2017 VW Golf Alltrack S 6MT (NE FL) $15k(?_) Mine

I've been thinking about selling my 2017 Alltrack S 6MT. I'm not quite ready to post a full-on for-sale post on the typical online listings/sites, but if anyone in the hive is interested in  a manual wagon, send me a PM and we can talk. I own 4 cars (Minivan, lifted Jeep TJ, and E30 BMW) and am looking to downsize the family fleet. I was hoping the Alltrack would be the go-to family roadtrip car, it's fun to drive, quiet (too quiet), and economical.  Unfortunately, SWMBO and The Kid vote for the minivan every time.    

Manual Alltracks are pretty tough to find right now, I couldn't find any for sale locally (new or used) and only a handful within 500 miles. I've done some research and I think $15k would be a pretty good deal if you're shopping for a 3-pedal car. I'm open to feedback on the price (+/-), but frankly, I doubt I'd sell it for less at this point.  KBB private party is $12k.  I hate to say unicorn tax...but even nationwide I don't see a single 6MT Alltrack for <$15k anywhere.  

I bought it new and it's been serviced at the dealership for all of it's 65,000 miles. I also purchased an extended comprehensive warranty through 6 years/72k miles. I live an hour south of my office in Jacksonville, so these miles are mostly on cruise control on I-95 and road trips.

Zero mechanical issues and it's been 100% OEM since new. Practically new Bridgestone tires. The fact it's a slicktop S model is also a benefit (google "pano leak" and you'll understand why).

For those of you who aren't familiar, Golf Alltracks are essentially AWD lifted sportwagens w/foglights, Apple Carplay/Android Auto and vinyl interior (leather was an option). Some of the suspension parts are more heavy duty than the standard Golf. I average 30mpg, calculated myself (computer is ~2mpg optimistic). I regularly get 400 miles/tank. They're also pretty easy to customize. GTI & R springs & struts are interchangeable (w/TT spring pads in the rear). IS20 and IS38 turbos are also an easy upgrade if you want to go faster. Or, you can use a lift kit from the Bearded Detailer go explore dirt roads.

Being a slicktop makes it so much more appealing. My father's Alltrack (17? 18?) has the giant sunroof, and spent many, many days at the dealer sorting out all of the electrical weirdness that happened when it flooded the inside of the car. The culprit turned out to be clogged drains (at the firewall, I think, though that seems an odd place to drain the sunroof). In any case, GLWS.

02Pilot said:

Being a slicktop makes it so much more appealing. My father's Alltrack (17? 18?) has the giant sunroof, and spent many, many days at the dealer sorting out all of the electrical weirdness that happened when it flooded the inside of the car. The culprit turned out to be clogged drains (at the firewall, I think, though that seems an odd place to drain the sunroof). In any case, GLWS.

Yea, the panoramic sunroofs look nice, but they're prone to leaks.  The drains clog, which can be partially resolved by removing the spider traps (now a TSB or recall, I believe).  They also have issues with welds cracking in the sunroof trays/roof lines.  The VWvortex and Alltrack FB pages are full of "pano leak" threads.  If you bought new, VW has bought lots of cars back.  If you buy used, you're kind of screwed.  Most people start their purchase evaluation by carefully inspecting the headliner for signs of water stains...even on new cars.  It's tough to say how widespread it really is, but the people w/issues are pretty vocal.  

I dig these alltracs. I was in the market for this exact car in 2018 as a modern replacement for my old wrx wagon, but the dealer let me take out an R and I was hooked. I still lust after these from time to time when I see a lonely dirt road. Price seems fair, I'm surprised KBB is that low.

In reply to 02Pilot :

Annoyingly, the Mk IV sunroofs have a similar clogging issue. You would think VW would have figured out sunroof drains after roughly two decades... 

My ex- has a similar 6MT VW wagon - an Alltrack as well, as I think that was the only way she could get a manual transmission in a wagon, although she would have preferred the standard wagon.

If I weren't also looking to reduce my fleet of cars, I'd be tempted - but at the same time, my current DD is a '17 minivan which is hard to beat when it comes to appliance utility.

I've been debating between these and newer tiguans. If it had the lighting package, I'd be all over it. GLWS

Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to 02Pilot :

Annoyingly, the Mk IV sunroofs have a similar clogging issue. You would think VW would have figured out sunroof drains after roughly two decades... 

My ex- has a similar 6MT VW wagon - an Alltrack as well, as I think that was the only way she could get a manual transmission in a wagon, although she would have preferred the standard wagon.

If I weren't also looking to reduce my fleet of cars, I'd be tempted - but at the same time, my current DD is a '17 minivan which is hard to beat when it comes to appliance utility.

