Private sellers...
Discussion
My eldest is presently looking for his second car as my daughter is 17 next month so we're passing his Citigo on so she can learn.
He's got a budget of around £8k give or take and wants something with a bit more go but he doesn't want something too big. He tried an Audi A1 but didn't like it, same with a Polo. I warned him off the 1.2 pure tech units.
He then tried a Mini (F56) and liked it immediately. Unfortunately the one we tried at a dealer was a bit shabby cosmetically and the dealer wasn't in the mood to get things sorted. Oh well.
He wants a couple of things that were options but spec wise he's pretty flexible. So we found a couple on AT and gave the sellers a call.
Seller 1, car advertised in Reading. He was actually selling on behalf of his mate who wasn't very car savvy. The car is actually located in Windsor. He didn't know if it had much service history, didn't know if it had two keys and he didn't know when it would be available for viewing... Next!
Seller 2, car located around 10 miles north of us. Sounded like a nice chap and knew all about the car but when I tried to arrange a viewing he told me that his son was using it for a couple of weeks while his own car was being repaired and didn't really know when it would be actually available to be sold. We were welcome to view and leave a deposit though.. Not exactly appealing.
I know it's difficult sometimes to sell privately but FFS some people make it hard to buy privately too. Hopefully we've found a decent car that we're going to look at on Saturday, the owner sounds like he's on the money and it's actually available to buy..
Fingers crossed.
He's got a budget of around £8k give or take and wants something with a bit more go but he doesn't want something too big. He tried an Audi A1 but didn't like it, same with a Polo. I warned him off the 1.2 pure tech units.
He then tried a Mini (F56) and liked it immediately. Unfortunately the one we tried at a dealer was a bit shabby cosmetically and the dealer wasn't in the mood to get things sorted. Oh well.
He wants a couple of things that were options but spec wise he's pretty flexible. So we found a couple on AT and gave the sellers a call.
Seller 1, car advertised in Reading. He was actually selling on behalf of his mate who wasn't very car savvy. The car is actually located in Windsor. He didn't know if it had much service history, didn't know if it had two keys and he didn't know when it would be available for viewing... Next!
Seller 2, car located around 10 miles north of us. Sounded like a nice chap and knew all about the car but when I tried to arrange a viewing he told me that his son was using it for a couple of weeks while his own car was being repaired and didn't really know when it would be actually available to be sold. We were welcome to view and leave a deposit though.. Not exactly appealing.
I know it's difficult sometimes to sell privately but FFS some people make it hard to buy privately too. Hopefully we've found a decent car that we're going to look at on Saturday, the owner sounds like he's on the money and it's actually available to buy..
Fingers crossed.
Yes, "seling for a friend / family member" = won it at BCA last week for £500 and just given it a wash, hoover, taken some pics for Gumtree and crossing my fingers that the EML doesn't come back on until you've got it home, 100 miles away, so you won't be coming back with it.
Everyone is at it. Youtube has thousands of videos posted by driveway traders flipping knackered auction cars.
Everyone is at it. Youtube has thousands of videos posted by driveway traders flipping knackered auction cars.
Tisy said:
Yes, "seling for a friend / family member" = won it at BCA last week for £500 and just given it a wash, hoover, taken some pics for Gumtree and crossing my fingers that the EML doesn't come back on until you've got it home, 100 miles away, so you won't be coming back with it.
Everyone is at it. Youtube has thousands of videos posted by driveway traders flipping knackered auction cars.
The worse cases are where they meet you at a block of flats, and come out when you arrive to do the deal.Everyone is at it. Youtube has thousands of videos posted by driveway traders flipping knackered auction cars.
Then after you've left their phone sim gets chucked away.
No one to return it to.
Never, ever, pay cash nowadays.
Luckily these people are easy to figure out.
Don't rush, don't judge sellers and don't judge the circumstances. Your task is to buy a car at the right price and not get ripped off - that's what counts, the rest is insecurity and negative media.
If someone has a car to sell, but their son is using it for now, it is not great, but you could end up buying the car when the son is done with it. You never know.
If someone wants to meet up somewhere, fine. As long as they have the log book and ID, or they're a trader, don't worry about it. The purchase is what is important.
Good luck with the purchase - Mini's are very good cars, but take your time. The right car will find you and you'll know immediately.
If someone has a car to sell, but their son is using it for now, it is not great, but you could end up buying the car when the son is done with it. You never know.
