Ego causes people to inflate prices based on an emotional attachment and perceived value to them, rather than what the private, or worse, commercial market, sets. I have seen on Gumtree Redline SSVs being offered for $120,000. They're not worth that, certainly not when they are riddled with roadblast, paint damage, curb-rash on wheels, worn brakes and bald tyres.
Here's a story of putting values right. When I traded my VZ in November last year, the Holden dealer offered only $1,452 trade-in for it. We sat there before him, stunned. I told my brother I was going to get the VF, sitting out in the yard "no matter what!".
We went into the pub across the road for a gin. Or two. Or three...?
Big Bro was, in the 1990s a Dealer Principal at another Holden/mixed brand dealer nearby. After doing some elementary math and look-ups, brother slurped the last of the gin and dubonnet, then marched back to Holden. He confronted the Used car manager, and asked him about the trade-in he offered for the VZ, the basis and reasoning, almost collaring him in a corner of the "shack" where the important business of buying a car takes place.
"Yeah, that's what I offered. And that's better than what you'd get anywhere!". Oh...my... Ha-ha-ha. Smartarse. Brother let the genie out of the bottle: he demanded a "second consideration" of the VZ, and thus the trade-in offer went from $1,452 to ...
$3,300. The VF was thusly sold. And the Used Car Manager was never again friendly toward me (I am the owner, not "The Deal Maker"!).
Would you consider it overpriced, for something that was well looked after, no engine anomalies and all services to-spec? We considered the $1,452 trade-in a stingy insult, and were having none of it.
Looking forward, unfortunately Holden, in whatever iteration, isn't going to be viewed as favourably in value, and this applies to the top-lin models as well as the "High Street" models (the VEs, VFs, etc.). Holden is a dead brand and will be avoided in coming years, more profoundly after the 5-year parts provision timeline expires. This is the unpalatable truth many don't want to confront, but will have to. There are many, many other cars out there to own, not just Holdens.
