Private buyer only offering 10% of what I advertised the car
Discussion
I have a Ford Focus with the following details:
It passed the last MOT with no advisories whatsoever.
I am trying to sell it privately and advertised it for £800 (I kinda just plucked this figure out of the air but I was getting some interest so this reassured me that it wasn't out of the question to be advertising at this price).
This last guy who came round that said he was buying the car for his dad noted the following (not being a car person, I have no idea about the severity of these things):
Has my car really lost £850 in value since 18 months ago. I was aware that the clutch wasn't the best as it has always had a very high biting point, however it passed the last MOT and service as it is now. The guy told me that it will not pass it's next MOT in 5 months time unless I fix all of the above (apart from the air-con).
Is what he is saying likely to be true? And would it really cost all that money to fix it? Or is there a chance that he is just trying to get the car extremely cheaply?
- UK model
- 1.5 Facelift model
- 2002
- Hatchback
- Full Service History
- 5 months MOT
- 70,000 miles
It passed the last MOT with no advisories whatsoever.
I am trying to sell it privately and advertised it for £800 (I kinda just plucked this figure out of the air but I was getting some interest so this reassured me that it wasn't out of the question to be advertising at this price).
This last guy who came round that said he was buying the car for his dad noted the following (not being a car person, I have no idea about the severity of these things):
- Rear sill has a rust hole that needs welding and re-painting (Here: http://i.imgur.com/jz0WzsJ.jpg)
- There is exhaust blow
- The clutch needs replacing
- I need 3 new tyres
- Air-con needs re-gassing
Has my car really lost £850 in value since 18 months ago. I was aware that the clutch wasn't the best as it has always had a very high biting point, however it passed the last MOT and service as it is now. The guy told me that it will not pass it's next MOT in 5 months time unless I fix all of the above (apart from the air-con).
Is what he is saying likely to be true? And would it really cost all that money to fix it? Or is there a chance that he is just trying to get the car extremely cheaply?
benjijames28 said:
Sell it him and it will be up for sale on gumtree and a Facebook group for 1200, having had a fine mini valet from your local car wash. The lucky buyer might have been treated up a few part worn tyres if they are lucky, and a dodgy back Street 12 month mot.
Funnily enough, GumTree is where I'm advertising. So we know he's familiar with it.
This is surely another troll.TooMany2cvs said:
If the tyres really are fails, then they're illegal to use. You DO check them, right?
I check all of my tyres regularly (it's pretty much the only thing I really know how to do - checking the tread depth and adjusting the pressures). And they are all legal. No bulges, no significant wear. All walls are strong.Sorry about the diagram. I am not near my car right now and was simply hoping for quick replies.
As for the clutch, it has always had a very high biting point since I bought it. Honestly, I'm not too sure what a clutch slipping really means. Does it mean that it doesn't fully engage when changing gear? If so, occasionally, when I change gear, the revs go up quite high until I let down the accelerator a little, then it goes to normal. Is this a sign of slipping? If so, what is my next recommended cause of action?
The Spruce goose said:
you will get more than £150. I would say between 400 - 500 pounds would be realistic. Cars like your will have faults, it is wear and tear very normal.
If I were to re-advertise at £400-500. Would it be justified to expect them to do repairs out of their own pocket? Or would I still be expected to negotiate on price to take repairs into account?Challo said:
Agree on the eBay. Lots of pictures, be honest with all its faults, make you advise how much MOT is left etc.
Stick a reserve on eBay for £400 and see what bids you get. It's worth more than £150, but £800 is a little rich for something which sounds like it needs work.
I agree that £800 is far too high but I have nothing to go off regarding what it's true value was.Stick a reserve on eBay for £400 and see what bids you get. It's worth more than £150, but £800 is a little rich for something which sounds like it needs work.
I think I will go down the eBay route. I never thought of having the car up for auction.
How exactly does the auction work? Because presumably the people are bidding on a car they haven't seen or driven? Is the bid conditional on them coming to see the car after the bid and checking that it holds up to their expectations?
Would I need to post its issues (the high biting point of the clutch mostly) in the description?
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
I just bought a new (to me) Focus after my last one went caput...
It's a Ghia model, same year as yours. It was advertised @ £695 but I paid £500 as it needs the following work...
Exhaust blowing - I'll probably just weld it (free)
Rear window regulator broken - repair kit (£5)
Air Con not working - hopefully just a re-gas next year (£50)
Wipers not returning to home position - replaced relay (free as borrowed from other car)
Armrest not lowering (I welded a clip back on inside the mech)
General hoover and tidy up (Time + £10 for a touch-up pen)
The rust just ahead of the rear arch is a common one - they all rust there to some degree.
Clutches can be quite high on these, although if it's so high that your foot is off the floor chances are it's on it's last legs.
Focus's are great cars to drive, but they're built to a price...they are leagues behind the exemplary build quality of Japanese cars for example. Second hand prices reflect this.
£500 for a 2002 year Focus is about right. Advertise it at £700 and let them knock you down. Ghia's tend to sell better than Zetecs and lesser still models.
Thanks for the input, really helpful.It's a Ghia model, same year as yours. It was advertised @ £695 but I paid £500 as it needs the following work...
