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01-07-2020 01:35 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by VW_XL1
(Post 200591)
If I'm not mistaken, the one you went to see was (at the time) owned by Swansway Garages in Crewe (a VW dealer). They actually offered for sale at £129,990 for a time. It later went to auction at the NEC Classic Car Show on 9th Nov 2018 (the auctioneers were Silverstone Auctions), and it sold for £103,167 including premium. I'm now in contact with the buyer (a great guy!) who like me does get out and use the car a lot, even including trips to Italy.
I agree with you that it's a great pity the XL1 was not mass produced. I wish they had made a new, much less expensive version that looked the same but without the expensive efficiency features like carbon fibre and magnesium and made it pure electric. With aluminium or steel body and bigger battery it would have been a lot heavier but I bet the mpg would still have been quite impressive. Even then though, I fear the look of the car is too extreme for most buyers - people generally don't like to be stared at all the time on the road. Personally it doesn't bother me at all - after all it's the car they are interested in, not the driver!
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Yes you would be correct, 3 years ago when I bought my 308 Gti, I just happened to drive by the said VW dealer and by chance, caught a glimpse of the XL1 in the showroom. Knowing I'd never see one again, I just had to go in and see it and make a short video. I'd never afford one, it reminds alot of a modern take on the gen 1 Honda insight of which I have owned, similar aero shape, lightweight body, similar engine set up too, although VW went to the extreme in every aspect.
Without sounding disrespectful, I'm trying to figure out the reasons people buy these, obviously it's not to save money on fuel on a car so expensive. Is it purely the pleasure of owning such a rare and quirky car? Or are you predicting its rarity alone will prove a worthy investment in the future? Not sure where you're from, but would be worth knowing if you're ever visiting Mid Wales, I'd love to see another one, perhaps make another video. You could get some awesome regen on these hills, I would deplete my battery entirely on the way up, but have it full again at the bottom in my Honda.
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