Presentation when selling a car
Discussion
It looks like my 4.5 Cerbera will be going to make way (and free up some funds) for my "unexpected but too good an opportunity to miss" next TVR project. Don't worry - it is still a Cerbera and it will be on the road very soon. I just need a few K to get it as I want and with my Griff as well the wife thinks I don't need three TVRs. I am still not convinced I don't need three TVRs but I could do with a few £.
Whilst my 4.5 Cerb is mechanically sound and I have been using it as a daily for the last 2 weeks (nearly 500 blissful miles now!) it does have some cosmetic issues to sort. This was always my plan - mechanics first, drive as a daily for a while to make sure no costly issues are lurking then sort the cosmetics. Well this was my plan before another Cerbera came up on my radar that I just had to buy.
So, the question is this - should I sort the cosmetics pre-sale? I need to:
Would I be better off just selling the car as is and looking for a buyer that wants a sound 4.5 Cerbera with some cosmetic issues they can sort out themselves and just ask a few k less on the sale value? Selling it as is would appeal to somebody perhaps looking for a track/hillclimb car or somebody who wanted a cosmetically perfect Cerbera and would factor in a full respray anyway (then my £1100 would be wasted).
What would you do if you were selling your car? Half of me thinks just put it up and see if it sells whilst the other half thinks any car for sale should be presented at its best.
Whilst my 4.5 Cerb is mechanically sound and I have been using it as a daily for the last 2 weeks (nearly 500 blissful miles now!) it does have some cosmetic issues to sort. This was always my plan - mechanics first, drive as a daily for a while to make sure no costly issues are lurking then sort the cosmetics. Well this was my plan before another Cerbera came up on my radar that I just had to buy.
So, the question is this - should I sort the cosmetics pre-sale? I need to:
- Refurb the wheels (the backs are fine but one of the fronts has been kurbed) - £240
- New tyres (backs are OK but I always fit all four) - £550
- Furniture clinic the marks on steering wheel edge and some marks on drivers seat bolster - £100
- Sort out some paint work issues, I have seen a paint shop that think a mop and front/passenger door respray where paint is flat would be enough - £1100
Would I be better off just selling the car as is and looking for a buyer that wants a sound 4.5 Cerbera with some cosmetic issues they can sort out themselves and just ask a few k less on the sale value? Selling it as is would appeal to somebody perhaps looking for a track/hillclimb car or somebody who wanted a cosmetically perfect Cerbera and would factor in a full respray anyway (then my £1100 would be wasted).
What would you do if you were selling your car? Half of me thinks just put it up and see if it sells whilst the other half thinks any car for sale should be presented at its best.
You'd be amazed what a good detail can do for a cars paint work. Have a look at my recent thread, it cost me a lot less than £1100!
I agree with getting the wheels done as they really set a car off. Is that price for all 4? Why not just get the one damaged wheel refurbed if the other 3 are ok? Or if you think it will notice then get 2 on one side done.
I'd also just change the front tyres and leave the rears if I was just about to sell. Let the knew owners decide if they want changing or not...
£100 for furniture clinic would be money well spent.
All in I'd say you don't need to spend more than about £800.
I agree with getting the wheels done as they really set a car off. Is that price for all 4? Why not just get the one damaged wheel refurbed if the other 3 are ok? Or if you think it will notice then get 2 on one side done.
I'd also just change the front tyres and leave the rears if I was just about to sell. Let the knew owners decide if they want changing or not...
£100 for furniture clinic would be money well spent.
All in I'd say you don't need to spend more than about £800.
Personally I would like the items that need attention listed out, but not done, so I could buy the car slightly cheaper and do those bits over time, if they bothered me.
I bought a Cerb recently that needed a bit of love (needs a front end respray, interior work and lots of bits smartening up) but the chassis had no holes or surface rust and the engine is strong. Going through the paperwork I knew it needed the calipers overhauled and I could see it needed new tires, so I knew what I was buying (well, as much as you can with a TVR) and how much I would need to spend.
I am about to replace all the tires, wishbones, fuel lines, discs/pads and a leaking diff seal so I'm in for around £2k, which means the cosmetics can wait and I have a great car for the summer - It was always more important that the mechanics and chassis were solid, than how the car looked (wasn't the colour I wanted, or with the headlights or wheels I like but has grown on me)
If the previous owner had done the work, the car would have been out of my budget at the time. I was happy to know what it needed, decide what mattered to me and do it as I go along/get the cash.
Also, much less hassle for you to list the items and offer a price to reflect the work that needs doing that getting it all done.
Others may have differing opinions, but it seems like most buyers like a tinker anyway, so having some jobs to do is part of the fun.
Good luck with the sale.
P.s which Cerb did you buy?
J
I bought a Cerb recently that needed a bit of love (needs a front end respray, interior work and lots of bits smartening up) but the chassis had no holes or surface rust and the engine is strong. Going through the paperwork I knew it needed the calipers overhauled and I could see it needed new tires, so I knew what I was buying (well, as much as you can with a TVR) and how much I would need to spend.
I am about to replace all the tires, wishbones, fuel lines, discs/pads and a leaking diff seal so I'm in for around £2k, which means the cosmetics can wait and I have a great car for the summer - It was always more important that the mechanics and chassis were solid, than how the car looked (wasn't the colour I wanted, or with the headlights or wheels I like but has grown on me)
If the previous owner had done the work, the car would have been out of my budget at the time. I was happy to know what it needed, decide what mattered to me and do it as I go along/get the cash.
Also, much less hassle for you to list the items and offer a price to reflect the work that needs doing that getting it all done.
Others may have differing opinions, but it seems like most buyers like a tinker anyway, so having some jobs to do is part of the fun.
Good luck with the sale.
P.s which Cerb did you buy?
