Gone in 60 Seconds

PHer Gerald Price gives our auction reports an '09 facelift

By V8mate / Wednesday, 13 May 2009 / Loading comments

Whether you favour the original movie or the remake, no self-respecting petrolhead will have failed to have been impressed by the skill of the thieves as they 'acquired' some of the most stunning cars available in less than a minute. Those guys must really be the sharpest automotive professionals, right?

Well there’s another group of vehicle experts out there who also secure cars in under sixty seconds, albeit rather more legitimately: buyers at car auctions.

For some people, buying anything at auction is a scary prospect. From cars to antiques to houses, there's an expectation of the room being filled with horned dealers; cliques of professional traders who spotted you, the naïve civilian, as you pulled up outside and have plotted and schemed to ensure your first visit is also your last.

But you've heard tale of bargains to be had. Your green-eyed monster tells you there’s more to be had for the same budget as an old smoker from your local Daley-esque used car dealer. The urban legends are at the forefront of your mind; that mate of a mate who supposedly bought an immaculate, nearly-new Porsche for ten grand. The horror stories of cars combusting in an entirely non-internal way less than ten minutes from their auction source pushed firmly to the back of your thoughts; that only happens to other people, doesn't it?

So you look up your local car auction venue and see that most offer a selection of daytime sales as well as evening/weekend sales. What's the difference? Daytime sales tend to be for newer cars; 1-5 year old models, the majority of which will be direct from leasing companies and fleet owners, so often just one previous owner in the log book. It's at these sales where both main dealers and the better independent traders acquire most of their stock. Evening and weekend sales are very different. Here you'll see vehicles of every age and every condition: dealer part exchanges, cars which dealers can't sell on (for whatever reason) and cars being sold by private owners. Caveat emptor – buyer beware – applies to all auctions but none more so than these 'off-peak' mixed sales. In future reports, we’ll take a closer look at the cars and characters involved in these jalopy auctions, but for now we’ll stick with the newer stuff.

The main vendors at weekday sales will generally be in one of two camps. The first are companies with stock from many manufacturers, such as banks and finance companies selling 'end of lease' stock. If all you have is a basic specification in mind - maybe you know you want a diesel estate car, but are quite open with regard to make - then these mixed sales will be a great target. The second types of sellers are the 'one-make' vendors, i.e. manufacturer’s in-house finance departments like BMW Finance. So if you’ve already decided on the make of car you are seeking, you can head for these, safe in the knowledge that often 100-200 vehicles from that manufacturer will offered for sale. And, with that volume, unless you’re chasing a particularly elusive model, you can afford to be much fussier about colours, interior trim etc than any main dealer, or even dealer group, can often entertain when it comes to used cars.

Auction house facilities vary significantly. Whilst most started life as little more than barns, with a door at each end and a rostrum half-way along one wall, many companies have now invested millions in state-of-the-art, multi-lane premises. The two largest firms are British Car Auctions (BCA) and Manheim; their largest outlets at Blackbushe Airport in Surrey and Colchester respectively, but with many other branches across the country. Their websites offer a mine of information, including very useful calendars so that you can plan your trip to coincide with sales most appropriate to the vehicle you are seeking. Your local Yellow Pages may well indicate local independent car auctions too, but these will tend to offer mainly older vehicles. The competition between the national companies to land the contracts to sell late-registered stock is fierce, and the associated cost of moving large volumes of vehicles to specific sites is too much for most of the independents to get involved.

So, you’ve got an idea of what kind of car you fancy and you’ve identified a sale at an auction house which looks like it will deliver some opportunities. What else do you need to know before you too can compete in the process which sees every car 'gone in 60 seconds'? In future reports we’ll look at auction jargon, how to assess the cars being offered, pricing your prospective purchase, how to bid safely and how to beat the traders at their own game.

To end this report, I’ll leave you with a few results from an auction I attended recently. All vendors were selling a broad selection of makes and it made for an eclectic mix. About 500 cars were up for sale; plenty of run-of-the-mill Fords and Vauxhalls, but also some more ‘Pistonhead-friendly’ stock, with everything from a Fiesta ST to a Cadillac Escalade! I’ve picked my top 100; hopefully some will interest you too.

