Red mist lifted-what to do with a 136 with bust engine?

[K]

I wonder what my 135 RiC would worth...

Maybe I'll have a try at carandclassic.com.

The only thing which would make the trade difficult is that the car is in Hungary, so it would need to be trailered away.

[hawkeracing]

The black Rapid on Ebay is optimistically priced given its overall condition which is why it has no bids.....still 3 days to go so you never know but without MOT or tax it's not exactly  a bargain.

Kony I don't think there would be any market in the UK for your car but the Czechs might be keen.

[skodanorman]

Agreed. I think much of the price rises in the UK is caused by overseas buyers.

Better to forget what the cars are potentially worth and just enjoy the ownership experience.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[mender]

The black Rapid on Ebay is optimistically priced given its overall condition which is why it has no bids.....still 3 days to go so you never know but without MOT or tax it's not exactly  a bargain.

Kony I don't think there would be any market in the UK for your car but the Czechs might be keen.

The ad makes it look expensive, it needed polishing and marketing better.  £1499 seems a lot now, but mine got near to that without being a runner, needing a bit of a weld-and the guy paid a recovery firm £hundreds for the 480 mile round trip to collect it.

 

I remember thinking £999 was a lot for a tidy low mile Fiat 126 a couple of years back, but look at them now!

 

Black is a good colour and with some tlc and use, it could be a top car in years to come-and in the meantime, it's a good usable, enjoyable car.

Depends what you're buying it for...

 

Missing mine, damn.

Edited 12 August, 2013 by mender

[hawkeracing]

I think you did very well to get £1500 for your Rapid with broken engine. Most on Ebay this year haven't cleared the £1000 barrier and some have had MOTs.

I ddin't realise Fiat 126s were worth much....there are half a dozen on Ebay and quite a tidy one for £550 buy it now that needs some light recomissioning......

[Chops54]

I agree that was a good price but maybe people are starting to realise what good useable classics these cars make. They're getting a bit thin on the ground too! Those of us who still own these cars should quite pleased.

[skodanorman]

Where is the beige wonder living now?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[mender]

I think you did very well to get £1500 for your Rapid with broken engine. Most on Ebay this year haven't cleared the £1000 barrier and some have had MOTs.

I ddin't realise Fiat 126s were worth much....there are half a dozen on Ebay and quite a tidy one for £550 buy it now that needs some light recomissioning......

I didn't quite get £1500, but with the transport costs it cost the buyer well over £1500....

 

Most 126s on ebay are Polish import LHD as the demand is there so Poles keep bringing them in-they are lower value than RHD UK spec.

Under £1000 gets you a Polish runner or tatty UK model.

 

An early 594 air-cool with low miles fetched over 4k recently and late low-mile 702 water-cool BISs are fetching 2k, up from £750 a few years ago.

[mender]

I agree that was a good price but maybe people are starting to realise what good useable classics these cars make. They're getting a bit thin on the ground too! Those of us who still own these cars should quite pleased.

Exactly, if you own a decent rear engine, it is going to appreciate well.  The rarer and nicer the better it will rise.

 

I see values as being a lot higher than people expect on here; with the rarity, charisma and usability, a top example Rapid convertible should be nearing £5000 soon and Rapids over £3000.

[mender]

Where is the beige wonder living now? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Sunny Cornwall 

 

It's GREY   according to Skoda

[hawkeracing]

 

I see values as being a lot higher than people expect on here; with the rarity, charisma and usability, a top example Rapid convertible should be nearing £5000 soon and Rapids over £3000.

 

But what they should be and what they actually are are 2 different things.......the values have gone up in the last few years but its going to be a few years before they reach what you're talking about I think. The other thing to note is there probably won't be any good Rapid convertibles left over here soon because the Czechs always buy them and take them home!

[mender]

But what they should be and what they actually are are 2 different things.......the values have gone up in the last few years but its going to be a few years before they reach what you're talking about I think. The other thing to note is there probably won't be any good Rapid convertibles left over here soon because the Czechs always buy them and take them home!

It's true, but the time will come soon-the Czechs are ahead of the game because the car is most relevant to them

 

The factors in value are childhood connections with the car, the difference from modern cars, the ability to work on and bond with the car, the rarity and usability.

The rear engine Skodas are really coming of age now and have the right combination of desirability factors plus a good European following and events scene.

 

The plan was to sort mine out, use and enjoy it and watch it rise in value, but circumstance knackered that idea.  With stupid neighbours at my Parents' house, a lack of time, a stack of bills and a young family, it was a step too far.  After buying and selling 10 or so cars this year, it was to be my keeper.

