[200q20v] Proving value of a nice 200

[Linus Toy]

Back in '92, my folks' '88 Jetta GLI 16v (loaned to my sister) got ripped 
off in San Francisco (stripped for its Recaro seats).  The adjuster came 
back with a nonsense offer, based in part on an '87 Jetta GLI (non-16v) 
sale and a '88 GL offered by a local dealer.  Besides getting the wrong car 
to start from, he completely ignored overall condition of the car, deducted 
for the manual transmission (only thing available on that model) and a few 
documentable maintenance/repair and upgrades.  I pointed these out to him, 
starting with Edmunds and NADA book values, then itemized dollar amount 
adjustments line by line (usually up, of course) to reflect documentable 
maintenance and upgrades.  I also threw in a few intangibles to boot 
(original purchaser of car, enthusiast nature of car, frequent maintenance 
schedule, limited #s built in Germany vs Mexican production, etc).  Be 
reasonable in your requests--I didn't claim full retail for the year-old 
stainless exhaust or year-old tires, but the more complete you are, the 
more you justify your counter-offer.  In the end, we went from a low $6k 
offer to somewhere north of $9k.  I kept the car for $2250, poured another 
$2k into fixing it up (nowhere near original), and ended up selling it for 
about $6k--lesson--that was a lot of work to make $2k.

--LDT

At 09:58 AM 12/20/00 -0800, Keith Maddock wrote:
>Guys,
>
>I'm starting to prepare some documentation in preparation for an 
>anticipated fight over the value of my (now crunched) 200.  I was 
>wondering if any of you could help out in the following areas:
>
>1) Recent vehicle transactions.. If you've bought or sold (or totaled) one 
>of these in the last few months, if you could let me know the price of the 
>transaction, and any details about the vehicle (mileage, condition, 
>parts/upgrades,  options (IE sport vs. comfort seats)...)...
>
>2)  Is there anyone can classify themselves as an expert in the subject of 
>the value of these cars.. I mean I know there are a lot of experts, but 
>someone who would be able to convince my insurance company of the validity 
>of their opinion?  I was thinking some sort of "appraisal" from an expert 
>might help..
>
>3) Any other data that anyone knows of that I could present to back up my 
>claim..
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Keith
>
>Vehicle Info:
>1991 200 20v TQ (sedan , manual trans)
>Anthracite Exterior
>Black Interior (Sport Seats)
>~131k miles
>Overall Condition: Much Higher than Average
>
>Upgrades:
>Front strut/brake swapover (from 93 100CS avant) with slotted rotors
>H&R Progressive Springs
>Shocks: Front Koni Sports, Rear Boge TurboGas
>SS Brake Lines
>K&N Filter
>Hoppen Stage 1 ECU
>Stock BBS wheels w/ Graspic winter tires were on the car at the time..
>Euro headlights w/ blau harness
>
>Recent maintenance (w/in past year)
>OEM Radiator
>Rebuilt Bose Rear speakers
>Timing Belt / Water Pump
>Cam Chain
>Front suspension bushings
>Hydraulic Pump
>Brake Accumulator
>Fuel Pump
>Battery
>
>
>
>
>**********************************************
>Keith Maddock, TRW Automotive
>Controls Engineering, Traction Control
>Livonia, MI
>(734) 266 - 3971
>keith.maddock at trw.com
>
>_______________________________________________
>200q20v mailing list
>200q20v at audifans.com
>http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/200q20v

*--------------------------------------------------------------------*
*  Linus Toy                      Insanity is doing the same thing   *
*  Mercer Island, WA              you've always done and expecting   *
*  linust at mindspring.com          different results                  *
*                                      - Roger Milliken              *
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