After being offered $19,000 in cold cash (well, a cashier's check) by CarMax for our GTI, our motivation to top that number is low. The problem is that a new GTI can be had for about $24,000. So any asking price over $20,000 begins to bump into the new car price. We did throw up an ad on eBayMotors and got one inquiry. And we also posted this YouTube video. But at this point, we might just take the CarMax money and move on to other things.
Philip Reed, Edmunds.com senior consumer advice editor @24,567 miles
kingkhalas says:
04:10 PM, 07/ 8/11
that's great! I would sell it to Carmax right away.
jazzy7 says:
04:14 PM, 07/ 8/11
Glad you got so much for it...It sure is a damn ugly car.
ptcdawg says:
04:22 PM, 07/ 8/11
5 grand is 5 grand.
teampenske3 says:
04:40 PM, 07/ 8/11
*sniff. I can't believe it's finally going away.
Anyway, hopefully this cash will be added to the "eBay Bentley Turbo R" fund?
church123 says:
05:26 PM, 07/ 8/11
I think its a really great price. So good in fact given the relative rarity of the GTI in SoCal that I wonder if there isn't even higher demand for it somewhere else in the country that CarMax would ship it to.
huyracing says:
05:35 PM, 07/ 8/11
wish i got that much for my 09 with lower miles... i'd take it and run. for some reason they only offer $17k for it, despite higher estimates on edmunds TMV and KBB... oh well... guess i'll never know.
wjtinatl says:
05:39 PM, 07/ 8/11
Given it's history as an "evaluation" car, as well as being a VW; I'd sell it to CarMax and let them worry about what kid's putting their life savings into a 22k rolling grenade.
hb22 says:
05:44 PM, 07/ 8/11
Sounds about right I was looking at a 2010 with 17500 miles for $21000 last Nov..
Went with the mini though
_feloniousmonk says:
05:46 PM, 07/ 8/11
So, lemme get this straight, the point of this blog post is that you're leaning towards selling a car to Carmax, but haven't done so yet? Pretty sure that wasn't worth anyone's time. Few things are more worthless than updates on an unmade decision. Except maybe news that you can get a FIAT 500 owner's manual app for your overpriced phone. HEY, GUYS, I'M STILL DEBATING WHETHER I'M EATING TACO BELL OR WENDY'S TONIGHT! DO THEY HAVE AN APP FOR THAT? See what I mean? Worthless. Do you guy's have a "post quota" or something?
teampenske3 says:
05:50 PM, 07/ 8/11
@ monk
IDK, I thought the Fiat owners manual bit was pretty informative if you have an iPhone.
cr_driver says:
06:32 PM, 07/ 8/11
What is worthless for someone, it is worthy for someone else.
Keep on rollin` baby!
adavis2493 says:
08:40 PM, 07/ 8/11
According to the Autocheck Report, it claims that the GTI is a 2-Owner. That doesn't sound quite right....
90in55 says:
09:14 PM, 07/ 8/11
First your long term Mazdaspeed 3 departed, and now we must prepare to bid farewell to the GTI. Those were the two vehicles in IL's fleet I always looked forward to reading about. I'd like to see a 2012 Civic Si enter long term service. I know it's "slow" and ugly, but there are things about it that appeal to me.
altimadude05 says:
05:32 AM, 07/ 9/11
I'm hoping that they get a new Charger.
bodyblue says:
06:35 AM, 07/ 9/11
Enough with the GTI....I liked reading about it but now I am so done. Sell the damn thing and get something else! And yes I second the Charger.
toastblows says:
08:45 AM, 07/ 9/11
Ill give you $19,000.01 if you ship it 2000 miles to my house. There, now your blog is complete, you got an offer over Carmax (and you can omit the part about you having to eat the $850 shipping cost). Case Closed.
ed124c says:
09:31 AM, 07/ 9/11
How about a nice mom and pop Subaru? I would really like to see how the CVT in the Legacy will hold up in the hands of the Edmunds balls to the walls editors.
teampenske3 says:
11:24 AM, 07/ 9/11
I say that you guys should get a Charger/300C. New Jeep GC or Ford Explorer would be good options as well if you want an SUV. Or go with a used British car. Wait until the Focus ST is out for another hot hatch.
@ ed124c
I believe Motor Trend has a LT Legacy, and I think C/D does as well. IL should look into getting one. However, I would get a flat-six model with auto, as a direct competitor to the Kia.
geneseedepot says:
02:31 PM, 07/ 9/11
How 'bout replacing it with an Audi A3? or a 2012 Beetle?
kevm14 says:
02:56 PM, 07/ 9/11
@bodyblue
Yeah I know. I know this type of car is extremely European, and, in fact, fairly popular here, as well. But I just can't bring myself to care much about any cars of this type and I'm certainly done now.
But, as I have mentioned before, I'm not a good yardstick by which to go. For $20k, I'd be looking at an endless list of interesting cars (in general, not for any specific purpose). If you look hard enough, you can get an 04 Phaeton W12 for $20k or even a bit under. Daily driver? Depends. If you were going to spend a lot more on a new car, you could budget a whole lot for gas and maintenance. I should get off my soap box now...most people on this blog won't agree anyway.
miamifan1 says:
03:54 PM, 07/ 9/11
Civic Si would be fun. Good suggestion.
Kia Sportage is a nice ride. Maybe you can get rid of those two Mitsu Outlanders in one shot. Seriously, who reads/cares about either?
Porsche Boxster 986. $10k-$15k gets you a great car.
Chrysler 300, the new one, is so nice. Do want.
miamifan1 says:
04:18 PM, 07/ 9/11
Saab 9-5. Cool car.
Ford Explorer. Cool car.
Jaguar. Its overdue.
Lexus HS hybryd. Cool car.
kain77 says:
06:19 AM, 07/11/11
Replace it with something that harkins back to the days when most Japanese marks had at least one fun car:
300zx
Supra
3000GT
MR2
NSX
RX-7
perrito says:
02:37 PM, 07/11/11
Do you already have a new Ford Focus in the long-term testers? I didn't notice one - would be nice to see you sub in a hatch for a hatch.
cutlasskraus says:
11:53 AM, 07/12/11
Sedan: +1 New Charger!!
Sports Car: CTS-V coupe!!
SUV: New Durango or Jeep
Hatch: +1 Focus
Pickup: (go with a compact pickup) dakota.
Used: Early 70's Chevy C10
eldaino2 says:
01:53 PM, 07/12/11
i dont get why people are complaining about having read about it for so long...you werent forced to read these blogs you know. and the last few months have had sparse postings with regards to it.