This 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle (9CAXJ) was sold at Japanese auction at USS Tohoku on 14 October 2026, lot 10008. Auction grade 4, interior grade B, 48,000 km (about 29,800 miles), manual, 6-speed, silver. It can be imported to the USA and Australia from November 2026, when it turns 25.
Auction grade
4
Mileage
48,000 km
Year
2001
Gearbox
Manual, 6-speed
About this car
This 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle RSI is a silver car with a 6-speed manual gearbox, 48,000 km (approximately 29,826 miles) and auction grade 4. It has a 3,200 cc engine and the model code 9CAXJ. It is due to be sold at USS Tohoku in Japan on 14 October 2026.
The Volkswagen New Beetle RSI is the rare performance version of the retro styled New Beetle. It is known for pairing the car's soft, rounded shape with a 3.2 litre engine and a six speed manual, which is not what most buyers expect from a Beetle. It suits enthusiasts who want an unusual and distinctive Volkswagen rather than a common hatchback.
Grade 4 at auction means a good car for its age, with some marks you would expect. The interior grade is B. This car is not eligible for import to the USA. The translated auction sheet on this page gives the detail on its condition.
Autoselecta can buy it for you at auction and arrange shipping.
The inspector’s own report on this car, as issued by the auction house. Our full English translation is in the Autoselecta auction report below.
4
Good
Average wear for age and mileage. Minor scratches and dents, mechanically sound.
S / 6
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2
R / RA
Best to worst. This car is grade 4.
Interior grade B
What the letters on a sheet diagram mean
A
Scratch
U
Dent
W
Wave or repair: W1 is light, W3 is heavy
S
Rust
C
Corrosion
P
Paint mark or blemish
X
Panel needs replacing
XX
Panel has been replaced
B
Dent with a scratch
G
Stone chip in the glass
Autoselecta auction report
Overview of the Volkswagen New Beetle RSi
The Volkswagen New Beetle RSi is one of the strangest and most appealing homologation style specials ever to leave Wolfsburg. This 2001 example, chassis code 9CAXJ, is silver with the original colour confirmed on the sheet (colour code LG9R). It carries a 3.2 litre petrol engine, four wheel drive, a six speed manual gearbox and left hand drive. The sheet records it as a dealer import and as serial number 178 of 250 cars built worldwide, 45 of which came to Japan.
It has covered 47,705 km on the sheet, approximately 29,643 miles. USS Tohoku graded it 4 overall with interior grade B. It sells at the USS Tohoku auction on 14 October 2026, lot 10008. The wide arches, huge rear wing, orange leather and carbon trim make it unmistakable, but the sheet also lists real points to weigh up before bidding, and we cover each one below.
The Drive Review
The RSi takes the humble New Beetle shape and puts a narrow angle 3.2 litre V6 under the bonnet, the engine family Volkswagen also used in the Golf R32 and Audi TT 3.2. Power is around 225 PS, sent to all four wheels through a six speed manual. That is a very different recipe from the front drive 2.0 and turbo cars most people know. The VR6 has a hard, slightly industrial snarl rather than a smooth V8 rumble, and it pulls with real urgency in the mid range.
The four wheel drive layout gives strong traction off the line and confident exit speed on wet or loose surfaces. The bodywork is tall and short, so it feels more eager and more upright than a typical hot hatch. The manual shift is a short, mechanical affair, and the cabin has the cocooned feel of a car built in a small run for people who wanted something odd and fast. Keep in mind that it is a heavy, nose heavy layout for its size, so it is more about grip and punch than delicate balance. Against a modern car it has little electronic help, and that analogue feel is a large part of the appeal.
Auction Details
The car is lot 10008 at USS Tohoku, Japan, and the auction date is 14 October 2026. The auction start price is ¥4,980,000. No similar cars have sold recently in Japanese auction results, so there is no close price evidence to lean on. That is common for a car built in such small numbers. Any bidding range we discuss is an estimate and never a guaranteed purchase price. For the current minimum bid and the full landed cost calculation, please use the price panel on this page, as it updates live.
