Sell the GTV6 to get a better car?

"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon) 08/25/2014 at 12:06 • Filed to: None

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Contemplating an offer from the wife. I'm up to get rid of my hateful CRV in the next year or two. Sooner, if I get a promotion/raise in a few months. I was pretty sold on a GTI (SE with DSG and performance package), which would come in right around $30k MSRP. My wife intimated that if I sold the GTV6, we could consider something better. Maybe an R32 or even S3.

Truth is, I only drive the Alfa a handful of times a year. Never when I have to take the kids to daycare, never when it's raining (not much of a problem lately), never when it's crazy hot, never when the traffic is really bad. It amounts to a few hours joyriding around the hill country every couple of months. The rest of the time it's hood-up on jack stands having some reparative procedure on its guts. And the other sad fact it I just don't have the time anymore to work on it. Maybe a few hours a month. It's taken me 6 weeks just to get a new AC compressor installed.

So it kind of makes sense to me from a practical perspective. In my heart I KNOW at some point it's going to develop a major problem that'll either cause it to sit for years while I save to replace the engine or some other major component, or sell it for a loss under value.

I figure I could sell it for $6,500 or maybe even $7,000 if I put some additional work and elbow grease into it. Go ahead with rear suspension bushings, maybe refinish the DeDion components. Fix the dash. Clean up some wiring. Replace the wonky window and door seals. Minor stuff.

But from an emotional perspective, I can't bear the thought. I've had it for six years and only put about 7,000 miles on it. It's only been on one proper road trip. It wants to go!

What to do? I have some time to ponder. </p><p>

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Chairman Kaga 08/25/2014 at 12:34

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I would. I totally get the emotional connection and desire to keep a cool classic car around. (Not that my SVT Focus counts as a classic, but it's 12 years old and needs a constant flow of work and parts, so it's roughly the same.)

Replacing two cars, one you despise, the other you love but neglect with a single car you adore and get to drive everyday is still a win.

Also, I have heard that the 1st gen R32 is a basket case. the 2nd gen might be better, I have no idea. Isn't VW done with the R32 and onto the Golf R now anyway?

Also, depending on timing, you could go for a Focus RS. Hopefully they finally bring it over to the US. (crosses everything)

Chairman Kaga > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/25/2014 at 12:37

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Brand new mkVII Golf R/R32, whatever they decide to call it.

I think I'd prefer it to the Audi simply because of the hatch. And the $4,000-5,000 price difference of course.

At this point we still don't know if/when we're getting it in the U.S., or how much it'll be.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Chairman Kaga 08/25/2014 at 12:41

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I have heard nothing but good things about the current Golf R. I have not driven, owned, or talked to anyone who has driven or owned one. So there's that.

I know it's speculation. but I really really REALLY want them to bring us the RS Focus. An RS Fiesta would be cool too.

It's asking a lot, I know.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Chairman Kaga 08/25/2014 at 12:49

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If you sell an Alfa to replace it with a found-on-any-street-corner Golf with a fancy engine I will find you and call you a ninnymuggins to your face. Long live cool old cars!

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Chairman Kaga 08/25/2014 at 12:52

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Sometimes you really just gotta do what you gotta do. That GTV6 is a seriously cool car though.

Lest I sound cold — I'm on the verge of having to sell one of my 2 cars myself, and some part of me would rather sell a kidney instead.

Chairman Kaga > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/25/2014 at 12:52

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I know, I know... This is my conundrum. It would HAVE to go to a good home, and it would have to be driven. I'd prefer a fellow Jalop took over her care and feeding. We shall see.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Chairman Kaga 08/25/2014 at 12:57

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I do understand. And being a family man does take priority.

ihm96 > Chairman Kaga 08/25/2014 at 13:14

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If I were you I would try and keep it, because old alfas are amazing. I have a question, where are you located?

Chairman Kaga > ihm96 08/25/2014 at 13:29

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Austin, TX.

I'd love to keep it, but the reality is with kids, I have far less time to enjoy it... or fund it. I feel guilty about letting it go to waste just sitting in the garage. And as I said, I also know, just by law of averages, that at some point it'll develop a catastrophic problem that I won't be able to afford to fix, nor have the time to DIY it.

That said, those few times a month I do get to drive it are absolutely badass automotive magic. It's a very special car. Not worth much, but still special.

Chairman Kaga > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 08/25/2014 at 13:32

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First quarter of 2015, approximately $35,000 MSRP for the "base" version, $41,000 for the Primo (which is spitting distance from the new S3). That's according to my friend who works for VW.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Chairman Kaga 08/25/2014 at 13:33

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Cool. That's an expensive Golf, but it should be a good drive.

ihm96 > Chairman Kaga 08/25/2014 at 13:36

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Damn. I was hoping you would be somewhere near PA because I could totally see my dad buying a car like this, but Texas is pretty far away. Hopefully, if you do sell, you love the car you replace it with. Are you only considering the DSG for the GTI?

Chairman Kaga > ihm96 08/25/2014 at 14:28

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DSG is really the only option, and a primary reason I'm looking at something VW. It has to be a car my wife can drive too, and while she CAN drive a stick, she doesn't have the confidence to do it in the insane traffic we have here, and especially if there are kids in tow. It's a compromise I can live with. As I said, traffic in Austin is horrible, and this would be my DD. Every car I've ever had has been a manual, and it got to the point in daily traffic that I came to dread the drive simply because of the endless shifting. So the DSG is an easy solution. It's a few ticks faster than the manual version, too.

ihm96 > Chairman Kaga 08/25/2014 at 17:24

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Yeah that makes perfect sense. I would suggest having maybe a cheap fun manual car because you'll probably start to miss it sometimes. I'm only 18 but the car I drove while I was in highschool was my dad's 06 A3 with the DSG and its insanely fast and fun to use, but I would always have the most fun if I could convince my mom to let me borrow her manual Cooper S. The DSG that VW makes is definitely the most fun option if a manual doesn't make sense. I'll stay on the lookout for your update post when you do get a new car :-)

Jobjoris > Chairman Kaga 08/26/2014 at 05:15

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Booh! No. You NEVER sell your classic for a daily. You just don't. Don't listen to the mrs., she just doesn't understand you. Really.

For god sake: It even has the fishnet-Recaros!!!!

Just plan ahead to use it more often. Being Italian it will become even more reliable doing that. It CAN take the kids to the daycare. It CAN be used to get you to work.

If you sell it there will never be another. If you want a practical perspective: you can always get a Camry. And keep the GTV6.