Tales of selling your car private
Discussion
As i see it, you always have to deal with a few cheecky tw@ts first on the phone / email before a genuine person comes along. I'm a firm beleiver of good things come to those who wait. Gladly I have managed to sell all of my cars privately without hastle to the first person who has viewed them, with the aded bonus knowing that my hard earnt isn't in a dealers back pocket after being shafted on a part exchange.
I had an interesting time selling my Alfa 159 a couple of years ago.
A guy from Scotland seemed very keen on coming down to Birmingham to buy it and drive it home . He was going to drive down with a mate until I sent a link to bmibaby for a flight that was only 20 quid each.
I picked him up from the airport and his mate had been brought along for the bargain ride and had clearly spent the 45mins in the air swotting up on Alfa cliches.
We parked up after a 20 mile test where the mate rather threateningly began to tell me all that was wrong with the car.
"the twinspark variator is rattly. That will be 500 to fix ". (it was a diesel....)
"the steering rack is noisy when I parked it.that's 800 quid" (he was deliberately turning on noisy gravel)
They opened up their briefcase and had exactly 4000 pounds. The car was advertised at 5500.... They said with the problems it had I better take the cash before it broke down on me.
I said maybe, but needed to go for a drive to think about it. I pottered back towards the airport before giving them my verdict.
I told them that the car was near perfect and I wouldn't accept their offer. I also suggested they hurried as there was a return flight in the next hour. They ran to buy a ticket.
I drove off, feeling very little remorse that when I had sent them the bmibaby link, I hadn't pointed out that the northbound flight was 280 per person.......
A guy from Scotland seemed very keen on coming down to Birmingham to buy it and drive it home . He was going to drive down with a mate until I sent a link to bmibaby for a flight that was only 20 quid each.
I picked him up from the airport and his mate had been brought along for the bargain ride and had clearly spent the 45mins in the air swotting up on Alfa cliches.
We parked up after a 20 mile test where the mate rather threateningly began to tell me all that was wrong with the car.
"the twinspark variator is rattly. That will be 500 to fix ". (it was a diesel....)
"the steering rack is noisy when I parked it.that's 800 quid" (he was deliberately turning on noisy gravel)
They opened up their briefcase and had exactly 4000 pounds. The car was advertised at 5500.... They said with the problems it had I better take the cash before it broke down on me.
I said maybe, but needed to go for a drive to think about it. I pottered back towards the airport before giving them my verdict.
I told them that the car was near perfect and I wouldn't accept their offer. I also suggested they hurried as there was a return flight in the next hour. They ran to buy a ticket.
I drove off, feeling very little remorse that when I had sent them the bmibaby link, I hadn't pointed out that the northbound flight was 280 per person.......
I sold an RS6 to two lads from Sheffield a couple of years ago. The whole thing went without a hitch, but they beat me down by £1000 as I knew they would. Fortunately I had consulted various owners forums beforehand to get an idea of what the RS6 was really worth and advertised it for £1000 more.
It's a painful business.
When I sold the Golf GTi, the buyer asked me to knock £5 off the price to account for the fact it had the wrong radio cage (which they would never have realised unless I told them, silly me). I did because I just didn't care enough about £5 to argue.
Selling the Merc sparked a whole series of calls from people saying they could only get £1400 in cash off their credit cards/what was the lowest I would accept/it wasn't worth what I was asking (£1700). Bearing in mind I'd priced it low, this was irritating, especially as they hadn't even looked at it at that point.
Selling a Nova with extremely low mileage netted me an abusive phone call from someone who said 'the mileage should be lower'. It's an F reg, it has 12K miles on the clock and it's 1997.
Not to mention all the idiots, no-shows, chin-strokers, people that bring six friends with them, people who ask why I'm selling my husband's car and can't they deal with him (yes, really), people who offer £300 under the asking price then tell me I won't get a better offer, people who don't understand the term 'no offers', people who complain that it hasn't got a full tank of petrol or that you don't possess every single receipt for a 12 year old car.
I don't know how car salesman do it, I really don't. I'd have bludgeoned someone to death with a locking wheel nut by now if that was my job.
When I sold the Golf GTi, the buyer asked me to knock £5 off the price to account for the fact it had the wrong radio cage (which they would never have realised unless I told them, silly me). I did because I just didn't care enough about £5 to argue.
Selling the Merc sparked a whole series of calls from people saying they could only get £1400 in cash off their credit cards/what was the lowest I would accept/it wasn't worth what I was asking (£1700). Bearing in mind I'd priced it low, this was irritating, especially as they hadn't even looked at it at that point.
Selling a Nova with extremely low mileage netted me an abusive phone call from someone who said 'the mileage should be lower'. It's an F reg, it has 12K miles on the clock and it's 1997.