I do remember hearing about leaky sunroofs when I had my MKIV GTI.  Clogged drains were usually the culprit, but crazy to think about how many of their cars have panororamic sunroofs that may have this issue. Pretty much anything SE and above.   

I initially was looking for a regular S sportwagen but the dealer and I couldn't agree on the price when I first looked.  A few months later I realized I could get an Alltrack for basically the same $$. The Alltrack had  heated vinyl seats (upgrade from cloth), fog lamps, and a bigger fuel tank (that's been debated on VwVortex).   I figured SWMBWO would be more comfortable w/the extra ride height.  I figured it'd be easy enough to lower it to "sportwagen" height if I wanted it to be more sporty.  The car does corner pretty flat as-is.

VW is discontinuing the US Alltrack after MY20, so there'll be even less options if you want a manual wagon.  

In reply to Hoondavan :

It's definitely a cool car.  I just don't have a need right now and for better or worse, my "manual or death!" stance has softened a lot in recent years.  I still want a manual for my fun cars, but I'm less harsh about it for my DD appliance. The eventual replacement for the current minivan will likely be a EV minivan whenever a manufacturer makes one that can work for me.

In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :

I hear you.  I bought it before I bought my E30 so I was hoping it'd do double-duty.  Now that I have a dedicated fun car I prefer to drive the E30...but the minivan is just fine.  A agree, not all cars are "better" with a manual transmission.

Hoondavan said:

02Pilot said:

Being a slicktop makes it so much more appealing. My father's Alltrack (17? 18?) has the giant sunroof, and spent many, many days at the dealer sorting out all of the electrical weirdness that happened when it flooded the inside of the car. The culprit turned out to be clogged drains (at the firewall, I think, though that seems an odd place to drain the sunroof). In any case, GLWS.

Yea, the panoramic sunroofs look nice, but they're prone to leaks.  The drains clog, which can be partially resolved by removing the spider traps (now a TSB or recall, I believe).  They also have issues with welds cracking in the sunroof trays/roof lines.  The VWvortex and Alltrack FB pages are full of "pano leak" threads.  If you bought new, VW has bought lots of cars back.  If you buy used, you're kind of screwed.  Most people start their purchase evaluation by carefully inspecting the headliner for signs of water stains...even on new cars.  It's tough to say how widespread it really is, but the people w/issues are pretty vocal.  

My father bought new and has a pretty good long-term relationship with the local dealer, so if there are further issues he should be covered. No recall that I'm aware of him receiving yet, but if it was a TSB maybe they did it while it was in for the water damage (they did a huge amount of work on it). I'm going to take a look at the sunroof tray area just in case. He's not had a lot of luck with his recent VW wagons - the first one was a TDI and was bought back, the second was crushed by a tree in the driveway during a snowstorm, and this one had the sunroof leak fairly catastrophically. He keeps going back to them, though, and I can't say I blame it - they are pretty darn good overall.

Would you mind getting some more photos of the car? Exterior and interior please. 

FatMongo said:

Would you mind getting some more photos of the car? Exterior and interior please. 

sure thing, i'll lost some up later today

FatMongo said:

Would you mind getting some more photos of the car? Exterior and interior please. 

Sorry for the slow response on this...I keep planning wash it and take pictures but my work schedule and the rain isn't cooperating.  I'll take some pictures this afternoon either way.  It may be dirty...but it pretty much looks new when it's clean.

I sold my  Alltrack to Carvana today.  I'm sad, but also feeling pretty good about the fact that I owned the car for 4 years, drove it 70k miles and only lost <$4k in value.  I bought it new and paid somewhere around $21-$22k before tax & registration.  It was great when I was commuting 2 hrs. a day, but now that I'm mostly working from home it's a luxury, not a necessity.  Having the equity cash and getting rid of the payment was the responsible thing to do.

Carvana offerd me $17k ~2 weeks ago and on Monday they upped the offer to over $18k.  The market for used cars is wild right now. I had decided $18k was the tipping point a few months ago.

In the last 6 months I've sold my E30 and now my Alltrack.  I still have the family truckster (08 Odyssey) and the rusty TJ jeep.  I will likely buy a low-buck runabout once SWMBO starts driving again (vertigo/ear issues).  I see this as a "win" because I really want to start rallycrossing, and the Alltrack is just too nice and potentially expensive when things break.  I'm hoping to talk SWMBO into a bugeye WRX, but a Forester XT or Forester would also be OK (head gaskets be damned).  

Low mile newer Alltrack SE's are going for low $30ks locally.