Does nobody sell cars privately now?
Discussion
Sold all my cars privately and haven't had a bad experience thus far - all of them have sold quickly and at/just below asking price. The fact that many of them have been small, ULEZ compliant £1,500 sheds just outside London may have helped, mind.
Bought most of them from genuine private sellers too, and they've been largely trouble-free. I prefer buying privately as that obviously gives you a better idea of the owner's character and how well they've treated and maintained the car. Particularly with enthusiasts' cars. I remember a mate who bought a WRX a while back, and the owner was so fastidious that the (already very extensive) service history even included receipts for detailing products he'd used on the car!
It also allows you to avoid some of the insanity you get from indie dealers. I remember, not long ago, stopping by a local Saab/Ssangyong specialist to look at a 9-3 Cabriolet. I didn't like the spec but wanted to size up the Cab more generally as I was interested in buying one.
The car looked alright driving past but was awful up close: faded paint, mismatched bumpers, scuffed alloys and perished tyres. Inside, the switchgear was knackered, the footwells were damp, the headliner was mouldy and the whole car reeked of mould. The spare wheel was missing, and when I lifted up the boot carpet, I found Lake Windermere in the spare wheel well. The (entirely unenthusiastic and not particularly knowledgeable) salesperson confirmed that the car had sat on their forecourt for months.
The asking price for this utter shed? £9,995...
Bought most of them from genuine private sellers too, and they've been largely trouble-free. I prefer buying privately as that obviously gives you a better idea of the owner's character and how well they've treated and maintained the car. Particularly with enthusiasts' cars. I remember a mate who bought a WRX a while back, and the owner was so fastidious that the (already very extensive) service history even included receipts for detailing products he'd used on the car!
It also allows you to avoid some of the insanity you get from indie dealers. I remember, not long ago, stopping by a local Saab/Ssangyong specialist to look at a 9-3 Cabriolet. I didn't like the spec but wanted to size up the Cab more generally as I was interested in buying one.
The car looked alright driving past but was awful up close: faded paint, mismatched bumpers, scuffed alloys and perished tyres. Inside, the switchgear was knackered, the footwells were damp, the headliner was mouldy and the whole car reeked of mould. The spare wheel was missing, and when I lifted up the boot carpet, I found Lake Windermere in the spare wheel well. The (entirely unenthusiastic and not particularly knowledgeable) salesperson confirmed that the car had sat on their forecourt for months.
The asking price for this utter shed? £9,995...
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