blinging a car up before trade in---

[cramorra]

and I mean this in a total legal sense - whilst it is a no brainer if you sell privately to blitz the car up (refurbish wheels, sort out stone chips, full valet....)
I am not so sure if it makes a similar difference commercially- I would hate the idea of spending some money on this and still not get a proper price... on the other hand I do not want to calculate a potential trade in value and then hear the car would be only worth... because it needs a respray, new wheels etc - opinions/experiences please.
What I am talking off here is of course cars in very good nick with proper service history, current mot and so on but daily drivers - so the odd scuff on the wheel, usual stone chips on the bonnet the supermarket parking lot bang on the door - things that happen in 5 years if you do use your car - not a banger which needs serious work
Anybody working in the trade especially invited to answer- most like to be Merc for Porsche (not sure if main dealer or independent - does that make a difference)

[VR46]

For cars over £10k yes, do the work under that amount not so much

[AtticusFinch]

I would rather you didn't touch the car. Anything not up to standard will have to be done again. I would just take into account cost of refurbishment.

[busta]

Private yes, as lot's of private buyers are ignorant of touch-up costs and would be easily put off by things requiring only minor remedial work.

Trade, I wouldn't bother. They can probably get the same work done for less than you can, may not even deem it all necessary and a blinged up car can look like it is hiding other issues.

[LouD86]

I agree with the guys on here. Dont try and bling it up yourself. The thing that will help most, is empty it out of all your crap, give it a good hoover, nice clean, get the wheels looking good, its easier to see the true condition of your car, and give you the best price.

I hate people who turn up with a car covered in mud/dirt etc, it just doesnt look very good.

[paulmoonraker]

Private yes, trade no. I spent a lot of time on my STi when selling privately, and I am sure this helped win the buyer over and allowed me to stick closer to my asking price.

Does it add value, probably not. However, I helps when sticking to your guns on asking price...

[Jamie VTS]

I must admit the last two times I traded in my cars, I didnt even bother washing them. They gave me such a poor valuation I couldnt be arsed!

[300bhp/ton]

cramorra said:

and I mean this in a total legal sense - whilst it is a no brainer if you sell privately to blitz the car up (refurbish wheels, sort out stone chips, full valet....)
I am not so sure if it makes a similar difference commercially- I would hate the idea of spending some money on this and still not get a proper price... on the other hand I do not want to calculate a potential trade in value and then hear the car would be only worth... because it needs a respray, new wheels etc - opinions/experiences please.
What I am talking off here is of course cars in very good nick with proper service history, current mot and so on but daily drivers - so the odd scuff on the wheel, usual stone chips on the bonnet the supermarket parking lot bang on the door - things that happen in 5 years if you do use your car - not a banger which needs serious work
Anybody working in the trade especially invited to answer- most like to be Merc for Porsche (not sure if main dealer or independent - does that make a difference)

What's the car and what value range?

Some trade in's the dealer won't even look at the car, just take the details. So in this case tidy or tatty would make almost no odds.

Also how much would it cost to tart it up? You are never likely to recoup £1000's.

[Wild Rumpus]

I tend to leave it dirty, it hides small scatches better!

[louiebaby]

LouD86 said:

I agree with the guys on here. Dont try and bling it up yourself. The thing that will help most, is empty it out of all your crap, give it a good hoover, nice clean, get the wheels looking good, its easier to see the true condition of your car, and give you the best price.

I hate people who turn up with a car covered in mud/dirt etc, it just doesnt look very good.

This makes the most sense, especially at the cheaper end of the market.

One thing that is very cheap to do, and will make a difference to how nice it looks, other than a good clean, is putting new number plates on. Combined with an afternoons work cleaning a car inside and out, you're likely to cover the cost easily.

[carreauchompeur]

"wheels and windows"

[JulesB]

If its nothing drastic id leave it be, most 2nd hand forecourt cars only have the more obvious stuff tidied up, stonechips take 5 seconds to cover up, they will pay half the amount you do to refurb the wheels and the same goes for the rest of the bodywork, unless it is something horrificly bad that will put them off the car i'd leave it be.