Scala Up For Auction with Bonhams

[daveyheats]

Just seen this Scala in Bonhams upcoming MPH auction later this month. She's a rough old girl, and they've conveniently not highlighted the fact she's done 274,000 miles! If it goes for £4,000 I imagine all mk2 owners will get their insurance valuations updated!

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26807/lot/100/

[mark1gls]

Oh my goodness, that's rough, look at the fuel filter... it's gone rusty, you are meant to change them 2 years, 20,000 miles, could be a can of worms with the K-jet fuel system if dirts got into it. Strut top mounts are also shot.
Pictures taken when the car is wet so you can't see how the red paint is....

Lets see what it sells for.

[mr.brown]

Condition score 32 points out of 95.
If anyone pays more than £500 for that they need a slap.

[ThomasD]

For some reason, maybe people locked up for COVID, the price of Sciroccos seems to have gotten insane lately.

This 1986 GT S was sold sometime in the second half of 2020 for £7995, which is a ton of money. That being said, at least from the pictures, the car looks amazing.
https://www.kgfclassiccars.co.uk/vehicles/21294/

Now, a few months later, a new dealer is listing the same car for... wait for it... £15,000!!
https://manorparkclassics.com/1986-volk ... d-edition/

Now maybe it is just this particular dealer, because looking at some of the other VWs on that site, there are really poor quality cars which are being offered as silly prices.

But here is a 1985 car for sale at a US dealer for almost $10,000 USD
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/ca ... 57699.html

See how many faults you can find. BTW, the service book in the photos does not match the car's VIN which is worrying. You would think the selling dealer would notice something like that.

Eight years ago Mr. Brown warned me that the seller was asking too much for the Scirocco I bought and he was right. Given the prices I've seen lately, my car would be a bargain now even correcting for inflation.

From an enthusiast's point of view, I think there is a range we'd like to see these cars in. We don't want them to be too cheap or they end up in scrap yards, but we don't want them too expensive or it prices too many people out of the hobby and people get nervous about using them because they are worth so much, etc. Corrados seem to have moved to that too expensive point (at least in the US). I hope the same doesn't happen with Sciroccos.

[GT_II]

I think some buyers are willing to pay a premium for classic cars prepared and advertised well by a dealer (or auction) in the often mistaken belief they will be a safer bet than ones offered for sale privately. This may be true for recent cars, for example sold as approved used, but can give a false sense of security for classics. Often better to buy from an enthusiast who has shown commitment to the car by investing time and money over a significant period.

I also think there is a tendency for enthusiasts to undervalue their cars as they understand the ongoing investment needed to maintain them well, and perhaps to be "behind the curve" in assessing value in a rising market.

Keeping a Scirocco is probably never going to be a lucratuve investment, as money needs to be spent, but bought wisely, depreciation is not something we should have to worry about.

[GT_II]

But here is a 1985 car for sale at a US dealer for almost $10,000 USD
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/ca ... 57699.html

See how many faults you can find. BTW, the service book in the photos does not match the car's VIN which is worrying. You would think the selling dealer would notice something like that.

This is insane, must be a dodgy dealer. A stupid dodgy dealer at that uploading all those underbonnet and underside photos, unless it's so he can say to an unsuspecting buyer when they complain "I showed you how bad it was and you still bought it!"

[daveyheats]

"Sold for £ 225 inc. premium"

Where on earth did that estimate of £4,000 come from?!

[ThomasD]

"Sold for £ 225 inc. premium"

Where on earth did that estimate of £4,000 come from?!

Who knows? I don't know why the seller would bother with an auction house for that car.. maybe they were hoping for £4,000? Why not just sell it on eBay ? They probably would have done better than £225 as a project or parts car.. it's very strange.

[WreckTangle]

I imagine they could have made more just weighing it in. Certainly breaking it for parts.

[Juraf57]

Oh my goodness, that's rough, look at the fuel filter... it's gone rusty, you are meant to change them 2 years, 20,000 miles Carton déménagement double cannelure, could be a can of worms with the K-jet fuel system if dirts got into it. Strut top mounts are also shot.
Pictures taken when the car is wet so you can't see how the red paint is....

Lets see what it sells for.

Normally the filter should be changed after 50,000 km. It's safer I think.