Not to mention all the idiots, no-shows, chin-strokers, people that bring six friends with them, people who ask why I'm selling my husband's car and can't they deal with him (yes, really), people who offer £300 under the asking price then tell me I won't get a better offer, people who don't understand the term 'no offers', people who complain that it hasn't got a full tank of petrol or that you don't possess every single receipt for a 12 year old car.
I don't know how car salesman do it, I really don't. I'd have bludgeoned someone to death with a locking wheel nut by now if that was my job.
Redlake27 said:
I had an interesting time selling my Alfa 159 a couple of years ago.
A guy from Scotland seemed very keen on coming down to Birmingham to buy it and drive it home . He was going to drive down with a mate until I sent a link to bmibaby for a flight that was only 20 quid each.
I picked him up from the airport and his mate had been brought along for the bargain ride and had clearly spent the 45mins in the air swotting up on Alfa cliches.
We parked up after a 20 mile test where the mate rather threateningly began to tell me all that was wrong with the car.
"the twinspark variator is rattly. That will be 500 to fix ". (it was a diesel....)
"the steering rack is noisy when I parked it.that's 800 quid" (he was deliberately turning on noisy gravel)
They opened up their briefcase and had exactly 4000 pounds. The car was advertised at 5500.... They said with the problems it had I better take the cash before it broke down on me.
I said maybe, but needed to go for a drive to think about it. I pottered back towards the airport before giving them my verdict.
I told them that the car was near perfect and I wouldn't accept their offer. I also suggested they hurried as there was a return flight in the next hour. They ran to buy a ticket.
I drove off, feeling very little remorse that when I had sent them the bmibaby link, I hadn't pointed out that the northbound flight was 280 per person.......
The dragon has just asked me what I'm laughing for ....A guy from Scotland seemed very keen on coming down to Birmingham to buy it and drive it home . He was going to drive down with a mate until I sent a link to bmibaby for a flight that was only 20 quid each.
I picked him up from the airport and his mate had been brought along for the bargain ride and had clearly spent the 45mins in the air swotting up on Alfa cliches.
We parked up after a 20 mile test where the mate rather threateningly began to tell me all that was wrong with the car.
"the twinspark variator is rattly. That will be 500 to fix ". (it was a diesel....)
"the steering rack is noisy when I parked it.that's 800 quid" (he was deliberately turning on noisy gravel)
They opened up their briefcase and had exactly 4000 pounds. The car was advertised at 5500.... They said with the problems it had I better take the cash before it broke down on me.
I said maybe, but needed to go for a drive to think about it. I pottered back towards the airport before giving them my verdict.
I told them that the car was near perfect and I wouldn't accept their offer. I also suggested they hurried as there was a return flight in the next hour. They ran to buy a ticket.
I drove off, feeling very little remorse that when I had sent them the bmibaby link, I hadn't pointed out that the northbound flight was 280 per person.......
I sold a Land Rover 101 several years ago. It was advertised only in the UK, but a chap from Germany made contact and the next day flew over (so I'm guessing he was keen!).
He flew from Germany to Stansted, got the train/tube across to me (Chesham on the Met line) and I picked him up from the station. Drove to my place - maybe 10 minutes or so, but heading out of town into the countryside.
I have a small yard set back from the road where we park, with a separate entry into my garden. He took the 101 out, seemed to like it.
Then comes the bit where we haggle over the price. Only his starting offer is HALF the advertised price. I'm guessing I must have said *something* but I just walked back to my house and shut the door.
He never knocked my door (altho I do have dogs which may have stopped him entering the garden) and I never heard from him again. No idea how he got back to the station and home, there's tales of a shadowy-ghost of a German man seen walking the fields at night!
He flew from Germany to Stansted, got the train/tube across to me (Chesham on the Met line) and I picked him up from the station. Drove to my place - maybe 10 minutes or so, but heading out of town into the countryside.
I have a small yard set back from the road where we park, with a separate entry into my garden. He took the 101 out, seemed to like it.
Then comes the bit where we haggle over the price. Only his starting offer is HALF the advertised price. I'm guessing I must have said *something* but I just walked back to my house and shut the door.
He never knocked my door (altho I do have dogs which may have stopped him entering the garden) and I never heard from him again. No idea how he got back to the station and home, there's tales of a shadowy-ghost of a German man seen walking the fields at night!
I advertised my low milage and immaculate Ala 159 on here, and got an email from a buyer saying he was a soldier serving in Afghanistan, he really wanted the car and can he give me a deposit. So I told him to give a £500 deposit on my Paypal account, not thinking he would. Less than one hour later it was done. So I'm still thinking this is going to go wrong, but he returned to the UK at the time agreed, and took the car, previously unseen, and paid cash, with no hassle whatsoever!
