Breathtaking XJS - Breathtaking Profit Margin!

[bbob]

I spotted this earlier which I thought looked very nice:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2485950.htm

Then I did a bit of digging around and came across this:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C197916/

If that's the same car, and it looks like it is from certain key facts in the ebay ad, then that is one hell of a profit margin. Breathtaking indeed!

Edited by bbob on Wednesday 9th February 21:04

[AcidReflux]

Second one could be a scam.

[Alan Kee]

Sounds fair enough to me .. originally bought with no tax or MOT and presumably no road test, the price paid seems fair. The buying garage have recommissioned it, MOTd it and done some respraying on the door bottoms on both sides .. it's up to just over 8 grand now on ebay? Don't forget the garage have to pay tax on their profits, wages to staff and have had the paintwork done. I see absolutely nothing wrong with the seemingly high profit margin so far. Would you rather they sell it at a loss? That advert didn't take 5 minutes to write either!

[bbob]

I agree up to a point. I bet dealers spend many hours in a week driving up and down the country looking at mis-described tat. Mind you as a private buyer I've also driven far to far to look at the "immaculate" gem that looks great in the advert and come away empty handed.

[Gunk]

Just shows that there is good money in appreciating '89's and '90's classics. There are a number of dealers doing this sort of thing at the moment. Old Colonel cars do the same with BMW's. Don't however underestimate how much it costs to get a tired 20 year old neglected car back in to tip top condition.

[Gruber]

I don't think I understand the OP's issue. Assuming it's the same car, and assuming the carandclassic ad is genuine, then it seems that a business has taken a risk, spent some cash, worked hard to present the car well and now is letting the market determine the value of the car through an auction... And so makes a profit. Looks perfectly fair to me.

[shouldbworking]

That looks stunning. If its the same car they must have done one hell of a number on it to get it looking that good, and fixed all the normal things that go wrong. For example, the 'ski slope' veneer on the dash is uncracked, the boot panel around the number plate and lights looks perfect, the exhaust looks brand new on both sides, the tyres look to have decent tread all round, no sign of any rot on the sills or aft of the rear wheelarches.

If its the same car then the original seller must have severely undervalued it, or the garage spent a hell of a lot of time and effort on it.

[tog]

shouldbworking said:

If its the same car then the original seller must have severely undervalued it, or the garage spent a hell of a lot of time and effort on it.

Or both!

[lowdrag]

I dunno, a friend just bought an original 1989 11,000 miler and paid the same in ££££s as the mileage. I guess if you love 'em you'll pay for it.

[a8hex]

I nearly paid a lot more than that for an original 96 XJS, but then it was in 96

[Pat H]

I've spotted lots of interesting cars for sale on eBay by this vendor over the last few months.

Always very well presented, well photographed and usually with microscopic miles.

If he really did pay £1700 for it, then good luck to him.

He has achieved some amazing prices for stuff in the past. Almost £8000 for a LHD Lightweight Land Rover springs to mind.

Assuming it is the same Jag, then it is nice to see it back on the road and not mouldering away in a garage.

[johnxjsc1985]

Its worth reading some of his feedback on ebay the man is line for a sainthood.

[mattman]

Can vouch for the quality of the cars this guy sells - they are out there, but they take alot of time and effort to find. Sometimes you strike lucky and someone will trade an equally good car for something you have so its a win win situation, other times you take a risk and it pays off - like the time i hit a buy it now on a 73 Series 2 XJ12 for £250 with a smoking engine... an hour in the workshop traced to a sticky injector, fixed for 50 quid and sold for £4500. great story but rare, if it was that easy we'd all be doing it!