J
Rochester TVR said:
You'd be amazed what a good detail can do for a cars paint work. Have a look at my recent thread, it cost me a lot less than £1100!
I agree with getting the wheels done as they really set a car off. Is that price for all 4? Why not just get the one damaged wheel refurbed if the other 3 are ok? Or if you think it will notice then get 2 on one side done.
I'd also just change the front tyres and leave the rears if I was just about to sell. Let the knew owners decide if they want changing or not...
£100 for furniture clinic would be money well spent.
All in I'd say you don't need to spend more than about £800.
Yes, £240 for all four wheels refurbed. The rear tyres are fine but they are close to legal limit so would need replacing within the next 1000 miles. I have to pay £20 to have them removed then refitted to the refurbed wheels so it just seems a waste of money when they will need replacing soon anyway. The way I am going if the car takes more than 4 weeks to sell I will have done another 1000 miles and need the tyres myself!I agree with getting the wheels done as they really set a car off. Is that price for all 4? Why not just get the one damaged wheel refurbed if the other 3 are ok? Or if you think it will notice then get 2 on one side done.
I'd also just change the front tyres and leave the rears if I was just about to sell. Let the knew owners decide if they want changing or not...
£100 for furniture clinic would be money well spent.
All in I'd say you don't need to spend more than about £800.
So we are thinking sort wheels, tyres (even if it is just the fronts) and interior. Leave the paintwork as is but have the car mopped (I have a quote for £150 to mop the car front to back). That would come to about £740 if I leave out the back tyres and about £1,040 if I include new rear tyres too.
fr0zent0ast said:
Personally I would like the items that need attention listed out, but not done, so I could buy the car slightly cheaper and do those bits over time, if they bothered me.
...
If the previous owner had done the work, the car would have been out of my budget at the time. I was happy to know what it needed, decide what mattered to me and do it as I go along/get the cash.
Good point - even if I throw just 1k into the car it is another 1k I will want back out and the car is a reliable and usable daily currently....
If the previous owner had done the work, the car would have been out of my budget at the time. I was happy to know what it needed, decide what mattered to me and do it as I go along/get the cash.
fr0zent0ast said:
Also, much less hassle for you to list the items and offer a price to reflect the work that needs doing that getting it all done.
Others may have differing opinions, but it seems like most buyers like a tinker anyway, so having some jobs to do is part of the fun.
Good luck with the sale.
P.s which Cerb did you buy?
J
Ahh, now that would be telling...I may be picking it up later today or at the weekend if I can't get to the garage today. I will post up a new thread then revealing all. It is one some of the older PH posters will know and love. I have owned it for a while now and it has been worked on at a garage rebuilding and recommissioning it after a number of years off road. Hence why I could do with some funds!Others may have differing opinions, but it seems like most buyers like a tinker anyway, so having some jobs to do is part of the fun.
Good luck with the sale.
P.s which Cerb did you buy?
J
TimJM said:
Ahh, now that would be telling...I may be picking it up later today or at the weekend if I can't get to the garage today. I will post up a new thread then revealing all. It is one some of the older PH posters will know and love. I have owned it for a while now and it has been worked on at a garage rebuilding and recommissioning it after a number of years off road. Hence why I could do with some funds!
Oooooooh......
I wouldn't replace any consumables before selling (unless you can do them at negligible cost).
The prospective buyer may well have parts or sources that they feel give them an advantage cost wise, providing you clearly list the necessary items.
Obviously if they find out through a process of discovery then that is a bargaining chip.
However, take everything I say with a massive pinch of salt, as I have never sold a car profitably. My coup de gras was selling a 2.8i Capri with 12 months tax for only very slightly more than the refund value of the tax disc - DOH!
The prospective buyer may well have parts or sources that they feel give them an advantage cost wise, providing you clearly list the necessary items.
Obviously if they find out through a process of discovery then that is a bargaining chip.
However, take everything I say with a massive pinch of salt, as I have never sold a car profitably. My coup de gras was selling a 2.8i Capri with 12 months tax for only very slightly more than the refund value of the tax disc - DOH!
ukkid35 said:
I wouldn't replace any consumables before selling (unless you can do them at negligible cost).
The prospective buyer may well have parts or sources that they feel give them an advantage cost wise, providing you clearly list the necessary items.
Obviously if they find out through a process of discovery then that is a bargaining chip.
However, take everything I say with a massive pinch of salt, as I have never sold a car profitably. My coup de gras was selling a 2.8i Capri with 12 months tax for only very slightly more than the refund value of the tax disc - DOH!
Ouch - a 2.8 Capri will fetch strong money now.The prospective buyer may well have parts or sources that they feel give them an advantage cost wise, providing you clearly list the necessary items.
Obviously if they find out through a process of discovery then that is a bargaining chip.
However, take everything I say with a massive pinch of salt, as I have never sold a car profitably. My coup de gras was selling a 2.8i Capri with 12 months tax for only very slightly more than the refund value of the tax disc - DOH!
I should make a small profit with my 4.5 Cerbera...unless you factor in the 300+ hours of work in it. In fact if you factor those hours in then I would have been far better off flipping burgers with my time. I bought it in bits and rebuilt it so it is certainly worth more now with tax and an MOT than when I purchased it. To be honest I would like to keep it after all the effort and work (plus the late lonely nights) that goes into these cars you get attached to them. But, my new project needs some funds and it is a car I have always admired and after having the chance to purchase it I want to get it back to it's former glory.
I suppose if the new buyer doesn't like spiders and would prefer another wheel package then it is pointless me spending nearly £800 to refurb and re-tyre the spiders that are on there currently. I think I might put together an add over the weekend and see how it goes as is. Hopefully the painful thought of parting with the car will be eased with my new arrival.
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