbitary number they've decided is "too high".

 

From loitering on other forums, I see it so often that owners (and so called enthusiasts) of other perhaps more premium marques, or just "newer" cars in general, seem to think that anything with 100k on the clock is fit for the scrap heap. Even ~70k is considered totally worn out by some people.

 

Mind you, with cars becoming so expensive to repair these days, perhaps there's some sense in that attitude. Failing DMFs can easily make a lot of cars beyond economic repair, as can so many other things. My Volvo is just coming up to 90k, and with no history of a clutch change and the fact that it feels a bit iffy, I'll probably have no choice but to scrap it when the clutch and/or DMF eventually dies, even though it's a good solid workhorse that would no doubt soldier on for many years and thousands more miles to come otherwise.

[Anthony 1,003]

Problem is that things like clutch and DMF wear isn't so much mileage related as usage (ie town vs motorway, towing etc) and driver (riding the clutch, constantly labouring engine etc).

[Maso 5 2 Cars]

Yip, but that's double the mileage which of course does count... My 205's done about 20,000 miles in the last ten years, current mileage is 124,000, so it's done 104,000 miles in the first 12 years of it's life, not that much by today's standard. I think in the case of the 205... mileage isn't so important unless your looking for one with genuine low mileage... i.e. 50,000/60,000 mark, in which case will be hard to find now.

 

You could find a car with 80,000 miles that's been run into the ground and been sat up with a world of issues or you could find a car with 160,000 miles that's never wanted for anything... I think I know what I would prefer given the time and money it takes to restore to "VGC"

My 205 GTI has done 58.000miles. Never restored just a clean mint one kept out of snow and cared for with a total of 3 owners.

 

Will restore it now just cause i want to sleep at night knowing it is for sure 110% rust free and so it can last another 20years like it has done so far.

[stain 13]

^^^ My wife is from Gothenburg but maintains that she had never seen a 205GTi until I got mine.

 

To answer the OP question - yes, they are selling for those prices because I bought one. However, the number of buyers out there at that level is the next unknown.

[welshpug 1,657]

you crazy crazy man

[stain 13]

What for marrying a Swede ?

 

I should add - I didn't pay anything like 15k for mine. And wouldn't either.

Edited January 13, 2014 by stain

[brian j 32]

The attitude is infuriating in many ways - one of my 306's has nearly quarter of a million miles on it but is an trusty workhorse that I'd happily jump in and drive across Europe in tomorrow with no concerns whatsoever. Uses no oil or water, starts on the button, doesn't miss a beat, and is undoubably in far better mechanical condition than most of the tired examples out there with less than half the mileage. However, it's all but worthless thanks to the number on the odometer and will likely end up being scrapped later this year (I need an estate) even though most of those miles have been plodding up and down the motorway

If it does come up for sale complete I'd seriously consider having it back! I still miss those seats and the sounds.

[Anthony 1,003]

I doubt that you'd be interested in having it back Brian - the modifications you did to the car (seats, suspension, etc) are getting put into the estate replacement when the weather improves, as it's all the same fitment and I'd forgotten just how poor the original fitment stuff is by comparison. To be honest the shell itself is starting to look a bit tatty around the edges these days thanks to the notorious Diablo Red lacquer issues it's developed

 

Basically, all that you loved about the old girl will live on in spirit in its big bottomed sister

[brian j 32]

Glad to hear it! :-)

If you are moving on, you have probably found it by now but the front amp is under the centre console in front of the gearstick. It's a nice little Genesis one.

[309jazzpanda 41]

Who thinks these prices up? £8k wow

[Mac Crash 78 1 Cars]

My 205 GTI has done 58.000miles. Never restored just a clean mint one kept out of snow and cared for with a total of 3 owners.

 

Will restore it now just cause i want to sleep at night knowing it is for sure 110% rust free and so it can last another 20years like it has done so far.

 

58,000 Road miles, not bad, keep us updated here on the condition of sills, inner arches etc when you inspect the car, out of interest, hopefully all will be okay and there will be no real restoration required?

[Mac Crash 78 1 Cars]

Who thinks these prices up? £8k wow

 

 

Walk into any main dealer now and what can you buy for £8K.... not much, min, that's for sure.... or a mint, stunning, classic 80's/90's Gti, acknowledged by most to be the best Gti ever... No longer available... hmmm, suddenly doesn't sound so expensive, cheaper now than they were new, everything is relevant.

[allye 530 3 Cars]

All this talk of big money and that goodwood on eBay makes me feel better about spending frankly too much on my 309!

 

Although resale is not the reason any of us do it!

[Maso 5 2 Cars]

 

58,000 Road miles, not bad, keep us updated here on the condition of sills, inner arches etc when you inspect the car, out of interest, hopefully all will be okay and there will be no real restoration required?

 

Will do, once I start the restoration in spring I will post a buildproject here...

[Maso 5 2 Cars]

^^^ My wife is from Gothenburg but maintains that she had never seen a 205GTi until I got mine.

 

To answer the OP question - yes, they are selling for those prices because I bought one. However, the number of buyers out there at that level is the next unknown.

Hahaha, well I can understand that. There arent that many and I drive my seldom in town as its so much traffic there and boring so I stick to the finer roads outside town.

 

Plus, i understand here, each time i buy a car I seldom see it on the roads but once you get one yourself you start seeing them everywhere.

[stufarri 98 3 Cars]

The Goodwood on Ebay makes me feel happier about spending money on my Goodwood project for sure. The downside is that makes it a keeper so one of my 205s may have to go.

 

Not convinced his mates aren't bidding it up though as it is not really a true example looking at the pictures.

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

If 205's are really worth this kind of cash then I think I'll push my 1275GT out into the rain and garage my GTI

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

When you look at things like Classic Mini's, those strange VW Camper Van's and what they go for 205's are pretty cheap still so it's looking good finally

[Projectuno 7]

The last 1.9 GTIs sold in 1994 for £12,265 which is about £19k now if you adjust for inflation.

£12,971 in 1991 for a 1.9 GTi

£11,496 in 1991 for a 1.6 GTi

 

VW Golf GTi 16v £15,603

Renault 5 GT Turbo £11,200

Fiat Uno Turbo MK2 £9,723

 

All October 1991

[jackherer 543]

I got the final 1994 price from http://www.205gtidrivers.com/info/history.html