Buying a SAAB at auction

[MoelyCrio]

I've been going to the local auction house as its near work and I can take a look at some stock in my lunch hour. This SAAB 9-3 is up tomorrow. Its the 2.0T, so pretty much top spec, and good colour too.

They seem to be around £3k on Autotrader. Any views on bidding and at what level?

SAAB 9-3 VECTOR - 1998cc 2 Door Convertible
89,000 miles - Warranted, MOT 26/08/2014
PO53MLZ
Feb 2004
Petrol/Blue
DIRECT RETAIL GARAGE
28
SH 5 STAMPS FULL LEATHER,ELEC HOOD

[nagsheadwarrior]

1200 tops at auction probably less,convertable 10 year old saabs cant be a popular winter choice for the trade and hopefully midweek wont see as many private punters.

[loafer123]

I sold my 07 1.8t Linear auto 93 Conv through BCA a couple of months ago for £4,700, if that helps

[jasesapphy]

Make sure you have some come back

I bought one and ended up having Blown turbo on it and that has blocked the cat.
Luckly I am handy with a set of spanners

[Roo]

loafer123 said:

I sold my 07 1.8t Linear auto 93 Conv through BCA a couple of months ago for £4,700, if that helps

Four years newer with a different engine so not really relevant.

[Roo]

jasesapphy said:

Make sure you have some come back

It's a BCA auction. There is no comeback.

[theposhboy]

jasesapphy said:

Make sure you have some come back

I bought one and ended up having Blown turbo on it and that has blocked the cat.
Luckly I am handy with a set of spanners

I'm sorry but this is why private people should not be able to buy at auction! It's for motor traders who accept buying sold as seen, want comeback go to a dealership who provides a warranty.

[Ozzie Osmond]

A turbo car at auction is always going to be a bit of a "lucky dip".

Make sure you read the auction small print and see if there's an option to reject the car within 1 hour (or whatever) even if you have to pay a premium for that protection.

[MoelyCrio]

Ozzie Osmond said:

A turbo car at auction is always going to be a bit of a "lucky dip".

Make sure you read the auction small print and see if there's an option to reject the car within 1 hour (or whatever) even if you have to pay a premium for that protection.

Indeed. Its got an orange sticker, which means I can drive it for an hour afterwards and reject if anything majorly wrong. Can't reject for minor stuff though. Quite fancy it for around a grand - £1200 tops. Popping round to see it this lunchtime.

Never bought at auction, though I've been looking at stuff for a few weeks. They've changed their auction times/days with the specific aim of attracting private punters buyers.

[johnnyBv8]

theposhboy said:

jasesapphy said:

Make sure you have some come back

I bought one and ended up having Blown turbo on it and that has blocked the cat.
Luckly I am handy with a set of spanners

I'm sorry but this is why private people should not be able to buy at auction! It's for motor traders who accept buying sold as seen, want comeback go to a dealership who provides a warranty.

You're out of date. Whilst there are obviously risks with buying at auction, the auction houses make good money (via buyer and seller fees and via enhanced hammer prices) of providing some level of buyer protection. Probably part of the reason that auctions generally arent the location for bargains any more.

[johnnyBv8]

p.s. OP - your photo link must've changed....now showing a nasty Vauxhall MPV

[nagsheadwarrior]

MoelyCrio said:

I've been going to the local auction house as its near work and I can take a look at some stock in my lunch hour. This SAAB 9-3 is up tomorrow. Its the 2.0T, so pretty much top spec, and good colour too.

They seem to be around £3k on Autotrader. Any views on bidding and at what level?

SAAB 9-3 VECTOR - 1998cc 2 Door Convertible
89,000 miles - Warranted, MOT 26/08/2014
PO53MLZ
Feb 2004
Petrol/Blue
DIRECT RETAIL GARAGE
28
SH 5 STAMPS FULL LEATHER,ELEC HOOD

Is that the unique hard top 9-3 Convertible?

I think you should take a friend to help make sure you buy the right car!

[Roo]

johnnyBv8 said:

the auction houses make good money (via buyer and seller fees and via enhanced hammer prices)

Private buyer fees at some auctions are horrendous.

We hardly bother buying at open auction anymore. Bidding against a member of the public who's trying to get a bargain, then add on the fees. Not worth the journey most of the time.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Looking at the pic I'd say that's had quite a lot of bodywork

:P

[blindswelledrat]

The Crack Fox said:

5 service stamps in 89k miles ? Hmm...

About right? 18k intervals I think from memory

[confused_buyer]

You should always consider buying at auction as sold as seen.

There are some "approved" cars but they are designed to be almost impossible to implement for a private buyer.

An old Saab is highly unlikely to be under such a scheme and will be sold-as-seen.

[Monkeylegend]

Check the badge before you buy OP, and definitely do an HPi check, all is not what it seems.

[MoelyCrio]

Bastids, the auction site keep changing the pictures. It'll be a 1996 Honda Aerodeck next.

[theposhboy]

johnnyBv8 said:

theposhboy said:

jasesapphy said:

Make sure you have some come back

I bought one and ended up having Blown turbo on it and that has blocked the cat.
Luckly I am handy with a set of spanners

I'm sorry but this is why private people should not be able to buy at auction! It's for motor traders who accept buying sold as seen, want comeback go to a dealership who provides a warranty.

You're out of date. Whilst there are obviously risks with buying at auction, the auction houses make good money (via buyer and seller fees and via enhanced hammer prices) of providing some level of buyer protection. Probably part of the reason that auctions generally arent the location for bargains any more.

Right then chap out of date am I? I only spent £2000000 at BCA last year! BCA do provide an 'assured' selection of cars but this does not extend to the age of car discussed in this thread and has more holes in the small print than a colander. Auctions still are and always will be buyer beware sold as seen.

[confused_buyer]

theposhboy said:

Right then chap out of date am I? I only spent £2000000 at BCA last year! BCA do provide an 'assured' selection of cars but this does not extend to the age of car discussed in this thread and has more holes in the small print than a colander. Auctions still are and always will be buyer beware sold as seen.

Spot on. The whole "assured" things is designed to make sure you can't actually claim. If they really make a cock up it depends on how good a customer you are as to whether they'll consider taking it back.

I'm not aware BCA do an "hour after purchase" thing or have done for years. In any case it would be a massive victory for a private buyer to bid, queue, sort out paperwork, pay and get key at somewhere like Blackbushe in under an hour. Their service is so poor most cars have taken a hit on a new CAP price between bidding and paying.