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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy this car?

59 replies

marseille · 18/04/2023 05:16

This is crazy , but my mum and Grandma both had VW beetles. This one is for sale near me. I'm trying to convince myself that I will buy it for an investment.
Yes, I can afford it. No, I can't really as it's about a years worth of food spent.

To buy this car?
OP posts:
CheshireDing · 18/04/2023 07:07

Great colour and looks fab and that is a lot of money ! Especially when it still needs work

i thought you were going to say about £5,000 😆 clearly I am out of touch with the price of an old car. The old refurbished VW’s are around that price and I think they are overpriced but at least they are more useful than a Beetle

maybe knock the seller down, a lot ! Then buy it

Ifailed · 18/04/2023 07:08

A car partially specified by Adolf Hitler? No Thanks.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 18/04/2023 07:09

hotdiggetydog · 18/04/2023 06:51

Don't buy it, it's overpriced, the mileage is questionable and the terrible spray job will be hiding a multitude of sins.

Agree with this. In the UK you could pay a quarter of that. They have also sprayed the bumpers green which suggests to me poor attention to detail and likely a bodge.

I would look elsewhere.

BeetleBailey · 18/04/2023 07:10

A Beetle with 200k miles and up for £20k?

That wouldn't be an investment in the UK, not sure where you are

For that money you could buy a Splitscreen campervan, they are an investment

Beetles here are a quarter of that price

Original poster
marseille · 18/04/2023 07:17

Ok. I will be smart and not buy it. It was 200k kms by the way, not miles. I didn't notice the bumper. I've looked around and it seems a reasonable price where I live. Maybe I should buy one in the UK and pay for shipping!
It was just so close to me, they don't come up for sale here regularly, and it is so damn cute. I've told the seller to get back to me if it doesn't sell - I had already offered the equivalent of 18k GBP and she knocked me back.
Sad😢

OP posts:
Timeforchangeithink · 18/04/2023 07:20

Buy it! What are you keeping the money for? One life - enjoy it!

Azandme · 18/04/2023 07:21

It would be far cheaper to buy in the UK and ship than to buy that one.

UndercoverCop · 18/04/2023 07:23

I had a beetle, I've never loved a car more. Buy one, but not this one. The spray job alone is enough to put me off. Get something in an original colour even if it's been resprayed, and if you can afford it why not

Original poster
marseille · 18/04/2023 07:23

Timeforchangeithink · 18/04/2023 07:20

Buy it! What are you keeping the money for? One life - enjoy it!

That's what I think! I've always wanted one, it's just a terrible time to buy second hand cars here. Great time to sell. So prices are overinflated. All 3 of my adult kids have sold their cars that they bought second hand for more than they paid after driving them for several years. It's crazy. Despite that I just saw that car and thought - I love you!! ( I am a car nut btw)

OP posts:
Original poster
marseille · 18/04/2023 07:25

Azandme · 18/04/2023 07:21

It would be far cheaper to buy in the UK and ship than to buy that one.

I'd have to look into this. Is that a grey import. Thanks though I will give it some thought.

OP posts:
UndercoverCop · 18/04/2023 07:26

Where do you live? Could you buy one in the UK and drive it home?

Original poster
marseille · 18/04/2023 07:27

Thanks everyone for your ideas - will look into shipping one but that seems such a kerfuffle. I've looked online again locally and there are none cheaper unless they are needing a huge amount of work.

OP posts:
Original poster
marseille · 18/04/2023 07:28

UndercoverCop · 18/04/2023 07:26

Where do you live? Could you buy one in the UK and drive it home?

Sadly no. My name is a misnomer. I'm on the other side of the world.

OP posts:
Theraffarian · 18/04/2023 07:35

There are tens of reasons not to buy , price , cost of repairs you know it needs plus what will appear after you buy it . The fact it will be an elephant to drive compared to any new car you are used to .

However……….it is totally luscious , so I’m undecided !

Devoutspoken · 18/04/2023 07:39

How about something less polluting

Tangelo · 18/04/2023 07:44

It might be great fun - but it’s not an investment. We are about to sell our vintage campervan because it costs an absolute fortune to keep it on the road and air cooled vehicles of this age do break down (whatever previous owners say!). Practically that is the right decision - but it does make us a bit sad!