Gerald Price

Year	Plate	Make	Model	Detail	Mileage	Price	Status
2005	05	Audi	A3	2.0 FSI Quattro Sport 5dr	40k	10050	SOLD
2003	53	Audi	A4	2.4 Sport Mtronic Cabriolet	86k	8250	SOLD
2005	05	Audi	A4	1.9 TDI SE 4dr	78k	6400	SOLD
2005	05	Audi	A4	2.0 TDI SE Estate	67k	8000	SOLD
2005	55	Audi	A4	2.5 TDI (163) Sport Mtronic Cabriolet	55k	11975	SOLD
2006	06	Audi	A4	1.8T Cabriolet	42k	12100	SOLD
2006	55	Audi	A4	2.0 TDI TDV S-Line Estate	48k	10900	SOLD
2007	07	Audi	A4	2.0 TDI Cabriolet	24k	14800	SOLD
2007	07	Audi	A4	2.0 TDI Cabriolet	33k	15850	SOLD
2007	07	Audi	A4	2.0 Tdi Sport Cabriolet	20k	15500	SOLD
2007	56	Audi	A4	1.9 TDI TDV S-Line 4dr	44k	11450	SOLD
2000	W	Audi	TT	Quattro (180) Coupe	35k	6600	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	118D	SE 5dr	49k	10150	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	118i	Sport 5dr	34k	8100	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	320CD	SE Coupe	63k	8000	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	320D	SE Estate	30k	12800	SOLD
2007	57	BMW	520D	SE Saloon	49k	13500	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	530D	M Sport Auto Saloon	32k	16600	Provisional
2007	07	BMW	Z4	2.5i SE Auto Roadster	6k	14600	Provisional
2007	57	Cadillac	Escalade	6.2 Auto	7k	20900	SOLD
2008	08	Chrysler	Grand Voyager	2.8 CRD Executive Auto (old shape)	18k	10700	SOLD
2005	05	Citroen	C4	2.0i 16V VTS 3dr	22k	4950	SOLD
2007	07	Fiat	Grande Punto	1.4 16V T-Jet Sporting 3dr	19k	6300	SOLD
2007	07	Ford	Fiesta	2.0 ST 3dr	19k	7500	SOLD
2007	07	Ford	Focus	ST 3dr	24k	10400	SOLD
2005	05	Ford	Focus	2.0 TDCI Ghia 5dr	82k	3825	SOLD
2006	06	Ford	Mondeo	2.2 TDCI 155 ST 5dr	56k	7100	SOLD
2006	06	Honda	Accord	2.2 TDI Sport 4dr	92k	5700	SOLD
2007	57	Honda	Civic	2.0 VTEC Type R GT 3dr	13k	11900	SOLD
2006	06	Jaguar	S-Type	2.7 V6 SE Diesel Auto	43k	12050	SOLD
2007	07	Jaguar	S-Type	2.7 V6 XS Diesel Auto	31k	12900	SOLD
2004	54	Jaguar	S-Type	4.2 V8 R Auto	54k	10700	SOLD
2007	07	Jaguar	XJ	2.7 TDVI Sovereign (LWB)	33k	20700	SOLD
2003	03	Jaguar	XJ	XJ8 2.5 V8 SE Auto Saloon	64k	7900	SOLD
2007	07	Jaguar	XJ	2.7 TDVI Sport Premium	14k	22000	Provisional
2007	07	Jaguar	XJ	2.7 TDVI Sovereign LWB (facelift)	22k	23000	SOLD
2007	56	Jaguar	XK	R 4.2 V8 Supercharged Auto Convertible	13k	38700	SOLD
2006	56	Jaguar	XK	R 4.2 V8 Supercharged Auto Coupe	5k	35400	SOLD
2003	03	Jaguar	X-Type	2.0 V6 4dr	70k	2800	SOLD
2004	54	Jaguar	X-Type	3.0 V6 Sport Auto Estate	42k	6050	SOLD
2008	08	Kia	Sedona	2.9i CRDI LS Auto	18k	9000	SOLD
2007	07	Kia	Sportage	2.0 CRDI XS 5dr	14k	9000	SOLD
2007	07	Land Rover	Defender	90 SWB Diesel	16k	15500	SOLD
2005	05	Land Rover	Discovery 3	2.7 TD V6 SE Auto	60k	15550	SOLD
2006	06	Land Rover	Discovery 3	2.7 TD V6 HSE Auto	61k	17800	SOLD
2006	06	Land Rover	Discovery 3	2.7 TD V6 HSE Auto	44k	19700	SOLD
2006	06	Land Rover	Freelander	2.0 TD4 Adventurer 3dr Hardtop	58k	6200	SOLD
2007	57	Land Rover	Freelander 2	2.2 TD4 HSE Auto	38k	18000	SOLD
2008	08	Land Rover	Freelander 2	2.2 TD4 SE Auto 5dr	8k	20400	SOLD
