CRW

One extreme to the other here this week. Sold a 64 plate Ibiza on the first day it was here, followed by a 64 plate Focus that had been here...……..2 years! Nothing wrong with the car, 28k miles, FSH, 1.6 Zetec, just stuck. Amazingly I should still come away with a profit on the deal.

My approach with cheapies that are still reasonably ok, is advertise them clearly stating part ex to clear, no warranty given. They read that first. Then when they come to look you tell them there are almost certainly a few issues with the car, but having driven it and given it a look over its still got some life left. Tell them if you were to go through it with a fine toothcomb you will almost certainly find issues that outweigh the value of the car. Keep their expectations low and realistic. Also do a basic pdi report on them first, like a mini visual MOT and if you are not sure, note down things such as "brake pads may need changing" etc to cover yourself. Ideally MOT them but if a £495 car comes in with 8 months MOT you probably aren't going to bother. I always state that the car has not been mechanically checked in the workshop and clearly write on the PDi that you advise them to have the car inspected before use. Also put it down as spares or repairs and get them to sign 2 copies, one for you and one for them. Beyond this, there isn't a lot more you can do. Of course its all a bit of a risk, but as Rory says, not everyone is out to screw you.

To be fair, I think it already is £3k for a starter car. I regularly get asked for cheaper stuff, but just tell them I cant make a living if I prep to my standards. Im sure some people do manage to do it, but £4k is my cheapest for a forecourt car.

Its a bubble that could well burst. Those with heavy stocking loans must feel like hamsters on a wheel, sod that.

That's always been my approach. Its a relief when the VAT comes out a bit lower than normal, although its also a reality check that the last quarter wasn't great. Also, AKA aren't VAT registered, but are LTD, have a website up and running and stock cars up to £10k. Not required to be VAT registered?? After 2 years? I was VAT registered within 12 months starting with a pot of £7k.

Doing quite well from Car Gurus to be fair, especially as im a freebie user. However, currently have a Sandero listed on there with a "fair price" marker, £218 below. Right above is a "good price" marker on somebody else's Sandero, £157 below. Maybe they are paying for the privilege?

Yeah, still has the tab at the top for AT Private.

Was going to suggest it could perhaps make more of an issue of it by changing it. A recorded colour change would set alarm bells ringing for some people. I've had a few over the years where I wouldn't agree with the colour on the v5, but just dismissed it to the customer as "typical dvla". Nobody ever seems that bothered.

I joined it for a laugh but just found the whole experience horrifically depressing, so I left again 10 minutes later!

Nice.

So you sold WBAC your car then condemn them for moving it on to somebody else? Not sure why you are taking the moral high ground here. Did you disclose all its faults to WBAC or did you just take the money?

I wouldn't if I had a choice, but my nearest "decent" auction hall is 150+ miles away, so it leaves you with little choice! Have had too many wasted 300 mile round trips coming home empty handed from the auction.

Nor do they chase up any provisional bids. Was highest bidder a few weeks back, reserve not met. After 3 days I phoned the dealer myself and did the deal on the phone. Saved me the commission.

Where was she hiding the money, in her eyebrows? Sorry, harsh I know.

Some of the private sales are even better, figures just plucked out of thin air.

Its definitely a narrow market, the buyer is going to be 60 plus, originally from the home counties and with a wife that doesn't get out of the car until summoned! (what's not to like!) I used to think "no-way" when I saw the prices of Auto CR-V's, but stuck my neck out and bought one and it sold. Have one here now that's a bit sticky, but it will go. Of course with a narrow market, you have narrow demand, but narrow supply. They wont have many to go look at, so its buy yours or wait another month for one to come along. I personally don't do very well with "bread and butter" cars. There will always be a private seller within 10 miles under cutting your £3000 Fiesta by a grand. When you aim at the lower end of the market, buyers are particularly price sensitive and will drop their drawers to save £50, apparently...……...

Compared to other CR-V Auto's, I don't think that's particularly silly. They are bonkers to buy, but people will pay the money. Have one here myself, similar money. Yes, the Hyundai's will look cheaper but they don't attract the same buyer.

In January, could be a struggle. Guess anythings ok at half Cap though, if its something like tidy. Sit on it for a month or so if needs be.

Watched a 2004 Beetle 1.6 Cabrio make 270% of Cap Clean on Saturday. Good effort - and they say the profit is in the buying!! To be fair it was low mileage, but that was already accounted in Cap price. Needed a bit of prep as well.

Stick your finger in the air and guess seems to be the tactic in January!

Used to sell loads of the older ones, but suddenly became hard work. They used to be a cheap car to buy new and therefore cheap at 3/4 years old, not so much the case anymore. Seem very colour sensitive, white ones stick like you know what.

Its something Ive often thought about when collecting cars myself. In the vast majority of cases, I pay when I collect. However, I've always dreaded some 8 hour one way train journey to be told, "sorry, that car was collected this morning?" Nothing to stop somebody not bidding on a DA or FA car, watching it finish, then going to collect themselves, impersonating the bidder or just winging it. Yes, they might have to pay for it, but they haven't pushed the price up unnecessarily!

Only at gunpoint when they tried to move on to my old mans farm!

They wish! More likely their staff have all mutinied from all the grief we have given them. Always go by "newly listed" and have been looking at the same red Fiesta all day....

Anyone else finding DA seems to have frozen? Nothing seems to have been listed since this morning. Unless i'm doing something wrong!