Buying from auction

[robinessex]

Never bought from an auction. So ANY input re the pros and cons would be appreciated. No particular make, but do exceptionally low mileage for the year cars come up, or are they mostly average cars being punted out to/for dealers.

[Raman Kandola]

I've got an uncle whos a mechanic who i always take with me. Theres been so many instances where ive said this car looks realy clean and unmarked etc and he'll come out with "looks like its been a crash", uneven panel gaps etc

Best to take someone with you if you admit to not being fully clued up what to look for

[TheRealFingers99]

My mate -- in the trade -- says "people put cars in auctions because they can't sell them anywhere else".

Cars traded in at dealers aside, I think that's largely true.

[oldnbold]

Having purchased a few cars at BCA over the years, the only ones I would consider are nearly new ex lease cars or even motability early returns. In other words something that has a full service history and some manafactures warrenty remaining.

Most minor dings and scrapes can be SMART repaired, its only what the dealers do. However there are very few bargains at auction today, prices are about the same as the car supermarkets are asking, and with them you have some come back.

To buy anything older than that is a risk unless you know what you are doing and again prices are not the bargains they used to be.

[surveyor]

Was chatting to a trader yesterday. he was telling me about a car with a bad gearbox that was not an economic repair for him. Guess where it went....

[anonymous-user]

surveyor said:

Was chatting to a trader yesterday. he was telling me about a car with a bad gearbox that was not an economic repair for him. Guess where it went....

nowhere?

[stevebear]

Having ignored all the recommendations about auctions and ended up waving my brochure around like I was Neville Chamberlain having a fit, I concur with all that been said. Pre-mobility and ex-lease are the ones to go for. Anything else you should assume couldn't be sold thru more honest means where you get to give the car an actual test drive.

[va1o]

I'd also agree stick to the ex-finance cars from big companies, but you will probably find once fees accounted for it isn't any cheaper than buying privately or from a supermarket. Bargains can be had but they are getting harder to find

Oh and it's worth getting something with BCA Assured mechanical checks for extra piece of mind

[rallycross]

Only do it if

1. You are a trader/ dealer and genuinely know what you are doing
Or
2. If You are a private buyer only buy sub 3 yr ex lease/ company cars one owner with fsh and ideally a bit of manufacturers warranty remaining.

The older stuff that goes through is not worth the risk as prices are high, plus there is usually a reason it's ended up in the auction rather than being traded ( expensive fault needs sorted to make retail ready). Fine if you know what you are doing but not so clever if you don't !

[Legacywr]

Auctions are full of 'dogs' and ex lease cars, that dealers seem to be paying more money for than cars you can get it the local rag/Autotrader and the like!