Selling the Cerb. Silly offers
Discussion
Have very reluctantly had my Cerb up for sale a good few interested parties all keen and looking seemingly. Then as soon as I won't budge 3 grand on my price they suddenly lose interest. It's a bloody good price as it is......
Buyers don't like it when you won't drop the price by a stupid amount.
Best lines so far......
It's a buyers market
I have cash
It's a good offer
There are others for that price (yeah older, not a 4.5 and not a patch on mine)
I can come tomorrow
I'd give you more if it was a colour I liked!
Bell........ends
one genuine seeming guy just genuinely having a punt but the rest?????
Just a rant
Buyers don't like it when you won't drop the price by a stupid amount.
Best lines so far......
It's a buyers market
I have cash
It's a good offer
There are others for that price (yeah older, not a 4.5 and not a patch on mine)
I can come tomorrow
I'd give you more if it was a colour I liked!
Bell........ends
one genuine seeming guy just genuinely having a punt but the rest?????
Just a rant
al 350i said:
if people make you a silly offer and give the old i can come tomorrow with cash, you could say yes and arrange to meet them somewhere (not your house), when they phone you the next day and ask where you are!! tell them that the offer was so silly that you thought they were joking!! 
This would be fun!I would always buy with cash and anticipate a discount (unless it was cheap) partly as it should mean a fast transaction and no hassle but 3k would be amazing!
However, when selling it feels so different and is most annoying. More so when the car is special as opposed to a daily driver.
Hope you get a proper buyer soon
However, when selling it feels so different and is most annoying. More so when the car is special as opposed to a daily driver.
Hope you get a proper buyer soon
Every Time I've sold a motor, I've had a collection of these. Normally be email, to a point where I just stopped answering the "Will you accept ?" emails.
"Will you accept £17K" Yes....
The following day....
"Will you accept £16K ?".... And so on, and so forth.
I find the propper one's turn up, find a couple of things that need doing & chip you for that amount. Job done.
"Will you accept £17K" Yes....
The following day....
"Will you accept £16K ?".... And so on, and so forth.
I find the propper one's turn up, find a couple of things that need doing & chip you for that amount. Job done.
A buyers point of view Having just bought a Cerbera (well six months ago) I have to say I used all of the lines in the OPs original post and my opening offer was 3k below the asking price (it was originally up for 18k and we finally settled on 16k)
I did however also try and make my intentions that I was a serious buyer clear by asking a number of sensible questions and pointing out I had owned a number of TVR's before and that this fact could be verified by researching my profile on here.
Now I wasn't been cheeky with the offer, I really did have an absolute maximum budget of 16k to spend and was doing everything I could to get the price down to that.
However....what the seller did not know was his car was virtually a complete perfect word for word copy of my list of requirements I wanted in a Cerb. I wanted only a few colours (Grigio Titanio being No 1), had to be a Speed Six, had to have tuscan style lights, portland grey leather, tuscan seats, low mileage, 18" spiders, and as mint as possible....and this car had that exact spec plus 3/4 leather, heated front screen, aircon etc.
So the seller had a very strong hand I was just doing everything I could to play down how much I REALLY REALLY wanted his car.
So read between the lines when people contact you about the car, if they ask the 'right' questions, their very interested - if its the one I think it is its incrediablly desirable at that price!
Having just bought a Cerbera (well six months ago) I have to say I used all of the lines in the OPs original post and my opening offer was 3k below the asking price (it was originally up for 18k and we finally settled on 16k)I did however also try and make my intentions that I was a serious buyer clear by asking a number of sensible questions and pointing out I had owned a number of TVR's before and that this fact could be verified by researching my profile on here.
Now I wasn't been cheeky with the offer, I really did have an absolute maximum budget of 16k to spend and was doing everything I could to get the price down to that.
However....what the seller did not know was his car was virtually a complete perfect word for word copy of my list of requirements I wanted in a Cerb. I wanted only a few colours (Grigio Titanio being No 1), had to be a Speed Six, had to have tuscan style lights, portland grey leather, tuscan seats, low mileage, 18" spiders, and as mint as possible....and this car had that exact spec plus 3/4 leather, heated front screen, aircon etc.
