what's the market like for small cars under 2k?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Got my mother in law's Corsa C up for sale at the moment. Good spec, low miles, good condition, 12m MOT, some tax, perfect service history, only negative points are kerbed front alloys and a/c has lost its charge. I've priced it at the low end of the market and it's a sensible colour and not miles from anywhere.

Not a single call, not even canvassers.

Is it just such an unloved car?

[excel monkey]

Where is it advertised?

And how does your asking price compare to the price offered by WBAC? (would expect your "low" asking price to be a bit higher, but not massively so)

Edited by excel monkey on Wednesday 28th August 11:52

[aka_kerrly]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Got my mother in law's Corsa C up for sale at the moment. Good spec, low miles, good condition, 12m MOT, some tax, perfect service history, only negative points are kerbed front alloys and a/c has lost its charge. I've priced it at the low end of the market and it's a sensible colour and not miles from anywhere.

Not a single call, not even canvassers.

Is it just such an unloved car?

C'mon it's a common car destined to end up as another granny run about or a first car.

[NiceCupOfTea]

aka_kerrly said:

C'mon it's a common car destined to end up as another granny run about or a first car.

Yes, so why aren't grannies or teenagers calling?

Just on PH at the mo, but will stick it on AT in due course. Good shout about WBAC.

[CallorFold]

GumTree is probably a good idea too, although this tends to result in lots of stupid offers.

One may come through though and its free, so why not

[Galileo]

There is a big market for small cars under £2k for first timers. But first timers struggle to insure anything bigger than a 1.2l, so first off, what size engine is it?

[Galileo]

Secondly, if you've advertised it as A/C needs regassing, everyone will think you're lying and that it really needs and expensive repair and will keep well away. So either, don't mention it or get it topped up. Only costs about £50. Don't even mention the alloys. Thats a given for a cheap car. Take lots of pictures with a nice background.

[SteveSteveson]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Just on PH at the mo

That may be your problem... Not many grannys who want a small runaround looking on here. Probably some grannys are PHs, but not the ones that want a cheap small car. Try ebay motors as well.

[Galileo]

SteveSteveson said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

Just on PH at the mo

That may be your problem... Not many grannys who want a small runaround looking on here. Probably some grannys are PHs, but not the ones that want a cheap small car. Try ebay motors as well.

I didn't see that bit. Autotrader and E-bay are the way to sell cheap cars. As you say, he'll have no chance just using PH.

[s_zigmond]

Ebay as a 10 day auction starting on a Thursday night is the way to go

[pti]

I know Fleabay can be a pain in the arse but with my last car, I advertised on PH for a month with little (mainly time waster) interest. I then put in on Ebay with the same asking price as PH and it sold within 24 hours for £150 less than the asking price.

Made me wish I'd advertised it for more! I probably got lucky as I've had some jokers before but it was a brilliantly smooth sale.

A friend of mine also sold his pretty knackered 206 on there for £800! I swear it was worth almost half that with the list of issues it had (which he had listed in the advert before anyone gets on their high horse).

Sometimes terrible, sometimes brilliant. Worth a shot IMO.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Galileo said:

Secondly, if you've advertised it as A/C needs regassing, everyone will think you're lying and that it really needs and expensive repair and will keep well away. So either, don't mention it or get it topped up. Only costs about £50. Don't even mention the alloys. Thats a given for a cheap car. Take lots of pictures with a nice background.

I was honest - was recharged with dye but leaked out. I don't want somebody banging down my door if it stops working 3 days after they buy it! Again, alloys mentioned so people know what they are getting. Pics are good too.

Noted about eBay - auction or fixed price?

[Galileo]

Fixed price usually sounds more intentional (with an ONO to let people know you'd negotiate)
Auctions on a car always seem a bit desparate to me. A 'must sell cos its knackered' kind of thing. That might just be me though.