Summer may be over, but a convertible can still offer some liberating drives between now and when the snow flies (and if you’re in the Sunshine State, your convertible season is just getting started; San Diego, I don’t want to hear it.) This 1990 Volkswagen Cabriolet is not only a rare bird for its “Nugget Yellow” paint job but for having a mere 25,000 miles on the clock. The seller has listed it here on craigslist with a heady asking price of $20,000.
The asking price may be optimistic, but finding one of these iconic 90s convertibles with low miles and rare colors is near impossible. Unlike other models, like eight-cylinder Mustangs and Saab 900 droptops, the Cabriolet wasn’t exactly cherished by its owners, especially since most ended up being owned by teenage drivers when it was just a used car. Red, white, forest green – these were the colors you could find a Cabriolet in. Nugget Yellow was a severe outlier.
Not among other models, of course. Corrado G60s were a common sight in this shade of paint, but the Cabriolet was apparently rarely ordered in this eye-popping color. The interior is in stunning condition, fitting for the mileage but still an incredible sight in a convertible where the seats are usually in tatters. The yellow-over-white is an extremely sharp combo, and carries over to the shifter boot and auxiliary gauge pod below the HVAC controls.
If there’s any doubt about the lack of use, the odometer should put it to rest. I get that most readers will find the asking price extremely ambitious, but consider how few are coming up for grabs in condition like this, and with the preferred manual transmission and a super rare color. If you’ve been hunting for one, this Cabriolet is likely one of the best to come up for grabs in years. As the saying goes, find a better one.
I’d say given how the market is responding to VW MK1 anything the price will probably be met. Probably one of the most enjoyable cars to drive with the top down. Still light and nimble rowing through the gears. 1.8 is torquey and VW finally got the Digifant fuel injection figured out by then. My sister had a 87 that I bought from my friend. I would say yellow on a Corrado is one thing but yellow on a Cabriolet is too lady like for my tastes.
“The asking price may seem optimistic” Golly gee willikers ya think so?
Well, a low mileage (less than 500) one, that will probably never be driven, sold for $70000 + 5% fees last week on BAT. So, is $20K for a really well preserved, still low mileage, drivable and enjoyable example crazy?
Yes
No. Not crazy. What people fail to realize is that the value of the car is only mildly increasing. However, the value of the dollar is dramatically decreasing. Same with stock market. We are experiencing currency dilution prior to collapse.
I suspect it’s this one from mid ’17.
https://germancarsforsaleblog.com/1990-volkswagen-cabriolet-23000-miles/
Seller is looking to make a nice gain.
Looks like my link to the 2017 writeup on GCFSB for this car was removed.
NIce car for your wife, or girlfriend. IMO the girlfriend would probably enjoy it more, but that’s your call.
I had an ’84 “Rabbit Convertible. I put on GTI rims, steering wheel and badges. It was white with black exterior moulding so it looked a lot like a GTI. I drove it for 140,000 miles and only got rid of it when the head gasket blew. As alphasud said: great handling, torquey (I was often one of the faster traveling cars on the LA freeways in the 80’s!). Take the top down, roll up the windows and turn the heater on for year round freedom! Great cars in their time!
Not as much ‘too much’, as ‘too soon’…
That concept is hard for a lot of people to grasp.
Steve R
I’ve got a 93′ Mk1 Cabriolet, I bought it for $1,500 (recently) as a mint car and absolutely love it!
Someone would pay $20k++ for it on Bring a Trailer.
Uhmmmmmm too much $$$!
“Ya pays your money and takes your choice.”
Folks that have had these cars before and want to relive it again in a very low mileage example will find the price okay. From some of the rust buckets I see on here that people actually want to sell and those that do buy them, spins my head. So a solid car like this can be an okay investment in fun. Not every car has to be an “investment” decision or handled as one. Life is too short to worry if the car you love and finally acquire makes a ton of sense economically as long as you did not re-mortgage the house to get it.
Drop the top and if you are man enough to drive a yellow car, go enjoy the sun and fun before it’s too late.
I like purple and white Nash metropolitan. So a Yellow VW cabriolet is no issue. Comfortable in my manhood such as it is. Have a triple white 89 VW Cabriolet my son and I are fixing up while he drives it every where. Darn good little car , Fun car to drive.