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What to buy?

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fatboy_4 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#664559
Hi all

Would like some opinions about what to invest in. I'd like a bug or a bus/bus variant as a third car. Something restored that will hold its value or appreciate. Would be driven on weekends and mostly locally. Thanks for the help

PS I have had 2 beetles and a 77 camper previously.

Sioux Seriously Crusin Dubber

178 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#664563
23 window split if you have enough money to throw around. those will definately appreciate.

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#664567
There are a number of Volkswagen models that have increased in value over the years, particularly Beetle cabrios, Karmann Ghias, pre '58 oval window Beetles and T1 Kombis (any sort).

But the trouble is that you always have to spend money on them in terms of maintenance, repair and, perhaps, restoration if required. To buy a good one in the first place takes lots of money; to buy a less-than-perfect one will take lots more money, particularly if you want to drive it on weekends or to club runs. I suppose it's possible to buy one and lock it away in a shed, but where's the fun in that?

I doubt whether anyone has 'made money' in old VWs after you take all the expenses and repairs into account. In my own case, I have certainly spent more on mine than I'll ever get back - I do it because I love them.

fatboy_4 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#664587
Thanks Phil and Sioux,

I suppose it's the usual relationship between supply and demand determining market value.

Seems like Buses have gone up a bit since last time I looked (about 6 years ago when I sold my camper)

Not looking to make money out of it but have a nice one that I can enjoy and justify (somewhat).

Approx how much would a 23 window split be, in restored condition?

phatratpat Fahrvergnugen

958 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#664590
Sioux wrote:23 window split if you have enough money to throw around. those will definately appreciate.
amen to that !👍

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#664597
Hi

You need to careful if the cool bubble bursts.

I remember when locally chopped roof bugs went for silly money, $10 - 15,000, now the ones that haven't rusted away from the trapped humidity are usually worth less than an unmolested one.

I reckon the next cool VW will be T3 buses.

Steve

LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·

#664608
t3🙅
Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools

fatboy_4 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#664613
80k is ahem, a bit more than I would care to invest at the moment.

Interest rates being what they are and all.

fatboy_4 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#664614
T3 is an option I had not considered.

I saw one on ebay (camper) starting at 5000 very low k's

Brissybug Learner Dubber

8 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#664615
pm sent......

fatboy_4 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#664616
5000 dollars that is.

Kilometreage was about 80,000 (for an 82 model)

Looked very tidy apart from some minor body scrapes.

phatratpat Fahrvergnugen

958 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#664619
IN2VWS wrote:
Mick058 wrote:$30,000 to $40,000 for a decent one, something like that.

If you find one cheaper let me know 😉
I'd like to see a decent RHD 23 window for $30-$40k.
Rolling shells have been fetching that.
Driving and registered units have been fetching upto $80k.
true that !😁

amazeer Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,029 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·

#664646
I looked at T3 and T4 options before turning to the dark side and buying another falcon at auction, jus couldnt justify the VW money at that point.

A watercooled T3 is a bit of a worry re corrosion, and a T4 was just big $$$. I was turned off the tdi by maintenance costs and the 2.5 was going to cost me the same as the ford with only 1/10th the kms. Might have come down in price now that they are a bit older and the T5 is out. They dont have the cool factor of the earlier series but heaps of torque, ride brilliantly. But super wide... and heavy.

Import a 60's beetle cabrio! Heaps better value than a 23 window.

LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·

#664670
country buggy volma1😏👍
Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#664731
For good, economical second-hand cars, it does get very difficult to stay with VWs sometimes, as Chris has said. The difficulty in Australia is that there was a long period - something like 15 years, 1979-1993, when almost no new Volkswagens were sold in Australia. 1983-1988 saw no new passenger cars at all; only handfuls of T3 Kombis were sold.

The result now is that there is a big hole in the second-hand market. Pre-'79 VWs are still reasonably common, and now there are lots of nice post-'95 Golfs, Polos and so on to look at. But nothing in between. We don't have all the thousands of second-hand Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 Golfs, Passats and Polos that the UK market has. But this problem will gradually go away, as VW is now selling 30,000+ vehicles annually. They will all finish up on the second-hand market eventually.

I think Steve may be right, T3 Kombis may be the next VW to boom. Not many Mk 1 Golfs left but they are still popular; they ought to appreciate. Shame about the Mk1 Passat; very good car but rare as nowadays and worth almost nothing, a bit like the under-rated Audi 5+5. It would be nice to find a good Golf VR6 from 1993-5. The last of the MK1-based Golf Cabrios from the same time are good value too.

The B3 Passat was a super-nice car but they sold less than 20 in Australia - a real collector's item. Likewise only a few hundred Ventos (booted Golf 3) were sold here, so they are also one for the collector.

The Country Buggy might be a good candidate for the collector, owing to its rarity and Australia-only status. But I reckon the most forgotten collectable air-cooled VW is the 1965 Aussie-built Type 3 1500 Twin S (notch). It was only made for one year, and as it was not sold in the USA, it is a real chance of becoming valuable. It was replaced by the imported 1600 TS fastback the following year - which is allso a possible collector's candidate, being the fastest air-cooled VW ever sold in Australia.

Mick058 Custom Title Time!

1,580 posts · joined Jan 2008 ·

#664744
IN2VWS wrote:
Mick058 wrote:$30,000 to $40,000 for a decent one, something like that.

If you find one cheaper let me know 😉
I'd like to see a decent RHD 23 window for $30-$40k.
Rolling shells have been fetching that.
Driving and registered units have been fetching upto $80k.
i didn't want to over exaggerate things - maybe i was a little to cautious...

Out of curiosity though, do they actually sell for $80,000???

I can believe $80,000 could go into one, but if someone had to sell one would anyone actually buy it for $80,000?? Just wondering if it actually happens...it could, as i said, just curious.

We're not exactly a Ferrari club with quarter of a million pay packets.

Is it wrong to say that the buyers maybe the ones jacking up the price by actually paying sooo much?

Interested to hear from people - would love a splitty one day (who wouldn't ay), maybe dreaming of a 23 window...🤪
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67295 (myride)

Romans 10:9

fatboy_4 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#664757
Thanks everyone for sharing your views. There's an amazing amount of expertise here. Some options I had never considered/didn't know existed.
The country buggy looks particularly intriguing

fatboy_4 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#664774
Thanks Matt-the link takes me to the forum buying and selling rules. Am I missing something?

Matt Ryan Fahrvergnugen

890 posts · joined Jan 2006 ·

#664780
Oops!!

Thanks mick, for posting the correct link. I've edited my previous reply so that I don't look like a complete dill forever.


Regards,

Matt.


http://portvwforum.freeforums.org

fatboy_4 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#664786
Thanks Matt and Mick

found them!😎