TheSamba.com :: View topic - Have bus prices really dropped this much!

Tue Oct 01, 2024 6:09 pm

Is it me or are bay window prices dropping to their “normal” price? I was looking for. ‘71 and they were through the roof, now there’s tons of them 10-15k

Tue Oct 01, 2024 6:32 pm

ALLWAGONS wrote: Is it me or are bay window prices dropping to their “normal” price? I was looking for. ‘71 and they were through the roof, now there’s tons of them 10-15k

Considering those buses were $4,400. in 1976 dollars, 10-15k is crazy kash unless it is a repaint/repower/reupholstered chassis from AZ.

Tue Oct 01, 2024 6:49 pm

ALLWAGONS wrote: Is it me or are bay window prices dropping to their “normal” price? I was looking for. ‘71 and they were through the roof, now there’s tons of them 10-15k

Pretty much, yeah. They'll never be '90s cheap again, but the mass retirement of skilled mechanics, machinists, and parts vendors certainly isn't helping.

My local shop rate is $181 an hour. I buy three versions of every part to find one that fits. My machinist lives in another country.

Lots of people realizing that it takes more than a checkbook to "own" a vintage Volkswagen.

Robbie

Wed Oct 02, 2024 7:40 am

I have the original bill of sale for my 68. It was $2759 (not counting the TTL and fees). I look at it today, that would be just shy of $25K (adjusting for inflation).

What old white guys have a hard time realizing is this. The vehicle they fell in love with when they were young, hits a point where they are really valuable. Then it drops off. Mainly, the next group of old white guys are coming onto their max earning potential and thus, are interested in what they wanted when they were young.

Case in point. A friend of mine has a collection of 5 different muscle cars. Yet he has a 1992 Miata. His son in law wants the Miata and has zero interest in those old muscle cars. Why is that? He never grew up wanting a 1968 Camaro with whatever special code and option package it had. It's just that Miata. He does realize that he is in his earning potential and thus would be willing to fork over whatever for a pristine Miata as opposed to any of those muscle cars.

Wed Oct 02, 2024 8:43 am

My other 'fun' vehicle is a '63 Austin Healey.

I don't feel too bad about the value of my bus potentially dropping when I look at my Healey.

I could still get what I paid for it 20 years ago - with 20 years of my time and effort involved.......... but just barely.

Wed Oct 02, 2024 9:52 am

I've been yelling about this for the last 5-7 years

it's the "model T syndrome" meaning everyone that loved them, are dead and the kids want nothing to do with them either

We're heading the same way

And your a fool if you thought of any of this shit as an investment. Thankfully, I never did and really enjoyed the ride

Sold my 71 westy on BaT this spring. Didn't need 2 campers (Vanagon being the other) and with 10 cars on the roster, I didn't miss it.

Sold it for like 16k. You couldn't build it for that. I took the $$ made a couple of deals, doubled it and tossed it in an investment that is doing about 5K every 6 months

Point being... even on their best days, they are still a money pit...fun, but let's be real and call them what they are.

People need to realize that you're doing it for YOU and nothing else. Fuck, Tri-5 Chevys are dirt cheap today.

Am I done with 'classic' shit? not hardly, and I'd rather buy a 20k impala than a 50k soulless pile of shit

I remember the Ice Cream Bandit being shocked his bus didn't pull 30k+

Guess what? not only was a passenger bus and not a westy but those days are over....especially if the economy stay as shitty as it is. When people are cutting back on food etc there sure as fuck isn't any $$ for one of these shitboxes

if you're relying on these as your retirement, you'd better keep it because you'll be living in it

Wed Oct 02, 2024 10:37 am

jjvincent wrote: I have the original bill of sale for my 68. It was $2759 (not counting the TTL and fees). I look at it today, that would be just shy of $25K (adjusting for inflation).

What old white guys have a hard time realizing is this. The vehicle they fell in love with when they were young, hits a point where they are really valuable. Then it drops off. Mainly, the next group of old white guys are coming onto their max earning potential and thus, are interested in what they wanted when they were young.

Case in point. A friend of mine has a collection of 5 different muscle cars. Yet he has a 1992 Miata. His son in law wants the Miata and has zero interest in those old muscle cars. Why is that? He never grew up wanting a 1968 Camaro with whatever special code and option package it had. It's just that Miata. He does realize that he is in his earning potential and thus would be willing to fork over whatever for a pristine Miata as opposed to any of those muscle cars.