So it seems not all "soldiers" claiming to serve overseas are scammers! And some people DO buy cars for thousands (in this case around 10k) without even seeing them!
So it seems not all "soldiers" claiming to serve overseas are scammers! And some people DO buy cars for thousands (in this case around 10k) without even seeing them!
TRB said:
I sold a Land Rover 101 several years ago. It was advertised only in the UK, but a chap from Germany made contact and the next day flew over (so I'm guessing he was keen!).
He flew from Germany to Stansted, got the train/tube across to me (Chesham on the Met line) and I picked him up from the station. Drove to my place - maybe 10 minutes or so, but heading out of town into the countryside.
I have a small yard set back from the road where we park, with a separate entry into my garden. He took the 101 out, seemed to like it.
Then comes the bit where we haggle over the price. Only his starting offer is HALF the advertised price. I'm guessing I must have said *something* but I just walked back to my house and shut the door.
He never knocked my door (altho I do have dogs which may have stopped him entering the garden) and I never heard from him again. No idea how he got back to the station and home, there's tales of a shadowy-ghost of a German man seen walking the fields at night!
Lol did he kick the fHe flew from Germany to Stansted, got the train/tube across to me (Chesham on the Met line) and I picked him up from the station. Drove to my place - maybe 10 minutes or so, but heading out of town into the countryside.
I have a small yard set back from the road where we park, with a separate entry into my garden. He took the 101 out, seemed to like it.
Then comes the bit where we haggle over the price. Only his starting offer is HALF the advertised price. I'm guessing I must have said *something* but I just walked back to my house and shut the door.
He never knocked my door (altho I do have dogs which may have stopped him entering the garden) and I never heard from him again. No idea how he got back to the station and home, there's tales of a shadowy-ghost of a German man seen walking the fields at night!
k out of your car on the way past?!TX.
What really bugs me is people who want to heavily knock you on the price without even having seen or driven it.
If it was overpriced to start with then there is merit in their request but on a keenly priced car it just screams "hassle" to me.
When I was selling my TVR I had a chap turn up in his mums Z4; he took the Tiv for a a run for around 90 mins, redlining it and throwing it around in a way I never would; used over half a tank of fuel and then concluded that it wasn't as modern to drive as his Mums Z4
I hate selling cars privately; I no longer bother and prefer to trade them in for the next one. It's expensive but far less aggro. Especially considering that I like to present my cars well and will spend a good 2 - 3 hours valeting them prior to each viewing. I even valet them prior to trade in.
If it was overpriced to start with then there is merit in their request but on a keenly priced car it just screams "hassle" to me.
When I was selling my TVR I had a chap turn up in his mums Z4; he took the Tiv for a a run for around 90 mins, redlining it and throwing it around in a way I never would; used over half a tank of fuel and then concluded that it wasn't as modern to drive as his Mums Z4
I hate selling cars privately; I no longer bother and prefer to trade them in for the next one. It's expensive but far less aggro. Especially considering that I like to present my cars well and will spend a good 2 - 3 hours valeting them prior to each viewing. I even valet them prior to trade in.
Deerfoot said:
jjr1 said:
I am 50/50 on this fella turning up 
Any update?I had a guy a few years ago come and make all the right noises about a bike I was selling. We shook hands and the next morning I was telling callers the bike was sold. Obiously he turned out to be a t
t.Fast forward to tonight and I am sure this guy is going to be a dreamer and what does he go and do? Turns up after a 100 mile drive, looks at my car in the pitch black and then buys it.
Crazy world !
Kentish said:
What really bugs me is people who want to heavily knock you on the price without even having seen or driven it.
If it was overpriced to start with then there is merit in their request but on a keenly priced car it just screams "hassle" to me.
When I was selling my TVR I had a chap turn up in his mums Z4; he took the Tiv for a a run for around 90 mins, redlining it and throwing it around in a way I never would; used over half a tank of fuel and then concluded that it wasn't as modern to drive as his Mums Z4
I hate selling cars privately; I no longer bother and prefer to trade them in for the next one. It's expensive but far less aggro. Especially considering that I like to present my cars well and will spend a good 2 - 3 hours valeting them prior to each viewing. I even valet them prior to trade in.
90 minutes is taking the piss! As is thrashing it.If it was overpriced to start with then there is merit in their request but on a keenly priced car it just screams "hassle" to me.
When I was selling my TVR I had a chap turn up in his mums Z4; he took the Tiv for a a run for around 90 mins, redlining it and throwing it around in a way I never would; used over half a tank of fuel and then concluded that it wasn't as modern to drive as his Mums Z4
I hate selling cars privately; I no longer bother and prefer to trade them in for the next one. It's expensive but far less aggro. Especially considering that I like to present my cars well and will spend a good 2 - 3 hours valeting them prior to each viewing. I even valet them prior to trade in.
