OK First things first..............

This thread is not about what you prefer to drive.

Its about the price difference between an auto and a manual of the same spec.

 

So... lets just assume its a 1995 Ser4 TT Slicktop.

 

Secondly lets assume the other specs are all identical and Factory.

 

So... if the Auto is worth/being sold at ..say £3K

How much more(if any) is the same car in manual form.???

And is there a difference between factory manwell spec and "converted later"???

 

Im fairly sure its worth more but by how much???

 

Sits back.............................

personally i dont think it should make a difference to the price, a gear box is a gear box. should personal preference effect price? i think not.

Manual worth £1000 more I would say, mainly that when the autobox gives trouble it'll need changing and the cost is 1000-1500.

 

Assuming that the conversion was properly done, i.e with vacuum tanks and neutral switch then I wouldnt say a converted car is worth any more or less (perhaps in the case of it having a brand new clutch, solid prop etc worth more)

 

In 10 years time or so, when there are people looking at these cars and looking for the perfect example at mega money then it being a genuine factory manual will make a difference I think.

That's a very tricky question Pete... lol

 

The manual is definitely more desirable and therefore can command a higher price. Two zeds in exactly the same spec and condition I would say the manual may be worth upto £500 - £600 more. But that said an auto with a new or rebuilt box would probably be worth more than a manual with an old box.

 

I don't know if a factory manual would be worth more than a converted auto (assuming the conversion is done properly) but I guess it would be to the purist.

 

So in summary, I haven't got a clue :(

Manual worth £1000 more I would say, mainly that when the autobox gives trouble it'll need changing and the cost is 1000-1500.

 

Assuming that the conversion was properly done, i.e with vacuum tanks and neutral switch then I wouldnt say a converted car is worth any more or less (perhaps in the case of it having a brand new clutch, solid prop etc worth more)

 

In 10 years time or so, when there are people looking at these cars and looking for the perfect example at mega money then it being a genuine factory manual will make a difference I think.

 

then that would be pointless, you may as well buy the auto at a cheaper price then convert later for less and save around £1000, considering a decent manual conversion kit is around £500.

I doubt you could have a car converted for £500 including the bits? I know it cost me around £1200 4 years ago by the time id had a new clutch and had it fitted.

 

To a mechanic or someone who has the time to do that sort of thing yeah its cheap but a garage will charge at least £500 for the conversion.

I doubt you could have a car converted for £500 including the bits? I know it cost me around £1200 4 years ago by the time id had a new clutch and had it fitted.

 

To a mechanic or someone who has the time to do that sort of thing yeah its cheap but a garage will charge at least £500 for the conversion.

 

well, im getting my manual conversion soon, cost 500, doing the work my self, add on to that clutch fluid and gearbox oil and its still not pushing anywhere near £600.

I doubt you could have a car converted for £500 including the bits? I know it cost me around £1200 4 years ago by the time id had a new clutch and had it fitted.

 

To a mechanic or someone who has the time to do that sort of thing yeah its cheap but a garage will charge at least £500 for the conversion.

 

If you do it yourself it is possible but as you say a garage would be adding at least £500 labour on top.

If you do it yourself it is possible but as you say a garage would be adding at least £500 labour on top.

 

Yeah I was meaning taking it to a garage, giving them the conversion that you'd got for say £350 and getting it back for an extra £150.

 

I forget the exact figured but I put a new clutch and flywheel into mine, new pedal covers leather gaitor and nice gearknob. I had the vacuum tanks done properly with the pipework and check valves etc.

 

It was a drive in and drive out service though from C&S woods, dropped it of one saturday and collected it the next they also serviced and MOT'd it whilst it was on, as I said though a few years ago now!

but there are so many variables, i still do not see why a car should be more expensive based on someone's personal preference, if all that is the difference is the drive train, then no.

Okay so it boils down to how desirable the cars are.

 

Here would be an ideal opportunity for a poll, given two identical cars, at the SAME price the only difference one being auto and the other being manual, how many members would take the auto?

