Selling my ST3 and looking for another car - advice
Selling my ST3 and looking for another car - advice
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dowsett

Original Poster:

58 posts

153 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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Hi all,

New member here. Ive 'known' about the site for ages but only joined today, mainly to ask some more experienced people about my situation.

I am going to sell my Focus ST3 - which im thinkin of selling on here - is there alot of exposure and interested compared to auto trader?

Im in no rush to sell but it will go this year. What is the best time to sell? this will be my first private sale so im a noobie to the used car market. Is Jan a good month? or wait till start of spring? I just dont want to pay for adverts if theres gonna be no response - having said that my ST is rare and havnt seen one like it on AT,eBay, and on here. My car being the best one with the best price. Maybe it will go within first week!

Im also looking at a new car in the region of about 3k. Id be after probably a hatchback or estate with good milage 40mpg+ and as low tax as possible per year with a bit of umfh. Also something quite easy to service myself as i plan on keeping it for a few years. I did own a mk1 (02 plate) focus and it was a beast tbh, really easy to service.

Im unsure about petrol or diesel? diesel would bring the road tax down and higher mpg but i only do about 5k a year. Would petrol be cheaper on running costs? my driving is more towards to A roads but there can be a bit of motorway miles throught the year (100mile round trips-ish max)

Im thinking something like a 55 plate mondeo, x type,3 series. Ive read x types are similar to mondeos but have problems with suspension in the older models thats quite expensive to repair? 3 series all seem to have really high milage on them but apparently its not really an issue as they for for 200k+ if looked after?

If anyone else has downgraded from an ST 2.5, what have you bought?

sorry for the long post but i was hoping to get a few anwsers and research stuff from there.

Any input would be great.

wemorgan

3,583 posts

208 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
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£3k would buy a 2004-2006 Saab 9-3 Aero (petrol)

Jon321

3,691 posts

218 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
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dowsett said:
having said that my ST is rare
In what way?

dowsett

Original Poster:

58 posts

153 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
Yer, i dont know if it better to go for like a 1.8 petrol or something like a 2L turbo diesel. It really is quite difficult for me to pick a car,lol.

I mean its rare because ive never seen one the same. i wont go in to all the details but ive never seen the paint job it has ( pearlescent white, 3 tone of white blue grey) and never seen any alloys like it on any car (gloss black with purple and gold speckles) on a 5 door 10 plate with 22k miles with sat nav, sun roof, all factory standard colors and extras etc etc. im not saying the car its self is rare, i was just saying ive never seen another one like it.censored

ETA

Sorry but not allowed.

Edited by Big Al. on Saturday 4th January 22:28

wemorgan

3,583 posts

208 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
If your budget is £3k and you do 5k a year then buying petrol will get you in a newer and lower mileage example.
The fuel savings @ 5k/yr are very modest for diesel (maybe ~£300/yr)

eltax91

10,767 posts

236 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
Add the 1.8T Octavia estate to the list. In the VRs or L&K guise they are very well equipped.

Dead easy to service yourself and has that bit of umph you are after. smile

As this car will quickly become a what car thread I will go into answering your first question!

Personally, I don't think pistonheads has the footfall of eBay, AT & gumtree, so enquiries are likely to be less. However, given the type of car you have, PH will give you are far superior 'mong' ratio. This sheer number of idiots, dreamers and test pilots on the other sites will be overwhelming. I'm not saying you won't get any of these from PH, but certainly less.

I've sold a couple of cars on here, well priced compare to competition and each time they've gone quickly to a friendly and knowledgable forum member.

One word of warning, no matter where you advertise, please research methods of scamming. This is rife now with cars. Western union, deposits, shipping agents, blokes stuck working at sea. All bks! Just be careful.

dowsett

Original Poster:

58 posts

153 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
ok thanks.

Anyone got any input on best time to sell and buy? any best place to sell my car? not sure if somewhere like here would be better than autotrader - and its free i think. Autotrader would be 36quid for 2 weeks (i think)

bga

8,134 posts

281 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
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dowsett said:
ok thanks.

Anyone got any input on best time to sell and buy? any best place to sell my car? not sure if somewhere like here would be better than autotrader - and its free i think. Autotrader would be 36quid for 2 weeks (i think)
As a seller I have had more time wasters (no shows at arranged viewings) through PH than Autotrader or Ebay Motors.

wemorgan

3,583 posts

208 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
dowsett said:
ok thanks.

