Does nobody sell cars privately now?

[Sheepshanks]

Maybe my timing was off but I spoke to someone selling a Tiguan for full forecourt retail (£23K - bonkers in itself) after a couple of weeks and he was adamant a trader was coming to see it for £500 less than he was asking.

The car seemed to be re-taxed straighaway so I'm dubious a trader bought it. Maybe someone else was better at convincing him to take a lower price than I was.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

If someone is pricing their car at a dealers ballpark price on a free site. Fair play they aren't losing anything but to advertise on autotrader and to see into their for months? That takes someone who is deluded.

[Mr_Megalomaniac]

Following up on this, I recently sold the car I had advertised on AT, to a very friendly and nice chap, very much an enthusiast of the model/make. Came along with his family, checked every single item, underneath, all the electrics, etc. Very polite and sensible about it all. Actually quite happy he was so thorough as it gives me confidence he'll take good care of the car afterwards as well.
Car was already priced sensibly and he offered just a bit under advertised, so we made a deal and off she has gone to a good new home.
I did have others coming to view the car a few days later so emailed them to inform them it was sold and they were all polite about it as well.

So, despite it being a cheaper car in the market (sub £4k), this recent experience was actually entirely positive.

[SFTWend]

Mr_Megalomaniac said:

Following up on this, I recently sold the car I had advertised on AT, to a very friendly and nice chap, very much an enthusiast of the model/make. Came along with his family, checked every single item, underneath, all the electrics, etc. Very polite and sensible about it all. Actually quite happy he was so thorough as it gives me confidence he'll take good care of the car afterwards as well.
Car was already priced sensibly and he offered just a bit under advertised, so we made a deal and off she has gone to a good new home.
I did have others coming to view the car a few days later so emailed them to inform them it was sold and they were all polite about it as well.

So, despite it being a cheaper car in the market (sub £4k), this recent experience was actually entirely positive.

Good to hear and hopefully it will encourage others to sell privately.

Wouldn't it be great if the PH classifieds was the go to site for enthusiasts selling to enthusiasts. I guess that's what it once was in the early TVR days.

[ABMA]

There are too many Daydreamers advertising their cars (on eBay). I am looking at a certain ‘run of the mill type’ car.
All of the private ads are priced above trade.
Even one private seller increased his asking price £2K within 24hr of the ad went live. (And that is on £13.5k car).

Not sure what are they thinking?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

ABMA said:

There are too many Daydreamers advertising their cars (on eBay). I am looking at a BIL certain ‘run of the mill type’ car.
All of the private ads are priced above trade.
Even one private seller increased his asking price £2K within 24hr of the ad went live. (And that is on £13.5k car).

Not sure what are they thinking?

There's a Honda on AT privately at 7500 which puts it 2/3s up the rankings v trade similar. BIL in the trade checked it (so I knew I wouldn't be rude with my offer as no doubt the seller had looked at book values etc when looking to list) - current says it should be 6k private sale.

Guess what, its been listed for weeks now.

[nickfrog]

I have always seen private cars advertised at above retail and not selling, nothing new. But I have tended to ignore them and buy the cheaper ones.

[Hants PHer]

nickfrog said:

I have always seen private cars advertised at above retail and not selling, nothing new. But I have tended to ignore them and buy the cheaper ones.

Agreed, it's nothing new. But I wonder what some private sellers are thinking. For example there's a BMW M2 on A/T, OG model, manual and advertised privately for £32k. The seller states in the advert "no offers". It's been for sale since May this year with no price reduction. Perhaps the seller doesn't really want to sell the car, or something?

[nickfrog]

Hants PHer said:

nickfrog said:

I have always seen private cars advertised at above retail and not selling, nothing new. But I have tended to ignore them and buy the cheaper ones.

Agreed, it's nothing new. But I wonder what some private sellers are thinking. For example there's a BMW M2 on A/T, OG model, manual and advertised privately for £32k. The seller states in the advert "no offers". It's been for sale since May this year with no price reduction. Perhaps the seller doesn't really want to sell the car, or something?

Yes sure. My cars are always for sale...at the right price.

