Eyeball these 3 silver cars

racing_blue

Just for a bit of fun:

A)



C)

Can you place these cars in order of asking price? And if you are feeling bold, offer a stab at the asking prices?

All 3 are used cars currently listed for sale in the UK on Autotrader.

AdrianC

Cheapest - 14yo petrol damaged Audi
Mid - Approved used Volvo
Most expensive - Aston

Not exactly difficult...

Is there a point to this?

racing_blue

You are both right.

The 2002 Audi A4 Cabriolet is for sale at £1,275. The 2010 Volvo C70 is nearly ten times that price, £11,995. And the 2015 Aston Martin DB9 costs another ten times that, £129,900.

Now I don't know much about cars. But would I like to be driving any of those silver soft -tops to the beach on a hot summer day, roof down and music playing? For sure.

But actually, 99% what I'm valuing is the pleasure of going to the beach on a hot summer day. Actually, I can go on my bike(£299 at Halfords) and will probably enjoy the experience more than driving any of those cars. Won't get stuck in traffic. And the roof is always down.

Paradoxically, of the three cars, the most valuable to me would be the Audi. I park in all sorts of places, so the fact it already has some damage would make me more relaxed about that. I assume it would cost dramatically less to insure. And I wouldn't need to stress too much about expensive servicing, when it breaks it breaks. These features are all of value to me.

Sure, others would look at this differently. But they say "price is what you pay, value is what you get". And that's my point I guess. That questioning what you value, and why, can dramatically improve your financial health. Cars particularly. This just seemed like a good visual example of the old cliche.

Anyway, bon voyage and bring on the Summer :beer:

AdrianC

racing_blue wrote: »

Paradoxically, of the three cars, the most valuable to me would be the Audi. I park in all sorts of places, so the fact it already has some damage would make me more relaxed about that.

You wouldn't worry about the fact that, as it sits in that picture, it'd fail an MOT? Or that one rear window appears not to actually work?

<checks MOT history>
Leaking autobox cooler. Bodged driveshaft gaiter. Signs of previous abuse. And that's just the most recent test, four months ago. Previous MOTs show a history of a total lack of care or minor maintenance.

Frankly, most of the value of that sheep of hit is pure optimism, mixed with breaking it and selling the bits.

racing_blue

AdrianC wrote: »

You wouldn't worry about the fact that, as it sits in that picture, it'd fail an MOT? Or that one rear window appears not to actually work?

Yes, you are exactly right. And not worrying is worth a lot to me.

AdrianC

<bothers to read Audi ad>
Ah, not even just minor damage. It's been written off, Cat C.

Looks from the other pics like that rear body glass does drop completely - so probably closes, too - but the driver's door window is broken and missing, as is the glovebox.

racing_blue

Michelle and Adrian thanks for your comments. Those things would not concern me as I drove slowly along the beach road on a Summer evening. But I have never driven any of those cars, and so speak from a position of ignorance. It's understandable that you don't agree, I think my views are probably unusual.

I could buy them- admittedly the Aston would be a stretch. However I would have nowhere to park them and I'd have to devote headspace to looking after them and learning about them, and as you point out I much prefer bicycles anyway.

I don't often hear people expressing similar views so wanted to put it out there and see why.

AdrianC

If you're happy wasting a grand and a bit on a scrapper that's unlikely to last until summer, let alone through it, you go for it.

racing_blue

Michelle_Lang wrote: »

OP, you haven't driven any of these cars, including the Aston so I don't think its fair for you leap and say you will probably enjoy your £300 bike over the £129 grand Aston. The truth is that cars isn't as important to you as it is to other people. Some people enjoy driving luxury and powerful vehicles, others don't and so they'll value it differently.

Agree with all that- except I am certain that I prefer riding my bike to driving a car (any car). Next I like public transport, especially trains.

Admittedly there are certain situations where a car is best, so I have 2 cars for different purposes but do not enjoy them and see them as appliances like a vacuum cleaner or an oven.

Yes I would be happy or at least reconciled to that outcome Adrian. Actually am thinking of renting a white Audi TT for 2 weeks while on holiday this Summer, just to see if I like it. Hertz will do that, it will cost about the same as you say- "a grand and a bit"- but either way I would not consider the money wasted.

Do you see value here, in these multiples - 10x, 100x ? I am really interested.

AdrianC

Would anybody like to compare these?

Herzlos

Whilst I can't help feeling that you're talking to yourself here, for some reason, the Audi TT is a decent car, you should give one a go.

Stay well away from the Audi - it's cheap for a reason - it's not road worthy, has been written off (so will be harder to insure), and has had a hard life. It's realistically only worth buying as a ringer or for some dodgy mechanic to bodge back into life.