Best Place to Sell?

[noblesteed]

After a few 'silly' phone calls about my 3R I have finaly had a sensible enquirey and a very genuine chap come to see the car. He had seen two others and after seeing mine he said it was the best one of the three (should be the way it is looked after!!). He still has one more to see though, which is an older model (GTO3) and therefore cheaper, which he says would possibly be more in line with what he was looking to spend. Fair enough, and I wish him well in whatever he decides, and he has said that IF he decides to spend the extra on a 3R he will offer me a sensible price, so fingers crossed. In any event it will be another member of the Nobility, and I can get the M400

I was just wondering if anyone has good advice on the best 'outlet' to sell a low mileage immaculate 3R. Selling on PistonHeads to an enthusiast would be great (though relatively low exposure), but, of course, some people only come to PistonHeads AFTER buying a car in the first place. Anyone have any views on eg Sun Times, Autocar, Automart to sell these cars.

Regards
Richard

[AMG Merc]

Richard, I'd place an ad on Pistonheads and Autocar classifieds (I've no thoughts on other media) - also have you considered a Sale or Return arrangement with your local Noble dealer?

[Mr Noble]

The easiest way I guess (but more money) would be to find a 400 at a dealer and simply swop over with a few grand extra.

Peace of mind and ease all round.

I'm thinking along those lines now too!

Greg

[Misterx]

Look at it from the other way around. Where is the best place to buy? If you can answer that, you have answered your own question. I would imagine that the vast majority of people bought their cars from dealers, so a sale or return agreement would seem the most likely to succeed.

>> Edited by Misterx on Tuesday 18th April 10:13

[silversix]

Mr Noble said:

The easiest way I guess (but more money) would be to find a 400 at a dealer and simply swop over with a few grand extra. Peace of mind and ease all round. I'm thinking along those lines now too! Greg

One problem. M400 at dealer same age as mine is 10k more than mine is up for. Dealer is in the business to make money, I'm just trying not to loose too much! dealer will want to make money on both the 400, AND the car you PX for it. High price for car for sale and low px offer = more than a few grand! Working on the prices I know people have been offered by dealers for 3R's, and how much they are selling 400's for you are looking at between £15 and £20k to change. Private sale of both cars looks more like £9k ish (depending on age etc)

Just my 2peneth.

[washy]

silversix - have you considered SOR? If the dealer's car is up for 10K more then surely you'd return more cash for the car? Surely the dealer isn't going to ask 10K to SOR the car?

[AMG Merc]

There's an echo in here

[washy]

Ah yes, but my echo was aimed at silversix!!!

[silversix]

Haven't looked specifically, but others have. Dealer does want 10k ish. Bear in mind that they may have to negotiate price a bit, take large PX, so end up having to shell out actual cash. I've had a few enquiries from dealers about SOR, but would rather keep the car in the garage, and use it occasionally. I'm not desperate to sell, it's just that it isn't being used that much. Don't get me wrong, SOR has it's uses, it's just not for me at the moment.

[NobleSteed]

Thanks All for the comments. This idea of circa 10K return on a car around 40K when Dealers are involved is about right. I've spoken to a few people trying to sell M400s privately and that is the score. As I put in another posting I would rather buy privately and see the Car with its Owner, that gives far more info about the way it has been treated than looking at a 'tarted up' one in a Dealer's Showroom. I personally feel that 'piece of mind' comes from quizzing the previous owner, and an RAC warrenty is cheaper than one the Dealers provide (which, of course, you pay for). I do realise though that some people are more comfortable part Xing with a Dealer, that is obviously up to them, and if that is for you then fine, I have no problem with that.
Obviously if I want to sell privately I have to sell at a cheaper price than a Dealer would charge, but at the risk of being contentious, what do you really get by buying from a Dealer to justify the extra dosh (which is considerable)? I was just wondering if anybody had got any good results / interest using any other sales outlet. One M400 Owner I spoke to was offered 43K for his, then told he could expect around 47K on SOR and the Dealer put it up for 53K. Yes a Dealer is convenient, but that does seem a bit excessive!
Regards

Richard

[gadgeroonie]

How much is your 3R up for and what do you realisitcally think you will get for it ?

[silversix]

gadgeroonie said:

How much is your 3R up for and what do you realisitcally think you will get for it ?

Look in the Classifieds.

Nobody in their right mind would post what they would actually take for their car on a public forum. kind of looses the leverage from a negotiation point of view doesn't it.

[DanH]

SoR always worries me. There are issues with what happens if the dealer folds having sold the car and taken payment but not having passed the funds on. You end up at the back of the creditors queue and 40k out of pocket. It happens...

Also if a dealer can't afford to stock the car, how financially robust are they anyway? That is ignoring the fact that you are lending them free stock which they will be less keen to push than cars they are financing on stock.

Perhaps I'm too suspicious, but its certainly not without risks. I believe there are certain ways to protect yourself on my first concern, but that then leaves you reposessing a car from the poor buyer who ends up 40k out of pocket instead of you. Not exactly a pleasurable task.

[NobleSteed]

I agree with Dan and Adrian (Silversix). SOR could be risky (though in theory with a reputable dealer should be OK) and the price I'll ultimately accept depends on several factors. Fortunately I have no need to sell, it's just that I have the chance to trade up to an M400. However if I can't get a sensible price for mine I will keep it and look again in the future.
It's up at 38K but as it says in the ad I'll consider sensible offers. Every car is different and I think people should go and see a car if they are interested, there is a msssive difference in the way some have been looked after, which should be reflected in the price (all other things being equal). I saw some fairly tatty ones before I eventually bought mine.
Certinaly I will consider Autocar/Top Marques as a way to reach a wider audience (if the 400 remains avaliable), otherwise the car is staying, but my feeling is that to change cars it is either a case of taking the big hit and doing it via a Dealer, or just waiting with an open mind. The right Private Buyer will be along eventually and both he and I will benefit with a sensible sale. Thats to plan at the moment.

Richard

[Marlon]

NobleSteed said:

It's up at 38K but as it says in the ad I'll consider sensible offers

IMO you would be better off deciding on your floor-price (say £35,995) and advertise at that for a private sale. There are lots of dealers and some will offer you a better price than others, so phone around. The factory will give you contact details if you ask. I was offered a deal to trade-up from a 12-month 3R with 9,000 miles to a nearly-new M400 (ex dealer demo, fully-loaded) for £10k delta, which I thought was a sensible offer. The secret is to set a fair price, do the deal quickly and move on... otherwise you could end up in August without an M400 - all for the sake of a few quid!!!