Selling: opinions please...
Discussion
It's after much thought, that I have decided now is the time to sell my much loved Seven, a young family, significant work commitments and the good old british weather means I am now averaging <1000 miles annually! It seems like such a shame seeing it stand in the garage, connected to the mains under a car cover for months on end. All of the crisp sunny mornings seem to come on the weekdays or the weekends that I'm not free, leaving the me with the soggy leftovers.
I've never really hesitated in selling anything in the past, but this does have sentimental value as the vehicle was owned from new by my late father. I took ownership of the car about 18 months ago, but had been using it for some time prior as my father was too weak to drive. In fact shortly before he died I took him out in the Caterham in an effort to somehow cheer him up, looking back on that day now, he forced a smile for my sake but fear it just reminded him of yet another thing his relentless cancer had robbed him of!
Anyway, we discussed the car prior to his death and he was very clear... If the car became too costly to run, prohibitive in anyway or there was any other reason I was to sell it. He was adamant, he didn't want me to feel like I was obliged to take it on. The annual cost of running the vehicle is minimal, probably spend about that a month socialising! But the lack of use just seems wasteful, anyway the least I can do it get a decent price for it, for that he'd approve
I've currently got it advertised here in the classifieds and I've had an almost overwhelming response so far, is it too cheap? I'm finding it hard to value, it really is in incredible condition throughout but prices are all over the place so I'd welcome some other opinions.
I've never really hesitated in selling anything in the past, but this does have sentimental value as the vehicle was owned from new by my late father. I took ownership of the car about 18 months ago, but had been using it for some time prior as my father was too weak to drive. In fact shortly before he died I took him out in the Caterham in an effort to somehow cheer him up, looking back on that day now, he forced a smile for my sake but fear it just reminded him of yet another thing his relentless cancer had robbed him of!
Anyway, we discussed the car prior to his death and he was very clear... If the car became too costly to run, prohibitive in anyway or there was any other reason I was to sell it. He was adamant, he didn't want me to feel like I was obliged to take it on. The annual cost of running the vehicle is minimal, probably spend about that a month socialising! But the lack of use just seems wasteful, anyway the least I can do it get a decent price for it, for that he'd approve
I've currently got it advertised here in the classifieds and I've had an almost overwhelming response so far, is it too cheap? I'm finding it hard to value, it really is in incredible condition throughout but prices are all over the place so I'd welcome some other opinions.
I'd say in absolute terms the price is about right for a 2000/X 1.8 Supersport with the 5-sp box and 17k miles. But it is a desirable colour combo, a good spec and if in such good condition you could probably get away with a price premium just now as there seems to be bit of a shortage of well-specced middle range roadsports on the market at the moment.
Your price is right. However having read your first post I'd really question whether to sell it, sentimental reasons or not. We've just gone through 18 months of dreadful sports car weather and if this year continues as positively as it has so far you'll want another and likely regret selling the one you already have. You've had unusually grim weather in the south, but certainly up here it's been crisp but fine for weeks, I can't even remember the last time it rained.
If you don't need the money and it's hardly costing anything, give yourself another 12 months and then decide.
If you don't need the money and it's hardly costing anything, give yourself another 12 months and then decide.
Mark, lovely 7 you have there and must hold many memories of your dad and his and your blats.
Going to ask you one question, are you really sure you want to sell this lovely 7.
It sounds like it is no real financial burden to you and your family and that when you do actually get out in it, you love it as your dad did.
I can vouch for the rollercoaster that is 7 ownership. Many times I have said I am going to sell as it just isn't getting used as much as that amount of money sat there warrants.
I to have lots of commitments, work, family and recently health. Combine that with the crap weather that we had last summer and the rainy weekends whenever I do have the small window of opportunity to drive the 7 and it's a no brainer to sell it.
But 7's are cars that rule the heart as well as the head, and we all know that as soon as we do get out on a blat, senses come alive with everything that driving a 7 brings, memories come flooding back and the friendship that owning a 7 rekindles the blatting partners from previous years blats and trips away. The social side of 7ing is a big thing for most owners.
However, I have the added complication that my partner does not like the 7 and hates going anywhere in it unless she is with other likeminded folk who hate them as much as she does so they can hate them together, so I know it gets tough justifying having one. Although she does enjoy the social side very much but not the tyre kicking aspects.
I have one very vivid memory of taking my friend Paul for a blat before he succumbed to cancer, and although he was in awful pain all he kept telling me was to go faster round the bends and how "alive" he felt.
I think if I ever did sell, I would constantly be regretting the decision and then constantly looking for the next one.