Eh…. He probably also realizes that he can get a pristine Miata for the same money as a rotted out shell of one of those muscle cars, it’ll get better fuel economy, it’ll start & run every time he turns the key, & it’ll outmaneuver them in just about any condition.

I had a friend of a friend tell me that he wanted a small British roadster to drive around & do some autocross events, I asked him if he wanted to drive the cars or just work on them, he said drive them. I told him to go buy a Miata. A year or two later, I ran into him again & he said that he did indeed buy a Miata & it’s the most fun that he ever had.

Wed Oct 02, 2024 12:47 pm

Yes, they have. And prices outside of thesamba are even lower. It's not just busses but air-cooled VW's in general. There are a lot of cool old cars that are much more affordable and have more appeal to younger people.

I still have my 58 beetle. Sold my busses. Looking at Model A's right now.

Wed Oct 02, 2024 1:08 pm

We have an ongoing insurance claim that Robbie/Airschooled is very familiar with. Before we got estimates on the repair I did my research about the honest fair market value of our bus based on Samba ads. This just in case they wanted to total the bus. Our bus has lots of surface rust and is in "fair condition". I pegged the asking price on our bus at $11-12K.

The repair estimate came back at ~$9000 and the insurance was fine with fixing it. I asked if they put a fair market value on it and their answer was $19750!

Nice to hear but not realistic in my opinion.

I just saw a complete running 23(?) Model T complete and running on CL or FB for $9000. Those prices have cratered.

Wed Oct 02, 2024 1:44 pm

The cars in my signature have 0 value as far as I'm concerned, as I'm not looking to sell them, and they are certainly not investments, as there is no ROI. If Hagerty totals the bus, the bug, or the MG, I'll get back what I spent on purchase and repairs, and either go find another toy, or spend the windfall on one if the remaining toys.
The other 2 cars are beater daily drivers, to be flogged into the ground at this point, and one will be replaced when it happens.

My wife thinks I should give my oldest the bug for his 30th birthday. He already has more projects than he can deal with, an old Mini, a 1925 model T, and God knows what else. I live by my signature line..

The younger son keeps his Miata here, as he has no parking for it. I get to drive it all the time, and will likely end up with it at some point.
It is a fun ride with all the mod cons.

Wed Oct 02, 2024 5:41 pm

just here (again) to upvote skill's 'Ice Cream Bandit' comment well above me. lol.
almost didn't understand what he was referencing. then I did. : ) 30k buys a lot of vehicle on the used market. airbags, antilock brakes, theft deterrents, fuel efficiency. I'm shocked any & all pre-fuel injection/catalyst rides are still allowed on public roadways. Shocked. but I've typed too much.......
not to mention retractable & pre-tensioning seat belts.

Thu Oct 03, 2024 12:15 am

I concur that VW values plateaued and are probably going to stagnate with inflation. This is in a good economy, by the way, the only one who thinks it’s bad are the LosersPartyCult
Inflation, check
Unemployment, check
Sp500, check
Unpaid interns, freely available.

Thu Oct 03, 2024 11:25 am

my59 wrote: The cars in my signature have 0 value as far as I'm concerned, as I'm not looking to sell them, and they are certainly not investments, as there is no ROI. If Hagerty totals the bus, the bug, or the MG, I'll get back what I spent on purchase and repairs, and either go find another toy, or spend the windfall on one if the remaining toys.
The other 2 cars are beater daily drivers, to be flogged into the ground at this point, and one will be replaced when it happens.

My wife thinks I should give my oldest the bug for his 30th birthday. He already has more projects than he can deal with, an old Mini, a 1925 model T, and God knows what else. I live by my signature line..

The younger son keeps his Miata here, as he has no parking for it. I get to drive it all the time, and will likely end up with it at some point.
It is a fun ride with all the mod cons. Keep the 300D.... Perfect Apocalypse/Zombie vehicle due to the lack of Electronics on it, and it will run on less than perfect fuel.... :lol: :lol:
I still jones for a W123 Wagon , even though I know better... :oops: :oops:

Thu Oct 03, 2024 1:04 pm

I never restored/bought my cars to resell, because as soon as I sold one, I replaced it. I wonder, at least here in California, I wonder how the lack of gas powered Gas vehicle sales will affect the availability of gasoline for our cars?