Closest match first, by version, age, mileage and auction grade. Hammer prices at Japanese auctions, before fees, shipping and taxes. These are auction results, not cars sold by us.
All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction. For this lot, that means before 9pm UK time on Tuesday 13 October.
Manufacturer: Volkswagen. Model: New Beetle RSi, coupe body with four seats. First registration: November 2001 (Heisei 13). Chassis code: 9CAXJ. Frame number: WVWZZZ9CZ1M750164. Engine: 3,200 cc petrol. Transmission: six speed floor manual. Drive: 4WD. Steering: left hand drive. Exterior: silver, original colour, code LG9R. Interior: orange leather. Odometer: 47,705 km, approximately 29,643 miles. Length 410 cm, width 189 cm, height 146 cm. Registration plate: Iwaki 333 Ru 2001. Import type: dealer import. Shaken (Japanese roadworthiness inspection) is valid until 16 December 2026. The recycling deposit is ¥16,300. The auction grade is 4, the interior grade is B and the exterior grade is shown as 4 in the feed.
Factory Features and Equipment
The sheet marks genuine alloy wheels, power steering, leather and airbag, and shows air conditioning. The sales points add the model specific parts that make the RSi what it is. These are Recaro seats trimmed in orange leather, a Remus dual exhaust silencer and OZ 18 inch magnesium wheels. The photographs show the carbon fibre look dashboard and door trim, three auxiliary gauges on the centre console, a metal gearknob and Momo floor mats. The wide arches, deep front bumper and large rear wing are also visible. Navigation and ETC are not confirmed on the sheet or in the photographs.
Japanese Auction Report Translation
The sheet is titled Fresh Corner. The sales points read: limited to 250 cars worldwide and 45 in Japan, serial number 178 of 250, model specific Recaro seats in orange leather, model specific Remus dual exhaust silencer and model specific OZ 18 inch magnesium wheels.
The points to note are that the RSi specific red book (owner's manual) will be sent separately after the sale, and that the wheels have been painted.
The inspector's report reads: seats scuffed, headlining sagging in places, steering wheel cover fitted (written with a question mark, so the inspector was not certain), coolant leak, glovebox faulty, wheel scratches, and scratches and dents in various places.
The service book (新車整備手帳) box is blank, so a service history is not confirmed. The key and locked item is circled, but a spare key is not confirmed. The spare tyre circle on the diagram has nothing marked in it, so a spare wheel is not confirmed.
Damage Diagram and Body Condition
The diagram shows ten markings. On the front bumper, A1 is a small scratch. On the left front wing, a paint cracking note means the paint has cracked. The bonnet carries two marks. XX shows it is a replaced panel, and a separate A mark records a scratch on it. The windscreen is marked with a crack.
On the left front door, W2 shows a repair mark or panel wave of medium degree. On the left side a scuff scratch is written at the sill, though the inspector was not certain whether this is the sill or the lower door. On the right side sill, U2 is a medium dent, again with the exact panel not certain. On the right rear quarter panel, W2 is another medium repair or wave. At the lower centre rear, a further W2 is marked at the boot lid or tailgate area. It is not clear whether that is the boot lid or the rear bumper.
Taken together, this is a usable enthusiast car rather than a collector grade survivor. The repairs are spread over several panels and need a close look in person or in extra photographs. The photographs show a clean silver finish at auction, but they are small and cannot show every repair. A cracked windscreen and a coolant leak also mean there is likely work to do after purchase.
Interior Condition
The interior is grade B. The front seats are model specific Recaro seats in orange leather, and the photographs show the leather looking bright and in good order, though the inspector records seat scuffing. The rear bench is the same orange leather, and in the photograph it looks clean with no obvious damage. The dashboard and door panels are in a carbon fibre look finish, with the instruments and three gauges on the centre console. The inspector notes sagging headlining in places and a faulty glovebox. The steering wheel appears to be leather with red stitching, and the inspector queried whether a wheel cover is fitted. Mileage on the dash display is not legible in the photographs.