If someone wants to meet up somewhere, fine. As long as they have the log book and ID, or they're a trader, don't worry about it. The purchase is what is important.
Good luck with the purchase - Mini's are very good cars, but take your time. The right car will find you and you'll know immediately.
I never trust selling for a mate who doesn’t use Facebook.
Almost every car and bike that I’ve owned has been privately bought. You just ‘know’ when it all feels right.
When there’s a reason or smoke and mirrors it’s usually the starter for the awful main course.
Plus I wouldn’t be too hung up on finding a highly polished car. I’ve seen some right terrible cars that have been over lacquered up and polished to hide something underneath.
No V5 in their name? No unless it’s a sibling selling a genuine estate sale and they can prove they have some form of proof of right to sell on
Almost every car and bike that I’ve owned has been privately bought. You just ‘know’ when it all feels right.
When there’s a reason or smoke and mirrors it’s usually the starter for the awful main course.
Plus I wouldn’t be too hung up on finding a highly polished car. I’ve seen some right terrible cars that have been over lacquered up and polished to hide something underneath.
No V5 in their name? No unless it’s a sibling selling a genuine estate sale and they can prove they have some form of proof of right to sell on
I must admit the situation Deerfoot describes makes you wonder if people actually want to sell their car!
Having said that I've bought 4 of my last 6 cars privately without any problems. I prefer private sales really, as you can get a feel for the sort of person selling and how they seem to have treated the car. Plus you are more likely to get a stack of history which most traders seem to just bin these days.
Good luck anyway.
Having said that I've bought 4 of my last 6 cars privately without any problems. I prefer private sales really, as you can get a feel for the sort of person selling and how they seem to have treated the car. Plus you are more likely to get a stack of history which most traders seem to just bin these days.
Good luck anyway.
nickfrog said:
That's why I really enjoy selling privately. With very little effort you can stand out easily. Nice pics, full detailed SH, honest about condition. The end.
Totally agree. The bar for private advert standard is set so low that a well written, informative and comprehensive ad stands out.Thanks for all the comments.
I'm sure the one we're seeing on Saturday will be decent, same owner for the last seven years, only MOT advisories over the last five years have been worn front tyres three years ago.
Mini service history and then specialist for the past two services etc etc.
It's not in my son's first colour choice (it's pepper white/black) but it has the Chili pack, LED headlights and the visual boost infotainment that he was looking for.
I'm sure the one we're seeing on Saturday will be decent, same owner for the last seven years, only MOT advisories over the last five years have been worn front tyres three years ago.
Mini service history and then specialist for the past two services etc etc.
It's not in my son's first colour choice (it's pepper white/black) but it has the Chili pack, LED headlights and the visual boost infotainment that he was looking for.
So, just to wrap this up.
Had a busy trip down the A303 this morning to be presented with a cleaned car, all documents laid out on the kitchen table and a cup of tea while we gave the car the once over.
Matching Hankooks, Bosch wipers, boot liner, locking wheel nut etc, you get the picture.
Had a good look around, half hour drive around some Somerset A roads and then back to his to sort payment, RFL and insurance.
The trip back was better and my son is chuffed to bits with his new car.
Had a busy trip down the A303 this morning to be presented with a cleaned car, all documents laid out on the kitchen table and a cup of tea while we gave the car the once over.
Matching Hankooks, Bosch wipers, boot liner, locking wheel nut etc, you get the picture.
Had a good look around, half hour drive around some Somerset A roads and then back to his to sort payment, RFL and insurance.
The trip back was better and my son is chuffed to bits with his new car.
Deerfoot said:
So, just to wrap this up.
Had a busy trip down the A303 this morning to be presented with a cleaned car, all documents laid out on the kitchen table and a cup of tea while we gave the car the once over.
Matching Hankooks, Bosch wipers, boot liner, locking wheel nut etc, you get the picture.
Had a good look around, half hour drive around some Somerset A roads and then back to his to sort payment, RFL and insurance.
The trip back was better and my son is chuffed to bits with his new car.
Great choice, hope it works out, brilliant little cars theseHad a busy trip down the A303 this morning to be presented with a cleaned car, all documents laid out on the kitchen table and a cup of tea while we gave the car the once over.
Matching Hankooks, Bosch wipers, boot liner, locking wheel nut etc, you get the picture.
Had a good look around, half hour drive around some Somerset A roads and then back to his to sort payment, RFL and insurance.
The trip back was better and my son is chuffed to bits with his new car.
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