Where to sell an Aston privately?
Where to sell an Aston privately?
Author
Discussion

Mr Overheads

Original Poster:

2,630 posts

205 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Obviously I have listed my N400 on PH Classifieds and Autotrader, but is there anywhere else to sell a prestige car privately? I've never sold a car worth more than £20k privately before. Any hints, tips or advice from those that have.

I'll be doing cleared funds by CHAPS at a bank branch and also if they want a test drive then they'll need to show proof of insurance. Will be meeting people in the office car park rather than home for security i.e. people calling up and saying "when can I come and see the car". I then give out address details and by implication also when I'm NOT there, next thing I find I've been burgled for the keys and the car's gone.


Hughesie

12,790 posts

311 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
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Personally i wouldnt want to see the car at a business premises, unless you are a trader.

I'd feel more comfortable sseing at the registered address.

Hughesie

Mr Overheads

Original Poster:

2,630 posts

205 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Hughesie said:
Personally i wouldnt want to see the car at a business premises, unless you are a trader.

I'd feel more comfortable sseing at the registered address.

Hughesie
Happy to take the buyer to my home & registered address once confirmed as a serious buyer. Just don't want to give out when I'm home and when I'm out to random people who call.

If they want to research me, then they can check online for my business address (Companies House, my website etc etc). It's not at a random car park, which I agree would feel 'dodgy' if I was the buyer.

Amris

158 posts

197 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
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I think test drives are a real tricky one when selling privately. In all the cars I have sold privately I have never aloud one. Very few people have comprehensive Insurnace that covers them on any car and I'm told it's actually illegal to insure a car twice. Therefor the only realistic option is to put them on your own policy for a day which I wouldn't feel terribly comfortable with either.

For me test drives are done in garages, potential buyers just need a passenger ride to ensure everything works correctly and after that, just say inspections welcome to cover the gaps?

krisdelta

4,670 posts

230 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
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You've covered the main bases - you could consider a classified ad on eBay too - some people (not speaking Aston owners) seem to have had success from that.

Cheers

Kris

Calculator

812 posts

244 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
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I bought my V8V privately without issue from a PHer. Viewed the car at his house, agreed a price and booked it in for a 140 point check at the dealer. No test drive (although it was offered).

Met him at the dealer, got the results of the check and then went to the local bank branch for the money transfer. They confirmed to him that the transfer was complete and I drove away in the car.

Very simple process and worked for both sides - he got more than he would have for trade in and I got a car with warranty and the comfort of the 140 point check for less than a dealer would have charged me.

michael gould

5,698 posts

270 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Mr Overheads said:
Obviously I have listed my N400 on PH Classifieds and Autotrader, but is there anywhere else to sell a prestige car privately? I've never sold a car worth more than £20k privately before. Any hints, tips or advice from those that have.

I'll be doing cleared funds by CHAPS at a bank branch and also if they want a test drive then they'll need to show proof of insurance. Will be meeting people in the office car park rather than home for security i.e. people calling up and saying "when can I come and see the car". I then give out address details and by implication also when I'm NOT there, next thing I find I've been burgled for the keys and the car's gone.
Yes I would agree with other comments.....I always want to view an expensive car at the sellers home....so perhaps rethink that one....also your more likely to get the car stolen under duress if selling from a car park.....normally when selling, I accompany the purchaser to his bank for a bank draft....that way you know its genuine

Mr Overheads

Original Poster:

2,630 posts

205 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Calculator said:
140 point check at the dealer.
I would be happy for Bridge Mill Motors to do that check, just not the local dealer. Every dealing I've had with the Aston part of the chain specifically they've been poor e.g. Brakes replaced by DMS, 2 weeks later it was at local dealer for some warranty work arranged by the previous owner and they tried to tell me that the brakes needed replacing! A year later they still don't need replacing according to Bridge Mill, I would be concerned that the dealer would use the 140point check to get some extra revenue by telling me that the brakes, tyres and several other items must be replaced. If Bridge Mill advised me of those then more than happy for fixes to be part of negotiation.

Bridge Mill gave it a full service 150 miles and 4 weeks ago, so should be ok though.

Mr Overheads

Original Poster:

2,630 posts

205 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
michael gould said:
Yes I would agree with other comments.....I always want to view an expensive car at the sellers home....so perhaps rethink that one....also your more likely to get the car stolen under duress if selling from a car park.....normally when selling, I accompany the purchaser to his bank for a bank draft....that way you know its genuine
How would you arrange the home viewing without giving out to a random caller when you were in/out?

michael gould

5,698 posts

270 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Mr Overheads said:
michael gould said:
Yes I would agree with other comments.....I always want to view an expensive car at the sellers home....so perhaps rethink that one....also your more likely to get the car stolen under duress if selling from a car park.....normally when selling, I accompany the purchaser to his bank for a bank draft....that way you know its genuine
How would you arrange the home viewing without giving out to a random caller when you were in/out?

What’s the problem with giving your address out? if after talking to the prospective purchaser on the phone you are still uneasy then have a burly mate round at your house during the viewing.......I have never had a problem selling my vehicle privately.....I must admit, I was a little unnerved when 4 large black guys with baseball hats turned up at my house once to view a car at 9.00pm......charming and witty guys who paid me 13k in cash for the car…….never good to stereotype people

darreni

4,527 posts

299 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Mr Overheads said:
I would be happy for Bridge Mill Motors to do that check, just not the local dealer. Every dealing I've had with the Aston part of the chain specifically they've been poor e.g. Brakes replaced by DMS, 2 weeks later it was at local dealer for some warranty work arranged by the previous owner and they tried to tell me that the brakes needed replacing! A year later they still don't need replacing according to Bridge Mill, I would be concerned that the dealer would use the 140point check to get some extra revenue by telling me that the brakes, tyres and several other items must be replaced. If Bridge Mill advised me of those then more than happy for fixes to be part of negotiation.

