How important is Build date really?

[STV4SYT]

I just found out my ordered car, is excepted 22nd Feb, which i figured was too soon for what was verbally a "January Build" (Should have stipulated in the contract) turns out it was built week 51, 2009. Not overly happy with the situation, they have nothing similar on a 10 build coming in available after then, and my options are to re-order for a May delivery or i have my new car the at the start of march.

Is the fact that the car was built 1 week before 2010 going to devalue it by that much?

[Lima]

I just found out my ordered car, is excepted 22nd Feb, which i figured was too soon for what was verbally a "January Build" (Should have stipulated in the contract) turns out it was built week 51, 2009. Not overly happy with the situation, they have nothing similar on a 10 build coming in available after then, and my options are to re-order for a May delivery or i have my new car the at the start of march.

Is the fact that the car was built 1 week before 2010 going to devalue it by that much?

Sadly it will, but only at trade in time.

Dealers will tell you otherwise, but if/when you trade it in they will say you have a 2009 car. The kicker comes when they sell it, because it will have a compliance plate from this year they'll tell you you're getting a 2010 car.

If you sell the car privately it probably won't make too much diff. And, even at trade in time, we're probably talking no more than $1K, so I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.

The moment you drive the car you'll forget about all that.

[Maverick]

I just found out my ordered car, is excepted 22nd Feb, which i figured was too soon for what was verbally a "January Build" (Should have stipulated in the contract) turns out it was built week 51, 2009. Not overly happy with the situation, they have nothing similar on a 10 build coming in available after then, and my options are to re-order for a May delivery or i have my new car the at the start of march.

Is the fact that the car was built 1 week before 2010 going to devalue it by that much?

Yes it will, for insurance, registration and resale purposes the car is a 2009 model. Doesn't really matter if it's week 1 or week 52. Not much you can really do except re-order, hit them up for a discount or live with it. If you're keeping it for 5+ years it won't matter too much (maybe a few thousand).

[lawsy82]

I would not take it... A 2009 model car is alot different to a 2010 when it comes sale time.

For e.g I would not buy a 2006 Gti golf, even though alot were complianced 2007, it is still a 2006 model car

[STV4SYT]

Ive tried to get him to "compensate" as i did some research on redbook around the resale values of other years, ie, MY07 and MY08 for the differences in the 2 years.

All prices for 5 DR DSG GTI

2006 MY07 Average Private Price+ $26,400 - $29,300 Trade In Price Guide+ $21,800 - $24,700 Average km+ 60000 – 100000
2007 MY07 Average Private Price+ $27,700 - $30,700 Trade In Price Guide+ $22,900 - $25,900
Average km+ 45000 - 75000

Difference Private - $1300 -$1400
Difference Trade - $1100 - $1200
MY08
2007 MY08 Average Private Price+ $28,700 - $31,800 Trade In Price Guide+ $23,800 - $26,900
Average KM 45000 – 75000
2008 MY08 Average Private Price+ $29,900 - $33,000 Trade In Price Guide+ $24,900 - $28,000 Average km+ 30000 – 50000

Difference Private - $1200 -$1200
Difference Trade - $1100 - $1100

The jury is still out, and he wont drop the price any more as he reckons he did it rock bottom already. I've seen some slightly better deals posted up recently, though i dont have corporate pricing.

I'm kinda between a rock and a hard place as i bought the car on the gov't investment allowance so i cant go to another dealer or i lose out on that. What i would lose by waiting another 5 months to get another car on the resale of my current car may outweigh it. I have a decent offer on my car that i would accept now, that could drop $1000 in 5 months easily.

Plus i get to drive in in 8 weeks time if i do go ahead.

Guess who will never not stipulate build year in a contract again, so much for trusting a verbal agreement.

It may also be that due to the car only being released in November that the resale's wont be affected so much, and some people go off compliance date.

Of the 10 or so people that have come to view my car, only 3 have asked about build date.

[elisiX]

Like has been said before and your research has proven, its $1000 difference.

I'd keep on the dealers back about some form of compensation ($500 petrol voucher perhaps?).

[Corey_R]

I think that since you have someone to buy your car now, the hassle of mucking around trying to find other arrangements will cost you way more than the loss of value when you come to sell it later.

The two months that I didn't have my own car, I spent more in fuel than I have ever spent before, cause I'd borrow a friends car and fill up the tank for them in thanks for them lending it to me etc. It would've been cheaper for me to just have my own car! hehe.

[STV4SYT]

Yeah, im swaying towards just taking it now. Another 5 month wait would be pointless at this stage.

[Spook]

Perhaps the dealer will be more willing to give some free accessories as opposed to a cash compensation? If you have KRudd's investment allowance, you'll probably be better off taking the car.

[Lima]

Like has been said before and your research has proven, its $1000 difference.

That's right, or a minor portion of the money saved by taking advantage of the tax breaks. Talk about double dipping, haha!

Seriously, just get the car. You won't give a crap about build date once you drive it off the showroom floor. $1000 on $40K+ car is bugger all, really.