Anyone got any input on best time to sell and buy? any best place to sell my car? not sure if somewhere like here would be better than autotrader - and its free i think. Autotrader would be 36quid for 2 weeks (i think)
I imagine many people are financially recering from Christmas right now rather than thinking of new cars. Give it a month or two.

Autotrader and Ebay have the highest traffic, widely used by the general public.
PistonHeads is not free and is a niche website for enthusiasts only.

dowsett

Original Poster:

58 posts

153 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
yeah i was thinkin of the octavia vrs - looks half decent.

Are the bmw 3 series any good for around my price? maybe a 07 plate or something? had a look last night and there was a 10plate efficient dynamics 10 plate for 4.5k i think....

Thats the one thing im dredding is wasting my time with tyre kickers. Probably wasting my fuel as well with test drives.

Deerfoot

5,250 posts

214 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
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dowsett said:
had a look last night and there was a 10plate efficient dynamics 10 plate for 4.5k i think....
That has scam written all over it. Far too cheap.

dowsett

Original Poster:

58 posts

153 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
wemorgan said:
I imagine many people are financially recering from Christmas right now rather than thinking of new cars. Give it a month or two.

Autotrader and Ebay have the highest traffic, widely used by the general public.
PistonHeads is not free and is a niche website for enthusiasts only.
Thats what i was thinking and whether its gonna be a waste of money advertising it yet.

Looks like its AT then as its the cheapest to advertise for the longest.

Thanks for everyones input.

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

243 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
dowsett said:
yeah i was thinkin of the octavia vrs - looks half decent.

Are the bmw 3 series any good for around my price? maybe a 07 plate or something? had a look last night and there was a 10plate efficient dynamics 10 plate for 4.5k i think....

Thats the one thing im dredding is wasting my time with tyre kickers. Probably wasting my fuel as well with test drives.
With your budget the newest 3 Series you would want is an E46 (ended production in 2006) Anything newer won't be in budget. If you find any, it's either a scam, seriously broken or has a million miles.

dowsett

Original Poster:

58 posts

153 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
maybe im being to picky along with a lowish budget ( i dont wanna spend alot on my next car) but im struggling to find something that i like and stuff that it needs to have. I have young kids both under 6 so i should probably stick with 4/5 doors.

Ive mentioned some of the stuff that i want but i dont think im gonna find anything as good as an ST unless i go much higher.


Had a look at the skoda and reviews and forums have already informed me that its dull and i can see a standard focus being better.

i guess ill just have to test drive a few. I wonder if going to one of these 'car supermarkets' and test driving a few and walking a way to find cheaper ones is an option

*Al*

3,830 posts

252 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
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If you are serious about selling it has to be Autotrader imo, although you could be lucky and sell elsewhere as it only takes that right person to see your car.

Level 7 Boss

212 posts

166 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
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Clio 172/182
Ep3 Type r

I would opt to sell in spring. The nation is reeling from xmas and many people won't be paid till the end of the month. Buying a thirsty 5 put turbo won't be high on the agenda.

BlackST

9,080 posts

195 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
I'd get on to Focusstoc.com and try and sell your car there. Shedload of Focus ST owners and I assume people who want to buy one will go on there before buying too.

dowsett

Original Poster:

58 posts

153 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
BlackST said:
I'd get on to Focusstoc.com and try and sell your car there. Shedload of Focus ST owners and I assume people who want to buy one will go on there before buying too.
I think im on there as a free member (also on talk ford). Do you know if adverts are free on either? I think ill be cleaning next weekend and finding a location to take pictures. Week after or end of month it might get advertised.

Tickle

6,479 posts

234 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
dowsett said:
I think im on there as a free member (also on talk ford). Do you know if adverts are free on either? I think ill be cleaning next weekend and finding a location to take pictures. Week after or end of month it might get advertised.
Not sure on STOC but most enthusiast forums you have to be a paid member to advertise on there pages.

matts4

2,109 posts

221 months

Saturday 4th January 2014
quotequote all
bga said:
As a seller I have had more time wasters (no shows at arranged viewings) through PH than Autotrader or Ebay Motors.
Agreed.
Autotrader seems to have worked really well for the last 3 cars I've sold.

PH gets enquiries but usually from people who gave to sell another car first.
If you're not in a position to buy, why call and waste your time or the vendors.