 

I would hazard a guess at 20% would take the auto, leaving 80% fighting for the manual so it would fall to who would pay the most for the manual, i.e it would reach its price premium of about £1000 for a nice one before you think hmm that auto is £1000 cheaper, I could convert it for that money.My thoughts anyway :)

Well i know id rather have a manual than an auto and i think that would go for the majority so therefore is it not right that a manual would command a higher price?

 

I dont think there is many people that would buy an auto thinking it would be cheaper to convert themselves as people really cant be arsed on a 20 year old car and rather buy one with a manual box in to start with. The only people that would will be the ones with zed experience and a place to do the conversion.

 

I t5hink it is already starting to go off track as im sure Pete expected with people saying what if the auto box was brand new. Well in that case you have just wasted however many thousands in a new box that you will not recoup in a sale.

To throw it out there, i dont think you can really put a price on these cars now.

Auto or manual, standard or mildly modified, the prices of cars on the market is so varied.

I think the seller make the price up in their head, around whatthey feel its worth, then its just the luck of the draw if the buyers out there see that car and are willing to pay thay price for it.

 

I put Ian's Red Manual TT up, S2 interior, Running decent power, 99 Front bumper, not really any rust, for £1600 and couldn't sell it!

When i put that NA up it sold straight away for £1500.

Manuals are rarer and more desirable. I would say on average 700~1000 maybe more is asked for. I reasoned with myself that on this basis, my auto was worth converting

Being an auto it would be worth around 2/500ish and probally 3.5k a manual. I wouldnt let it go for less than 4k though after this summers work is done.

'95 Spec TT Slicktop auto 3000 GBP..

'95 Spec TT Slicktop Man 4000 GBP (possibly more)

 

IMO opinion the latter of those two options is the ultimate spec for a Zed (yes, even more preferable than a later '98 spec), so as an enthusiast I would expect to have to pay a premium over any other similar aged model. The uninitiated wouldn't appreciate the significance of that model and would probably think it over priced, but that would be their loss, so to speak. So Pete, is this purely hyperthetical or are you looking to shift on a Zed somewhere and just weighing up whether to do a conversion 1st? Do tell!!

Desirability is an important and very relevant factor on Sale price. Far more people want Manuals than Auto's and will pay more for one.

 

I would say the sale price difference difference is £750-£1000, and its been like this ever since I can remember. Prices do vary wildly with these cars, but historically, in general, you see Autos at the lower price end and Manuals at the higher end.

 

I don't believe original vs converted manual is that relevant in price, providing the job is done properly, then its identical to a genuine original. Most buyers/owners would not even know. Although interesting point made by Quavey, about future classics later on down the line.

 

Look at how many people post about how they are searching for a Manual but cant find one, so settle for an Auto with the intent to convert later on down the line. Most owners get a garage to do the work, and your looking at £1200-£1700 for the process. If you do it yourself then more like £500-£800, depending on how cheap you source the parts and wether parts needs replacing (eg. clutch, release bearings, gaitors).

Edited May 15, 201213 yr by Yowser

As has beed said about 1K up imo.

 

how can you possibly tell if the zed has been converted or not if its done properly??

'95 Spec TT Slicktop auto 3000 GBP..

'95 Spec TT Slicktop Man 4000 GBP (possibly more)

 

IMO opinion the latter of those two options is the ultimate spec for a Zed (yes, even more preferable than a later '98 spec), so as an enthusiast I would expect to have to pay a premium over any other similar aged model. The uninitiated wouldn't appreciate the significance of that model and would probably think it over priced, but that would be their loss, so to speak. So Pete, is this purely hyperthetical or are you looking to shift on a Zed somewhere and just weighing up whether to do a conversion 1st? Do tell!!

 

The car was/is just an example to make a level discussion point. I havent got and Im not getting a 95 Slicktop TT in either guise.

Im looking at the cost/benefit side of things. I could equally have used a ser2 LWB UK spec car for the example.

 

But I have got something in mind:biggrin:

but there are so many variables, i still do not see why a car should be more expensive based on someone's personal preference, if all that is the difference is the drive train, then no.

 

I'd like to think that is the case too - and when immaculate examples are fewer and far between than now, then I doubt the auto/manual thing will make a difference.......