Japanese Auction Grades
Japanese auctions grade condition from 1 to 5, with R for repaired cars. Grade 4 is a good car, usually with modest wear or a few minor repairs and marks. The interior grade runs from A to D, and B means above average with some wear. Both grades must be read together with the inspector comments on this car.
Volkswagen revived the Beetle in 1998 with the front engined New Beetle on the Golf platform. The RSi was built in 2001 as a limited run of 250 cars, and it is the wildest version by far. Its 3.2 litre VR6, four wheel drive and six speed manual are a world away from the standard 2.0 model. Visually it is set apart by its wide body kit, large wing and special wheels. Production was small, and only 45 cars reached Japan according to the sheet.
Why This Model Has Become Collectible
The RSi has become collectible for a combination of reasons. It is genuinely rare at 250 cars, it has an eye catching and totally non standard design, and its mechanicals are a proper performance package. Few cars so ordinary on the outside have been given such an extreme treatment. Enthusiasts like the manual gearbox, the character of the VR6 and the fact that the Beetle shape is so recognisable. Good examples are hard to find, and cars from Japan with moderate mileage are rarer still. As this car is number 178 of 250, its serial number is clear from the sheet. Future values cannot be guaranteed, and this should never be viewed as an investment.
What To Look For When Buying This Model
The VR6 is generally strong, but it needs proper servicing. Look for evidence of timing chain wear and chain tensioner problems, and check the ignition coils and the condition of the cooling system. This car has a recorded coolant leak, so ask for a pressure test and look at hoses, the water pump and connections. Four wheel drive cars of this type use a Haldex style rear coupling, whose fluid and filter need regular changes. Check the six speed gearbox for notchy shifts and the clutch for wear. Limited run body parts such as the arches, wing and special bumpers are hard to source, so ask about the repaired panels the sheet marks and check panel gaps and paint depth. Because the sheet shows the bonnet replaced, ask what led to that. The model specific Recaro seats, Remus exhaust and OZ wheels are valuable parts, so confirm they are all as described. The glovebox fault and the cracked windscreen are also on the sheet. Finally, check the shaken validity of 16 December 2026 against your own country's import process.
Why Import This Car From Japan
Japan is where many of the cleanest and best documented enthusiast cars are found. Cars are inspected and graded openly, and mileage is usually reliable. For a rare dealer import such as this RSi, an auction sheet gives a level of transparency that is hard to match elsewhere.
Ultimate Guide For Japanese Imports
Before bidding, check your own country's import rules, age requirements, emissions and registration process. Autoselecta can supply the auction sheet, translation and shipping details, so you know what to expect before you commit. Left hand drive may also suit many overseas buyers.
Autoselecta gives you direct access to Japanese auctions, with translated and checked auction sheets, bidding assistance, vehicle sourcing and export handling. We arrange shipping, support the import process in your country, offer vehicle tracking where available and keep in touch with you throughout.
Browse This Week's Japanese Auctions
This New Beetle RSi is one of many cars we list each week. Browse the current auctions to compare it with other rare performance cars and see what else is coming up.
Use our live auction search to look for other Volkswagen models, similar limited run cars or any specific model you want us to find at Japanese auctions.
Auction Caution
Auction cars are inspected before sale but they are still used vehicles. An auction sheet is an independent condition guide and not a mechanical warranty. This car's sheet records a coolant leak, a faulty glovebox, scuffed seats, sagging headlining, wheel scratches, painted wheels, a cracked windscreen, a replaced bonnet and repair marks on several panels. Service history and a spare key are not confirmed. Older performance cars like this one may need servicing, maintenance or refurbishment after purchase, so budget accordingly.
