Buying a £16k+ vehicle privately
Discussion
EDIT: Title should say 'Buying a £16k+ vehicle privately'
We're looking for a car for my wife, she's being very specific on what she wants in terms of make, model, colour, and the kit it has. We've found one for sale the other day, it's 151 mile away from us and it's being sold privately for £16,500.
The last car I bought privately was £800, so this is a huge increase in price. We'd prefer to buy from a dealer, but this is the perfect car for her. Our concern is that usually, if something bad is going to happen then it's likely to happen to us, and we're aware that if something was to go wrong with the vehicle we'd have more or less no comeback at all unless the vehicle was mis-advertised.
The vehicle in question is a 2018 Mini Cooper S. Price wise, we've seen similar cars for sale at dealers for between £16,500 - £17,500 (just in the wrong colour), so we don't feel that it's a great bargain in terms of price, but it's the correct spec/colour.
Would you buy a car privately at that price, and if so, what can you do to mitigate any risk?
We're looking for a car for my wife, she's being very specific on what she wants in terms of make, model, colour, and the kit it has. We've found one for sale the other day, it's 151 mile away from us and it's being sold privately for £16,500.
The last car I bought privately was £800, so this is a huge increase in price. We'd prefer to buy from a dealer, but this is the perfect car for her. Our concern is that usually, if something bad is going to happen then it's likely to happen to us, and we're aware that if something was to go wrong with the vehicle we'd have more or less no comeback at all unless the vehicle was mis-advertised.
The vehicle in question is a 2018 Mini Cooper S. Price wise, we've seen similar cars for sale at dealers for between £16,500 - £17,500 (just in the wrong colour), so we don't feel that it's a great bargain in terms of price, but it's the correct spec/colour.
Would you buy a car privately at that price, and if so, what can you do to mitigate any risk?
Check that they owner has the V5, HPI check it etc. Take a mechanic if you're not mechanically minded, or someone who's good at spotting crash damage. Phone the seller too, you'll get a feel for them over the phone and if/when you meet them.
I understand your concern, I'm selling a car for 19 odd privately, and although it's covered by manufacturers warranty etc it's a lot of money to hand over to someone on their doorstep (make sure it is their doorstep btw). I'll probably just webuyanycar mine because I've not had much interest privately.
I understand your concern, I'm selling a car for 19 odd privately, and although it's covered by manufacturers warranty etc it's a lot of money to hand over to someone on their doorstep (make sure it is their doorstep btw). I'll probably just webuyanycar mine because I've not had much interest privately.
Easternlight said:
Private sale=no comeback.
Pay the money and pray it's a good one, you could get it inspected AA/RAC but it still won't help if it goes bang tomorrow.
That's my concern. At least with a dealer you have someone go to back to. But when you're checking auto-trader all the time waiting for the right car to come along, and one comes along privately, it's tempting.Pay the money and pray it's a good one, you could get it inspected AA/RAC but it still won't help if it goes bang tomorrow.
ChrisH72 said:
Isn't a 2 year old car still in warranty?
I think it'd be fine. Maybe just worth asking why they're selling a nearly new car.
Yes, there's just under a years warranty left, and it has full mini service history. According to the ads it has 2 previous owners, but at the point I'm not sure if that's including the current owner. At two year old, I'd expect only one previous owner, but then again, people have all sorts of reasons for changing cars. The car my wife has at the minute, she's only had it a year and a half, as it was a cheaper car for while she was on maternity (self employed).I think it'd be fine. Maybe just worth asking why they're selling a nearly new car.
I'm fairly mechanically minded, I've swapped an engine and change my own timing belt in the best, as well as some servicing and brakes etc.
EDIT: To, the vehicles reg isn't advertised on the ad, but I've found a similar but slightly newer car, and when I've punched it into WBAC the price is £15,000. I don't know whether I'm being fair, but I'd expect the price of a private sale to be somewhere between WBAC and dealer price?
This is the vehicle we're looking at https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Edited by TheBinarySheep on Saturday 1st August 09:56
TheBinarySheep said:
EDIT: To, the vehicles reg isn't advertised on the ad, but I've found a similar but slightly newer car, and when I've punched it into WBAC the price is £15,000. I don't know whether I'm being fair, but I'd expect the price of a private sale to be somewhere between WBAC and dealer price?
[/footnote]
Does the car have a load of extras?[/footnote]
WBAC doesn't take into account all a cars extras.
No concerns buying privately at that price or quite a bit more.