I would take it high up the revs a couple of times to check but then drive steady for the rest. Usually throw in some bumpy roads and sharp corners to find rattles or knocks
Angry Sheep said:
Listed my Dad's Discovery on eBay with a 99p start and a reserve (of £5,000 IIRC). Within a few hours it had had a few bids and was up to around £500. Had a call from a Welsh farmer who said it was just what he wanted and could he come and view it straight away? An hour later, around the time we were expecting him, I got a very irate call from him.
"How much are you after?"
"Well I don't want to reveal the reserve and there isn't a buy it now price, but the reserve is very low for what it is."
"So you wouldn't take £500?"
"Er, no..."
"Well why advertise it at that price you fking tt, you've wasted my time, fk off."
Nice guy.
Is that where the username comes from?"How much are you after?"
"Well I don't want to reveal the reserve and there isn't a buy it now price, but the reserve is very low for what it is."
"So you wouldn't take £500?"
"Er, no..."
"Well why advertise it at that price you f
king tt, you've wasted my time, fk off."Nice guy.
Zoobeef said:
90 minutes is taking the piss! As is thrashing it.
I would take it high up the revs a couple of times to check but then drive steady for the rest. Usually throw in some bumpy roads and sharp corners to find rattles or knocks
Exactly, same here. You have to respect that whilst you need to check it out to ensure it is fault free, it is still someone else's car. I never drove that car like he did during the time I owned tbh.I would take it high up the revs a couple of times to check but then drive steady for the rest. Usually throw in some bumpy roads and sharp corners to find rattles or knocks
Trouble is how do you tell a prospective buyer to not thrash your car, it looks like you are hiding some fault
His justification of it didn't "drive as new as his Mum's Z4" I found quite offensive.
A TVR S and a Z4 are clearly two very different cars!
My easiest sale has to be my previous X5,
Mate e mails me from offshore with a link to an X5 and asks my opinion, i tell him that it looks nice, crap spec for the money and that he could do better.
He replies with another and again, poor spec for the money, if your serious about one, have mine for £x
His reply, if your serious, give me your bank details and i will transfer the money and collect it when I'm home next week
That was it, sold.
Mate e mails me from offshore with a link to an X5 and asks my opinion, i tell him that it looks nice, crap spec for the money and that he could do better.
He replies with another and again, poor spec for the money, if your serious about one, have mine for £x
His reply, if your serious, give me your bank details and i will transfer the money and collect it when I'm home next week
That was it, sold.
Both ends of the scale here ...
Had a Disco 1 I put up at slightly higher than similar on eBay/Autotrader. Call within 10 minutes, deposit within 15 and a chap came to pick up the next day. Clearly I should have priced it higher!
On the other end, when selling a 535d I almost took it to the garage to accept the low-ball trade-in to save the hassle. Had one guy (an 'innit bruv type) where the call went like this:
"What is the lowest you will sell it for?"
"What is the most you will pay?"
"Nah mate, don't be silly. Would ya accept 13 large?" - he actually used the phrase 13 large
"No, that's too low as the car is fairly priced at 18 thousand"
"But I only have 13 from my insurance payout"
"I think maybe this isn't the car for you?"
Cue swearing and me hanging the phone up
Similar phone calls, all with utter plebs on the phone and offering P/Xs from a Nissan Micra (WTF?) to, and this one I never quite worked out, a newer but higher mileage 535d?!?!?
What I did learn from the 535d experience is NEVER, EVER give out your real mobile number. Just go and buy a cheap PAYG SIM because it saves so much time and hassle.
I know selling privately nets you the most money and webuyanycar screw you to the wall but I can see why, for the lack of hassle, people use them.
Had a Disco 1 I put up at slightly higher than similar on eBay/Autotrader. Call within 10 minutes, deposit within 15 and a chap came to pick up the next day. Clearly I should have priced it higher!
On the other end, when selling a 535d I almost took it to the garage to accept the low-ball trade-in to save the hassle. Had one guy (an 'innit bruv type) where the call went like this:
"What is the lowest you will sell it for?"
"What is the most you will pay?"
"Nah mate, don't be silly. Would ya accept 13 large?" - he actually used the phrase 13 large
"No, that's too low as the car is fairly priced at 18 thousand"
"But I only have 13 from my insurance payout"
"I think maybe this isn't the car for you?"
Cue swearing and me hanging the phone up
Similar phone calls, all with utter plebs on the phone and offering P/Xs from a Nissan Micra (WTF?) to, and this one I never quite worked out, a newer but higher mileage 535d?!?!?
What I did learn from the 535d experience is NEVER, EVER give out your real mobile number. Just go and buy a cheap PAYG SIM because it saves so much time and hassle.
I know selling privately nets you the most money and webuyanycar screw you to the wall but I can see why, for the lack of hassle, people use them.
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