Car valuation way out...

[jonott]

Anybody know how accurate these free car valuation services are?
According to the one on Whatcar's site my mx5 is worth about 9K part-ex. But my local BMW dealer said the best offer they had had for it was £7500 when looking to part-ex it for used Z4.
That's a big difference...

[C2james]

I wouldn't trust it too much as according to them my C2 is worth just under 3k when I see lots that are being sold for just under 5k, and mines just as good.

[H_Kan]

They don't take into account options most of the time, which can make a big difference. eg. a big Merc with a manual and no leather isn't that much cheaper to buy new but try shifting it without those options.

Additionally, it isn't a great time of year for dealer to take another rag top onto the forecourt, so px offer is going to be low- especially if they are a BMW dealer and thus may have to send the mx5 elsewhere for sale or auction.

Sell privately for the best return imo.

[greggy50]

C2james said:

I wouldn't trust it too much as according to them my C2 is worth just under 3k when I see lots that are being sold for just under 5k, and mines just as good.

Just under 3k is probably not far off for an 06 C2 1.1 to be honest :/
I was looking at C2 VTS's can get 06 plate's off them for under 4k

[Ozzie Osmond]

Think about it - why would the BMW dealer want your MX-5 on his forecourt to sell? He wouldn't. So he's got to move it on in the trade to someone who another dealer who can make a money on it, or alternatively to auction. Either way he's not going to offer you much money trade-in.

You'll do much better to sell privately. You'd probably do a bit better to sell to a second-hand car trader for cash. I know seasonality on convertibles isn't all that noticeable these days but an MX-5 will be easier to shift in the Spring. But then so will the dealer's Z4....

[markmullen]

jonott said:

Anybody know how accurate these free car valuation services are?
According to the one on Whatcar's site my mx5 is worth about 9K part-ex. But my local BMW dealer said the best offer they had had for it was £7500 when looking to part-ex it for used Z4.
That's a big difference...

Ring Whatcar and ask them to give you £9000 for it, then see whose valuation is closest to the truth.

[Jonny671]

greggy50 said:

C2james said:

I wouldn't trust it too much as according to them my C2 is worth just under 3k when I see lots that are being sold for just under 5k, and mines just as good.

Just under 3k is probably not far off for an 06 C2 1.1 to be honest :/
I was looking at C2 VTS's can get 06 plate's off them for under 4k

This.. I very, very much doubt you'll get near £5k when you come to sell it.. Obviously if you had someone who really wanted one like yours they might pay more, but there are plenty more to choose from.

Someone said before to me, "Something is only worth what someone will pay for it.".. Which is true, its ok for these valuation places to give you a figure but they're not stumping up the cash for your vehicle are they.