Foolishly agreed to sell a Mates car for him, but where ?

[rswift]

A good friend of mine is emigrating to the USA. Ages ago he asked if I would help him sell his & his wife's cars after they leave the UK, which I now realise is next week. They are a 2003 Audi A3 & 2003 Mini Cooper.

The last couple of my own cars that I sold have all been classics, and quite specialist so didn't have too many time wasters or idiots, however these are both mainstream cars, and I am now regretting the offer, as I am anticipating a barrage of idiots offering crap money, or kicking tyres. I can see the ad now, "selling on behalf of a friend" etc which would put me off for a start. I can't see the point in giving them away to "we buy any car" or similar organisations, but what sites etc have people had success with. I could do with selling on sooner than later.

My thoughts are Autotrader, not sure about PistonHeads for these cars, lso not sure about Ebay because of the idiot quota ?

Any thoughts or success/horror stories.

Thanks

[Carfiend]

Sold the Skyline recently so my review of classified is...

PH: Got some interest, a couple of "wuts ur bst price m8" just contacts and a few dreamers
Autotrader: Eventual Buyer saw it there but so did Cardata who tried the usual give us 90 quid and we will fk off scam
Ebay: Some say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one with a pinch of idiots, "swap 4 my imprezza m8?" and not a single serious query.

[LordHaveMurci]

I have sold two cars (mkII Escort & an E46 BMW) & a Motorhome via eBay. If you're prepared to fend off the knobheads (of which there seems to be many) then it gets your Ad out to a potentially huge audience.

No experience with AT & the only replies I got from PH when I listed my 996 were scammers or knobheads.

[Ki3r]

I sold my Punto via Facebook, worth a try? Local paper? Supermarket?

[danyeates]

I sold my Z4M via PH. Nothing but serious enquiries from there.

[7 Sevens]

I wouldn't hesitate and trying Pistonheads first.

However I guess it really depends on how you describe and price them. I would imagine cars like that priced keenly would attract a lot of interest from here.

[illmonkey]

Sold via PH a few days ago. Advert up for 2 hours, car sold. 2 phone calls, both serious callers.

[GenePoolReject13]

Only sold one car privately. I advertised both on here and autotrader.

Autotrader produced many enquiries, most were a waste of time, 2 or 3 serious enquiries that went no further.
Pistonheads produced one enquiry that led to the one and only viewing and the car was sold. It took 3 weeks for pistonheads to generate that 1 enquiry but it was worth it, unlike autotrader which cost me money as well as time stuck at home waiting for someone to come view my car. Only for me to end up calling them to find out that they have either changed plans or bought else where. Thanks you wkers, a call to let me know would of been nice!!

[tomsugden]

I sold 2 cars via PH in the same weekend. Both were very easy transactions, and I wouldn't hesitate to use it again.

[Dr Interceptor]

Sold my Discovery II through PH eventually

When I listed the XJ8, all I got was - "will u tke 2 grand cash?", and other crap messages.

[andye30m3]

I've always sold cars through Pistonheads, never get any time waster type phone calls.

Ebay will get the car seen by a lot of people but the only time I advertised on there I got lots of stupid text messages at 2 in morning offering half what it was advertised for, and eventually sold through PH.

[Fat Audi 80]

I bought and sold the same car for my uncle using PH. A thoroughly good experience all round...

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Thumbs up for PH from me - I sold my 147 GTA with no worries.

Another potential is Gumtree. I have bought a few cars from there, and competitively priced cars seem to go quickly. Potential for timewasters, though.

[CommanderJameson]

PH is all well and good, and I've sold things on it without difficulty, but by jingo, is an elderly A3 ever going to attract the pondlife.

Steel yourself, OP; whatever method you use to sell these cars, your phone is going to be the "bellend hotline" for a while.

[RZ1]

Another vote for PH.

Also let me know the details as my neice is after either a A3, Golf or Mini

[rfn]

I'd try all the free sites first, then ebay & AutoTrader if they don't work.

I'd also suggest getting a letter from your friend stating the reasons for sale and that you have been authorised on his behalf to sell the vehicles as they have emigrated. I wouldn't buy a car from someone if it wasn't at the registered address, let along from someone completely different to the registered keeper.

[stropley]

What returns are your mate expecting you to achieve? My in-laws are moving to Portugal at the end of the month & have asked me to sell their cars. They found similar cars on AT & expected the same return but I think a lot of the asking prices on there are pie in the sky & I regularly hear of people paying £1000 under. In the end I said to get a valuation off WBAC, which is an actual (yeah I know but kind of) cash offer, and said if I can get anything over that it's a bonus.

[rswift]

Thanks chaps,

A letter of authority is a good idea, and any serious buyer can contact the owner by email or phone easily enough, but I know what you mean. Different name/address would put me off.

The A3 is a fully loaded diesel, good history, leather etc nice if you like that sort of thing ( I don't)...not really sure if that is a PH friendly car but sounds like PH is a good starting point, have to see if I joined long enough ago to qualify for my free ad !

No idea about the Mini.

The last car I sold was my old XJS Cabriolet, via Ebay to a nice chap in Holland .... but the amount of idiots I had enquire along the way does put me off ebay a bit !

[cptsideways]

Ebay, start em at one pound but list a price in the advert text that you will take & no less! with your phone number.

Last car I sold like this went within 2 hours of being listed at £1 "for my asking price"

Ebay definately has the best coverage, serious buyers want a car now not next week when it ends, meanwhile they've bought something else..

[versus]

i think autotrader have a sale on at the moment so you can advertise for cheaper there. ebay is rubbish.