It's hard work buying a used car!
Discussion
Worth mentioning that with some cars, 'valuations' are meaningless because supply-and-demand (esp within a given area) can distort that quite-a-bit.
Example: smoky old BMWs and Mercs are worth FAR less inside the M25 than they are in - say - North East England, where there are far fewer of them.
Private sellers have long had high expectations of the value of their cars but as with dealers, you simply call and offer them less and if they hang-up, you've saved your shoe-leather.
Don't write-off 'small dealers' either - spend 10 mins in the trade and you'll realize there is good and bad at EVERY level.
If you're struggling to find ANYTHING interesting tho, I'd suggest you need to reset your expectations because it's unlikely that everyone is wrong except you (unless your name is Trump!!)
Example: smoky old BMWs and Mercs are worth FAR less inside the M25 than they are in - say - North East England, where there are far fewer of them.
Private sellers have long had high expectations of the value of their cars but as with dealers, you simply call and offer them less and if they hang-up, you've saved your shoe-leather.
Don't write-off 'small dealers' either - spend 10 mins in the trade and you'll realize there is good and bad at EVERY level.
If you're struggling to find ANYTHING interesting tho, I'd suggest you need to reset your expectations because it's unlikely that everyone is wrong except you (unless your name is Trump!!)
mjf93 said:
Just to throw it out there, I tend to be on the other side of this spectrum. I am by no means a dealer, but this is my experience in the past.
When I own a car, I tend to apply a cost no object maintenance strategy, and also invest in preventative maintenance, and I would certainly not sell someone a car I knew needed work, unless I explicitly told them and the price reflected this.
Because of this, when sale time comes, a car I would be selling, would generally be top money for the age and mileage (not ridiculous though). I would justify this, by it being a very clean example, which wants for nothing, and I generally find I will sell my car to someone looking for exactly that, who has usually viewed loads before mine, and found them all to be pigs or wanting for loads of money.
Over the course of the sale, I regularly get told 'but there's another one the same for a grand less' or similar. My standard response is; ok, go and buy that one then. Or, go and view it, then realise why mine is worth more'. That would be my response to OP's enquiry, I would imagine.
I find it the same when buying a car, I would rather pay £1000 more for a car with 4 brand new premium tires, new brakes, full service history, which has clearly been looked after, rather than the cheaper one with 4 worn out budgets, knackered brakes and patchy service record.
Just my 2p worth.
I'm the same, and managed to sell my car 2 weeks ago, despite being more expensive than 'similar' trade cars (let alone others in the past).When I own a car, I tend to apply a cost no object maintenance strategy, and also invest in preventative maintenance, and I would certainly not sell someone a car I knew needed work, unless I explicitly told them and the price reflected this.
Because of this, when sale time comes, a car I would be selling, would generally be top money for the age and mileage (not ridiculous though). I would justify this, by it being a very clean example, which wants for nothing, and I generally find I will sell my car to someone looking for exactly that, who has usually viewed loads before mine, and found them all to be pigs or wanting for loads of money.
Over the course of the sale, I regularly get told 'but there's another one the same for a grand less' or similar. My standard response is; ok, go and buy that one then. Or, go and view it, then realise why mine is worth more'. That would be my response to OP's enquiry, I would imagine.
I find it the same when buying a car, I would rather pay £1000 more for a car with 4 brand new premium tires, new brakes, full service history, which has clearly been looked after, rather than the cheaper one with 4 worn out budgets, knackered brakes and patchy service record.
Just my 2p worth.
Edited by mjf93 on Friday 24th February 15:22
405dogvan said:
Worth mentioning that with some cars, 'valuations' are meaningless
For most cars I find "valuations" useless - they're supposed to reflect the market but they are obsolete instantly or inaccurate or naively extrapolated. Far simpler to look at the market rather than second guessing it.J__D said:
I'm the same, and managed to sell my car 2 weeks ago, despite being more expensive than 'similar' trade cars (let alone others in the past).
Same but that really only applies to £10k+ cars. Conversely as a buyer I'd probably pay a little premium NOT to deal with a dealer. The reality is that for me a pristine privately sold car where I can meet the last long term owner and assess him as much as I assess the car is worth a premium vs buying blind from a second hand dealer.
