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Thu Jul 11, 2002 4:25 am

I'm looking at a nice, original condition 1966 Beetle. The owner wants around $5000 for the car, but I may be able to talk him under that.

Assuming this car has no rust and all the original hardware, is that a decent price? Keep in mind that I'm on the East coast, as is the car.
Thanks

Thu Jul 11, 2002 12:51 pm

With no other information, I'd say $5K is too high. I just bought the same with sunroof and 54K og miles, tired carpet, faded paint, worn rubber seals, otherwise all original and in great shape for a lot less.

Thu Jul 11, 2002 2:47 pm

Let me guess....you're out west, right? There is talk today over on the type 34 mailing list about how spoiled some west coast folks are when it comes to VWs....I'm sure if I was living in Southern Cal, and there were literally 100's of nice original bugs around, I'd say the same thing....but reality is that I'm in DC, and there are NO VWs here, so I have to take what I can get....

Thu Jul 11, 2002 2:54 pm

Basara, I would definitely talk him down. Look at the books in Borders on value of classic cars. Compare to the condition of the 66. Then have specific things that you would have to do (like, for instance, recover seats, fix rust, replace brake lines, etc.) and have a $ estimate in mind for each of those. Then you can go down your list with the seller. As long as your list's items are reasonable, you'll end up wearing down the seller with your reasonableness and sincerity. I did exactly this and knocked $2grand off the price of my car. I'm in NJ and was in the same price ball park as you are for a 79 Super convertible.

Thu Jul 11, 2002 3:19 pm

Basara,

I am near Vancouver, BC--about 1500 miles from all the VW's in LA. VW's tend to rust away up here and nice original ones are RARE. I had to look for about 8 months to find a car and used a guy named Jack Ibarra at www.classiccarlocator.com to help me acquire what I wanted. I actually found the car on ebay (It didn't sell) and had Jack broker the deal and check the car out for me. I got the same car (an original 1966) that you described with sunroof and the cost of the car, light repairs, shipping and Jack's broker fee was less than what you might pay with this car you found. I'd definitely get the price down if you can or call Jack and let him help you find a nice, dry original VW you'll be happy with at a price you like.

Good Luck,

M

Fri Jul 12, 2002 8:48 am

The real question you have to ask is, what is the car worth to you? How high are you willing to go? Figure that out, and try to get it down there or further. If this guy is asking 5 large, he's hoping to get rid of the car for 4 or more, but if you go in there and give the tires a good kicking, if you can identify why the car should sell for less and point it out to the guy, you can at least make him an offer and have him take it or leave it. If he's being totally unrealistic and unreasonable, buy from someone else.

Fri Jul 12, 2002 5:37 pm

If the car does not have... tired carpet, faded paint, worn rubber seals, otherwise all original... is truly original in nearly every detail and does not need all that much it could be worth 4+, "if it's worth is to you" is a good rule...It costs alot to redo let alone restore a car these days even if you can do most of it yourself...

Sun Jul 14, 2002 10:47 am

manaos i livei n vancouver to i find vws around all the time. actuallly i know of a 56 vert beetle sitting somewhere waiting to be saved =)

Thu Jul 18, 2002 10:27 am

Wow, that is a lot of money. I found a 69 beetle in (ga) for $2000, I pulled over and looked at it. The car looked like it was worth it but had a lot of added un-original parts Ex, Alt. instead of a generator. The reason I decided to but the car was b/c it had a great body, and a great trany. But b/c of a gas/ oil leak (which was no big deal at all I fixed it in a matter of days for $10) I managed to talk him down to $1500. It was running great until my mom accidentaly backed into the front when it was in first gear. Now it needs a little body work and a new trany appr. $685+ tax. So deff. get this guy down some, but agian like the guys above said, DO YOU LOVE IT? If so you can fix or get fixed about anything , it just cost a pretty penny!

Fri Jul 19, 2002 8:01 pm

I saw your other post about the accident your MOM had with the VW...Are you sure it scewed up the tranny? Anyway a 66 is more of a classic than a 69 (sorry) the very last of the old "herbie" body style... 67 brought about many changes and 68-69 even more... if the guy has found a truely original 66 that only needs cosmetic and minor mechanical detail it would probably be worth more if the owner knows what it is value wise...
The owner may not take much less and just because some people have found their bargain does not mean this is going to happen here... Basara needs to have someone who really knows Vw's go with him and look it over so he doesn't end up like Jennnifer/sirus@ pacifist ect. in the lied and ripped thread.....