Prices of G's for sale.

[Alex]

It's strange, they're a real cult car. Mine's become a bit of a talking point when I'm with groups of journalists - moreso than the few others with Mk1/2 Golf GTIs. And the few people who know what mine is are really interested to talk about it when they see it on petrol forecourts etc. I think it's because people don't see them around.

But cult doesn't always fetch high prices.

That said, £2,000 for an old Polo is a lot of cash. I've seen RS Clio 172s for less - and they're half the age.

Plus there's a lot of bad press knocking about, and the insurance is steep for a G40 even compared to similar cars. They're easy to nick and if you hit something head on you'll take out the charger and intercooler, which means high repair costs, which means a high insurance group.

I think a lot of people buy a Polo as a first car then, when insurance allows, migrate to the better known Golfs and so on. Then continue upwards to Skylines/Subarus/Evos and that sort of stuff if they want to go up another step in performance. Making a truly rapid G40 takes a lot of time and effort, most people don't have the patience when you can buy a faster car off the shelf and put the time into making it stupidly rapid.

[scotsjohn]

But cult doesn't always fetch high prices.

That's very true Alec, but with cult comes an increasing awareness and maybe a bottoming out/increase in prices. I think the G's biggest enemy is it's easily acquired performance upgrades and as soon as you get one you automatcally want more. You end up pushing a very old car too hard,breaking it and selling downwards.

My own personal experience is that I bought my second G in Brum and within days of getting it up to Inverness I was getting a bit jumpy about the attention it was getting. People (mainly young guys...that means they were under forty) were turning up to have a look, photographing it, asking if I was selling it ?
That interest hasn't waned especially since it's re-furb and there's hardly a day when I take it out that I'm either approached or find a phone number tucked under a wiper with a request to sell.

As you say that interest might not turn into capital, but when I sell, I will be able to hold out for a solid price which a lot of young guys can't afford to do.

[Alex]

Very true. Mine's hidden away in my garage now but back when it was parked up outside my parents' house each night I did used to get people asking how much I'd sell it for and leaving notes under the wipers (I still have them at home somewhere haha!)

But it's one of those where if I did sell it people will either think it's a chance to buy a rust-free G40 with most of the basic performance-related boxes ticked and want to pay for it... or they'll see it as a 185,000 mile GT with a G40 engine and near worthless as a result.

Personally if I was looking for another one it wouldn't bother me what the V5 said, I'd be looking for one that's been well cared for. But I would say that.

Anyway my point is that as always the market is driven by what people are prepared to pay. Lots of people love the idea of owning a G40, but wouldn't actually do it. It's just a case of finding the ones that do.

[GAF2]

Yeah there is people out there who know what they are and know that they want one.  Cant believe it but i just sold mine yesterday but at least i am happy with the price i got £3300

Pictures here

 http://s364.photobucket.com/albums/oo82/GAF2_photo/?action=view&current=PoloG40K788WND269.jpg#!oZZ1QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs364.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Foo82%2FGAF2_photo%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DPoloG40K788WND279.jpg

[ashmang40]

im 22 and im on my 2nd g40, i love them i know u can get alot faster car for the money but they are no way near as rear, i get so much interested in my original L reg g40 in tornado red, when did you last see one?? they only sell to people who are looking for one, i went 200 miles to get mine last month

[86C]

But it's one of those where if I did sell it people will either think it's a chance to buy a rust-free G40 with most of the basic performance-related boxes ticked and want to pay for it... or they'll see it as a 185,000 mile GT with a G40 engine and near worthless as a result.

Personally if I was looking for another one it wouldn't bother me what the V5 said, I'd be looking for one that's been well cared for. But I would say that.

Very true... I'd have the same problem if I came to sell my Genesis. People would just say it's not a real G40(like there's a difference in the bodyshell?!) and it's got 225,000 miles on the clock.
The fact that it's solid, well maintained and has quite a few nice bits and pieces on it would be irrelevant