I'm trying to do both at the moment. Trying to sell my old one and I'll accept a decent offer above trade in, assuming someone actually offers, I haven't even had "wot's yr best offa m8?" enquiries possibly it's where I live, out in the boonies... well South Co. Durham anyway, priced too high? maybe though it's cheaper than others that are on private sale (lower mileage as well) it has however had all of the (expensive) weaknesses sorted as a preventative measure (invoices included), I could even point them to the garage and the name of the chap that did the work (and they look after some classics, I've seen a TVR in there and they currently have a Fordson tractor in).
On the buying side, it's not so much the price (which I think is pretty good considering age/mileage) it's the dirty look I got when I mentioned cash (I save up, don't live beyond your means/a bit old school kind of mentality but there you go), the time it's apparently taking to get prepped (don't mind that to be honest it means I've got more time to shift on the Alfa so the time between selling Alfa and enjoying V8 goodness is shorter) as well as general lack of communication is a little bit frustrating.
On the buying side, it's not so much the price (which I think is pretty good considering age/mileage) it's the dirty look I got when I mentioned cash (I save up, don't live beyond your means/a bit old school kind of mentality but there you go), the time it's apparently taking to get prepped (don't mind that to be honest it means I've got more time to shift on the Alfa so the time between selling Alfa and enjoying V8 goodness is shorter) as well as general lack of communication is a little bit frustrating.
Edited by alpha channel on Friday 24th February 16:22
I spent 6 months looking for an SLK. I was willing to pay the correct price for a high quality car. Private or specialist dealer; either was fine to me.
I can't remember how many I saw in that time but I drove 8 or 9. Private sellers were generally a waste of time. I went to see an 'excellent condition' one that had overspray on the tyres and bare Isopon behind poorly sprayed rust repairs. Two cars had complaining front bearings but both had new MoTs. One had a rear stoplight bulb that had 'just failed'. I replaced the bulb with a spare I had. No change.
There were fresh oil stains under a couple of cars.
It was pointless asking private sellers to describe the car. They lied. Fair enough, dealer blurb was often economical with the truth but when asked they generally admitted to faults.
I phoned a dealer and asked him for faults. He was accurate. I found no faults with the car other than those identified. I knocked a bit off for one of the faults and slight damage to a tyre wall. I bought it.
The headlight switch went just outside the warranty period. Had a discussion about it, he paid the price of the switch, £280, I fitted it three hours. It seemed reasonable to me and to him.
I'm going to look for a car in the summer. I will steer clear of private sellers unless the photographs are overwhelming.
I can't remember how many I saw in that time but I drove 8 or 9. Private sellers were generally a waste of time. I went to see an 'excellent condition' one that had overspray on the tyres and bare Isopon behind poorly sprayed rust repairs. Two cars had complaining front bearings but both had new MoTs. One had a rear stoplight bulb that had 'just failed'. I replaced the bulb with a spare I had. No change.
There were fresh oil stains under a couple of cars.
It was pointless asking private sellers to describe the car. They lied. Fair enough, dealer blurb was often economical with the truth but when asked they generally admitted to faults.
I phoned a dealer and asked him for faults. He was accurate. I found no faults with the car other than those identified. I knocked a bit off for one of the faults and slight damage to a tyre wall. I bought it.
The headlight switch went just outside the warranty period. Had a discussion about it, he paid the price of the switch, £280, I fitted it three hours. It seemed reasonable to me and to him.
I'm going to look for a car in the summer. I will steer clear of private sellers unless the photographs are overwhelming.
It works against private sellers as well. I had an immaculate CLK. Low mileage and pristine. The only thing was a few chips on the bonnet. A 'dent magician' fixed them for £180. He did a cracking job.
I had the car up for what I thought was a reasonable price, certainly significantly lower than any dealer car with low mileage, there being none at that time as low as mine.
I got no takers. One person came, viewed it, said it was the best one he'd seen and that he'd get back to me.
Took it off Autotrader and a few weeks later put it in part ex for another car. The price was lower than I'd advertised my car for. I took mine to WBAC. I was given a quote on the phone which was a fair bit higher than the pex price so thought I'd give it a go. The bloke knocked £150 off for a spurious mark on the door under the handle but missed the repairs to the bonnet.
I took it. With bus fares free I ended up in 'profit', but only just. The dealer I bought my car from would not reduce the asking price though.
I found it hard work selling a car.
