How to value your car?

[Timmy2TARs]

Is there a rough guide anywhere as to what various bits and bobs on a car are worth? I'm thinking something like a modular price guide that one could use to tot up what a car's value might be. Or are prices generally set on overall condition regardless of spec?

[Erich Stahler]

Timmy2TARs said:

Is there a rough guide anywhere as to what various bits and bobs on a car are worth? I'm thinking something like a modular price guide that one could use to tot up what a car's value might be. Or are prices generally set on overall condition regardless of spec?

I think your last sentence is the general consensus.

[FUBAR]

How do we quantify 'overall condition'? My car has all the mods, is mechanically excellent (never wanted for any mechanical maintenance...luckily the wife hasnt found the invoices yet) but it does have the ubiquitous stone chips etc. I wouldnt say it was scruffy, but its not 100% paintwise. Personally Im not too fussed because to my mind, I can use it on road and track without worrying too much about yet another flying stone.

Would my car be marked down due to the non showroom paintwork? Sure, people who know their Cerbs 'probably' wouldnt be too worried about it, but someone new to the marque may overlook my car in favour of a 'prettier' one.

All hypothetical, as Im financially handcuffed to him now and no intentions of selling anyway

[Timmy2TARs]

Cheers chaps.

Fubar, with those wheels I think stone chips are the least of your worries

[JensenA]

The values of Cerb's follow much the same rules as any other car really. It can only be based on overall condition. If you buy a Cerb (or any other car for that matter) for 10 grand. Then spend £1200 on an SP exhaust, £1500 on new Spiders and tyres, slap a £500 sound system in it, and then spend a grand on a re-map and induction kit. You don't suddenly have a car that is now worth £14,000, it'll just be slightly more desirable than a standard car. Sad but true.
The best way to maintain the value of a Cerb is to keep it totally standard Appearance wise, and spend your money on maintaining it.

[FUBAR]

Timmy2TARs said:

Cheers chaps.

Fubar, with those wheels I think stone chips are the least of your worries

[touching cloth]

Not thinking of selling up I home Tim??

I am another who has things all the wrong way around... outside is stonechipped, usually unwashed and unpolished, all the hallmarks of a cheap snotter Cerb. Underneath I have SP wheels, Sp exhaust, Ohlins suspension and fairly recent body off chassis resto.... I like to think this is me cocking a snoop at all the garage queens out there with all the show and no go... in reality I'm just a lazy bd

[AlexH22]

touching cloth said:

Not thinking of selling up I home Tim??

I am another who has things all the wrong way around... outside is stonechipped, usually unwashed and unpolished, all the hallmarks of a cheap snotter Cerb. Underneath I have SP wheels, Sp exhaust, Ohlins suspension and fairly recent body off chassis resto.... I like to think this is me cocking a snoop at all the garage queens out there with all the show and no go... in reality I'm just a lazy bd

Right way round for me; mechanically and physically sound rather than looking shiny. Oily engine bay too, over a dinner plate ajp.

Value depends a lot on the buyer, some people might turn their nose up at touching cloth's car as its not what they are looking for at first glance. Other buyers can see the bigger picture.

Buying houses is the same; some people would never in a million years buy a run down project, but granted the first thing they will do when they buy a new build or a perfectly livable obode is make their mark on it by decorating and changing things- am I the only one that thinks this behaviour is madness?

[RUSSELLM]

Think mine falls in to the scruffy sector as well. Used daily, the arse of my work trousers scratching down the seat stitching, means it's never going to be a beauty & my wet/muddy feet don't do the carpets any favours

That said, I like everything right mechanically, even getting the passenger mirror rewired because it wouldn't go up

Ohlins, rebuilt engine etc haven't really added to it's value.

However, it's not being sold at the moment, so to me, it's worth fifty grand

Edited by RUSSELLM on Tuesday 13th October 16:12

[dirty boy]

Mine is always garaged, always polished. I think that's because I feel ashamed that I can't do so much of the mechanical stuff, I tend to compensate with cleaning

Suspension is the one big thing I need to spend on to make it more desireable I think.

I drive like Miss Daisy unfortunately

[Budaholic]

FUBAR said:

All hypothetical, as Im financially handcuffed to him now and no intentions of selling anyway

Strange you say that because I just came across this on ebay and thought it was yours at first!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Then I saw the interior!! not my cuppa!

Bud

[ro_butler]

FUBAR said:

How do we quantify 'overall condition'? My car has all the mods, is mechanically excellent (never wanted for any mechanical maintenance...luckily the wife hasnt found the invoices yet) but it does have the ubiquitous stone chips etc. I wouldnt say it was scruffy, but its not 100% paintwise. Personally Im not too fussed because to my mind, I can use it on road and track without worrying too much about yet another flying stone.

Same here. Makes ownership much less of a worry. Tend to spend my money on the mechanicals that improve the car like SP exhaust, SP wheels, suspension, big brakes etc...

Edited by ro_butler on Tuesday 13th October 21:05

[Timmy2TARs]

Interesting responses - thanks for the replies.

After three years of ownership I am unfortunately thinking of selling up. My heart says no but my head say yes as it makes sense in readiness for my next little adventure. If I could store the car somewhere I'd be happy but realistically it needs to go to a good home...

[ro_butler]

You should get plenty for yours. It's a late model and in a nice neutral colour (he says as the owner of a banana yellow car )
IIRC there were two 2003 model cerbs for sale recently at between £20-25k and at least one of them sold.

What a lovely car!