What's it worth ?

Prothet_of_Doom

Father in Law was talking about giving up driving altogether.

He keeps talking about it, and I've tried to get his Children and Grandchildren, to say whether they might be interested in taking it off his hands. But only I am interested. My son, would be interested in it in 12 to 24 months, after he graduates. However nobody wants it sitting around.

I do a highish number of miles at 15K a year so the fact that it's petrol, would cost me money over the use of my current car, but hey.

I'd like to pay him a fair price.


It's a W reg, bright red 1.6 16V petrol 115 BHp Astra mk4 club. 5 door.

Nothing amzing or special, except a) 13,000 miles b) NEVER ever been out in the rain c) waxed frequently d) no journey has been LESS than 10 miles e) no journey has been more than 30 miles. f) it's NEVER been over 4000 rpm g) DEALER servicing every year h) It's never been over 65 mph and i) it looks BETTER than a new car.

I reckon that we could wait until next summer, join an Astra mk4 forum, attend a couple of shows, and then put it up for sale on a vauxhall enthusiasts forum, and get £4K for it, but you'd be lucky to see £1500 selling it privately via auto trader.

I'm thinking of suggesting to him, that we keep it in his garage, and I pay for the tax and insurance, which he adds me to as a named driver, and I use it occasionally over the next couple of years, until my son graduates, and give him £1500 for it now (or when he finally makes up his mind).

What I don't want to do is put anyone's nose out of joint. There are other people in the family, who are both desperate for him to stop driving, and who in my oppinion are more worthy of inheritting such a decent car, but who say a) it's far too big, b) can't afford the insurance (but have not actually had a quote) c) Couldn't own their dad's car, because it would never be as clean and that would apparently upset him.

Also I've owned his previous 2 cars. One I paid the going rate, and the other he gave me, because having been offered just £500 in PX, I offered to sell it for him privately, and get him £2K. He decided that our need was greater and gave it us. We kept both cars until they had intergalatic miles and were completely knackered.

I don't want to be seen as taking advantage, I don't care who in the family the car goes to (I'll even service it for them :beer: if they buy the parts) .

What do you think is the best approach?

To clarify :
His Son has a New car every 3 years on Motibility, and does high miles, so not interested in a petrol
His Daughter says it's too big and she wouldn't want to drive her dad's car.
His other daughter (my wife) has 2 cars and doesn't want to sell either.
My son, has 2 years left at University, but the final year is a year in industry, and would like any car as soon as he can afford it
Niece, just started 1st job, and this would be perfect, but she says it's too big (which is why driving schools should use BIG cars IMHO)
Nephew is Recently married, and has just started a new job where he needs a car, but says, he can't afford the insurance.
I do 15K miles, so fuel consumption is an issue to me. If I sold my current car, It would take 3 years to use the money to pay for the extra fuel. In those 3 years my car will become intergalatic, and so if I actually used it daily for a couple of years I'd have a car with erm moderate miles, instead of silly miles, so I'd be no worse off, and the car would still not have hit 50K.
Nobody else in the family has a driving licence although my daughter (17) is learning.

Herzlos

That's1000 miles a year, but at least it's been serviced regularly.

You might get an enthusiast to pay top dollar for a mint model, but in reality it's still a relatively average 13 year old car, but with low mileage.

I'd join an astra forum, show it off and ask what it'd be worth.

But realistically, at that age, and in perfect condition it's potentially worth more as spares (most of the parts will be mint). Club isn't a particularly high spec?

I wouldn't bother waiting until summer, as then it'll be a 14 year old car that's barely moved, and try to sell it for him and let him do as he wants with the proceeds. But I wouldn't be holding out for a huge price (you can get much newer cars with similar miles for £4k)

OddballJamie

I didn't think the 1.6 115bhp engine was released until much later, the early 16v one had 99bhp.

TBH you're going to have to be very fortunate to find a Vauxhall enthusiast willing to drop £4k on an Astra Club. A mint coupe or cab maybe.

Prothet_of_Doom

On the one hand my head says: it's not particular valuable because of the mid range spec and engine output.
On the other hand my head says : It's a new car and will last someone 10 years for just a bit more than banger money.
My heart says: They only made one "decent" mk4 astra and that was a 3 door coupe with an LET (2.0 16V Turbo) and 208 BHP and a Gsi Badge.

bodgerx

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

To clarify :
His Son has a New car every 3 years on Motibility, and does high miles, so not interested in a petrol
His Daughter says it's too big and she wouldn't want to drive her dad's car.
His other daughter (my wife) has 2 cars and doesn't want to sell either.
My son, has 2 years left at University, but the final year is a year in industry, and would like any car as soon as he can afford it
Niece, just started 1st job, and this would be perfect, but she says it's too big (which is why driving schools should use BIG cars IMHO)
Nephew is Recently married, and has just started a new job where he needs a car, but says, he can't afford the insurance.
I do 15K miles, so fuel consumption is an issue to me. If I sold my current car, It would take 3 years to use the money to pay for the extra fuel. In those 3 years my car will become intergalatic, and so if I actually used it daily for a couple of years I'd have a car with erm moderate miles, instead of silly miles, so I'd be no worse off, and the car would still not have hit 50K.
Nobody else in the family has a driving licence although my daughter (17) is learning.

It is worth £875 max. It is not a classic car. Not yet anyway.

Personally I wouldn't touch it. It has seen so little use over 14 years, I think you will be opening a Pandora's box of trouble.

Put the family connection aside and you have no reason to buy the car.

funkycoldribena

bodgerx wrote: »

It is worth £875 max.

Personally I wouldn't touch it. Is seen so little use over 14-15 years, I think you will be opening a Pandora's box of trouble.

Put the family connection aside and you have no reason to buy the car.

Got to agree-1000-1200 tops,its a mid range Astra, it aint no Mexico...

Prothet_of_Doom

I understand the implications of a car that has had very little use. It doesn't worry me personally.

GAZ237

Wow 4K.

Not a prayer in the world. As said above £1000 will be the value. You can pick up low mileage ones of that year for £650.

If you want to hang on to it until your son needs it. Why not just sorn it until then. Will save tax and insurance costs.

Herzlos

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

On the other hand my head says : It's a new car and will last someone 10 years for just a bit more than banger money. .

No it's not. It's a 13 year old car with low mileage. All the components have sat in a garage for 13 years. In 10 years time it'll be 23.

OK it'll have fairly low wear and tear so I'm sure nothing has worn but things deteriorate over age (belts, tyres, seals, anything rubber or that can corrode).
It's also got an average specification for a 13 year old car, so will be pretty out-dated by modern standards (in terms of safety, comfort and infotainment).

Basically, there's no real reason to take this over, say, any other car in that price bracket. There's a 2001 1.6 Astra club on autotrader at £795 with 94k miles, so you're looking at that sort of price range unless you find an enthusiast that values a mint low mileage car.

£3k would get a 2005 hatchback with average miles

Prothet_of_Doom

He's made a decision. He's giving it to the next grand child that will need a car, who happens to be our son, when he starts his year in industry on his degree. (which is strangely his final and forth year).

colino

Good for your son, but remember when he does get round to insure it, the realistic value today (in a good colour) is about £1000.
8v is preferred to 16v for longevity and 1.6 and 5-door exclude it from the barry boy Nastra target audience.