What Car? Q&A - Why the difference in trade-in values?

Q: I have just ordered a Polo from my local VW dealer. They say there is one matching my specification in Germany awaiting delivery to the UK. There have been some delays and it will take around two weeks for the car to arrive.

As an alternative, I asked if could I have one with a multifunction computer at an extra cost of £80. As it would have to be built to order, and take up to 12 weeks to be delivered, the dealer has said that my trade-in Golf, a 1.6 FSI 5dr bought new in April this year, would be worth less. Do you think that I should have still received the same trade-in?
Brian Bowler

A: When a dealer offers a part-exchange price it is usually on the basis that the deal will be completed within the next four weeks. Dealers use their experience, and market data, to value cars for part-exchange. They can struggle to predict what a car will be worth in two months’ time.

Because the delivery time of your new car might shift from two weeks to 12 weeks, they could revalue your part-exchange accordingly. However, because your car is still relatively new, and there is only a 10-week difference, we would not expect there to be much of a variation. The What Car? Price Guide predicts that in three months, your car should only lose about £300 as a part-exchange.