How to price your Cali

[2into1]

Sticking my head up about the parapet, I'm proposing a bit of a formula that starts to suggest how a Cali should be valued (Brave I know!).
I know this type of exercise won't appeal to everyone but it's what my brain does when there is no camping to be done!

a) We take a USED baseline model as follows:
140SE from the current year (2014), Manual gearbox, Averaging 10K miles / annum.
Private Seller. Average Spec (ie some extras) We give this baseline van a value of £40k

b) Make the following AGE adjustments:
For a van averaging 10k miles / year deduct the annual depreciation of £1500 (so deduct £1500 from a 2013, £3000 from a 2012......£6000 from a 2010 etc)
For a van averaging 20k miles / year, the depreciation increases to £2500 / year
For a van averaging 30k miles / year, the depreciation increases to £3500 / year

c) For a 180hp add £2k

d) For a DSG gearbox add £2k for a 180hp, add £1k for a 140hp

e) If you are a dealer with a good Cali reputation (like VWcampersales, or Main Dealer) add £2k

f) For pre Facelift vans, deduct a one-off £2k.
Tiptronic SUBTRACT £1k (controversial, see below)
174hp over 130hp add £250

g) Seasonal adjustment: From the first few sunny days of February, through to June, add £1500. In July and Aug, add £500.

I've run many Cali Ads through this formula I think it is a reasonable start.

If you want to add to this...........
Allowance also needs to be made for the smaller spec items (510 / bike rack / leather etc) but that's a bit too complex for me after a glass of wine. Perhaps best to say that an above average spec adds £1k, a poorly spec'd van deducts £1k. (Maybe more on a newer van, less as they get older).

My head says colour hasn't too much of an impact, as if 5% of new buyers prefer white, then 5% of used buyers will be looking for white)...but my wallet would only let me buy Silver or Grey.

There isn't enough data to get a feel for 4Motion but would something like +£2K feel about right?

Valuing a van with particularly low miles (ie 5 years old with 15K miles) also needs some thinking about.

My controversial treatment of Tiptronic gearboxes on pre facelift vans is based on a feeling that unlike DSG, it seems to have a bigger hit on fuel consumption and the possibility of higher repair costs become a greater worry on older vans.

There we have it. What do you think?

 

[Californiaman]

I've tried to follow this and would now be pleased to sell my Cali for £2.6 million. Maths never was my strong point.

 

[2into1]

I think you over estimated the value of your beer. Send me mileage, age and rough spec and let me see what I get............

 

[Californiaman]

Beer is priceless

 

[BMVS-Camper-Hire]

Do you want a job?

 

[2into1]

I did think about including an ex-hire deduction, but decided some companies (no names mentioned) make a virtue out of it, others not!

Wouldn't mind a test or two to see how well it works (beyond the for sale ads where it's pretty good).

 

[reserves]

Interesting concept indeed.

Impossible to get it right, so defo appreciated the effort!

Feedback:

Following these rules pricing an ex-demo / nearly new would be too expensive (as hardly any money would be removed from full price)

I would never pay £2k for an 180 over a 140, £2k becomes a massive amount the less the Cali is, for example at £32k and increase to £34k is a 6% difference.

There's no mention of Cali's dropping out of warranty, a massive factor prices should drop £1-2k when out of warranty (especially when this is when people trade them in)

As Cali's are more popular & older more and more coming onto the market, once out of warranty it comes down to what is available as a combination, for example I would never buy one without 3 Zone Climate, in certain colours, without parking sensors. However I wouldn't pay £2k 'extra' for these, it's just when the 'right' combination turns up.

I'd say for example that Toffee Brown Cali's don't sell as well as Grey ones (from seeing a very well priced couple of Toffee Brown Cali's advertised) however someone will love Toffee Brown and get a bargain

I'd say it's a great idea, but I certainly wouldn't put so much value of options (140 vs 180) etc. Most of these become subjective.

 

[reserves]

Looks like some recent entries in the For Sale section could have done with a formula

 

[2into1]

Looks like some recent entries in the For Sale section could have done with a formula

I tested them too and probably shared your opinion, but it is only a theory and the market may prove it wrong. There are a few from vw dealers on autotrader that are cheaper than the formula, unless they've forgotten the vat again!