Chaps,

Kind of bought a car yesterday.....but, had it taken back off me!!

Well, I bought through the auction but it didn't hit it's reserve. I've now got the option to buy at the reserve price, but I think that it's a bit steep really.

It's a 2007 vRS TDI estate - 30k miles, full history, 3 previous owners. It's a very honest example and only needs for a wheel refurb really.

All things being equal - what would you guys think it's worth?

I'm happy to buy from auction as know cars/design them etc!....but....only if the price reflects the auction route!

What do you guys think it's worth?

I won it at £9500.....but, that's worked out to be quite far from the reserve price!

Cheers...

I would ask to see if the seller want's to meet in the middle in terms of the price

Yes, I've always met in the middle and never paid a full reserve.

If it's in the auction it means they either need it sold or it's got a problem IMO.

Is it an 07 or 57? Are there many extras? Personally 9.5k would seem a reasonable price for a car that old at auction. As a guide I traded my car in last year for a new 10 plate (it was a race blue PD VRS hatch with a few extras) for around that price. I would expect auction and trade in prices to be similar. Considering the seller wants significantly more than that I would say they are unrealistic.

I just traded my 07 Race Blue vRS hatch for £9650. It has 30k miles and lots of extras.

3 owners in such a short time, that would ring alarm bells for me. all i could say is if you can get the car at a good price is do all the checks you can.

The market value of anything sold at auction is the "underbid", that is, whatever the guy who didn't think it was worth the 9500. Quite simply, both of you would have willingly paid the lower sum but you are the only one who thinks it is worth 9500.

Consequently, the owner is dreaming if he thinks it is worth a "lot" more.

It is very common for cars to fail to reach the reserve and the owner then agree to the top bid. However, you can be taken for a ride if you "must have the car" and pay much more than its true worth.

Just my two penny worth.