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Author Topic: Selling car privately  (Read 676 times)

Offline Gladiator

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Selling car privately
« on: April 17, 2014, 01:15:07 pm »
Hi guys

So ive just advertised my car in the For Sale section and now on PistonHeads, I know it's early days but I have seen a lot of cars on here that aren't selling!  Is the used market very slow currently and any tips on selling privately?

I've always traded my cars in previously but I'm not prepared to let my cherished ED30 go for stupid trade in money!

I would keep the car but needs must and need a diesel really (new Seat Leon FR184) and although no major rush to sell I would like to get the new car ordered given the great offers currently being offered by Seat!

Any help would be appreciated and of course any buyers interested   :happy2:


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Offline Viking

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Re: Selling car privately
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2014, 02:46:49 pm »
At a guess (and without having looked at any adverts on either site you've mentioned) I would suspect people selling cars look upon their pride and joy as being better than any other car on the market, and make an inflated estimate of its worth based on how many times a month it gets polished. Generally, they see a car for sale at a dealers (let's say- £10000) and think their similar age and mileage car is worth just that. In effect, selling a car privately for the same as a dealers price is not gonna happen, as the buyer gets a car with absolutely no comeback at all from the seller. From a dealer you get the weight of the law, warranty, etc. which costs money. And of course the dealer sometimes likes to make money on the sale so he can buy food. Private sellers should be looking to sell 15 - 20% less than a dealers forecourt price.

Then there's the other type of seller who adds up all the cost of the mods he's added to the car since owning it, applies this figure to the price of the dealers car, and bases his asking price on the total. Unfortunately, it's not like that in the real world.

The sellers who list a car at a sensible price for a sale are the ones who sell quickly. Unfortunately, even then people say "Why's it so cheap?" and get all suspicious about it.

So, find out what trade in price you can get for it, and then anything above that is going to be a bonus.
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Offline akbarirfan

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Re: Selling car privately
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2014, 02:54:03 pm »
Just had a look at your advert - looks good to me, detailed enough, decent photographs.

Priced sensibly too, might be the mileage putting buyers off, but not something that would put me off personally (buy on condition and history, not mileage).

Not looking to buy myself so GLWS.

Offline Gladiator

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Re: Selling car privately
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2014, 04:17:25 pm »
Thanks guys.

Yes I think I've priced it fairly against what else is out there and the excellent condition taken the mileage into account.

Seat have just offers me an extra £500 so it getting more tempting considering Incan remove some of the retrofits and make up some of the gap I was hoping on a private sale!

Will see what interest the ad brings.


GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN - Edition30 No. 1059
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Offline Harz

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Re: Selling car privately
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2014, 05:03:03 pm »
Sold my previous car in January privately. I didn't have any interest for a couple of weeks then the first person who showed any interest bought it. It's annoying, but I'm sure they're be someone interested. It is a popular car so I'm sure you'll have no problem selling. GLWS
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Offline Viking

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Re: Selling car privately
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2014, 05:10:37 pm »
Have you thought about trying a different dealership? They don't all sing from the same hymn sheet, so you might get a better deal from somewhere else. Ultimately, the price it costs you to change is what's important, not the prices they throw about. If one offers you a better deal on the car they're selling but doesn't offer you as much part ex for yours, it might notbe as good as a crap deal for the new car with a higher part ex for yours.

Your car in part ex and the cash you need to pay is all that's important, specifically the cash you need to pay. Anything else is all just sales blather.
Sarcasm for free. Anything after that can only be considered as a bonus.

Just because you think you know something, doesn't make you an expert if you've just read it on the internet, y'know.

Offline samiep

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Re: Selling car privately
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2014, 07:58:41 pm »
i sold my gti last week no real interest from piston heads or ebay but sold in 2 days via auto trader if its priced right it will go

Offline jimbo19

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Re: Selling car privately
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2014, 06:00:12 am »
I'm looking to buy at the moment and have to be honest a lot of private sellers are asking similar money to dealers and traders
So I just completely skip over those. If priced correctly it will get interest

Offline Big Red T

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Re: Selling car privately
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2014, 01:09:13 pm »
Surprised nobody has added this . A lot of private sales can be mint cars that are cherished by owners. A lot of cars through the dealer networks are people who can't be bothered selling etc cars with dings dents scratches and so their only option is trade in. Dealer adds a £150 warranty for 3 months and you reckon your getting a better car ? Horses for courses , depends what you want in life. Not all dealers obviously but just like the threads on here slagging dealer servicing , they're not all they're cracked up to be. If you choose to ignore private sales and buy a shed from a dealer at an inflated price because he tells you it's good , very good I admire you. Truth is , at this value of money people would rather hand over their cash or as most do , finance the vehicle and come away with paperwork hence going to dealers. Private cars if they are genuinely good cars will always sell , it's just waiting on the guy willing to look and take a chance.