Buying a car ‘POA’

[105.4]

Quite possibly a stupid question time, but I’m curious to know what the usual situation is when buying a car listed as ’POA’?

I assume that there is a degree of qualification by the dealers? Are the dealers straight away asking you what your maximum budget is? How you intend to fund the purchase?

Is it known for them to state one price to one person, and another higher price to another individual who they think has deeper pockets?

As a potential buyer, how to you know that the price that you are being quoted is a reasonable one, especially for a vehicle that might be quite rare and examples rarely come to market?

Thanks in advance

Edited by 105.4 on Saturday 29th April 23:25

[ANOpax]

It’s an opportunity to rip you off because, by enquiring, they know you’re interested. So I never enquire on principle.

If you’re after something super rare, get a mate to call for the price. Then work out your position from there.

[andrew]

can anyone name a legitimate reason for stating poa ?

[macdeb]

I've never even bothered reading any advert that says 'POA'.

[DickyC]

andrew said:

can anyone name a legitimate reason for stating poa ?

No. It's just self-aggrandisement by the vendor.

[ex-devonpaul]

I phoned up about a poa car a few years ago, a Maserati Mistral.

They started with telling me what a fine example it was and the wonderful history etc, before finally revealing it was actually priced about mid market (OK, if you can call 3 or 4 cars a market).

I think poa was OK when prices were moving rapidly, but these days it usually means "we're trying it on but don't want to list a figure as someone will screen grab it we'll look like greedy amateurs when we have to cut £20k off the price".

[105.4]

Thanks all for your replies

I’ve never quite understood POA asking prices either unless it is for a vehicle that is super rare, (less than 100 made for example), and certainly not for vehicles such as the Ferrari F40 or DB series Astons.

As I suspected, in most cases it is likely to be a ploy by dealers to try and extract maximum amount of cash out of incredibly wealthy customers. I doubt I ever need to worry about falling in to such a trap. Not because I’m astute, but more because I’m skint

[rat rod]

Like most on here i wouldn't even waste my time contacting the seller, i automatically assume it's going to be overpriced or the seller

is just trying his or her luck.The exception maybe a ultra rare historic race car e.g 60's GTO , GT40 ect that the seller wants a certain

amount of privacy not wanting the great unwashed knowing their business .Most owners of these type of cars let the larger auction houses

deal with the sale or just word of mouth. Many forums now insist on a price in their classified ads .

[kbf1981]

andrew said:

can anyone name a legitimate reason for stating poa ?

If you don't know how much its worth because theirs very little transaction history on the market so you've no idea on what people would pay for it.

[Yex GTR]

If a POA car interests you then do your research on the market price of similar cars, or in the case of rarer things auction prices achieved. This will at least give you an idea of what the dealer may want for the car and you a baseline to work from. If the dealer is then unrealistic about the price they want walk away and wait for the car to no doubt pop up at another dealer in the near future.

[CoolHands]

To me it says either overpriced, or they can’t get rid.

[mwstewart]

Chancers.

[DickyC]

The BL dealer who sold me my MG Metro shared their site with a Rolls Royce & Bentley dealer. When I said to the BL salesman, "If you need to ask the price, you can't afford it," he laughed. He told me that at that time customers were coming in to trade their three year old Rollers for a new one as usual but, unusually, were asking the price and one after the other realised they could keep their three year old Rolls - no shame there - and have a new Jaguar or Mercedes as well with the difference.

1983. I forget which financial catastrophe it was but it made Rolls Royce review their sales stance.

[sunnyb13]

It’s the dealer equivalent of “just testing the water”

[ARHarh]

surely you must have an understanding of what the car is worth? If so when you phone and they want 30% over market price you just laugh and move on. Or just tell them what you are willing to pay and if they don't want to sell it for that find another to buy. Easy, no point trying to work out why they price it like that.

[Wacky Racer]

Another thing:-

I was looking in a new Kia showroom as a serious punter last week and all the cars prices were clearly shown.

Then I went in another Kia dealer five miles away, in addition to a Vauxhall / Peugeot dealer and all the new cars did not have any prices on, so I walked out as I didn't want to interact with any high pressure salesmen.

Strangely, these two dealers used to display the prices only last year.

[Trevor555]

Quite often it's a car they have on sale or return, and they dont want the owner knowing what it really sold for.

[alscar]

Trevor555 said:

Quite often it's a car they have on sale or return, and they dont want the owner knowing what it really sold for.

SOR can be difficult enough with Dealers that are trusted - not sure this scenario would end too well.