 

Desirability is an important and very relevant factor on Sale price. Far more people want Manuals than Auto's and will pay more for one.

 

I would say the sale price difference difference is £750-£1000, and its been like this ever since I can remember. Prices do vary wildly with these cars, but historically, in general, you see Autos at the lower price end and Manuals at the higher end.

 

I don't believe original vs converted manual is that relevant in price, providing the job is done properly, then its identical to a genuine original. Most buyers/owners would not even know. Although interesting point made by Quavey, about future classics later on down the line.

 

Look at how many people post about how they are searching for a Manual but cant find one, so settle for an Auto with the intent to convert later on down the line. Most owners get a garage to do the work, and your looking at £1200-£1700 for the process. If you do it yourself then more like £500-£800, depending on how cheap you source the parts and wether parts needs replacing (eg. clutch, release bearings, gaitors).

 

.....but Dave makes a good point there!

 

Thing is, it is funny how the market forces and desirability factor changes as a car gets older and more affordable. I mean, when these cars were new the auto cost more as an optional extra. And then on the second hand market for the first few years, the auto would have commanded the premium as key buyers were affluent, older professional folk who would no doubt prefer the auto; especially in a GT car.

 

Now the 300zx is old and more appealing/affordable to younger buyers, the manual has become more desirable.

 

You see the same with modern executive GTs and sports cars today - anyone buying a nearly new Merc or BMW (even the sports cars) might as well burn their cash as buy a manual. You'd never sell it for real money again whilst it is new and still has a potentially decent residual - but the autos command a premium and sell more easily. No-one in that market now wants the manual.....

 

Fast forward 10+ years when said Merc/BMW etc is selling for around 3-4K and in reach of younger buyers, then the manual will become as desirable, if not more!

 

Richard:balloon:

As has beed said about 1K up imo.

 

how can you possibly tell if the zed has been converted or not if its done properly??

 

two ways to tell generally dave, as these are two things that often dont get done.

firstly people dont tend to replace the alternator harness, so on the inner wing near where the hicas is located two empty connected are there.

most people with manuals dont bother to delete that stupid looking hard bleed line, so if its absent..... its possible its a conversion

if its a jspec there will be a redundant switch on the centre consol, for power/hold. (unless its been changed)

alot od people also dont tend to replace the brake pedal just cut it down so by removing the rubber you would be able to tell.

but in reality if its done properly you wpouldnt ever notice if you werent looking for it. and the car may well be a tad quicker to accelarate due to the diff tubs and cams to reduce the lag.

Oh plus you said shorty and the slicktop version which we all know is worth 2k more than any LWB for starters :D

technically an Auto gearbox costs more than a Manual, and Auto box options on most cars is at a premium cost.

 

Although most people here would preffer a Manual, there are people with Auto only Licenses, and people with limb troubles who can only drive Autos.

 

I went with an Auto, as it was the best all round car I could find at the time, to me it didnt matter if it was Manual or Auto.

 

 

If I ever end up with gearbox issues, I would prob swap it out for a manual instead of getting the Auto sorted. But i wouldnt let the gearbox be the final decision on the car I was buying if that makes any sense?

 

The odds of finding same spec, same mileage, same condition, same history vehicles with opposite transmissions would be slim to none. There is a much bigger pic than the gearbox alone.

 

If they were the same price, my misses would go for the Auto, I would go for the Manual. its solely prefference. I saw Manual vehicles in the same price range. But preffered the one I finally choose, which was an Auto.

But I have got something in mind:biggrin:

 

:whistling::wink:

Oh plus you said shorty and the slicktop version which we all know is worth 2k more than any LWB for starters :D

 

Yep its all drifting off topic now!!

Thats OK cos I have distilled out some valid points from known and trusted members.

the consensus of opinion is similar to my own.

It looks like a close call.

So I think........that a manual will sell easier than a auto.

There will be a modest price premium.

The price difference will only cover a conversion if you DIY and have the kit available at reasonable money.

:whistling::wink:

 

 

:hammer::hammer::hammer:

 

:rofl: