Advertising a dirty car
Discussion
When I was looking for a Land Rover, most seemed to be advertised caked in mud. I know "off road" etc, but I got the impression it was hiding a multitude of sins.
On a slight tangent, I was talking to a car salesman recently and he said about the state some people take their cars in for px. I was embarrassed about the state of mine, as I'd called in on a whim, so it was a bit grubby, but he said it was immaculate compared to most. In fact it's going in today to be swapped and I've just given it a clean and hoover. Probably makes me a bit odd.
On a slight tangent, I was talking to a car salesman recently and he said about the state some people take their cars in for px. I was embarrassed about the state of mine, as I'd called in on a whim, so it was a bit grubby, but he said it was immaculate compared to most. In fact it's going in today to be swapped and I've just given it a clean and hoover. Probably makes me a bit odd.
One thing I have learned selling my cars over the years is that 90% of people buy with their eyes. I recall selling an E46 privately a few years back, there was nothing majorly wrong with it but it needed a few quid spending on it being 100k miles, it was tired so needed bushes and a few other bits doing but I spent four hours cleaning it and the first person didn't even test drive it, just threw the money at me and left.
A few exceptions but the vast majority have little mechanical knowledge and if it looks clean and tidy, it tells them mentally that its a good car to buy.
We turned up at a local car sales place to view an A3, it was 3 years old with 20k on the clock. It had not been prepped as they only just got it in but it was an absolute state, my Wife just couldn't see past the marks all over the seats, the heavily dinged alloys, the small scratches around the car etc. It stunk of smoking as well. A 30 seconds viewing and we said thanks but no thanks.
A few exceptions but the vast majority have little mechanical knowledge and if it looks clean and tidy, it tells them mentally that its a good car to buy.
We turned up at a local car sales place to view an A3, it was 3 years old with 20k on the clock. It had not been prepped as they only just got it in but it was an absolute state, my Wife just couldn't see past the marks all over the seats, the heavily dinged alloys, the small scratches around the car etc. It stunk of smoking as well. A 30 seconds viewing and we said thanks but no thanks.
Edited by Wagonwheel555 on Friday 27th May 08:57
steveo3002 said:
saves you going to look at it , if they cant even be bothered to wipe it over before sale then you know how its been treated
Agreed, I have bought filthy cars in the past as I quite enjoy cleaning them. You think that once cleaned it will be a good car but that is never the case. These sort of people treat their car as a consumable and don't care about it in the slightest, it is just something to use and run into the ground. Once it gets to the point where it is filthy and ruined they part exchange it for the next one and treat that one exactly the same.Plus, even when the interior is clean it will still look like it has had a very hard life. These are the sort of people who will never service the car, fit the cheapest tyres when it fails the MOT, kerb ever alloy to death, fill the car with dogs, messy children and garden rubbish for the tip, only ever put it through a car wash, drive up kerbs and over speed humps without slowing down, shut the seatbelts in the door, scuff the door cards and sills with their feet, wear all the coating off the buttons and controls with the moisturiser they put on their hands, scratch the exterior by driving against bushes, all four corners will be scuffed etc. etc.
Assuming it's a few grand's worth of car, cleaning might add a few hundred quid to it. Take it to the local underpaid foreign employee outfit, spend £25 for a half decent once over and wipe down inside and you'll add 10x that cost in value. If they can't be bothered to clean it, they won't be bothered when something goes wrong and you need to have them complete warranty work.
Just picked up a car (2019 Mazda CX5) that supposedly had a "valet" before sale, full Gard X b
ks (added to part ex price so not actually paid for) and then another "complimentary valet" before collection. The bodywork was OK, but the interior looked like it had had a 30 second vacuum and then a silicon shine bomb had been let off in there. It's taken me all afternoon to get it halfway presentable.
ks (added to part ex price so not actually paid for) and then another "complimentary valet" before collection. The bodywork was OK, but the interior looked like it had had a 30 second vacuum and then a silicon shine bomb had been let off in there. It's taken me all afternoon to get it halfway presentable. Slightly different but along the same lines.
Woman across the road has a new Nissan SUV. Its 3 months old. I was chatting with her the other day asking if she liked the car. (I dont like the car).
She said her it's great. When I looked inside, it was horrible. I mean horrible. Her 3 kids had destroyed the inside. I said are you annoyed?
No was the answer. I'll trade it in for a new one when it gets too bad!
Woman across the road has a new Nissan SUV. Its 3 months old. I was chatting with her the other day asking if she liked the car. (I dont like the car).
She said her it's great. When I looked inside, it was horrible. I mean horrible. Her 3 kids had destroyed the inside. I said are you annoyed?
No was the answer. I'll trade it in for a new one when it gets too bad!
I have taken photos inside my car, it is surprising how much dirt the iPad camera picks up (dust, skin flakes, etc), it seems much more than the eye can pick up (probably some psycho/neural action going on). However, you would not present those photos in a sale.
Now, go and have a look at some interior shots of houses for sale - some people have no idea about presentation.
Now, go and have a look at some interior shots of houses for sale - some people have no idea about presentation.
Fifteen years ago or so we looked to trade in our 2003 Mini Cooper S which looked the dogs in that electric blue (before it looked a bit noughties) - and I polished it to within an inch of its life. It really was spotless inside and out, not a kerbed alloy or scuff in sight. Still only got trade in price for it … should have sold it privately of course.
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