Jetta TDI
Jetta, 97 has nice cars and he does pretty good work keeping them fixed up and repaired properly. He is a good guy. I would buy a pre-owned car from him. He is not selling clapped out project cars that needs tons of work.
Here is my take:
This is a specialty type car and older TDI's are often hard to find.
Its a free country, so you can buy a car from whomever you wish.
There are plenty of dealers and plenty of cars for sale nationwide.
Somebody buying a 10 year old TDI buys one, because that is the car they really want to buy. Same reason some people like the older 240 Volvos and the FJ40's. Book values do not apply to older specialty type vehicles !
What is the KBB on a 1979 FJ40 with 10,542 original miles from the original owner ? How many of those roll through the auction chute.
The Black Book, NADA and KBB are only market value guides. NADA and KBB also has two versions of this book (retail- YOU) and (Wholesale- Dealership). These are NOT (set in stone prices )- they ARE market averages based on what these cars are bringing at the ten largest car auctions in North America. Mannheim is one of the largest auction houses in the country. Most of the cars rolling thru the Mannheim dealer only auction chutes are no more than 5 years old, with the greater percentage being "off lease" vehicles. Most leases are either 24 or 36 month terms. Not too many 8-10 year old TDI's rolling thru the auction chutes these days.
I have seen dealers spend "off the chart" prices at auctions as well.
Typically, for "trendy" specialty vehicles or seasonal type vehicles.
Examples: New body style "off lease" Tahoe's, Suburban's, Impala LTZ's, Corvettes, new body Mustangs, Dodge Challengers and
HD Diesel crew cab trucks are pretty good examples.
Jetta 97, is not taking his car to the auction and he is not taking it to a dealership to trade.
He is however offering an older TDI to the TDI enthusiast community, here on the TDIclub.
I agree with VeeDubTDI --- If you do not like his price -- Move On.