Corgiowner · 18/04/2023 07:50

Ok at the risk of sounding boring and practical (my DH used to have vintage cars and does collect cars as a possible investment) if your thinking of an investment you need to appreciate that one it will only be an investment for you if it is bought by a serious collector, that cars of this age require constant maintenance do you have the necessary skills knowledge and reputation to maintain the engine and the body work? If no to either of these you will need to find someone who does and ideally someone who specialises in VW Beatles a serious collector will want to know who has been looking after it see all the receipts etc and what their knowledge is. I know nothing about Beatles but if that is not an original colour for them that will reduce its saleable value and you would need to get it resprayed in the correct colour.
Thet also need to be properly kept chuckled them in the average garage and not driving them for years is unlikely to be good enough from an investment point of view.
Frankly if youre interested in just taking a punt with 20k you’d be better to investing it in wine and pay for proper storage which is quite cheap and requires no expensive maintenance.
Vintage cars are rarely an investment because you need very deep pockets to maintain them.

Shade17 · 18/04/2023 07:57

We are about to sell our vintage campervan

You have a campervan from the 1920s?

AwaaFaeHom · 18/04/2023 08:12

Shade17 · 18/04/2023 07:57

We are about to sell our vintage campervan

You have a campervan from the 1920s?

Are you confusing the term 'vintage' with 'antique'?

Original poster
marseille · 18/04/2023 09:49

Theraffarian · 18/04/2023 07:35

There are tens of reasons not to buy , price , cost of repairs you know it needs plus what will appear after you buy it . The fact it will be an elephant to drive compared to any new car you are used to .

However……….it is totally luscious , so I’m undecided !

This is exactly me!!

OP posts:
Original poster
marseille · 18/04/2023 10:07

Corgiowner · 18/04/2023 07:50

Ok at the risk of sounding boring and practical (my DH used to have vintage cars and does collect cars as a possible investment) if your thinking of an investment you need to appreciate that one it will only be an investment for you if it is bought by a serious collector, that cars of this age require constant maintenance do you have the necessary skills knowledge and reputation to maintain the engine and the body work? If no to either of these you will need to find someone who does and ideally someone who specialises in VW Beatles a serious collector will want to know who has been looking after it see all the receipts etc and what their knowledge is. I know nothing about Beatles but if that is not an original colour for them that will reduce its saleable value and you would need to get it resprayed in the correct colour.
Thet also need to be properly kept chuckled them in the average garage and not driving them for years is unlikely to be good enough from an investment point of view.
Frankly if youre interested in just taking a punt with 20k you’d be better to investing it in wine and pay for proper storage which is quite cheap and requires no expensive maintenance.
Vintage cars are rarely an investment because you need very deep pockets to maintain them.

Ta for this. Are you an economist? My economist son said " geez mum buy shares It's less trouble and less risk".
I think you have all talked me out of it.
Such a gorgeous car though. ( sad face with tears).

OP posts:
Greensleevevssnotnose · 18/04/2023 10:10

I don't think it will be an investment. I have had several including the 1303s that looks to be, albeit in very poor condition. All have sold for under 5k except a particularly nice karmen Ghia

Neededanewuserhandle · 18/04/2023 10:16

CleaningOutMyCloset · 18/04/2023 06:54

Old cars are lovely, I'm a huge fan, but you can't just buy it and leave it. Unlike modern cars they rust and don't like being stood.

Vw beetles are ace, but again they are air cooled, so will overheat in traffic. Unlikely to have power steering, so will be really heavy to drive. You're going to have to love it, to own it.

It won't have power steering but the weight of the engine is in the back so steering on these isn't heavy.

It won't overheat in traffic just because it's air cooled - I owned a 1979 VW van (air cooled, same engine) and used it everyday, often in a lot of traffic. If properly maintained it will be fine.

They do like to rust a lot.

Dunno if it gets cold where you are or if you would only drive in warm weather, but if you need heating the heat exchangers will need to be 100% - many are not.

Trivia - the screenwash is "powered" by pumping air into the bottle.

Don't buy one as an investment - although old cars don't tend to lose money as fast as new ones, there are maintenance costs etc.

Do buy it because you love it and want one.

Original poster
marseille · 18/04/2023 10:17

Neededanewuserhandle · 18/04/2023 10:16

It won't have power steering but the weight of the engine is in the back so steering on these isn't heavy.

It won't overheat in traffic just because it's air cooled - I owned a 1979 VW van (air cooled, same engine) and used it everyday, often in a lot of traffic. If properly maintained it will be fine.

They do like to rust a lot.

Dunno if it gets cold where you are or if you would only drive in warm weather, but if you need heating the heat exchangers will need to be 100% - many are not.

Trivia - the screenwash is "powered" by pumping air into the bottle.

Don't buy one as an investment - although old cars don't tend to lose money as fast as new ones, there are maintenance costs etc.

Do buy it because you love it and want one.

Show quote history

❤

OP posts:
Neededanewuserhandle · 18/04/2023 10:19

Ifailed · 18/04/2023 07:08

A car partially specified by Adolf Hitler? No Thanks.

😂Do you have any German stuff?