Buying strike rate
Discussion
So are you a seller's dream, or a seller's nightmare?
During the past 26 years I have bought 16 cars (11 x second hand + 5 x brand new).
I have only ever gone to view/test-drive 3 other cars, which I ended up NOT buying. These were:
1) race-prepared BMW 2002Tii, which had had crash damage repairs and was too impractical for road use.
2) Alfa Romeo 156 GTA, which seemed to have spent most of its life being repaired back at the dealers.
3) Subaru WRX wagon. I ended up buying a saloon.
So that's 16 cars purchased out of 19 viewed, or a strike rate of 84%.
How do you compare?
During the past 26 years I have bought 16 cars (11 x second hand + 5 x brand new).
I have only ever gone to view/test-drive 3 other cars, which I ended up NOT buying. These were:
1) race-prepared BMW 2002Tii, which had had crash damage repairs and was too impractical for road use.
2) Alfa Romeo 156 GTA, which seemed to have spent most of its life being repaired back at the dealers.
3) Subaru WRX wagon. I ended up buying a saloon.
So that's 16 cars purchased out of 19 viewed, or a strike rate of 84%.
How do you compare?
I've only ever bought a few (I've excluded auctions where a number have been on the radar but gone too rich) so out of my cars:
100% over 3 cars (not counting the one that was source by the VX dealer for me)
When including buying for my parents it drops to 5/6 = 83%
Went to see both a Merc C220cdi and 318d on the same day for my dad - went away in the BMW.
I am far too impulsve......(but do a lot of research - history checks, pictures etc.) into everything before going to view.
ETA - when buying for my brother I found a fiesta but it had a bent steering column and also looked at a nackered polo so if he is included it drops to 5/8 = 63% (got his car via auction in the end)
100% over 3 cars (not counting the one that was source by the VX dealer for me)
When including buying for my parents it drops to 5/6 = 83%
Went to see both a Merc C220cdi and 318d on the same day for my dad - went away in the BMW.
I am far too impulsve......(but do a lot of research - history checks, pictures etc.) into everything before going to view.
ETA - when buying for my brother I found a fiesta but it had a bent steering column and also looked at a nackered polo so if he is included it drops to 5/8 = 63% (got his car via auction in the end)
I've bought 14 of the 16 I've viewed over the last 3 years.
The 2 I didn't were
A 535d Touring with "1 doctor owner" that looked like it had been used off road, inside and out. I traveled from Oxford to West coast of Wales for that one! The most abused car I've ever seen, even the back seat was loose!
A 2007 TDV8 FF Range Rover, that had it's bookpack, engine over, parcel shelf, spare wheel, spare key, and various bits of trim missing and not a straight panel on it. Also some odd paperwork from VOSA under the passenger seat. Dealer who had advertised it as immaculate, just said "well how much will you give me for it then". I took my leave and found a decent pub for lunch.
The 2 I didn't were
A 535d Touring with "1 doctor owner" that looked like it had been used off road, inside and out. I traveled from Oxford to West coast of Wales for that one! The most abused car I've ever seen, even the back seat was loose!
A 2007 TDV8 FF Range Rover, that had it's bookpack, engine over, parcel shelf, spare wheel, spare key, and various bits of trim missing and not a straight panel on it. Also some odd paperwork from VOSA under the passenger seat. Dealer who had advertised it as immaculate, just said "well how much will you give me for it then". I took my leave and found a decent pub for lunch.
Mine is 100% (only over 4 cars though)
Prior to a purchase I do so much research and have such a clear idea of exactly what I want (model, colour, spec etc) that usually when one comes up there isn't much that would stop me from parting with my money. Although I haven't had to deal with any cars that were crash damaged yet, I guess that would put me right off.
Prior to a purchase I do so much research and have such a clear idea of exactly what I want (model, colour, spec etc) that usually when one comes up there isn't much that would stop me from parting with my money. Although I haven't had to deal with any cars that were crash damaged yet, I guess that would put me right off.
I generally only go to buy stuff I really want and am easily put off so don't waste time test-driving stuff I'm really not sold on already. Consequently, I usually buy what I go to see.
I have had one or two where I didn't - for example, I need a people-carrier in 2005 and test drove a "default" Zafira but instantly didn't like it. passing a Mazda dealer, I saw the then brand new Mazda 5, instantly liked it and so bought it.
I ahve had well over 30 cars and bikes though so there are bound to be some which fell at the first fence.
I have had one or two where I didn't - for example, I need a people-carrier in 2005 and test drove a "default" Zafira but instantly didn't like it. passing a Mazda dealer, I saw the then brand new Mazda 5, instantly liked it and so bought it.
I ahve had well over 30 cars and bikes though so there are bound to be some which fell at the first fence.
I've owned about 30 cars - all second hand.
I would guess I look at average 5 cars for each purchase.
Only bought the first one I looked at on a couple of occasions. Until you have looked at a few you don't know what a good one is.
I can only think of a couple of occasions when I drove a model of car that I then didn't go on to purchase.
I would guess I look at average 5 cars for each purchase.
Only bought the first one I looked at on a couple of occasions. Until you have looked at a few you don't know what a good one is.
I can only think of a couple of occasions when I drove a model of car that I then didn't go on to purchase.
Oh god...my strike-rate has got to be c.20-30%. Drove 3 other NSXs before buying, 3 other S2000s, 2 other ITRs first time around and 3 second time around (a lot of trash advertised as mint).
And then there's the 3 or 4 BM's I didn't buy because they were advertised with FBMWSH and ONLY ONE had it when we got there, the overpriced CTR I didn't buy because I just went there for a test-drive (20 miles away not 150+ as the rest were), and the 3 CRVs we looked at for Becs...to be fair, would have bought the last one if the main dealer had fixed the problem I told him I wanted fixing before I put the deposit down.
So that's 19/24 in the last 10 years.
Funnily enough thought I've bought all bar 1 of the private cars I've looked at...which suggests it's the traders who are over-selling and under-delivering.
And then there's the 3 or 4 BM's I didn't buy because they were advertised with FBMWSH and ONLY ONE had it when we got there, the overpriced CTR I didn't buy because I just went there for a test-drive (20 miles away not 150+ as the rest were), and the 3 CRVs we looked at for Becs...to be fair, would have bought the last one if the main dealer had fixed the problem I told him I wanted fixing before I put the deposit down.
So that's 19/24 in the last 10 years.
Funnily enough thought I've bought all bar 1 of the private cars I've looked at...which suggests it's the traders who are over-selling and under-delivering.
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