2006	06	Lexus	IS	250 Sport	44k	10350	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	C220	CDI Sport 4dr	105k	7700	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	C230	Avantgarde SE Auto Estate	19k	12500	SOLD
2003	03	Mercedes	CLK	320 Avantgarde Coupe	66k	7150	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	CLS	320 CDI Tip Auto	37k	20800	SOLD
2007	57	Mercedes	CLS	500 (388bhp) Tip Auto	13k	26100	Provisional
2006	06	Mercedes	E320	CDI Avantgarde Auto Estate	72k	14325	SOLD
2007	07	MINI	Cooper	1.6 Convertible	16k	10700	SOLD
2007	07	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr	25k	9800	SOLD
2003	53	MINI	Cooper S	1.6 3dr	56k	6825	SOLD
2005	05	MINI	Cooper S	1.6 3dr	24k	8050	SOLD
2004	54	MINI	One	1.6 Convertible	69k	6950	SOLD
2006	55	Mitsubishi	Shogun	Sport 2.5 TD Equippe	35k	5500	SOLD
2007	57	Nissan	Murano	3.5 V6 CVT	6k	12600	SOLD
2006	56	Nissan	Patrol	3.0 DI Aventura Auto SW	24k	12450	SOLD
2006	06	Nissan	X-Trail	2.5 16V Columbia Auto SW	34k	6700	SOLD
2005	54	Peugeot	206	1.6 Allure (AC) Cabriolet	79k	4500	SOLD
2005	55	Peugeot	407	2.0 HDI 136 SE 4dr	77k	3950	SOLD
2006	06	Range Rover	Sport	2.7 TDV6 SE Auto	44k	21400	SOLD
2006	06	Range Rover	Sport	4.4 V8 HSE Auto	65k	20700	SOLD
2007	07	Range Rover	Sport	2.7 TDV6 HSE Auto	24k	30000	SOLD
2005	55	Range Rover	Supercharged	4.2 V8 Auto	51k	25500	SOLD
2005	55	Renault	Megane	16V Dynamique Coupe Cabriolet	29k	6600	SOLD
2006	06	Renault	Megane	2.0 VVT Monaco Cabriolet	33k	7400	SOLD
2006	06	Saab	9-3	1.9 TiD Vector Spot (150) Estate	93k	5675	SOLD
2005	55	Saab	9-5	1.9 TiD Linear Sport Estate	60k	5700	SOLD
2007	56	Saab	9-5	1.9 TiD Vector Sport Auto Estate	31k	10750	SOLD
2007	07	Skoda	Fabia	1.4 16V Ambiente Auto	8k	5200	SOLD
2006	06	Skoda	Octavia	1.9 TDI PD Elegance Estate	104k	3800	SOLD
2006	06	Smart	ForFour	1.5 Auto Brabus	62k	4700	SOLD
2006	06	Smart	ForTwo	Passion Auto Cabriolet	11k	5450	SOLD
2006	06	Toyota	RAV-4	2.2 D-4d XT4 5dr	38k	11050	SOLD
2003	03	Vauxhall	Omega	2.6 V6 24V Elite Saloon	89k	1250	SOLD
2006	06	Vauxhall	Vectra	1.9 CDTI SRI (150) 5dr	47k	5600	SOLD
2008	08	Vauxhall	Zafira	2.2i Exclusiv Auto	8k	7975	SOLD
2007	07	Volkswagen	Golf	2.0 GT TDI 3dr	36k	9800	SOLD
2006	06	Volkswagen	Passat	2.0 TDI Sport Estate	80k	6450	SOLD
2006	06	Volkswagen	Polo	1.4 SE (75) 5dr	32k	5750	SOLD
2007	57	Volkswagen	Polo	1.4 S (80) 5dr Auto	4k	7700	SOLD
2006	06	Volkswagen	Touran	2.0 TDI PD SE DSG 5dr	55k	8500	SOLD
2007	56	Volvo	C30	D5 SE Sport Gtronic 3dr Coupe	27k	12700	SOLD
2007	57	Volvo	C30	2.0 S 3dr Coupe	19k	9200	SOLD
2007	57	Volvo	C70	2.0 SE Convertible	12k	16000	SOLD
2008	08	Volvo	S40	D5 SE Lux 4dr	23k	11200	SOLD
2006	06	Volvo	S40	1.8 Sport 4dr	48k	7350	SOLD
2007	57	Volvo	V50	2.0D S Estate	13k	11200	SOLD
2004	04	Volvo	V50	SE Gtronic Estate	49k	7400	SOLD
2008	08	Volvo	V70	2.4D SE Gtronic Estate	42k	13500	SOLD
2005	55	Volvo	V70	2.4 T5 SE Estate	15k	10600	SOLD
2006	55	Volvo	XC70	2.4 D5 SE Gtronic (185) Estate	38k	12500	SOLD
2003	03	Volvo	XC90	D5 Auto	105k	8350	SOLD
2003	03	Volvo	XC90	2.9 T6 SE Gtronic	40k	10300	SOLD