So the seller had a very strong hand
I was just doing everything I could to play down how much I REALLY REALLY wanted his car.So read between the lines when people contact you about the car, if they ask the 'right' questions, their very interested - if its the one I think it is its incrediablly desirable at that price!
I recall responding to a text message offer that I received - 'Sorry mate, I think you've confused me with Oxfam, they specialise in charity work'. Never heard anything back, and ended up selling my Boxster to a guy for £250 less than advertised. Cash too.
Good luck with your sale though! My Cerb purchasing is delayed pending house extension!
Brian
Good luck with your sale though! My Cerb purchasing is delayed pending house extension!
Brian
When I bought mine I had a must have list & a preferred list.
Must haves were:
Colour (Blue, Red, or Black)
Engine (4.5)
Preferreds were:
Full leather (beige or cream)
Mileage <50k
Pedal adjustment done (i.e. ready to drive for a 6'5" ex-rugby player)
Spiders
Reasonable chassis condition (not needing immediate attention to chassis or outriggers)
As I knew I couldn't afford a mint one, I budgeted £13k plus £3-4k to spend on it immediately to ensure it got to fairly good condition - useable with a couple of niggles.
The one I settled on, when I found it, it was up for sale for £14995, with a recently refurbished gearbox, and replacement AP racing clutch, and on viewing it was clear it was in fairly good condition overall with a few immediately obvious issues:
Steel cooling pipes corroded - needing attention <6 months (already done)
Small amount of oil near rocker box - indicating tappets needing correction (due at next service)
Some worn leather on transmission tunnel, and on drivers seat (cosmetic - future work)
A couple of other minor cosmetics
Had inappropriate brake pads installed (already done)
Crap audio system (ok ok, I know.....)
Mileage was higher than I wanted (55k)
So immediately I knew I'd have to spend money on a service, brakepads, replacement cooling pipes, plus any other number of minor issues that would be found on it's initial service & check. I also recognised that within 2-3 years I'd need a chassis refurb & outrigger replacement, as whilst it was in good nick, waxoiled etc, that this wouldn't last forever, and a complete refurb & powercoat would be the best option in the long run.
I offered £12,500 knowing that I'd seen a Speed 6 in better condition for that price, although, knew that the 4.5 was worth more in same condition. Eventually after some haggling, I got the car for £13,600 including the cover. I've spent £2.4k at the garage, plus a further £500 on it myself. Total cost £16,500 for a 4.5, which is now in very good mechanical condition, but with the following (I now know) which needs doing to restore the car to "mint" condition:
Outriggers (2 year timeframe) £1,500
Chassis (2 year timeframe) £2,500, if done with outriggers
Full service inc. tappets (<1 year) £750
Leather wear/damage repair/replace (<1 year) £500
Dash insert repair/replace (<1 year) £250
Switchgear refurb (<1 year) £pence DIY
HID upgrade (<9 months) £100 DIY
Exhaust manifold repair & protection (<6 months) £800
Shock & suspension - proper setup (<6 months) £250
Replace rear wheel with flatspot (<6 months) £200
Bonnet hinge repair - a bit loose (<3 monts) DIY £20
Cosmetic paint chips/scratches repair (<2months) £200
Front wheels refurb (<2 months) £200
This little lot, I imagine will cost me c £7,250.
So the total amount spent on a car to return to mint condition will have been £23,750.
I hope that my experience goes some way to helping anyone looking to buy or sell understand the pricing & perceived "value" of the cars depending on condition.
Must haves were:
Colour (Blue, Red, or Black)
Engine (4.5)
Preferreds were:
Full leather (beige or cream)
Mileage <50k
Pedal adjustment done (i.e. ready to drive for a 6'5" ex-rugby player)
Spiders
Reasonable chassis condition (not needing immediate attention to chassis or outriggers)
As I knew I couldn't afford a mint one, I budgeted £13k plus £3-4k to spend on it immediately to ensure it got to fairly good condition - useable with a couple of niggles.
The one I settled on, when I found it, it was up for sale for £14995, with a recently refurbished gearbox, and replacement AP racing clutch, and on viewing it was clear it was in fairly good condition overall with a few immediately obvious issues:
Steel cooling pipes corroded - needing attention <6 months (already done)
Small amount of oil near rocker box - indicating tappets needing correction (due at next service)
Some worn leather on transmission tunnel, and on drivers seat (cosmetic - future work)
A couple of other minor cosmetics
Had inappropriate brake pads installed (already done)
Crap audio system (ok ok, I know.....)
