Used Car of the Day: 1996 Volkswagen Derby
![Tim Healey](https://cdn-fastly.thetruthaboutcars.com/media/profile/2023/12/15/1375158_1.jpg?size=91x91)
Today we bring you a car that wasn't, to my knowledge, sold new in the United States. It's a Mexican-spec Volkswagen Derby. Which was basically a rebadged SEAT Cordoba.
Basically, the car was built in Mexico using parts from Spain.
This particular example has about 82,000 miles on it and a five-speed manual. It apparently has just 90 horsepower from the 1.8-liter engine (some Googling shows that there are different versions of that engine, and indeed one version does make 90 hp).
There are no airbags, due to the different European safety standards of the time.
A tuneup has been done recently, the battery is new, and so are the tires. The clutch is new, too.
This car is based in Mexico, and it appears that the seller may be a dealer. So keep that in mind. Nothing against dealers, of course, but the buying experience, especially with a car based over the border, may be different than with a private seller. Importing vehicles can be tricky, too, but this car is more than 25 years old. That should make things easier.
If you want to check it out, the price is $5,200 and you can see more by clicking here.
[Images: Seller]
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![Tim Healey](https://cdn-fastly.thetruthaboutcars.com/media/profile/2023/12/15/1375158_1.jpg?size=91x91)
Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.
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- 28-Cars-Later Suggestion for future QOTD: Given the fact US road infrastructure is crumbling around us why must all new cars have 20+ inch wheels with tires an inch or two thick in sidewall which literally become bent over time bc of potholes? I know initially in the 90s wheels got bigger to accommodate larger disc brakes but its gone a little too far given the road infrastructure don't ya think?
- Jeff Keep your vehicle well maintained and it will run a long long time.
- AZFelix "Oh no! Anyway... " Jeremy Clarkson
- SCE to AUX I can't warm up to the new look. Still prefer my 22 SF.
- SCE to AUX I guess the direct sales stores weren't polled. Unless dealers are going out of business, I don't feel one bit sorry for them. They should most fear the mfrs who are eager to get rid of them, reducing costs and increasing customer satisfaction.
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Apparently this car, which doesn't comply to U.S. regs, is in Nogales, Mexico. What could possibly go wrong with this transaction?
The re-paint looks like it was done with a four-inch paintbrush. As far as VWs go, it's a rebadged Seat... which is still kind of a VW, made in Mexico from a Complete Knock-Down kit. 28 years in Mexico being driven like a flogged mule while wearing that ridiculous rear spoiler is a tough life, but it has actually survived... It's unique (to us), weird, funky (very funky), and certainly not worth over five grand plus the headaches of trying to get it across the border and registered at the local DMV.