Bridge Mill gave it a full service 150 miles and 4 weeks ago, so should be ok though.
I may be wrong, but i would suspect that someone buying a £50K used Aston would want a main dealer check.
That could be a major issue if buyers are already thin on the ground. Have you another main dealer you could use?

Mr Overheads

Original Poster:

2,630 posts

205 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
darreni said:
I may be wrong, but i would suspect that someone buying a £50K used Aston would want a main dealer check.
That could be a major issue if buyers are already thin on the ground. Have you another main dealer you could use?
Could drive it over to Stratstone Wilmslow. Only about 60 miles.

I had the check done by Murray in Edinburgh when I bought it. £100 charge and no faults found. But Murray always get's positive comments on here. My local dealer doesn't.

CatalystV12V

892 posts

210 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
I'd never take a Bankers Draft as I believe these can be cancelled like any other cheque.. CHAPS / Direct transfer is the best method but even with faster payments it can take up to 2 - 3 hours to clear..

jonby

5,367 posts

186 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
CatalystV12V said:
I'd never take a Bankers Draft as I believe these can be cancelled like any other cheque.. CHAPS / Direct transfer is the best method but even with faster payments it can take up to 2 - 3 hours to clear..
A bankers draft cannot be cancelled. It can however be forged or from a stolen book, hence the danger in accepting them

Some bank transfers can be reacalled for up to 24 hrs after

Safest way is FP (faster payment) or CHAPS. In either instance, once you see it in your account, it cannot be recalled

Slarti

1,828 posts

183 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Calculator said:
I bought my V8V privately without issue from a PHer. Viewed the car at his house, agreed a price and booked it in for a 140 point check at the dealer. No test drive (although it was offered).

Met him at the dealer, got the results of the check and then went to the local bank branch for the money transfer. They confirmed to him that the transfer was complete and I drove away in the car.

Very simple process and worked for both sides - he got more than he would have for trade in and I got a car with warranty and the comfort of the 140 point check for less than a dealer would have charged me.
You forgot to mention that the seller was a complete dream to do business with :-)

CatalystV12V

892 posts

210 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
jonby said:
A bankers draft cannot be cancelled. It can however be forged or from a stolen book, hence the danger in accepting them

Some bank transfers can be reacalled for up to 24 hrs after

Safest way is FP (faster payment) or CHAPS. In either instance, once you see it in your account, it cannot be recalled
Bankers Draft's can be cancelled if you have good reason.. Admittedly not easy to do.. but you could say you lost it, or you had a serious dispute with the Vendor and a bank could be persuaded to put a stop on it , and remember it takes 5 days to clear... so you’ve handed over your car and the cheque is no good... Unlikely, but why take the risk when there are other methods available..

Richales

237 posts

234 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
I'm a personal advocate of buying selling privately having done all my car buying that way. Just to add to the tales of caution though, it IS now possible to have a CHAPS transfer returned/cancelled.

The police now have the power to re-coupe any monies if they can prove that those funds were the results of criminal activity. Rather like seizing a criminals assets the money used to pay for items can also be seized - if it can be located.

With all these things it's a judgment call. Although there are some very good con artists out there, you'll generally know if they're a genuine buyer or not. I also take a photocopy of a some form of photo ID anyway, and offer them mine. Any genuine buyer shouldn't have any issue with this.

darreni

4,527 posts

299 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Richales said:
I'm a personal advocate of buying selling privately having done all my car buying that way. Just to add to the tales of caution though, it IS now possible to have a CHAPS transfer returned/cancelled.

The police now have the power to re-coupe any monies if they can prove that those funds were the results of criminal activity. Rather like seizing a criminals assets the money used to pay for items can also be seized - if it can be located.

With all these things it's a judgment call. Although there are some very good con artists out there, you'll generally know if they're a genuine buyer or not. I also take a photocopy of a some form of photo ID anyway, and offer them mine. Any genuine buyer shouldn't have any issue with this.
As often mentioned, buy the seller, not the car.

michael gould

5,698 posts

270 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
CatalystV12V said:
jonby said:
A bankers draft cannot be cancelled. It can however be forged or from a stolen book, hence the danger in accepting them

Some bank transfers can be reacalled for up to 24 hrs after

Safest way is FP (faster payment) or CHAPS. In either instance, once you see it in your account, it cannot be recalled
Bankers Draft's can be cancelled if you have good reason.. Admittedly not easy to do.. but you could say you lost it, or you had a serious dispute with the Vendor and a bank could be persuaded to put a stop on it , and remember it takes 5 days to clear... so you’ve handed over your car and the cheque is no good... Unlikely, but why take the risk when there are other methods available..
A bankers draft can’t be cancelled under extreme circumstances in which you, the payee, would be consulted....for example if the car you were selling was stolen that would not be reason to cancel the draft......it is a promise from the bank to pay you
But I agree there are other ways to pay electronically …….i was only giving an example

Mr Overheads

Original Poster:

2,630 posts

205 months

Friday 27th July 2012
quotequote all
Aston now sold. Very easy in the end. Buyer turned up at 11am today for 1st viewing. Had CHAPS money in my account by 2.30pm and he picked up the car at 6pm.

So goodbye Aston forum - on the search for an Evora S in Burnt Orange to replace it.....can't find one :-(