Mileage was higher than I wanted (55k)
So immediately I knew I'd have to spend money on a service, brakepads, replacement cooling pipes, plus any other number of minor issues that would be found on it's initial service & check. I also recognised that within 2-3 years I'd need a chassis refurb & outrigger replacement, as whilst it was in good nick, waxoiled etc, that this wouldn't last forever, and a complete refurb & powercoat would be the best option in the long run.
I offered £12,500 knowing that I'd seen a Speed 6 in better condition for that price, although, knew that the 4.5 was worth more in same condition. Eventually after some haggling, I got the car for £13,600 including the cover. I've spent £2.4k at the garage, plus a further £500 on it myself. Total cost £16,500 for a 4.5, which is now in very good mechanical condition, but with the following (I now know) which needs doing to restore the car to "mint" condition:
Outriggers (2 year timeframe) £1,500
Chassis (2 year timeframe) £2,500, if done with outriggers
Full service inc. tappets (<1 year) £750
Leather wear/damage repair/replace (<1 year) £500
Dash insert repair/replace (<1 year) £250
Switchgear refurb (<1 year) £pence DIY
HID upgrade (<9 months) £100 DIY
Exhaust manifold repair & protection (<6 months) £800
Shock & suspension - proper setup (<6 months) £250
Replace rear wheel with flatspot (<6 months) £200
Bonnet hinge repair - a bit loose (<3 monts) DIY £20
Cosmetic paint chips/scratches repair (<2months) £200
Front wheels refurb (<2 months) £200
This little lot, I imagine will cost me c £7,250.
So the total amount spent on a car to return to mint condition will have been £23,750.
I hope that my experience goes some way to helping anyone looking to buy or sell understand the pricing & perceived "value" of the cars depending on condition.
Edited by mickydoo on Tuesday 24th April 11:52
I am not surprised they are making silly offers when thereare these car's ...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/97-TVR-CERBERA-BLUE-4-2-...
gerradiuk said:
I am not surprised they are making silly offers when thereare these car's ...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/97-TVR-CERBERA-BLUE-4-2-...
The car's CAT D on the register.
General opinion I believe is that you take 30% off the value.
That would make a comparable non-CAT D car £11,400 - a bit more realistic.
There will always be a few CAT D cars around that make other vehicles seem expensive but not many people will touch them.
With a car that's already got a limited amount of buyers adding in a negative aint good in my opinion.
Also, unless you know absolutely what the damage was, who repaired it and how well it was repaired, would you want to let loose 400 BHP with reckless abandon?
General opinion I believe is that you take 30% off the value.
That would make a comparable non-CAT D car £11,400 - a bit more realistic.
There will always be a few CAT D cars around that make other vehicles seem expensive but not many people will touch them.
With a car that's already got a limited amount of buyers adding in a negative aint good in my opinion.
Also, unless you know absolutely what the damage was, who repaired it and how well it was repaired, would you want to let loose 400 BHP with reckless abandon?
Edited by Tacchino on Wednesday 25th April 10:06
My wife had a bash & it became a Cat D car, the insurance company told us it would be 25% less in value. One last thing the damage to her car was a wing , a headlight & the door was creased where the wing pushed into it, I was very surprised to hear it was a write off?
I agree though you would have to see what had happened to it by way of before & after pic's, it may have just been fibreglass damage.
I agree though you would have to see what had happened to it by way of before & after pic's, it may have just been fibreglass damage.
It's definitely the knowledge that counts.
Before the Cerb I had a Jag XKR that was a CAT D following a fire in the centre console.
The fire consisted of a bit of melted wiring on a mobile phone charger, seat and console damage plus smoke damage.
£500 for a complete interior off e-bay, a couple of days swapping and cleaning and job done.
I paid about 50% below market for the car and it came with a full history.
No mechanical issues at all.
Before the Cerb I had a Jag XKR that was a CAT D following a fire in the centre console.
The fire consisted of a bit of melted wiring on a mobile phone charger, seat and console damage plus smoke damage.
£500 for a complete interior off e-bay, a couple of days swapping and cleaning and job done.
I paid about 50% below market for the car and it came with a full history.
No mechanical issues at all.
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