Thu Oct 03, 2024 1:50 pm

jlrftype7 wrote: my59 wrote: The cars in my signature have 0 value as far as I'm concerned, as I'm not looking to sell them, and they are certainly not investments, as there is no ROI. If Hagerty totals the bus, the bug, or the MG, I'll get back what I spent on purchase and repairs, and either go find another toy, or spend the windfall on one if the remaining toys.
The other 2 cars are beater daily drivers, to be flogged into the ground at this point, and one will be replaced when it happens.

My wife thinks I should give my oldest the bug for his 30th birthday. He already has more projects than he can deal with, an old Mini, a 1925 model T, and God knows what else. I live by my signature line..

The younger son keeps his Miata here, as he has no parking for it. I get to drive it all the time, and will likely end up with it at some point.
It is a fun ride with all the mod cons. Keep the 300D.... Perfect Apocalypse/Zombie vehicle due to the lack of Electronics on it, and it will run on less than perfect fuel.... :lol: :lol:
I still jones for a W123 Wagon , even though I know better... :oops: :oops:

The 77 300d replaced my 83 300cd turbo as the rot was to far advanced. I jones for an 85 300cd turbo but am too cheap to pull a trigger on any I've seen.

Thu Oct 03, 2024 1:53 pm

Abscate wrote: I concur that VW values plateaued and are probably going to stagnate with inflation. This is in a good economy, by the way, the only one who thinks it’s bad are the LosersPartyCult
Inflation, check
Unemployment, check
Sp500, check
Unpaid interns, freely available.

you're such a fool

food, gas, electricity etc thru the roof and it's a good economy? don't matter what side of politics you're on, it's affected all of us.

Tell the fixed income people how great the economy is. I have a woman in my cardiac rehab class that just surrendered her fucking dog because it was the dog, or the class.

please, tell me again how great shit is and how 1 fucking bag of groceries is 90 bux.

anyway, our cost are up 1200/mo from where they were not long ago. not everyone can absorb that.

so when people have less disposable income prices go limp on a lot of "luxuries"

mark my words...it's going to be 10x worse with this dock strike. These fools want almost 100/hr to move fucking boxes

I say automate the whole deal and fuck 'em. This is another case of people not wanting to make themself worth more...like go to school and learn how to work on the machine you once ran. And nothing for nothing, these fuckwads would be NOWHERE without the maintenance mechanics who get paid WAY less....

Thu Oct 03, 2024 5:15 pm

Quote: food, gas, electricity etc thru the roof

Tweak those meds a bit

Just saw $2.79 In NY for first time in 3 years

Thu Oct 03, 2024 5:38 pm

The price will go back up but not very soon. Most people right now are struggling to make ends meet. Wait until the new 2024 EU law hits Americans and sinks in as to what just happened. That said, when you run with a pack of people, and one of those people trip and fall, they take others with them. The only way to win is to not get tripped which means you either find your own lane, or work really hard to get ahead and then stay ahead - something not taught to Gen Z, Gen X or Millennials. That is why it seems so unfair to many of them.

That said, anyone who worries about the price of their bus right now owns the wrong car. A new MDX SH-AWD (ICE) or ZDX SH-AWD (EV) is about $70,000 plus taxes and licensing. People will come back to buses eventually, and the prices will reflect the then current market. Some PU Trucks now are $100,000+. People don't have the money, nor the income to make payments. Besides, the only time a VW Bus has monetary value anyway is when you are buying or selling one. The rest of the time it is just a car parked in the garage.

Thu Oct 03, 2024 5:40 pm

Gas here in California is $ 5.00 a gallon, on a good day!

Thu Oct 03, 2024 5:46 pm

Abscate wrote: Quote: food, gas, electricity etc thru the roof

Tweak those meds a bit

Just saw $2.79 In NY for first time in 3 years

$3.76 for 87 octane in WA state. Inslee currently has collected $2,000,000,000. on his make-believe 'Carbon Tax' Credits.
But he scared Jeff Bezos to Florida. (mostly to dodge the Billionaire Club Tax)

also Mr.Amazon said he wanted to spend more time with his parents. And save $1,500,000,000. in taxation. Things are great. In some places.