Just do your checks and be extra thorough.
Many dealers happily throw paperwork and history away. Don't know the cars in great detail and are unlikely to have specific knowledge on the history of that particular car.
The big benefit of buying private is you should be able to get a proper answer to every question. A lot more information available. Really see what sort of person the seller is and buy from them direct.
Just do your checks and be extra thorough.
Many dealers happily throw paperwork and history away. Don't know the cars in great detail and are unlikely to have specific knowledge on the history of that particular car.
The big benefit of buying private is you should be able to get a proper answer to every question. A lot more information available. Really see what sort of person the seller is and buy from them direct.
TheBinarySheep said:
Easternlight said:
Private sale=no comeback.
Pay the money and pray it's a good one, you could get it inspected AA/RAC but it still won't help if it goes bang tomorrow.
That's my concern. At least with a dealer you have someone go to back to. But when you're checking auto-trader all the time waiting for the right car to come along, and one comes along privately, it's tempting.Pay the money and pray it's a good one, you could get it inspected AA/RAC but it still won't help if it goes bang tomorrow.
Do all your due diligence and don’t get caught up in the moment. Don’t plan to buy it there and then, so you can walk away, and do agree with the seller how you’re going to pay. Over the counter at the bank is best for both parties imho. Remember, they’re probably just as nervous selling privately for £16.5k!
You could ask if they’ll let you take it for a pre-booked MOT. Although it won’t need it, it will allow a professional eye to be cast over the underside and should identify any safety-related horrors.
ETA: to be honest the bigger problem is buying 152 miles away, not the money!
You could ask if they’ll let you take it for a pre-booked MOT. Although it won’t need it, it will allow a professional eye to be cast over the underside and should identify any safety-related horrors.
ETA: to be honest the bigger problem is buying 152 miles away, not the money!
Re reading your post. If it's a 2018 car, I'd imagine it's still under manufacturers warranty.
As long as it's it's got it's service paperwork and has had no accident damage, surely you're good to go.
I'd assume the seller wants to replace with newer again and is just trying to beat his trade in offer.
As long as it's it's got it's service paperwork and has had no accident damage, surely you're good to go.
I'd assume the seller wants to replace with newer again and is just trying to beat his trade in offer.
Rick101 said:
Re reading your post. If it's a 2018 car, I'd imagine it's still under manufacturers warranty.
As long as it's it's got it's service paperwork and has had no accident damage, surely you're good to go.
I'd assume the seller wants to replace with newer again and is just trying to beat his trade in offer.
That sound like a reasonable reason, and like you with, with some warranty left it does provide some protection against faults.As long as it's it's got it's service paperwork and has had no accident damage, surely you're good to go.
I'd assume the seller wants to replace with newer again and is just trying to beat his trade in offer.
I've sent the seller over some questions, and I was thinking if we wanted to follow this one up, we could pay for a mobile mechanic local to a vehicle to pop along and check it over before making the trip down.
dmsims said:
Maybe a tad extreme but I always take my paint thickness tester.
I asked a garage if a car had ever been in an accident, no was the reply
I then asked why the bonnet and wings had been repainted
That doesn’t really tell you much. I had a small scuff on my front bumper and a few stone chips. Rather than get a smart repair, I had the bumper, wings, bonnet & mirrors painted to ensure it was 100%. I asked a garage if a car had ever been in an accident, no was the reply
I then asked why the bonnet and wings had been repainted
Rick101 said:
Re reading your post. If it's a 2018 car, I'd imagine it's still under manufacturers warranty.
As long as it's it's got it's service paperwork and has had no accident damage, surely you're good to go.
I'd assume the seller wants to replace with newer again and is just trying to beat his trade in offer.
Exactly this there's no problem buying this from a private seller, do your checks & then buy if it ticks the boxes.As long as it's it's got it's service paperwork and has had no accident damage, surely you're good to go.
I'd assume the seller wants to replace with newer again and is just trying to beat his trade in offer.
TheBinarySheep said:
Is it worth while paying someone like the AA to check it over before we commit? or with it only being two year old is it not really worth it?
It's pot luck whether the AA inspector will spot previous accident damage. Many will not, some will.I'd find a bodyshop employee to take with you.
You don't want to find out it's had a load of body repairs when you go to trade it in.
Same as when buying from a dealer, I've seen plenty of dodgy, repaired cars, on dealer forecourts.
Edited by Trevor555 on Saturday 1st August 13:14
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