Only my opinion of course. I think the price is right for the condition and spec, and if you are determined to sell then hold out as someone will pay that price for your lovely 7.
Good luck
Going to ask you one question, are you really sure you want to sell this lovely 7.
It sounds like it is no real financial burden to you and your family and that when you do actually get out in it, you love it as your dad did.
I can vouch for the rollercoaster that is 7 ownership. Many times I have said I am going to sell as it just isn't getting used as much as that amount of money sat there warrants.
I to have lots of commitments, work, family and recently health. Combine that with the crap weather that we had last summer and the rainy weekends whenever I do have the small window of opportunity to drive the 7 and it's a no brainer to sell it.
But 7's are cars that rule the heart as well as the head, and we all know that as soon as we do get out on a blat, senses come alive with everything that driving a 7 brings, memories come flooding back and the friendship that owning a 7 rekindles the blatting partners from previous years blats and trips away. The social side of 7ing is a big thing for most owners.
However, I have the added complication that my partner does not like the 7 and hates going anywhere in it unless she is with other likeminded folk who hate them as much as she does so they can hate them together, so I know it gets tough justifying having one. Although she does enjoy the social side very much but not the tyre kicking aspects.
I have one very vivid memory of taking my friend Paul for a blat before he succumbed to cancer, and although he was in awful pain all he kept telling me was to go faster round the bends and how "alive" he felt.
I think if I ever did sell, I would constantly be regretting the decision and then constantly looking for the next one.
Only my opinion of course. I think the price is right for the condition and spec, and if you are determined to sell then hold out as someone will pay that price for your lovely 7.
Good luck
SLR400 said:
I have the added complication that my partner does not like the 7 and hates going anywhere in it
I've the same complication, she doesn't understand the car, it's attraction or the point. So it's usage is limited to me only, which takes some of the occasion out of it. I should say she completely supports me keeping the car and actively encourages me to use it but I should probably add it's probably not something I would choose to own. I'd of gone for a more stripped out model with more power personally speaking. I was always more into my motorcycles.Steve C7S said:
Another one for don't sell if you don't need the money. As your kids get old enough to join you in it they'll love it.
I certainly dont need the money, I've justified it sitting there for 18 months on this basis and the simple fact it isn't really depriciating much if at all, as already mentioned at this age it really comes down to overall condition and maintenance history of the vehicle.As for the children, I have 2 x girls aged 10, 6 and a 5 month year old son. Like her mother the 10 year old doesnt like it at all, 6 year old seems to quite enjoy it but gets bored quickly and it's debatable whether she should actually go in it at all as the belts are fully tighened when strapped in.
The dilemma is my son, it would be a great father/son activity in years to come. But realistically I've got 8+ years before he'll be able to join in the fun and by then it would be 21 years old! It would be kinda cool to have something to leave to him that had been in the family that long, but this is assuming he could afford too, or had the desire.
On the flip side, you can always come back to Seven ownership in years to come if it is what you and/or son want, especially so if the current spec isn't necessarily what you would choose.
Despite the sentimentalists above, there are better things you can do with £14k with a young family to entertain, than having it tied-up and sitting unused in a garage.
Despite the sentimentalists above, there are better things you can do with £14k with a young family to entertain, than having it tied-up and sitting unused in a garage.
If you really don't need the money then I would keep it. At least for another 12 months.
Yes you could get back into 7 ownership at a later date if you did sell but it would not be your fathers car (unless you were able to buy it back).
As you say the costs are minimal and a wonderful summer awaits (I hope!)
Yes you could get back into 7 ownership at a later date if you did sell but it would not be your fathers car (unless you were able to buy it back).
As you say the costs are minimal and a wonderful summer awaits (I hope!)
Mark I have been avidly following the market for over a year now as I intend to fulfil a boyhood ambition to own a seven. Based on what I’ve seen I would say the price is about right. Your seven looks great, and exactly the sort of car I’m looking for when my funds are available in approx. 3 month, so if you do delay the sale for whatever reason and then decide to sell to help fund the extension, resurrect this thread and let me know as it would go to a good home for sure.
Mark I was reflecting about your situation during my cycle commute to work and trying to imagine what I would do under such a sad circumstances. I would only sell the car if I couldn’t afford it or knew 100% that It would nt get any enjoyment or use out of it again. If I had posted the same question here, like you have, that would be telling me deep-down that I was nt 100% sure, so therefore I personally would not sell it. That said ‘converting’ it into something permanent like an extension for the family to enjoy would seem like an honourable thing to do, but only if the time was right.
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