Why do car dealers do this?

[Fairbridge]

I've just been doing the usual Sunday night thing if giving ones self a budget then looking at cars that might fit the budget. I happened across this

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/uvl/popup.jsp?cur...

This makes me laugh. Personally I don't care who's owned it before. I seem to recall that this one was ragged around the Top Gear track by the stig and it was televised being ragged to hell and back.

[surveyor]

I don't think a few bits of driving fast is going to kill it. Agree about the name dropping though.

[steveeeW]

Depends if the previous owner was your idol I guess!

[22Rgt]

Totally agree, it seems some vendors think its worth increases just because its been on a Tv programme and owned by someone with bad teeth?? Worth the same whether Clarksons name is on the V5 or Frank Spencer from 22 Sodbury Terrace..

[Willy Nilly]

He put a few miles on it

[barryrs]

I know the last owner and the one before that is a good friend (he put most miles on it) and I can confirm that SL was a money pit.

IIRC it's had an engine rebuild most recently via merc in Weston, replacement fuel tank as the internal baffle came loose and replacement front suspension.

I guess that could be seen as being in its favour as that's some expensive parts that have been replaced.

Edited by barryrs on Sunday 9th February 19:57

[Fairbridge]

barryrs said:

I know the last owner and the one before that is a good friend and I can confirm that SL was a money pit.

IIRC it's had an engine rebuild most recently via merc in Weston, replacement fuel tank as the internal baffle came loose and replacement front suspension.

I guess that could be seen as being in its favour as that's some expensive parts that have been replaced.

Fair play to that . That's a whole lot of money that's been spent then.

[LukeR94]

OP i have to disagree, I think the fact it has been owned by JC improves the value, not just because he is famous because that IMO doesn't really matter, its the fact it has been owned by a motoring journalist, someone who has mechanical sympathy (JC knows lots about the technical aspect but plays an idiot on TV) and that money would be no measure (he is loaded)

The fact it has been owned by him, adds further value. The dealer is justified in proudly writing and selling it like that. Someone WILL buy it and the fact its been owned by him will definitely influence that. If its not your cuppa fair enough, but most people wont mind.

I think your comparing it to a dealer name dropping a car with a motorsport history (example Mcraes impreza) that is more justified than in this case but its still the same principle.

[barryrs]

I think the internal baffle detaching from the fuel tank tells you all you need to know about how the car was driven.

The second owner used it as a motorway muncher so didn't see much more than the occasional drag race.

[chibbard]

That's a good enough reason for me not to buy it in my opinion.

[markmullen]

barryrs said:

I think the internal baffle detaching from the fuel tank tells you all you need to know about how the car was driven.

Not at all, a common issue on those SLs.

[Axionknight]

LukeR94 said:

OP i have to disagree, I think the fact it has been owned by JC improves the value, not just because he is famous because that IMO doesn't really matter, its the fact it has been owned by a motoring journalist, someone who has mechanical sympathy (JC knows lots about the technical aspect but plays an idiot on TV) and that money would be no measure (he is loaded)

The fact it has been owned by him, adds further value. The dealer is justified in proudly writing and selling it like that. Someone WILL buy it and the fact its been owned by him will definitely influence that. If its not your cuppa fair enough, but most people wont mind.

I think your comparing it to a dealer name dropping a car with a motorsport history (example Mcraes impreza) that is more justified than in this case but its still the same principle.

Agreed, and lets face it, a dozen laps round the TG test track isn't going to have killed it.

[blondini]

Fair play to the dealer. It's jolly decent of him to make such a damning disclosure.

[barryrs]

markmullen said:

Not at all, a common issue on those SLs.

That might well be that case but that was hardley it's most significant fault.

I might have some pics on my old mobile of the piston failure.

Huge amount of car for the money but anyone thinking of buying must accept that it cost circa £110k and has running costs to match.