Is WBAC Really the Easiest Way to Sell an Older Prestige Car
Discussion
Just a quick post to say, before selling my 987 Boxster yesterday, I got quotes from WBAC and Motorway. WBAC said just over £3800. Motorway, just over £6400 (big difference there).
I ended up selling it back to the independent Porsche specialist I bought it from two and a half years ago. And, of course, as a dealer they've got to make a profit on it. What did I get? £8K.
My car was very well serviced and maintained, with mostly new suspension, and always by main dealers and indys. And it was speed yellow, which does command a bit of a premium, and WBAC and Motorway might not have taken that into account.
But, seriously, those of you just giving your cars away to WBAC etc for an easy life, I'd urge you to do better. I didn't detail my car, or have it valeted. Didn't even polish it. Literally, all I did was wash it, vacuum and wipe the dashboard.
They made it very easy for me. It really was no drama. I drove the car there, they inspected it, and 90 mins later I was driving away with cash in my bank account.
How much more effort did this take than WBAC? Almost none, and I think probably a lot less stress.
Compared to selling privately, I haven't had to hang around at home for weeks waiting for viewings.
I ended up selling it back to the independent Porsche specialist I bought it from two and a half years ago. And, of course, as a dealer they've got to make a profit on it. What did I get? £8K.
My car was very well serviced and maintained, with mostly new suspension, and always by main dealers and indys. And it was speed yellow, which does command a bit of a premium, and WBAC and Motorway might not have taken that into account.
But, seriously, those of you just giving your cars away to WBAC etc for an easy life, I'd urge you to do better. I didn't detail my car, or have it valeted. Didn't even polish it. Literally, all I did was wash it, vacuum and wipe the dashboard.
They made it very easy for me. It really was no drama. I drove the car there, they inspected it, and 90 mins later I was driving away with cash in my bank account.
How much more effort did this take than WBAC? Almost none, and I think probably a lot less stress.
Compared to selling privately, I haven't had to hang around at home for weeks waiting for viewings.
My family hand me down was bought for the WBAC online quote price plus £1. I paid the equivalent of two year's VED for it. It was bought by a relative as a manufacturer branded approved used car and I know how it's been serviced and maintained by the relative before they offloaded it and got their partner off of their back for it taking up drive way space.
WBAC are, as their name suggests, buy any car. They don’t say anywhere that they will give you the best price for it, just the price that works best for them. As per the thread title, they are ‘easy’ in that you can have a decision and money in a short space of time, but easy does not necessarily equal best.
Something like a 987 Boxster in the middle of winter is of little interest to them.
Something like a 987 Boxster in the middle of winter is of little interest to them.
carinaman said:
My family hand me down was bought for the WBAC online quote price plus £1. I paid the equivalent of two year's VED for it. It was bought by a relative as a manufacturer branded approved used car and I know how it's been serviced and maintained by the relative before they offloaded it and got their partner off of their back for it taking up drive way space.
That's a very cool and relevant story broIn my own brief dealing with WBAC, and knowing of a few experiences of others, I can only assume that people who sell their cars to them are either genuinely desperate for cash at short notice, so rich that they don't care they're not getting the car's value or are just laundering money somehow.
I used WBAC once when I took out a lease on an Audi S3 (back in the 2016 glory days). I needed to offload my 13 plate Focus ST, the price WBAC offered after negotiation was more than what my local ford dealer had offered for the car. The car was still under PCP but the money WBAC gave me for it cleared the rest of the finance (they did all that on my behalf, I just handed over the keys) and left me with £70 spare which I used for the first tank of fuel in my S3. I might have made £1-2k more selling privately but then would have had the hassle of selling the car, having 2 cars on the drive and 2 separate insurance premiums while i waited for it to sell.
It isn't a one size fits all but there are definitely situations where it is a viable option.
It isn't a one size fits all but there are definitely situations where it is a viable option.
I'm picking up a new car tomorrow and the dealer offered me £8000 for my car.
Agreed to £9000 when I offered to buy over the phone.
Popped it into a local WBAC last Saturday and got £9300 for it.
Pretty happy as that money will cover the increased insurance and I only paid £10500 for my car 3 years ago.
Agreed to £9000 when I offered to buy over the phone.
Popped it into a local WBAC last Saturday and got £9300 for it.
Pretty happy as that money will cover the increased insurance and I only paid £10500 for my car 3 years ago.
It's obviously not a corner of the market which WBAC are keen to play in.
Their offers are quite low for cars over about 10 years old in general, as far as I can tell.
For instance 2 litre diesel estates which you might find on the forecourt for £4500 or so, they will offer £1500 or less.
They need to make money, then a dealer needs to make money.
The OP had something a particular dealer wanted, and went direct to the right dealer at the right time.
Good Result!
Their offers are quite low for cars over about 10 years old in general, as far as I can tell.
For instance 2 litre diesel estates which you might find on the forecourt for £4500 or so, they will offer £1500 or less.
They need to make money, then a dealer needs to make money.
The OP had something a particular dealer wanted, and went direct to the right dealer at the right time.
Good Result!
A few years back used them to offload a Legacy that needed a new clutch and water pump. Didn't fancy trying a private sale given those issues and I was moving to a lease car so couldn't offer it as a trade-in.
Saw it on Auto trader for a few months, with the price dropping at least once.
Worked well for me.
Saw it on Auto trader for a few months, with the price dropping at least once.
Worked well for me.
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