At least it went to the right person for the right price-and there was strong other interest who would have paid £1500.

 

Back in 93, I went out and bought a bright yellow MK1 3 door escort with/for a mate-it was mint, 30,000 miles and ran like new.  It was £400 with tax, MOT and a tank of fuel.  Locked away it would now be £8,000ish.  Better than any pension fund, if you have the space!

My fully restored mint 1980 red Alfasud ti, bought in 1993 from Mario Deliotti the main Alfa dealer in Birmingham had a wealth of rare new old stock parts fitted, under 70,000 miles, a new two-pack paint job and Webasto roof recover, new tyres and a 3 month warranty for the sum of £800....

 

If you have a good Rapid, especially a convertible, keep it 100% and hold on to it!

[Leeboy]

So if your Rapid is a non standard sparkly blue and has swapped it's original engine for something a little more revy, does it still count as an appreciating asset?

[mender]

So if your Rapid is a non standard sparkly blue and has swapped it's original engine for something a little more revy, does it still count as an appreciating asset?

It gets more niche, but it will appeal to the right person-perhaps the other side of the channel will pay most?  I see a lot of modernised Rapids out of the UK.

 

The general rule is that standard is highest value, unless there is a reputed (factory backed helps) upgrader who offers reliable mods.

Outside of this is personal taste, but nice paint and more poke will make it attractive to those in the know.

 

I like the look of yours-and like the idea of POWER in a Rapid, sounds like a great car!  

[skodanorman]

Lee I would rest assured that your Rapid is appreciating. That paint job is to die for and the engine conversion gives it modern usability.

As I said earlier though, worry less and enjoy.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[MagicRob]

I have seen a low mileage Cabriolet fetch £5000, and non-MOT Rapids reguarly fetch £1000+. Good, solid, genuine low milers with MOT & history will sell themselves. 

[mender]

I have seen a low mileage Cabriolet fetch £5000, and non-MOT Rapids reguarly fetch £1000+. Good, solid, genuine low milers with MOT & history will sell themselves. 

The black low-mile Rapid ends tonight on ebay, some commented it was expensive at £1499 start bid, but it comes with a complete spares car, so sounds like a deal to me!

 

It can only go up and up in value.

There's a Fiat 126 on carandclassic at £4850:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C414626

[hawkeracing]

The key to both these cars is whether they sell.

As for good Rapids without MOT fetching over £1000 regularly, I would be interested to see some proof of these cars.....most on Ebay are not fetching that amount and it's where most seem to go up for sale and is an indicator of the market - although not the place to get the best price.

[mender]

Black Skoda relisted at £999 start, £1199 buy it now-including a FREE second Rapid and parts!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281151910085

 

Sounds excellent to me, wish I had the time/space/money/circumstance to do it 

 

Surely, a pro-polish, service, MOT, tax and any bits would be less than £500, the spare car would sell for £400-500 so £1199 for a 29,400 mile Rapid at the end of the day, plus time and transport costs.  A dry barn and a few years=£££££££

[hawkeracing]

Black Skoda relisted at £999 start, £1199 buy it now-including a FREE second Rapid and parts!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281151910085

 

Sounds excellent to me, wish I had the time/space/money/circumstance to do it 

 

Surely, a pro-polish, service, MOT, tax and any bits would be less than £500, the spare car would sell for £400-500 so £1199 for a 29,400 mile Rapid at the end of the day, plus time and transport costs.  A dry barn and a few years=£££££££

Without seeing it how can you say? I just bought a 105LUX with no MOT from Ebay to add to my garage and so far it has cost me nearly £100 in parts to get the brakes working (and all of them were at a discounted price  ).....in fact, they aren't yet working, but they will be soon. It has crusty P plates but they should pass an MOT - if they don't, that will be more money........and I am doing all the work myself.

If this car was able to pass an MOT with no work needed then the owner would have done it. I went in with my eyes open and garage prepared......anyone thinking of buying this Rapid should aim low or go and look at it and assess the situation. Matt paint on these old Skodas is often incurable - as seen on Kieran's Krapid before Leeboy re-sprayed it. The old communist paint also has a habit of coming off when polished hard.

There is some interest in old Skodas but there aren't many people with big soft spots for them in this country. The S series cars still aren't worth much money - with the exception of the S110r coupe (which is pretty in its own right in a way the Rapid is not) and even the MB before that is not fetching massive money.