When I sold my Chimaera I had few phone calls but the first to come bought it. I put off the chap who asked what mpg I got. He seemed a bit upset when I told him it was not the car for him. If only they were all that easy.
I had the car up for what I thought was a reasonable price, certainly significantly lower than any dealer car with low mileage, there being none at that time as low as mine.
I got no takers. One person came, viewed it, said it was the best one he'd seen and that he'd get back to me.
Took it off Autotrader and a few weeks later put it in part ex for another car. The price was lower than I'd advertised my car for. I took mine to WBAC. I was given a quote on the phone which was a fair bit higher than the pex price so thought I'd give it a go. The bloke knocked £150 off for a spurious mark on the door under the handle but missed the repairs to the bonnet.
I took it. With bus fares free I ended up in 'profit', but only just. The dealer I bought my car from would not reduce the asking price though.
I found it hard work selling a car.
When I sold my Chimaera I had few phone calls but the first to come bought it. I put off the chap who asked what mpg I got. He seemed a bit upset when I told him it was not the car for him. If only they were all that easy.
Last time I sold a car was for my father.
Advertised it reasonably priced, towards the strong end. Competing with dealer prices but had some nice options and was 1 in 15 that had sat nav inbuilt, new premium tyres, new brakes, just been serviced and MOT'd at main dealer, and I had just spent nearly 3 days detailing it (on and off).
Sold it to the first couple who saw it for £300 less than asking price (7k).
They were a pleasure to deal with, very nice people, and my Dad got more than he thought his car was worth.
I had a couple of time waster messages quite the same as you I suspect "Autotrader said it's worth £5500 what will you do" and I said look at what's on the market and then if you want to discuss price come and view the car.
It's not stressful at all.
Advertised it reasonably priced, towards the strong end. Competing with dealer prices but had some nice options and was 1 in 15 that had sat nav inbuilt, new premium tyres, new brakes, just been serviced and MOT'd at main dealer, and I had just spent nearly 3 days detailing it (on and off).
Sold it to the first couple who saw it for £300 less than asking price (7k).
They were a pleasure to deal with, very nice people, and my Dad got more than he thought his car was worth.
I had a couple of time waster messages quite the same as you I suspect "Autotrader said it's worth £5500 what will you do" and I said look at what's on the market and then if you want to discuss price come and view the car.
It's not stressful at all.
geeks said:
Theory on that, do you think it could have been down to people going in and selecting "Max Price - £4,000" meaning it was visible to more people?
It's the case 100%Well priced cars sell very quickly, and it goes from zero to multiple viewings in a day, as soon as the price is low enough.
Even £100 can make a huge difference.
And yes, you want to be below round prices. Like £3850 vs £4050 is a huge difference in perception
Just to clarify I'm not a nightmare buyer looking for a car for nothing. I want to find a decent car for a fair price.
I could buy a well looked after car, minty example, no expense spared, pay 1000 quid over private example valuation, then when I want to part ex it, I get offered the same price where ever I go, which will be Few grand less than what I paid. This is what I'm trying to minimise.
Private buyers willing to pay over the odds are a decent example are very rare.
As for the example a4i gave, it was low mileage at 75k, but it's a bit suspect. It did less than 1k a year for 4 years running according to MOT history, and apparently the bloke who owned it in that time was a auto electrician. Bit suspect? The car was in good condition over all, but still need paint on 2 wings and a bumper from a parking mishap.
It was also still on original clutch i think, that's 800 quid bill waiting to happen. If say it just had a new clutch, a full service, good tyres, a belt and a water pump, and had good body work, maybe you could justify asking over market value, maybe even dealer money like this guy wanted.
My point stands, a lot of people selling private want dealer money for their cars regardless of condition.
I could buy a well looked after car, minty example, no expense spared, pay 1000 quid over private example valuation, then when I want to part ex it, I get offered the same price where ever I go, which will be Few grand less than what I paid. This is what I'm trying to minimise.
Private buyers willing to pay over the odds are a decent example are very rare.
As for the example a4i gave, it was low mileage at 75k, but it's a bit suspect. It did less than 1k a year for 4 years running according to MOT history, and apparently the bloke who owned it in that time was a auto electrician. Bit suspect? The car was in good condition over all, but still need paint on 2 wings and a bumper from a parking mishap.