Exhaust blowing - I'll probably just weld it (free)
Rear window regulator broken - repair kit (£5)
Air Con not working - hopefully just a re-gas next year (£50)
Wipers not returning to home position - replaced relay (free as borrowed from other car)
Armrest not lowering (I welded a clip back on inside the mech)
General hoover and tidy up (Time + £10 for a touch-up pen)
The rust just ahead of the rear arch is a common one - they all rust there to some degree.
Clutches can be quite high on these, although if it's so high that your foot is off the floor chances are it's on it's last legs.
Focus's are great cars to drive, but they're built to a price...they are leagues behind the exemplary build quality of Japanese cars for example. Second hand prices reflect this.
£500 for a 2002 year Focus is about right. Advertise it at £700 and let them knock you down. Ghia's tend to sell better than Zetecs and lesser still models.
The model I have is an LX.
So it seems that the only real issue that will cause this car to not sell is the clutch then. The other issues are relatively common/minor?
cpjitservices said:
Mark 1.5.
You always get the chancers - the amount of times someone has come to buy a car off of me and claimed head gaskets going or clutch is on its way out etc... its rubbish. Lock the thing up and go indoors and dont waste your time. A serious buyer will be more than happy to go for a test drive etc and accept the car as is. Sold as seen. Make sure you state that on a receipt....
I'll keep trying then, thanks You always get the chancers - the amount of times someone has come to buy a car off of me and claimed head gaskets going or clutch is on its way out etc... its rubbish. Lock the thing up and go indoors and dont waste your time. A serious buyer will be more than happy to go for a test drive etc and accept the car as is. Sold as seen. Make sure you state that on a receipt....
boobles said:
My apologies as I have not read through all of this. How long ago was it MOT'ed? I would have thought that they would have picked up on everything that this guy has mentioned as an advisory? Tell him to p
s off & also tell "we buy any car" to do the same!
The MOT was completed 7 months ago and the only advisory was that there was little reserve travel for the handbrake.s off & also tell "we buy any car" to do the same!heebeegeetee said:
Am I right in thinking the so-called list of faults was given to the OP by his timewaster enquirer? In which case it can be disregarded as it's all likely to be untrue?
OP, before ebay try your local paper. I've just sold 2 cars using this method, and I think you get far less of the timewaster/ebay/gumtree mob and more of the traditional buyer who is genuinely interested. The first car (my dear old Bora) sold to the first person who saw it, on the day the ad went live.
Maybe reduce the price of the Focus a tad but disregard that list completely, it's as likely to be made up as not.
Yes, all if these faults were listed by the seller. Having no car knowledge myself he could have been lying. I did stupidly admit to him that I don't know cars so he may have been taking advantage. He did turn up in his work clothes that has jaguar logos on it so I suspect he is actually a mechanic or something though.OP, before ebay try your local paper. I've just sold 2 cars using this method, and I think you get far less of the timewaster/ebay/gumtree mob and more of the traditional buyer who is genuinely interested. The first car (my dear old Bora) sold to the first person who saw it, on the day the ad went live.
Maybe reduce the price of the Focus a tad but disregard that list completely, it's as likely to be made up as not.
jamieduff1981 said:
I can understand both sides. Why pay £800 for a shagged Focus when you could pay £800 for one that is at least usable without a hole in the floor, 3 expired tyres and a slipping clutch?
He's been polite and respectful in that text message. The car isn't worth any more to him. I'd be inclined the same way. I wouldn't pay decent shed money for a shed that immediately needed ~£300 in tyres and clutch kit spent on it and a weekend lying underneath removing the gearbox to change the clutch and weld the floor.
Nobody sensible expects an £800 Focus to be show-room fresh, but you'd expect an £800 Focus to be roadworthy. If I was 20-something with nothing to do with my time I'd pay no more than £500 absolute tops for that assuming I already knew what I was doing and owned tools & equipment to do the repairs myself (which I do, but appreciate that most don't). If there's even a suggestion that the car needs to go to a garage to get this stuff done (and MOT or not, a hole in the floor near rear suspension mounting points is illegal because the car is not roadworthy) then most should just choose another £800 shed that has some life left in it.
Yeah I completely understand the guy's issue with the car and personally I would also look at other cars if there were others for £800 that did not have any issues. I will definitely re-list the car but for reduce price to represent the state of the car.He's been polite and respectful in that text message. The car isn't worth any more to him. I'd be inclined the same way. I wouldn't pay decent shed money for a shed that immediately needed ~£300 in tyres and clutch kit spent on it and a weekend lying underneath removing the gearbox to change the clutch and weld the floor.
Nobody sensible expects an £800 Focus to be show-room fresh, but you'd expect an £800 Focus to be roadworthy. If I was 20-something with nothing to do with my time I'd pay no more than £500 absolute tops for that assuming I already knew what I was doing and owned tools & equipment to do the repairs myself (which I do, but appreciate that most don't). If there's even a suggestion that the car needs to go to a garage to get this stuff done (and MOT or not, a hole in the floor near rear suspension mounting points is illegal because the car is not roadworthy) then most should just choose another £800 shed that has some life left in it.
I have no problems with the guy, he was always been polite and nice to me.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff