What's the value of my jetta?

[comquat1]

I'm buying a new car and was offered roughly $800 for my vw jetta from the dealer. I don't think this is close to what I could get private party if I sat on the car so I'm curious what others think.

It's a 97 jetta GLX with the vr6 engine and 5-speed manual
193,000 miles
has all options but heated seats (leather, cd changer, moonroof, etc).
Will need new tires in next 10,000 miles or so - the edges were balded from missalignment.
Engine runs strong. Car needs new rear springs, alot of clunking going on.
The fog light lens' are broken out and fog lights burned out, and the rear bumper is cracked where I was lightly rearended (no frame damage just cracked bumper cover).

What do you think I could realistically get for this car if I throw an ad in the paper? $2000? more? less?

 

[ChopsJazz]

Your Jetta is worth what anyone is willing to pay for it. And I'm not just being cocky here. Check your local papers and see what the market will bear.

In almost every case you will make more money in a private sale than through a trade with a dealer.

 

[brahtw8]

Your Jetta has got to be worth at least twice that if not several times that amount. Look it up on the various internet guides and check the VW forums.

If that car had normal mileage it would be worth a fair amount of money. I would start with the 80-100k mile price and look at perhaps half of that amount as the value of your car or perhaps 40% of that amount.

I sold a 1988 Acura Legend with 160k in 2001 for $2400. My father sold his 1991 Honda Accord with 220k for $2800 in 1999 (one owner).

I would think you should be able to get close to $3k for the car, if not slightly more. Worst case scenario would be in the $2000-2500 range. ICBW. YMMV.

The VR6 and the Jetta have an enthusiast following, particularly a 5-speed, and with the mileage you will be opening up the option of a VR6 Jetta to a lot of VW enthusiasts who otherwise could not afford a $5-7k car (that I guess an 80-100k mile 97 VR6 is worth these days). I would definitely put that car on the VW forums. If it is in decent shape despite the mileage you could do pretty well.

The dealer has no interest in your car with that mileage, so he is giving you the bare bones price and will just get rid of the car at auction or otherwise.