98 MGF VVC FOR SALE

[sniperpenguin]

Just to emphasise the above points...

The car is fantastic condition for its year, and that does compensate to a degree but it doesnt stop the fact that its an old car.

When you ask for £3000, the customer will ask "what else can I get for £3000" and the choice becomes staggering.... you are up against well-specced, well-maintained late F's, Trophy F's and earlier TF's.

I know what it feels like, Im still paying off the loan I used to buy my '52 TF for 7K and the value has tanked - thats just the way the market works. (When the tax rules came in a few years back making 1.4 engines the highest in the "low cost bracket", values of 1.6 engined cars bombed as nobody saw the point in owning one - very little benefit for a lot more tax!)

Bottom line, you car is worth what somebody will pay for it. *BUT* its value in the market is £1500 - £2000 (that is a generous figure, taking into account conditon)

If you do scrap it (dont!), sell off the "extras" to help out (windstop, tonneau etc)

[Mr bennett]

i love it how you people run down the value of the cars you love ,, by comparing a 1500 ebay knacker to the cars we own is a bit silly i think all us enthusiasts should charge a premium for the cars we have cherished over the years. maybe its only worth x amount at the end of the day.. but soon there will be no difference between an f and tf in value , they r cars they alll fall apart in the end.

so what ur saying is dont throw money at these cars it aint worth it?
because i will only get the same value as some1 who has thrashed theirs?

[Mgffer]

I am with you on the matter of people running down the MGF and saying that they are trouble and therefore not worth much. I have had my car 8 years and apart from the headgasket all it has needed is routine servicing. People who see it think it is an expensive car and that it looks great. It has been a reliable, fun car which has been far less trouble than many of my friend's Audis and BMWs. I, therefore, don't think we should be minimising the price of these cars or exaggerating the problems. The MG ZR prices don't seem to have been affected by the headgasket failure in the same way! When I sold my first MG I was advised to sell it through the MG Owners Club as it would achieve a higher price whcih it did!

You have a great looking car which is worth a great deal more than a lot of the rubbish on ebay. My MG specialist mechanic says that knowing the car's history is priceless. I saw this advertisement on the MG Owners Club site and thought of you:

"MGF 1.8 VVC 1998. One owner, 43,000. Opalescent Nightfire red, beige leather interior. Soft top. Electric windows, Alloys, Wind breaker. Very good condition. £3200. "

I have sold several MGs through the MG Owners Club and always found that people are prepared to give more for a good car with a good history.

You have a great car please don't give it away!

[Keith Williams]

I am with you on the matter of people running down the MGF and saying that they are trouble and therefore not worth much.

I have sold several MGs through the MG Owners Club and always found that people are prepared to give more for a good car with a good history.

No one here is saying the value of the cars is low because they are a troublesome car. Not sure where you read that into it. The people making the comments all have cars that are their pride & joy. I wish my car was worth more. I wish I could get anywhere near the price I paid for mine but I know I cant. But then again my car is not or will ever be up for sale so it does not really matter what its value is (other than for insurance cover repair). It is the nature of what has happened with MG as well as the general economy that has not helped the value.

You will get an easier sale and top price for a car with service history thats true but that will only get you top price for that particular car type and age.

It is Mr Bennett's car so his valuation. Proof will be if it is a 'rose coloured' or 'realistic' price when the car gets sold. I hope he keeps us updated and I hope our thoughts are wrong but a good quality car with a realistic price should sell easily and quickly. His has not so far. Lets just see how the car sale goes.

[Mgffer]

I was just trying to be supportive to a fellow enthusiast.

[Mr bennett]

many thanks Mgfer , i will be putting an ad in the owners club,,

[sniperpenguin]

Good luck with the sale, as the MGOC is probably the best bet for you in this case. But I do feel I have to reply to some of the statements...

i love it how you people run down the value of the cars you love , by comparing a 1500 ebay knacker to the cars we own

At first I was offended by this, but I dont think thats how it was intended to come across - We just overvalue the cars we love to ourselves compared to non-enthusiasts. Those £1500 ebay "knackers" are now £400 - £600. Also be careful not to tar all cars with the same brush, just because it was sold through ebay. In the two years before my brother sold his 97 MGF for £1200 he and I spent over 2 grand restoring it.

i think all us enthusiasts should charge a premium for the cars we have cherished over the years.

Premium, yes. Everyone here who has offered advice has applied a premium to their valuation, it is just our opinion differs to yours.

so what ur saying is dont throw money at these cars it aint worth it?

I dont throw money at my car to sell it on, I spend money to continue enjoying it in the best way possible (as you have done). For an obvious example - spending £800 on a full respray to restore the paintwork doesnt add £800 to the value, same to be said for spending a similar amount maintaining the existing paintwork.

because i will only get the same value as some1 who has thrashed theirs?

Thrashed cars will be obvious and they will get below market value, as will cars with unproven history, wear and tear and faults worse than what is deemed for age.

[Mr bennett]

iamm sorry if i offended you sniper

but you were valuing my car through the ad i was tryin to sell it on ,, if you would have been more tatile and said i think its a tad overpriced and left it at that i would have been happy.
Iam aware that when u throw money at cars you will not get it back iam not that green. but to say "right its worth x amount "is also.
I value all support this site has given over the years of MGF ownership and iam gratful , If i was in an F clique i would have been congratulated on keepin a nice car and wished all the best in the future ,
end of
So i can forget tryin to sell my car at a premium on this site now!

[David Clelland]

Alex,

I wish you well with the sale of your car. Don't forget to come back and tell us what you eventually got for it and I hope that you prove us all wrong (myself included). Who knows if you get the figure that you want it might cheer some of us up