Some advice required about my advert please

[Ciaran]

Hello all

I've had my car up for sale for a few weeks now and not had a single phone call or email enquiry. Would you guys take a look at it please and offer some advice as to what I should do to change it.

I had it advertised at £6,750 and have reduced it to £6,250 but still no interest.

I've not put in on autotrader yet although it's on here, gumtree, used cars ni and a local car forum.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1581043.htm


Thanks!

[gizlaroc]

Probably nothing more than being in N.Ireland mate.
Seems a nice tidy car at a fair price.

Might be an idea to put something in the advert along the lines of...

Will throw in a nights stays at the Hilton Templepatrick and cover the return ferry cost for UK buyers, so you will get a nice weekend away too.

Will cost you under £200 for both and could swing a sale.

[Ciaran]

Thanks, that's certainly an option - I could offer to pay for flight / boat too I suppose. I didn't think it was the price as the ones on autotrader are about £1k dearer from memory.

I was thinking of offering a free sat nav unit?

I'm in no real rush to sell as I love the car, just need something bigger!

Edited by Ciaran on Monday 12th April 11:32

[gizlaroc]

There is nothing wrong with the price and I wouldn't bother offering sat nav.
I would put in the advert that the car runs perfectly, if it does of course, and point out each and every slight blemish, and list the full history etc.

It is a long way for people to come, and they need to know it is perfect before making the trip. Well unless they live in Bangor of course!

I bought my last E46 touring from Belfast and I live in Norwich, so people will travel, but so many won't even buy a car outside their own town.

Take loads of hires pics as well and ask people to email you for them.

[pattyg]

I'd get shot of the chavvy numberplate font. It does not suit the car imho. and I believe would put off some buyers.

[Ciaran]

pattyg said:

I'd get shot of the chavvy numberplate font. It does not suit the car imho. and I believe would put off some buyers.

I'll do that this evening.

Thanks for the tips, will list the service history and take more photos. Spent the weekend cleaning the carpet and mats, they weren't dirty, just needed a freshen up.

It runs like a dream to be honest and is a great engine, it's never let me down!

[paoloh]

Ciaran said:

pattyg said:

I'd get shot of the chavvy numberplate font. It does not suit the car imho. and I believe would put off some buyers.

I'll do that this evening.

Thanks for the tips, will list the service history and take more photos. Spent the weekend cleaning the carpet and mats, they weren't dirty, just needed a freshen up.

It runs like a dream to be honest and is a great engine, it's never let me down!

I was going to say the plates but also it looks like you have a caravan hitched to it in 1 pic.

Remove that picture as people will think it's had a hard life dragging the around.

[SJobson]

pattyg said:

I'd get shot of the chavvy numberplate font. It does not suit the car imho. and I believe would put off some buyers.

That's the standard font in NI, is it not?

I'd say: don't mention the miles to the next service, do mention the number of keepers, and anything that's been replaced (e.g. suspension bushes brake disks and pads etc) and perhaps get the print-out of the exact spec and put that in the ad (a chap on eBay will do that for 99p).

[Ciaran]

SJobson said:

pattyg said:

I'd get shot of the chavvy numberplate font. It does not suit the car imho. and I believe would put off some buyers.

That's the standard font in NI, is it not?

I'd say: don't mention the miles to the next service, do mention the number of keepers, and anything that's been replaced (e.g. suspension bushes brake disks and pads etc) and perhaps get the print-out of the exact spec and put that in the ad (a chap on eBay will do that for 99p).

The letters are slightly smaller than normal but I have another set I can use.

Will look into the spec list.

Cheers

[wiggy001]

If you want to sell to someone on the mainland, it might be worth mentioning whether anything needs to be done to re registration. I've personally no idea whether that would need to be reregistered with English plates, so I suspect many others wouldn't either and would be put off.

[Andy Meads]

I agree with the comments made. I'd also drop the reference to the dog guard. It will make some people think the car will smell of dog. I am not one of them, by the way - it looks like a nice car to me.

Good luck.

[Patrick Bateman]

I'd list every fault/noticeable marks other than stone chips (if any)

[4nonymous]

pattyg said:

I'd get shot of the chavvy numberplate font. It does not suit the car imho. and I believe would put off some buyers.

Indeed, if I saw a plate like that, I'd click the X .

[TheArchitect]

Can you post more pics and any more details like each service mots etc as I "may" be interested in this. HPI Clear any modifications aswell please.

Edited by TheArchitect on Wednesday 14th April 21:32

[Ciaran]

TheArchitect said:

Can you post more pics and any more details like each service mots etc as I "may" be interested in this. HPI Clear any modifications aswell please.

Edited by TheArchitect on Wednesday 14th April 21:32

Email sent.

I've updated the advert as suggested, will take more photos this weekend and fill out the detail a bit more. New number plates have also been bought!

[Ciaran]

Any new comments would be appreciated, going to put it on Autotrader this week.

[briers]

The car looks in good knick apart from the picture of the back seat which i think looks a bit grubby, i would remove that, not to dupe people but because i believe it probably looks much better in person and a few crumbs is understandable with a child. I would clean off the white stains though before viewing. And also remove the engine bay pic. You can't expect anything other than a dusty, slightly dirty engine bay on an older car. But on camera it just looks worse.

Also, i thought the bit about easy transfer to England and paying for your service was a bit desperate. Like you are trying to shift it and not sell it, as if it's cloned/stolen.

If someone is interested from England, they will figure out the transportation themselves.

Dog guard is a little off-putting because of the dog smell.


Also i think taking a photo of the service records, all paperwork, manual and both keys shows people you have all the necessary paperwork and is therefore unlikely to be dodgy. I would blank out the plates too.

Edited by briers on Monday 17th May 09:45

[Ciaran]

Cheers

Thought I removed the dog guard thing note. The back seat pic, it's actually just water on the camera lense I think as there are no marks at all - will try and take a better one. I have one of all the docs, will add it instead of the engine bay.

[Digger]

As much as it pains me to suggest, consider removing the PH sticker from the rear window? Please dont take this the wrong way, maybe take some pics of the car outside a non-residential smart building / area to improve the "image"?

Just a thought. Good Luck with the sale.

Edited by Digger on Monday 17th May 15:59

[Ciaran]

I'll take off the sticker :-(

Not to sure about taking pictures else where as if it was me I'd be wondering if the seller had something to hide.

Thanks though!