The joys of buying a used car.....
Discussion
Trying to acquire a replacement car for Mrs RJ after hers died spectacularly....
I'm having problems trying to find something that fit the bill for her needs and budget but was really struggling to find something within 100km of us, even 200km everything is on the outer edge of the search are..
Yesterday I went with a mate to help him collect a new car and got chatting to one of the sales guys.
Apparently, since the storms we had in June with the orange sized hailstones, decent condition used cars under 10k€ in our area have become a bit of a unicorn thing and supply is lacking, their forecourt was more gaps than cars if you get my meaning.
Add to that the lack of interest apparent from some private sellers and it's getting to be a pain....
Going to have a look at one this afternoon but it seems to take everyone 2 days to respond to a call / sms / email - WHY????
I swapped my bike a few months ago and the response from sellers for bikes was pretty much within an hour every time so why are cars sellers so different?
OK, rant over!
I'm having problems trying to find something that fit the bill for her needs and budget but was really struggling to find something within 100km of us, even 200km everything is on the outer edge of the search are..
Yesterday I went with a mate to help him collect a new car and got chatting to one of the sales guys.
Apparently, since the storms we had in June with the orange sized hailstones, decent condition used cars under 10k€ in our area have become a bit of a unicorn thing and supply is lacking, their forecourt was more gaps than cars if you get my meaning.
Add to that the lack of interest apparent from some private sellers and it's getting to be a pain....
Going to have a look at one this afternoon but it seems to take everyone 2 days to respond to a call / sms / email - WHY????
I swapped my bike a few months ago and the response from sellers for bikes was pretty much within an hour every time so why are cars sellers so different?
OK, rant over!
Just been through the same selling my Alfa and my Carbon bike as we are selling up in France.
I sold my bike in just 4hrs on LbC, 3 guys were chasing it and one came with cash.
I had been offered €15,000 for the low km, top-spec Alfa Giulietta by the franchise in Angers that had sold it when new and also €16,200 for MaVoitureCash - online their tempting offer was €17,060 - very precise.
I put it LbC late Friday night for €16,900 and then the fun starts. A guy from Bordeaux wants to offer €15,000 unseen, and then another, and then a third which starts a dutch auction., €100 per email.
On Tuesday someone from Nantes wants to see it on Wednesday evening, which she does and pays my asking price. The first 3-guys are livid because I did not go back to them to give them first option.
It amuses me greatly how French guys seem incapable of negotiating face-to-face, but great at nit-picking from a few online photos.
I sold my bike in just 4hrs on LbC, 3 guys were chasing it and one came with cash.
I had been offered €15,000 for the low km, top-spec Alfa Giulietta by the franchise in Angers that had sold it when new and also €16,200 for MaVoitureCash - online their tempting offer was €17,060 - very precise.
I put it LbC late Friday night for €16,900 and then the fun starts. A guy from Bordeaux wants to offer €15,000 unseen, and then another, and then a third which starts a dutch auction., €100 per email.
On Tuesday someone from Nantes wants to see it on Wednesday evening, which she does and pays my asking price. The first 3-guys are livid because I did not go back to them to give them first option.
It amuses me greatly how French guys seem incapable of negotiating face-to-face, but great at nit-picking from a few online photos.
Just got back from looking at one supposedly being sold by the original owner from new.
Every panel scratched and or dented, and he's a back street trader who bought it 3 months ago, then took it to Morocco on holiday and now wants to sell it as his own one owner from new car with no guarantee but at dealer prices.....
Back to the internet!
Every panel scratched and or dented, and he's a back street trader who bought it 3 months ago, then took it to Morocco on holiday and now wants to sell it as his own one owner from new car with no guarantee but at dealer prices.....
Back to the internet!
So we finally got there. After looking at another 3 we are now the happy owners of a BMW X3 3.0D which Mrs RJ is very happy with ( It's quick off the mark says she 
) Exterior isn't brilliant, but better than most, interior is very clean which is amazing, not a crisp or fag burn anywhere!
) Exterior isn't brilliant, but better than most, interior is very clean which is amazing, not a crisp or fag burn anywhere! Not sure if your X3 will have them but just check under the inlet manifold to see if you have the servo operated swirl flaps. If so then I suggest you get them removed as they have a reputation for breaking off and being ingested with expensive results. it's an easy job and doesn't affect the way the car drives or the emissions for MOT. They My E39 530d had them and I removed them more than 60k miles ago and it has made no difference at all. If you want more info on this feel free to pm me.
Mike-tf3n0 said:
Not sure if your X3 will have them but just check under the inlet manifold to see if you have the servo operated swirl flaps. If so then I suggest you get them removed as they have a reputation for breaking off and being ingested with expensive results. it's an easy job and doesn't affect the way the car drives or the emissions for MOT. They My E39 530d had them and I removed them more than 60k miles ago and it has made no difference at all. If you want more info on this feel free to pm me.
Thanks for that Mike, yes it has them at the mo, I have a kit en route to remove them and it's getting a going over including full oil change for the engine gearbox and transfer case so we are starting from a known time and mileage position. Gassing Station | France | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff