Gone In 60 Seconds

Part 2 of PHer V8mate's guide to the auction scene

By V8mate / Tuesday, 26 May 2009 / Loading comments

Take a look in my wife’s wardrobe and you’ll find countless garments that have never been worn. Usually sale bargains which she couldn’t resist; bargains that, in the heat of the moment and the busy, sale-frenzied store, were so obviously one-off, never-to-be-repeated deals that to leave them on the hanger for another buyer would be pure madness. Of course, the journey home after such a shopping expedition soon refocuses the mind. And the item turns out to be slightly the wrong size; somewhat too purple; rather too ostentatious. Taking it back would be admitting she got it wrong and wasn’t there a sign in the store which said ‘No Returns on Sale Items’ anyway? So she lives with these purchases; denial pushing them further and further into the wardrobe.

Porsche Boxster S - SOLD!

There’s a reason why some cars are sold at auction for well below their acknowledged value. For some it’s because of an obvious fault or imperfection. Though in some cases, the obviousness of such defects relies to some extent on your own skill at identifying them. For others, it may be a market response to a particularly awful colour, an under-powered engine or even such tenuous commercial disasters as ‘because Jeremy Clarkson said it was rubbish’.

Now each price-lowering scenario will have its pros and cons. A colour which no-one but you likes, quite simply, means that you’ll get a bargain. It may also mean that the auction will probably be the only place you’ll be able to sell that car on when you’ve had enough of it though. A fault or body damage my need costly professional attention, but if you are sure that you’ve accurately diagnosed the extent of the problem and are able to remedy it yourself, you could well be quids-in.

Mazda MX-5 - SOLD!

So how can you maximise your chances of buying the best possible car? Firstly, give yourself enough time. My local auction house opens at 8.30 am on sale days but doesn’t start the sales until 10am. Given that they have between 400 and 800 cars available on each sale day, it’s important to leave yourself time to wander round the entire lot before returning to cars which particularly caught your eye.

Get a catalogue when you first arrive. These specify the basic details about the car and its mileage, often including many of the cars’ features too. In the windscreen of each car will then be another talk-sheet with additional information like expiry date of MOT (if applicable) and service history. Sometimes the latter may simply state how many stamps are in the service book; other vendors include the mileage on the date of the last service. Either way, you need to establish whether your first call after buying the car is a service centre or whether you have already gained as many as 20,000 service-free miles at the vendor’s expense.

Maximising sales prices is a key element of running a profitable fleet, whether corporate or lease. The remarketing managers – the people responsible for getting the best auction prices – will do everything in their power to present you with an attractive product. And this means spending money having vehicles reconditioned before sending them to auction. This exercise could cover items like removing parking dings, touching in minor chips and deep cleaning upholstery, but could extend to having half the car repainted! So take some time to inspect the paintwork, as the jobs will always have been done with an eye on the budget. Whilst checking for panel alignment, by ensuring gaps are always uniform, check for paint ‘edges’ where masking tape has been. Sometimes it’s dead easy; I’ve seen cars with masking tape still flapping from lower sills and door handles not refitted pass through the auction hall, but not all are so obvious. Naturally, a paint refresh doesn’t make a car a bad buy – it may have been a genuine and high quality attempt to improve the vehicle’s condition – but it’s better to know what you’re buying before the hammer drops than be disappointed later.

Grand Cherokee - SOLD!

Bearing in mind that all the cars will be locked, you are very much limited to an external inspection; decisions about the interior very much at the mercy of what you can see through the windows. But there’s still plenty to see: tyres, for example, are a major expense on many modern cars and the difference between a recent and old set can easily be £600 or even more on high-performance models. Windscreens too need careful inspection. The days of sitting on the bonnet with a big bit of glass and length of string long gone; a lot of the cars being sold will not have seen an MOT test centre and those chips may end up being your cost.

So, you’ve picked your short-list, maybe discounted a couple because of some dodgy bodywork or poor service history and you will, of course, have a favourite; which will inevitably come after your ‘reserves’ in the running order. (No-one said this would be easy!) Now you’re waiting for the public address system to strike up and for business to get underway. In the next report we’ll take a look at your next steps once the engines are running and try and stop the fumes bringing on auction fever because, whether your purchase turn out to be a gem or a banger, there’s no taking it back.

This week’s price listings include some cars from lease vendors together with some cars from a Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge sale. Some fantastic bargains to be had there – spot the cars with ‘Del’ in the mileage column. These were ‘08’-plate vehicles all with less then 20 miles on the clock. Clearly imported into the UK and then went nowhere; all were absolutely immaculate and effectively brand new. And from models across the range too; showing that there are still bargains to be had in spite of the massive rally in prices this year. Sale also included the first Jaguar XF I’ve seen at auction.

And my current bargain tip? BMW 5-series; older than 3 years and with over-average miles (though still under 100k). Huge amount of car for the money.

Here’s this week’s listing; over 170 cars to help you with your research.

Part one of the feature can be found here

Gerald Price

Year	Plate	Make	Model	Detail	Mileage	Price	Status
2007	57	Alfa Romeo	GT	1.9 16V Diesel Blackline Coupe	18k	12400	SOLD
2007	07	Audi	A3	1.9 TDI Special Edition 5dr	27k	9950	SOLD
2006	06	Audi	A3	1.9 TDI Sport 3dr	71k	7800	SOLD
2008	08	Audi	A3	FSI S-Tronic Cabriolet	19k	19000	SOLD
2006	06	Audi	A4	1.8T S-Line Mtronic Estate	20k	12150	SOLD
2006	06	Audi	A4	1.9 TDI TDV S-Line 4dr	26k	10250	SOLD
2005	05	Audi	A4	3.0 S-Line Mtronic Auto Cabriolet	14k	13000	SOLD
2007	07	Audi	A4	3.2 FSI Quattro S-Line Cabriolet	18k	18000	Provisional
2008	08	Audi	A4	1.8T Sport Mtronic Cabriolet	17k	18600	Provisional
2004	04	Audi	S4	4.2 Quattro Tip Auto 4dr	31k	12800	SOLD
2008	08	Audi	A5	2.7 TDI Sport Mtronic Coupe	25k	25000	SOLD
2007	07	Audi	A6	2.7 TDI Quattro S-Line All-Road Auto	58k	16800	Provisional
2007	07	Audi	Q7	3.0 TDI Quattro S-Line Tip Auto	17k	27600	SOLD
2003	03	Audi	TT	Quattro (225) Coupe	64k	7300	SOLD
2007	07	Audi	TT	2.0 TFSI Coupe	32k	17500	SOLD
2005	05	Audi	TT	3.2 V6 Quattro Coupe	26k	11000	SOLD
2008	08	Audi	TT	2.0 TFSI S-Tronic Roadster	22k	19900	Provisional
2008	08	Audi	TT	2.0 TFSI S-Tronic Coupe	18k	21000	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	118D	SE 5dr	62k	7300	SOLD
2004	54	BMW	120D	Sport 5dr	81k	8100	SOLD
2004	04	BMW	320CI	Sport Convertible	56k	10650	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	320D	SE Touring	30k	14100	SOLD
2006	55	BMW	320D	M Sport Touring	51k	13250	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	325i	SE Coupe	23k	14700	SOLD
2002	52	BMW	330CI	Sport Auto Coupe	75k	6750	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	330CI	SE Auto Convertible	32k	13400	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	520D	SE Auto Saloon	25k	12900	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	520D	SE Auto Saloon	71k	10000	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	520D	SE Auto Saloon	131k	8550	SOLD
2007	56	BMW	520D	SE Auto Saloon	58k	14100	SOLD
2007	07	BMW	520D	M Sport Step Auto Saloon	31k	18000	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	520i	SE Saloon	125k	7700	SOLD
2005	55	BMW	523i	SE Auto Saloon	94k	8300	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	523i	SE Saloon	81k	8525	SOLD
2005	05	BMW	525D	SE Auto Saloon	98k	8900	SOLD
2006	06	BMW	530D	M Sport Auto Saloon	32k	16800	SOLD
2002	52	BMW	Alpina	B3 3.3 SW-Tronic Coupe	39k	8800	SOLD
2003	03	BMW	M3	SMG Coupe	105k	10800	SOLD
2006	56	BMW	Z4	2.0i SE Roadster	18k	11350	SOLD
2007	57	Chrysler	300C	3.0 V6 CRD Auto Saloon	17k	13300	SOLD
2007	56	Chrysler	300C	3.0 V6 CRD Auto Estate	44k	10800	SOLD
2006	06	Chrysler	300C	3.0 V6 CRD Auto Saloon	49k	10300	SOLD
2006	06	Chrysler	Crossfire	3.2 V6 Auto Convertible	14k	12400	SOLD
2006	56	Chrysler	Grand Voyager	2.8 CRD Limited XS Auto	42k	11000	SOLD
2006	06	Chrysler	Grand Voyager	2.8 CRD Limited Auto	14k	10900	SOLD
2008	08	Chrysler	Grand Voyager	2.8 CRD Touring (new shape)	Del	20000	SOLD
2005	05	Chrysler	Grand Voyager	2.8 CRD Limited XS Auto	32k	10200	SOLD
2008	57	Chrysler	Grand Voyager	2.8 CRD Executive XS Auto	11k	15300	SOLD
2007	07	Chrysler	Grand Voyager	2.8 CRD Signature Auto	18k	13200	SOLD
2006	56	Chrysler	PT Cruiser	2.4 Touring Cabriolet	11k	6400	SOLD
2006	06	Chrysler	Voyager	2.8 CRD LX Auto	32k	7650	SOLD
2008	08	Chrysler	Voyager	2.8 CRD Executive Auto	12k	11700	SOLD
2007	07	Citroen	C4	Picasso 1.6 HDI Exclusive (new shape)	13k	9850	SOLD
2007	57	Dodge	Nitro	2.8 CRD SE 5dr	9k	8250	SOLD
2008	08	Dodge	Nitro	2.8 CRD SXT Auto	12k	11650	SOLD
2008	08	Fiat	500	1.4 Lounge 3dr	9k	8400	SOLD
2007	57	Fiat	Grande Punto	1.2 Active 3dr	12k	4700	SOLD
2005	05	Ford	Excursion	5.4 Limousine (long, long, long)	110k	10500	SOLD
2007	57	Ford	Fiesta	2.0 ST 3dr	27k	6900	SOLD
2006	56	Ford	Fiesta	1.25 Zetec 3dr (Climate)	17k	4875	SOLD
2007	57	Ford	Fiesta	1.25 Style 3dr (Climate)	11k	5550	SOLD
2007	07	Ford	Fiesta	1.25 Zetec 3dr (Climate)	13k	5250	SOLD
2006	06	Ford	Focus	1.8 TDCI Sport 5dr	39k	5900	SOLD
2007	07	Ford	Focus	1.6 TDCI LX 5dr	81k	4250	SOLD
2007	07	Ford	Focus	ST-2 2.5 3dr	23k	10550	SOLD
2006	56	Ford	Focus	2.5 ST-2 3dr	63k	9100	SOLD
2004	53	Ford	Focus	2.0 ST170 3dr	71k	2800	SOLD
2007	57	Ford	Mondeo	2.0 TDCI Titanium X 5dr (new shape)	36k	11600	SOLD
2004	54	Ford	Mondeo	3.0 V6 ST220 5dr	28k	6700	SOLD
2005	55	Ford	Mondeo	2.2 TDCI 155 ST 5dr	78k	6325	SOLD
2008	08	Ford	Mondeo	2.0 TDCI Edge Auto (new shape)	4k	11500	SOLD
2008	08	Ford	Mondeo	2.0 TDCI Titanium X 5dr (new shape)	19k	13000	SOLD
2003	53	Honda	Civic	2.0 VTEC Type-R 3dr (AC)	67k	5950	SOLD
2007	57	Honda	Civic	2.0 VTEC Type R GT 3dr	13k	12100	SOLD
2006	56	Honda	CR-V	2.0 VTEC Executive Auto	35k	10400	SOLD
2005	05	Honda	CR-V	2.2 TDI Executive 5dr	41k	8700	SOLD
2008	08	Jaguar	XF	Luxury Diesel Auto	24k	24000	Provisional
2001	51	Jaguar	XKR	4.0 Supercharged Auto Coupe	70k	9800	SOLD
2002	02	Jaguar	XKR	4.0 Supercharged Auto Convertible	41k	12000	SOLD
2006	06	Jaguar	X-Type	2.2D Sport Estate	49k	9300	SOLD
2005	05	Jaguar	X-Type	2.0D Classic Estate	130k	4300	SOLD
2006	06	Jeep	Cherokee	2.8 CRD Limited Auto 5dr	69k	6475	SOLD
2008	08	Jeep	Cherokee	2.8 CRD Sport 5dr (new shape)	Del	11600	SOLD
2005	55	Jeep	Cherokee	2.8 CRD Sport Auto	27k	6600	SOLD
2006	56	Jeep	Commander	3.0 CRD Limited Auto	17k	11800	SOLD
2008	08	Jeep	Compass	2.0 CRD Limited 5dr	Del	10900	SOLD
2007	07	Jeep	Grand Cherokee	3.0 CRD Overland Auto	14k	15800	SOLD
2006	06	Jeep	Grand Cherokee	3.0 CRD Limited Auto	31k	11000	SOLD
2008	08	Jeep	Grand Cherokee	3.0 CRD Overland Auto	Del	16900	SOLD
2008	08	Jeep	Grand Cherokee	3.0 CRD Auto	Del	12800	SOLD
2008	57	Jeep	Wrangler	2.8 CRD Sahara Auto Hardtop	7k	13100	SOLD
2006	06	Lexus	IS	250 Sport (Multimedia)	44k	10000	SOLD
2005	55	Lexus	LS	430 4.3 V8 Auto	36k	12700	SOLD
2007	07	Mazda	MX-5	1.8i (Option Pack) Convertible	22k	9300	SOLD
2007	07	Mazda	MX-5	1.8i (Option Pack) Convertible	28k	8700	SOLD
2006	06	Mazda	MX-5	2.0i (Option Pack) Convertible	73k	6300	SOLD
2007	07	Mazda	RX-8	231bhp Coupe	21k	10200	SOLD
2003	53	Mazda	RX-8	231bhp Coupe	32k	5400	SOLD
2005	55	Mazda	RX-8	192bhp Coupe	30k	6650	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	B180	CDI SE 5dr	41k	9850	SOLD
2005	55	Mercedes	C180k	Avantgarde SE Saloon	48k	7400	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	C200	CDI Sport Auto Saloon	50k	10900	SOLD
2008	08	Mercedes	C200	CDI Sport Auto Saloon	9k	20000	SOLD
2005	55	Mercedes	C220	CDI Avantgarde SE Estate	35k	9700	SOLD
2005	55	Mercedes	C220	CDI SE 3dr Auto Coupe	40k	9200	SOLD
2008	08	Mercedes	C220	CDI Sport Auto Saloon	3k	22200	SOLD
2008	08	Mercedes	C220	CDI Sport Auto Saloon	20k	20200	SOLD
2007	57	Mercedes	CLS	CLS500 (388) Tip Auto Saloon	13k	24750	SOLD
2006	06	Mercedes	E220	CDI Elegance Tip Auto Saloon	135k	8500	SOLD
2003	53	Mercedes	E220	CDI Elegance Tip Auto Saloon	88k	8100	SOLD
2005	05	Mercedes	E320	CDI Elegance Tip Auto Saloon	36k	12700	SOLD
2005	05	Mercedes	E350	Avantgarde Tip Auto Saloon	28k	12000	SOLD
2001	Y	Mercedes	S55L	AMG Auto Saloon	76k	8600	SOLD
2007	07	Mercedes	SLK	200K Roadster	10k	18200	Provisional
2002	51	MG	ZS	2.5 V6 180 4dr	65k	1075	SOLD
2006	06	MINI	One	1.6 3dr	28k	6900	SOLD
2004	54	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr Auto	48k	6400	SOLD
2005	05	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr	46k	6200	SOLD
2005	54	MINI	Cooper	1.6 Convertible	63k	7450	SOLD
2007	07	MINI	Cooper	1.6 3dr	6k	8525	SOLD
2008	08	Mitsubishi	Outlander	2.0 DD Warrior 5dr	9k	14900	Provisional
2005	55	Nissan	350Z	3.5 V6 Coupe	36k	11900	SOLD
2007	07	Nissan	Qashqai	1.5 DCI Acenta 5dr	66k	8550	SOLD
2004	04	Peugeot	206	1.6 S Coupe Cabriolet	44k	4775	SOLD
2006	06	Peugeot	206	1.6 Allure (AC) Coupe Cabriolet	15k	7050	SOLD
2006	55	Peugeot	307	1.6 S Coupe Cabriolet	45k	6800	SOLD
2005	05	Peugeot	407	2.0 HDI 136 SE 5dr SW	72k	5125	SOLD
2005	05	Peugeot	807	2.0 S HDI	36k	5350	SOLD
2007	57	Porsche	Boxster	3.4 S Roadster	9k	26600	SOLD
2005	05	Range Rover	Sport	4.4 V8 HSE Auto	67k	18400	SOLD
2006	06	Range Rover	Sport	4.4 V8 HSE Auto	49k	20300	Provisional
2006	06	Range Rover	Sport	2.7 TDV6 HSE Auto	46k	24800	SOLD
2006	55	Range Rover	Sport	4.2 V8 Supercharged Auto	40k	23000	SOLD
2008	08	Range Rover	Sport	2.7 TDV6 HSE Auto	29k	32800	SOLD
2002	02	Range Rover	Vogue	4.4 V8 Auto	74k	11000	SOLD
2003	03	Range Rover	Vogue	4.4 V8 Auto	71k	11600	SOLD
2004	54	Range Rover	Vogue	4.4 V8 Auto	60k	14800	SOLD
2008	57	Renault	Clio	1.5 DCI 65 Campus 3dr	29k	4850	SOLD
2007	07	Renault	Clio	1.4 16V Dynamique 5dr (AC)	17k	5500	SOLD
2006	06	Renault	Grande Espace	3.5 V6 Initiale Auto (leather)	20k	7600	SOLD
2007	07	Renault	Laguna	2.0 DCI Privilege Estate	56k	5200	SOLD
2007	56	Renault	Megane	16V RenaultSport 225 3dr	29k	8550	SOLD
2006	06	Renault	Megane	1.6 VVT Privilege Coupe Cabriolet	29k	7475	SOLD
2005	54	Renault	Megane	16V RenaultSport 225 3dr	64k	5075	SOLD
1997	R	Rover	600	618i 4dr (AC)	133k	50	SOLD
2006	06	Saab	9-3	TiD Vector Sport (150) Estate	56k	7500	SOLD
2005	55	Saab	9-3	1.9 TiD Vector Sport (150) 4dr	66k	5800	SOLD
2007	07	Saab	9-5	2.3 HOT Aero 4dr	8k	10200	SOLD
2004	04	Seat	Leon	1.8 20V (225) R Cupra 5dr	76k	4650	SOLD
2007	07	Seat	Leon	2.0 16V TDI FR 5dr	20k	11125	SOLD
2005	05	Skoda	Octavia	2.0 TDI PD Elegance 5dr	73k	4500	SOLD
2005	55	Toyota	Avensis	2.0 D D-4D t3-S Estate	43k	6250	SOLD
2006	06	Toyota	Avensis	1.8 VVTI T3-X Seq Auto 5dr	80k	4575	SOLD
2006	06	Toyota	RAV-4	2.0 VVTI XT4 Auto 5dr	30k	11900	SOLD
2004	54	Vauxhall	Corsa	1.4i 16V SRI 3dr	34k	3800	SOLD
2007	57	Vauxhall	Corsa	16V VXR 3dr	11k	11200	SOLD
2006	55	Vauxhall	Tigra	1.4i 16V TwinTop	43k	6150	SOLD
2006	06	Vauxhall	Tigra	1.4i 16V Exclusiv TwinTop	20k	7700	SOLD
2006	06	Vauxhall	Tigra	1.8i 16V Sport Coupe	33k	7100	Provisional
2008	58	Vauxhall	Vectra	1.8i VVT SRI 5dr	4k	8000	SOLD
2006	06	Vauxhall	Zafira	1.9 CDTI Design (120)	47k	7000	SOLD
2007	56	Vauxhall	Zafira	1.9 CDTI Club (120) Auto	20k	6800	SOLD
2006	06	Volkswagen	Golf	2.0 GT TDI DSG Auto 5dr	87k	8300	SOLD
2006	06	Volkswagen	Golf	2.0 GT TDI 4Motion 3dr	53k	8000	SOLD
2006	56	Volkswagen	Golf	2.0 GT TDI 5dr	55k	7400	SOLD
2006	56	Volkswagen	Golf	2.0 GT TDI 170 5dr	30k	11100	SOLD
2007	07	Volkswagen	Golf	2.0 GT TDI 5dr	24k	10850	SOLD
2007	57	Volkswagen	Golf	R32 3.2 V6 4Motion 5dr	26k	15500	SOLD
2006	56	Volkswagen	Jetta	2.0 Sport TDI PD 4dr	71k	6525	SOLD
2006	06	Volkswagen	Passat	1.9 SE TDI 4dr	47k	7000	SOLD
2007	07	Volkswagen	Polo	GTI 150 3dr	40k	8350	SOLD
2005	05	Volkswagen	Touran	2.0 TDI PD Sport 5dr	52k	7050	SOLD
2006	56	Volvo	C70	SE Lux Coupe Cabriolet	23k	14400	SOLD
2005	05	Volvo	V50	2.0D S Estate (leather)	76k	5800	SOLD
2004	04	Volvo	XC90	2.9 T6 S Gtronic	64k	8900	SOLD

Latest General News articles

Honda Civic Type R (FN2) | Shed of the Week

Lotus Emira Turbo SE vs Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0

Jaguar I-Pace | PH Fleet

Impossibly rare Audi Sport Quattro for sale

New Vauxhall Corsa GSE VGT is 800hp 'beacon'

Popular forums

General Gassing

Chat about all things motoring

The Pie & Piston

Chat about everything else…

Motorsports

Win on Sunday, talk about it on Monday

Supercars

Not all cars are created equal

Events

Meet your hero Matt Bird in person

The Lounge

Need to get something off your chest?

View all forums