Amusingly, I sold a 17k M2 OG manual under warranty last November privately for £33k although I don't think I would get that for it now. Approved was around £35k then, which was my benchmark for pricing. It sold in 3 days at the asking price. I am still not sure I wanted to sell though

[alfa phil]

Sold our evoque last week to a very nice couple no hassle or stress at all. They were the first to view, drove away in it 45mins after knocking on the door , only down side was would have liked a bit more money for it, but can't have it all .

[ABMA]

alfa phil said:

Sold our evoque last week to a very nice couple no hassle or stress at all. They were the first to view, drove away in it 45mins after knocking on the door , only down side was would have liked a bit more money for it, but can't have it all .

Did you get same/ close to Autotrader Valuation (if you don’t mind me asking)?
Cheers

[alfa phil]

ABMA said:

Did you get same/ close to Autotrader Valuation (if you don’t mind me asking)?
Cheers

Yes it was within £150 of AT valuation. But it was the cheapest car on there compared to others with similar mileage and age , but the more expensive evoques are probably still for sale, or gone to wbac who offered 3k less than we got private.

[Hants PHer]

Just sold my car, which was advertised on Auto Trader, to a private buyer. He was a lovely bloke and the sale was fuss free, although he was one of only two enquiries in five weeks on A/T. There were 1200 views, no phone calls, 2 emails, one of which resulted in a sale.

A/T reckoned I should get £21,500, I actually got £20,000 and WBAC offered £16,300. CarWow refused to list the car! It was a 2016 Audi TTS incidentally.

I'm now thinking about my next car but I reckon prices are falling so I'll wait for a while.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I'm not sure prices are falling. I'd happily settle for a 2015 Focus/Mondeo/Jazz/Cvic with a full history. Not 'full history' (can you clarify is it annual?) 'It's full' stamped a few times.


I've given up.

[Mr Whippy]

alfa phil said:

ABMA said:

Did you get same/ close to Autotrader Valuation (if you don’t mind me asking)?
Cheers

Yes it was within £150 of AT valuation. But it was the cheapest car on there compared to others with similar mileage and age , but the more expensive evoques are probably still for sale, or gone to wbac who offered 3k less than we got private.

That sounds like an absolutely perfect result?

[Matt_E46]

I am being scarred for life trying to sell my E92 M3. It’s one of the cheapest manual coupes on Autotrader yet I’m still getting mouth breathers coming out the woodwork.

Two guys have asked to leave a deposit to secure a viewing after speaking on the phone then vanished. No reply to messages.

Then the eBay brigade. Now that’s an eye opener. Appreciate old M cars will attract a certain type but the number of time wasters would be impressive be it not so frustrating.

Might just P/X the thing for peanuts. Can’t be doing with it all.

[SFTWend]

Matt_E46 said:

I am being scarred for life trying to sell my E92 M3. It’s one of the cheapest manual coupes on Autotrader yet I’m still getting mouth breathers coming out the woodwork.

Two guys have asked to leave a deposit to secure a viewing after speaking on the phone then vanished. No reply to messages.

Then the eBay brigade. Now that’s an eye opener. Appreciate old M cars will attract a certain type but the number of time wasters would be impressive be it not so frustrating.

Might just P/X the thing for peanuts. Can’t be doing with it all.

I think the demand that pushed up prices of these and other V8s has now gone, due to the changing economic climate, but from what I've seen sellers are yet to adjust asking prices to reflect this. If the car is priced above PX value but comfortably below what dealers are asking, assuming dealers are getting what they are asking, I'm sure a genuine enthusiast buyer will be along shortly.

[Niguy]

It’s an absolute pain in the backside trying to sell decent cars privately these days. Too many spreadsheet buyers knocking around, utilising a WBAC valuation and thinking it demonstrates the market value of the car.

[nickfrog]

Niguy said:

It’s an absolute pain in the backside trying to sell decent cars privately these days. Too many spreadsheet buyers knocking around, utilising a WBAC valuation and thinking it demonstrates the market value of the car.

That really doesn't match my experience. I write the advert so that they have no questions to ask and that they don't waste my time. It works well and I don't think I am doing anything remotely clever.

[Matt_E46]

I think it depends what you’re trying to sell. Run of the mill type car fairly modern might be easier than say old leggy performance car.

TL:dr - should have PCP’d!