Are 5000's appreciating?

[cobram at juno.com]

When you see one that actually sells for anywhere near these asking
prices, let me know if they want any more and I'll give you a nice
finders fee.  
Dirty little secret that I have heard from more than one source in the
business is that most of the "non special" older cars actual sales prices
aren't even really kept track of anymore, book value assessment has come
down to a formula which hovers around 10% of original value for just
about anything that's 25 years old and not a bona-fide collectors car.  I
wish my Audi's did 1/10th as well as their three pointed star brethren
when it comes to holding their value.  The Mercyless Wagon cost a couple
hundred less than the same year Audi wagon, yet they're actually selling
for 5-15times more, depending on the condition.  My guess is "normal"
(read that any way you like and the term works) buyers of older Teutonic
beasts like cars that can go for months or years without any major repair
issues, not the perception of an older Audi.  

It was all about the rust (or lack thereof) for me when I first got into
them, now I only keep a few for myself and wouldn't recommend an older
type 44 or any Audi to a "normal" friend or acquaintance, unless I really
don't like them all that much anyway.

We should be thankful for the nutjobs out there though, I got about $1500
more than my motorcycle was actually worth when it was totalled, in no
small part because of the crazy priced ads I dug up on the net and
submitted to the adjuster.  Looks like it may pay off for your black car
too.

For the time being, I think everyone should hold off on selling the
Kruggerands to invest in old Audi's... ;-)

BCNU,
Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.


Cody Forbes <cody at 5000tq.com> writes:
> They never seem to appreciate the TLC I put in, but in terms of value 
> I'm seeing an odd trend. I've had 9 of then in the last 12 years. In 
> that time the most I've ever paid for one is my current black one 
> that I bought 10 years ago for $1700. Since then I've bought a pair 
> for $3000, and most recently my better half's driver is a super 
> clean, extremely well maintained one that I paid a whopping $700 for 
> about 4 years ago. Last I looked at KBB they showed something like 
> $1300 in good shape.
> 
> My black car got backed in to in a parking lot and I was with an 
> insurance adjuster this morning. I popped open our marketplace here 
> to check current values and see a number of cars for $3000, $4000, 
> and even $5000! Just this last weekend I found a turbo Quattro under 
> a carport that looked like it had been sitting for a few years. I 
> knocked on the owners door and had a chat that ended up in "I won't 
> take a penny less than $3500". What's going on?? Are values going up 
> or is everybody just nuts?