To sell or not to sell (Cupra R)?

[Stuart83]

Hi all, after some advice ...

Bought my MK1 Cupra R last year and absolutely love it ... it does everything I could ever need from a car.

Problem is I'm doing about double the mileage I was when I first bought it, so the mileage is shooting up, and obviously at ~30-32mpg per tank, high(ish) miles can be costly.

The car's a 2003 (53) Platinum Grey Cupra R, and was REVO Stage 1 mapped by a previous owner in 2008. Not putting all the details in as this isn't a 'For Sale' thread.

Here's my Reader's Rides thread with some pics :
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=412160

I've spent an absolute fortune on the car getting it into the condition it's in, plus doing anything that needed sorting. This year so far its had 4 new tyres (Sessantas), a new clutch and DMF, plus new discs and pads front and rear, plus a Milltek exhaust, and more I can't remember off the top of my head.

Needless to say it owes me a a lot of money at the moment, and I know where I stand with the car, making me think I should keep it ... buying another car can be a minefield!!! I'm just worried that if the mileage keeps increasing quickly (currently at 80.5k) that I'll end up with a car with no value in a few year's time. I didn't buy the car as an investment, but just didn't expect to be doing the miles I am now.

What do you guys think? Sell, and move back to something like a Fabia VRS, or keep it for the long term? I'd have to ask for around £4k too to make it worth selling, which I think is probably too much looking at the market.


Any advice / input would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[irf]

A bit of a mixed opinion from me but on the one hand buying any second hand car has a risk as you don't know what it may or may not need doing once bought.

On the other, things like tyres, clutch, flywheel, pads and discs are pretty much just maintenance items and can be needed on any car.

I've had my car for maybe 18 months and have spent more on it then I did when buying it but that's the price we pay (or I do at least) for being an enthusiast and wanting the car just so.

 

[Stuart83]

Yeah, I suppose those are the risks you take ... I just wish everyone took the same view to car ownership, then I could change easily without any worries!

I'm just really concerned about chucking miles on the car and getting the point where it's worth pennies ... I bought it on 60k with the intention of keeping the miles low, but life has a habbit of throwing spanners in the works. Plus I'm due to get married in the next 12-18 months, so I may have to downsize and go diesel anyway to save for that!

It's due a service in 1200 miles, so I'll probably get that done, give it a proper clean, then put a thread in the for sale section. Suppose that's the best way to do it.

If the car goes for the price I want, it'll go ... If not, I'll keep it!

 

[Brick_Top]

If it's mint I would think you could get 4k for it, but it would have to be mint.

I paid 3k for mine and it is very good indeed, but the rear bumper could do with a respray, and its on 116k.

 

[Burnzybubbles]

I do a high annual mileage and tend to not hold onto cars very long, to be honest anything you buy if your doing the mileage will loose a lot of value so you either drive the car into the ground, move cars on regularly, or buy a diesel snotter for work and use it as your daily and keep the lcr for best, be aware though that diesel running cost can be high if you buy something problematic, a small 1.9tdi car would be a good bet tbh.

 

[Stuart83]

It is pretty mint tbh, the only bad things are stone chips on the front bumper (pretty standard tbh) and the boot light doesn't work due to the bulb holder being broken.

Everything else is spot on. Previous owner was a professional detailer so the paintwork is excellent. Mechanically its flawless and has been looked after meticulously.

Had the belt and pump done around 2 years / 25k ago, so plenty of time left there too.

Don't have the space to keep an extra car so I'll probably try to sell, if all goes well I'll buy a half decent diesel hatch and run it for a few years, or until my mileage drops massively.

Such a shame.

 

[Brick_Top]

Agree with the above, when I was doing 100 miles a day I bought a TDI.

I would buy whatever TDI you can get with the lowest miles, best condition and cheapest overall purchase price bearing that in mind.

Skoda Octavia TDIs are the cheapest, you can get a Fabia Estate too if that's your thing, but they look pretty grim.

In any case, I found the Skoda TDIs the best value for money at the time I was looking, but I ended up with a Passat because it was the best car I could find condition wise and I was pushed for time.

 

[Stuart83]

Yeah, I had a Fabia VRS a few years ago and loved it. Only really changed it because my mileage dropped and I got wind of a good Clio 182 for sale with Recaros.

It always the problem with petrols ... Mileage matters.

Sold umpteen diesels with 100k+ on the clock with no problems, but selling any petrol with that mileage means you take a massive hit on depreciation.

I'd love a Fabia VRS SE with leather seats, but they're incredibly expensive.

 

[Brick_Top]

Always going to be a compromise, a Fabia VRS is a great car, but certainly not cheap for a diesel.

The way I see it you can stump up the extra cash for a hot diesel with less miles on it, or take the hit on the depreciation on your LCR.

With the current price of LCRs I can't see them dropping much further if you are prepared to look after it and keep putting the money into it.

 

[Stuart83]

With the current price of LCRs I can't see them dropping much further if you are prepared to look after it and keep putting the money into it.

I see what you mean! Just had a look and some of the prices are incredible! Ok, mine may be a 53 plate as opposed to a 54/05, but taking into account the mileage and excellent condition it should be worth a fair bit still, and should hold onto its value.

Had a great drive home which makes things even more difficult.

 

[Brick_Top]

You could maybe ask badger5 about an economy map, or just keep taking it in the arse for fuel and enjoying the car.

No point spending 30k on a 75mpg BMW and claiming it's saving you money...

 

[Stuart83]

Agreed. The plan is to spend no more on the replacement than what I get for the Leon, hopefully less. All depends on whether it sells tbh.

Still very much 50/50, only the right price would force me to sell.

 

[2die4]

Agreed. The plan is to spend no more on the replacement than what I get for the Leon, hopefully less. All depends on whether it sells tbh.

Still very much 50/50, only the right price would force me to sell.

Let me know if your gonna sell please as I'm on the look out for another soon.

 

[Stuart83]

Let me know if your gonna sell please as I'm on the look out for another soon.

Pm'd.

Gave it a good clean today and taken loads of photos of all the good and bad points.

Hopefully get a for sale thread sorted over the weekend, but its looking very busy at the moment!

 

[2die4]

Pm'd.

Gave it a good clean today and taken loads of photos of all the good and bad points.

Hopefully get a for sale thread sorted over the weekend, but its looking very busy at the moment!

Pm replied.

 

[Stuart83]

Now up for sale : http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=422641

 

[Brick_Top]

Can't see it hanging around at that price.

 

[Stuart83]

Hopefully not, although I'm not in a rush to sell... If it doesn't go I'll bite the fuel bullet and keep running it

Really is close to immaculate, very proud of it. Even had comments from strangers before about how good it looks.

 

[Stuart83]

Ok, so is there something wrong with my ad or the price?

Not getting a huge amount of interest ... I hoped that with the condition, mileage and money that had been spent on it I'd get a fair bit of genuine interest, but it seems not.

I've now listed it on eBay :-(


Edit : Ok, its not the price as I've had two calls off eBay viewers within the last 15 mins offering close to the asking price.