It was also still on original clutch i think, that's 800 quid bill waiting to happen. If say it just had a new clutch, a full service, good tyres, a belt and a water pump, and had good body work, maybe you could justify asking over market value, maybe even dealer money like this guy wanted.
My point stands, a lot of people selling private want dealer money for their cars regardless of condition.
I've bought & sold a few cars over the years the last was a Cayenne Turbo I had it up at 25k (the same as specialist dealers) I wanted 22k main dealer offered me 20k hence the private sale.
My thinking was that people would see I'm a private seller so I'd be more receptive to a deal, it worked I had a dealer come & buy it for 23k which I was happy with as was he, it was back up for sale at 25.9k a few days later.
As a buyer I don't care who's selling as long as I think the price is right & the paperwork checked out then I buy the car, private buyers may price their cars at near dealer money but most expect to be haggled down a bit.
My thinking was that people would see I'm a private seller so I'd be more receptive to a deal, it worked I had a dealer come & buy it for 23k which I was happy with as was he, it was back up for sale at 25.9k a few days later.
As a buyer I don't care who's selling as long as I think the price is right & the paperwork checked out then I buy the car, private buyers may price their cars at near dealer money but most expect to be haggled down a bit.
If overpriced then you get no interest or viewers.
Following viewing, any discussion about being overpriced is purely a negotiating technique, generally I want your car but would like some money off.
"... your car is overpriced compared to others or price guides", please view them and purchase if you still feel that way.
Some flexibility on price if faults exist that are then discovered during the viewing and not stated in the advert and therefore priced in, some small price reduction to close a sale dependent on interest in the car from other buyers.
So in summary, advertised price is to attract viewers so a direct indication if a high or maybe even too low price is used.
Simple approach?
Following viewing, any discussion about being overpriced is purely a negotiating technique, generally I want your car but would like some money off.
"... your car is overpriced compared to others or price guides", please view them and purchase if you still feel that way.
Some flexibility on price if faults exist that are then discovered during the viewing and not stated in the advert and therefore priced in, some small price reduction to close a sale dependent on interest in the car from other buyers.
So in summary, advertised price is to attract viewers so a direct indication if a high or maybe even too low price is used.
Simple approach?
benjijames28 said:
it was low mileage at 75k, but it's a bit suspect. It did less than 1k a year for 4 years running according to MOT history, and apparently the bloke who owned it in that time was a auto electrician. Bit suspect? The car was in good condition over all, but still need paint on 2 wings and a bumper from a parking mishap.
It was also still on original clutch i think, that's 800 quid bill waiting to happen. If say it just had a new clutch, a full service, good tyres, a belt and a water pump, and had good body work, maybe you could justify asking over market value, maybe even dealer money like this guy wanted.
My point stands, a lot of people selling private want dealer money for their cars regardless of condition.
My old clutch was still going at 120k even when remapped.It was also still on original clutch i think, that's 800 quid bill waiting to happen. If say it just had a new clutch, a full service, good tyres, a belt and a water pump, and had good body work, maybe you could justify asking over market value, maybe even dealer money like this guy wanted.
My point stands, a lot of people selling private want dealer money for their cars regardless of condition.
Dealing with 2nd hand market unless you are at the top end of the market then you're going to just have to compromise!
Plenty of cars out there, i dont understand the issue tbh.
benjijames28 said:
Just to clarify I'm not a nightmare buyer looking for a car for nothing. I want to find a decent car for a fair price.
They all say that! End of the day you have to buy something which is for-sale tho, you cannot just expect people to sell what you have in your head 
benjijames28 said:
As for the example a4i gave, it was low mileage at 75k, but it's a bit suspect. It did less than 1k a year for 4 years running according to MOT history, and apparently the bloke who owned it in that time was a auto electrician. Bit suspect?
Maybe and maybe not - some people just don't do that many miles in their car (esp people with multiple cars/work vans etc.) People like this also tend to hold-out for more money because they aren't in-need of the cash/another car.One of the factors in setting a sale-price is what else is available locally. If you're the only person selling a certain car in a 50+ mile radius, you can ask more and buyers can either pay it or face a costly trip to find another!?
End of the day, every private sale is risky tho - you need cash left-over to guard against that for sure. We live in an era where a £6000 car could have £3000 of bills lurking within it (or worse) - some bravery is required when buying privately so yes, you want the car cheaper than you'd get it from a dealer, for sure.
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