Things like Cabriolets and Sports will always have a market in CZ and their values are therefore higher but the increase in value on run of the mill stuff hasn't been massive in the last 5 years in the way that something like a Fiat 126 seemingly has (and its a comparable for the old Estelle)

[mender]

I think the Rapid has the qualities to be collectable and they are cheap enough to repair and maintain, with a good forum and international following.

 

Mine was as dull as concrete but was polished easily by a professional, who fed the paint and made sure he did not go through or take it off and it looked superb at the end of it.  If it is just dull, you could prep and tape it up and get a blow over cheap enough as there's no lacquer.

 

Maybe I'm optimistic, but I've bought 30-odd cars off ebay, sight unseen and have done well out of all but two of them, which I broke even on.

I don't think it's a bad deal at £1199 whatever needs doing, with two cars and the low mileage, as the end car could fetch good money now or soon.

 

Hopefully it will work out ok for the buyer 

[hawkeracing]

You have done well then.....Julian who went to buy the white low mileage Rapid Cabriolet on Ebay last month that was advertised as an amazing car found it to be hiding a wealth of trouble and pulled out of the sale. Old Skoda may not fetch big money but if they have problems they often cost as much as any other car to fix. It's also worth noting that according to Skoparts Int the new parts supply is starting to dry up.....

All I am saying is 'buyer beware'....you seem to be hugely optimistic and a regular ebayer.....I have almost 1000 positive feedback points because I am honest, but as I've discovered not everyone is and in my experience old cars is probably the worst area for rose tinted glasses or possibly just downright deceit.

[mender]

Yeah, there are some idiots around but there are some bargains to be had when people do dreadful ads and particularly when they don't consider the end time for bids; eg in the middle of the Wembley final match.  It's a case of spotting an opportunity and taking a calculated risk; a £200 Hyundai with no MOT passed it with 2 second-hand discs and £77 worth of tax sold for £850 next day, a poorly advertised and badly painted 2CV turned £800 profit in 2 days etc.

 

I had planned to keep my Rapid, though!

 

Worth noting that many buyers are not that obsessive about what they are buying, especially on classic stuff-they often want the car to follow a dream or recreate their youth, regardless of whether it needs work in the future or not.  If the car looks attractive, drives well, has good history and has tax and test, it's enough for many buyers!

 

On the forums, many users are very educated and researched on that particular type of car and know every problem, what it takes to fix, can see the early onset of bigger issues and have an encyclopaedic knowledge of values.

 

A case in point was my Rapid which sold in hours at a fair price with numerous interested parties via carandclassic.com after having a very low offer the previous week by a forum member who messed about then changed their mind!

 

The buyer is ecstatic with the car and I did not take a low offer from someone I did not really want to sell to.  A good result all round considering I had to sell it.

The difference between the "experts" view of value and what it cost the buyer to buy it and get it home was around £800-and another buyers was trying to gazump the actual buyer too.

 

The difference between owner's perceived values and buyer's perceived values is where the money is made.

Unless that pair of Skodas is pile of scrap, there's money in the deal!

 

All in all, it's good news for owners.

[MagicRob]

A black Rapid with no MOT recently sold on ebay for a grand, a white Sport with no MOT and needing tyres recently fetched £1495 within days of being advertised, an S110L in orange sold for £3495 last year, again within days of being advertised by a company local to me. There are still 150+ Rapids left in the UK , plus those that are still hiding in barns/lock-ups etc, so there are still a few to choose from that will come up for sale from time to time.

 

Estelles with MOT and good bodywork will get decent money, but 4-speeders and 105s with dodgy paint and no MOT will struggle a bit. 

 

That current black Rapid seems genuine, and apart from the exhaust is unb4stardised. The only thing I would question about it is why go to the trouble of putting an unleaded head on the car and sell it after 100 miles - overheating problems maybe....???

Edited 16 August, 2013 by MagicRob

[hawkeracing]

I don't think a grand is out of the way for a half decent Rapid....more with an MOT and tax.....I wouldn't argue with that, I just don't see what Mender is basing his "values are about to go through the roof" theory on because it hasn't happened in the last 5 years that I have closely monitored prices - there has been gentle growth in prices and interest by people in the pre VW cars. I also haven't regularly seen non MOT Estelles breaking the £1000 mark.....several this year have gone for well under (and I can provide links to their sales pages).

The Sport is a different prospect because they are sought after by the Czechs who bump the prices up.

I think the oddest thing about the current Rapid is that he won't/can't get it an MOT and can't be bothered to polish the car all over.

Edited 16 August, 2013 by hawkeracing