Is it possible to sell a 30 grand car privately?

[897sma]

I'm swapping my 10 plate C63 AMG and some of the trade in prices I've been offered are downright ridiculous. Given that there are so few around for sale and some dealers are retailing at nearly £10k more than they were offering I thought It might be worth a go myself. That would then give me cash to buy the car I'm after and broaden my choice.

I've never sold anything anywhere near this value privately before so wondered how hard it could be. I need to find a buyer with the cash to buy it outright as I can't offer finance. I'll also have to be cheaper as I can't offer warranty or px.

So, are there people out there that would buy this sort of thing privately, and if so how much cheaper than retail do I need to be to entice them?

[HonestIago]

I'd probably go halfway between trade-in and forecourt value, that way you can still be beaten down a bit and remain better off. It can be done, you'll just have to be even more vigilant for chancers.

[Buster73]

1. Ask anyone you know if they want to buy it.

2. If that fails advertise it.

3. Put a for sale sign in it and park it where it will be noticed.

4. WBAC

5. Px it.

6. Keep it.


Hope this helps

[krisdelta]

Hey Steve, I purchased my Vantage privately, so there are buyers out there. Also you're selling a desirable car of which there aren't 100's of examples. Give it a go, pick a sensible price and I can't see why you wouldn't get a sale for a well looked after and nicely documented example. If it's a niche colour / spec - probably easier to trade / px.

To add - re: sale price, you could make it 2k cheaper than the cheapest dealer car within 50 miles as a starting point?

[Matt UK]

HonestIago said:

be even more vigilant for chancers.

Especially with that sort of car and those sums of money involved.

[897sma]

Buster73 said:

1. Ask anyone you know if they want to buy it.

2. If that fails advertise it.

3. Put a for sale sign in it and park it where it will be noticed.

4. WBAC

5. Px it.

6. Keep it.


Hope this helps

I hadn't considered any of those, thanks...

[897sma]

Matt UK said:

HonestIago said:

be even more vigilant for chancers.

Especially with that sort of car and those sums of money involved.

I was discussing with colleagues yesterday how to get paid safely.

I'm also looking forward to the texts "wotz the lowest u take m8" and the emails from all the poor guys working off shore buying for their family but unfortunately can't get to see it. I've heard there are some buyers from abroad too who will pay me the full asking price if I give them bank details or PayPal account.

On a serious note though, is it safe to meet them at my home address or might this encourage thieves to come back for the keys later, or am I being paranoid?

[nickfrog]

You should be able to put an extended MB warranty on it.

Have you considered the MB forums ?

Don't leave a mobile number.

Be very clear in your wording in the ad about time wasters/texters etc.

Qualify them very early but very politely if and when you get calls.

If well priced, it should sell. If someone realises they can save £3/4 k and if that still leaves you with a few grand more than your best offer then it's a win win. Obviously, finance is the big issue but there are still loads of people with decent cash around, not everyone fall for the PCP scams.

[ModernAndy]

I'd say you need to make sure you speak with a potential buyer first. You can still tell a lot about somebody by talking to them over the phone. If in doubt, have a friend come over for when you're potential buyer will arrive to look at it. Oh, also see if you can figure out what car they currently drive before inviting them to come for a test drive, you don't normally go from a beaten up Focus/Astra, etc. to a V8 Merc.

Maybe the final line in your advert should be, "tyre-kickers will be shot"

[CampDavid]

On something such as this I'd be tempted to give some Merc dealers a call, it's the sort of thing they'd want to retail. I'd be especially keen to contact London based places as they're seem to be a lot of C63s knocking around London so there's more of a market down there

[HTP99]

krisdelta said:

To add - re: sale price, you could make it 2k cheaper than the cheapest dealer car within 50 miles as a starting point?

It would have to be a damn site less than £2k less than a dealers car to even get any interest I'm afraid, you get no warranty or back up from a private sale and with something like this that could well be worth alot of money to a buyer, you would have to be a brave man to spunk £30k on a car with zero comeback, the gamble needs to be significantly cheap enough.

It is going to have to be cheap to get a private sale IMO, within 50 miles of where I live there are a few out there, mainly dealer cars, however the private sale ones are just silly money, an 09 plate with good miles for £1.5k less than an 11 plate with good miles at a dealer.

Personally I think you will struggle.

[nw28840]

My last two cars i sold privately for around £30k. A 911 C4S and a Vantage Coupe, both sold to the first viewer, in fact the Porsche sold to a guy who phoned me less than 10 minutes after i put the ad on pistonheads. He only lived down the road and agreed to buy it over the phone - I actually said he should see the car and then decide. He bought it for full asking price a few hours later.

Personally i wouldn't buy a car unless i was viewing at the owners house, I would want to check the V5 and match it to the address etc.

I put my mobile phone on the ad and then was happy to give my home number to serious callers - had a couple of chancers call about the Porsche after it was technically sold.....they obviously don't like Astons

Oh...and send me a link to your ad for the Merc.....I don't think you ever sent me an email about the car.

Cheers,
Nick

[Herbs]

Find a good car seller who sells it on your behalf and takes a commission. If you were prepared to leave the car with him this will be a good option.

I have sold 3 cars through him and part ex'd one including a 911 and Vantage so completely trustworthy. He sells a lot of cars to footballers and works from a private viewing room in a listed building
PM if you want me to arrange contact.

Good luck

[Tuvra]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Or its being stolen to order, right spec etc.

[897sma]

nw28840 said:

Oh...and send me a link to your ad for the Merc.....I don't think you ever sent me an email about the car.

Cheers,
Nick

Hi Nick,

I've not advertised it yet, I'll probably put something together over the next day or two.

Not sure why it didn't reach you but I'll resend the email I sent you when I get in to the office later this morning. It doesn't save sent messages on my iPad unless composed on it. Modern technology eh!?

[will_]

Herbs said:

Find a good car seller who sells it on your behalf and takes a commission. If you were prepared to leave the car with him this will be a good option.

I have sold 3 cars through him and part ex'd one including a 911 and Vantage so completely trustworthy. He sells a lot of cars to footballers and works from a private viewing room in a listed building
PM if you want me to arrange contact.

Good luck

Given the number of car dealers who have taken the money for the car and then failed to pass it to the vendor I think that's potentially more risky than a private sale.

Finance from dealers is generally expensive but a buyer could still get a loan if they want to buy a car privately.

I would insist on payment of cleared funds in advance, or meet at your bank with cash. You'll need to build up a good level of trust with any potential buyer - but a genuine purchaser shouldn't have any problem with that.

[CraigyMc]

897sma said:

So, are there people out there that would buy this sort of thing privately, and if so how much cheaper than retail do I need to be to entice them?

Yes there are people who buy stuff like that privately.

As for prices, what's trade/fair/good on the book?

C

[Herbs]

As with anything it comes down to trust.

Also, just because there has been a couple of in the media I don't think that is a fair representation of the market.

Personally I prefer to sell privately but there are some cars that are a Ballache to do this with especially if the majority of your target market want the security of buying from a dealer.

[897sma]

I think the best thing is give it a go and see what happens I'm not desperate to get rid...who would be its a fking incredible car, it's just that I miss my previous car and want another.

[creampuff]

Herbs said:

Find a good car seller who sells it on your behalf and takes a commission. If you were prepared to leave the car with him this will be a good option.

This seems pointless to me. I would never buy a car this way. It has several disadvangages for the buyer, like no warranty and no comeback and the person in whose showroom it is will not be able to negotiate on price. It has no advantages for the buyer. Bzzzzzzzzzzt. Instant reject for me if I found out that it was a commission sale off a private seller.