used car dealers that buy from auction
Discussion
In the trade, a lot of "traded in" cars are sent to auction if the dealership doesn't want to sell the car itself. Typically this is because the car is the wrong brand or too old to be sold as "approved used".
Back street traders then pick them up at auction and, as you say, sell them with the obligatory SOGA warranty or similar. The bet they are making is that they can, on average, come away at a profit at the end of the year after dealing with any "warranty issues".
Personally I would never buy from these people - I would buy privately and take the risk myself. However, I understand that some people feel comforted by a trader to fall back on, even though it may be difficult to actually get problems sorted out. It all comes down to the reputation of the trader and, at the simplest, whether he will be there at all when your engine explodes and you go back hoping for a new one. If the trader goes bust you aren't going to see a penny, whatever your "legal rights".
Back street traders then pick them up at auction and, as you say, sell them with the obligatory SOGA warranty or similar. The bet they are making is that they can, on average, come away at a profit at the end of the year after dealing with any "warranty issues".
Personally I would never buy from these people - I would buy privately and take the risk myself. However, I understand that some people feel comforted by a trader to fall back on, even though it may be difficult to actually get problems sorted out. It all comes down to the reputation of the trader and, at the simplest, whether he will be there at all when your engine explodes and you go back hoping for a new one. If the trader goes bust you aren't going to see a penny, whatever your "legal rights".
Some have some have not.
Main dealers will often chuck a car into auction if it's not something they will sell on. Lease Company's/Fleet owners at end of lease. Repo's.
Some of these will have faults and some will not. I bought a 3 year old 520d a few years ago that was spot on. Even had four new Michelin's on it.
Main dealers will often chuck a car into auction if it's not something they will sell on. Lease Company's/Fleet owners at end of lease. Repo's.
Some of these will have faults and some will not. I bought a 3 year old 520d a few years ago that was spot on. Even had four new Michelin's on it.
One of our old cars went there after being traded in at main dealer. 4 years old with 96k, but still a bloody car with a lot of life left in it.
Anything sent there by Pendrgaon / Evans Halshaw is dog s
t. They have so many brands at all price points that they only send the utter ste to auction.
Anything sent there by Pendrgaon / Evans Halshaw is dog s
t. They have so many brands at all price points that they only send the utter ste to auction.It's where independent dealers get the vast majority of their stock from, I was a regular at BCA / ADT and Mannheim auctions for most of my childhood / early adulthood, guess what my dad did for a living? 
Also whilst I worked for a VW retailer for a couple of years they often bought their stock at closed auctions at the same places, they didn't half but some fking dross to go on to be approved used VW's 
Also whilst I worked for a VW retailer for a couple of years they often bought their stock at closed auctions at the same places, they didn't half but some f
king dross to go on to be approved used VW's X5TUU said:
Some are also just finance repo's and if you watch your local auction house you can then see these cars appear at local small garages normally a few days later (if uncomfortable buying at auction yourself)
Don't forget ex motability cars, I have never in my life seen cars as consistently abused as they are, for low mileage vehicles they are by and large absolutely fked.Urban Sports said:
Don't forget ex motability cars, I have never in my life seen cars as consistently abused as they are, for low mileage vehicles they are by and large absolutely fked.
I was wandering around CarGiant a few weeks ago and had a quick nosey around an ex-motability Panda Twin-Air. 15k on it in 3 years and looking at the inside of it you'd have thought you were in a very small 10 year old minicab.ked.They called me about a week later to ask if I was still interested as they'd reduced the price. I politely declined another visit...
X5TUU said:
Some are also just finance repo's and if you watch your local auction house you can then see these cars appear at local small garages normally a few days later (if uncomfortable buying at auction yourself)
Yes I've been to the auction and seen local dealers there and the cars back up in a couple of days. But how is one to know if its a a finance repo or a car that has been at auction due to some major faults?Matt11 said:
Hi are used car dealers that buy from auctions. Put 12 months mot on a car then sell it on. Any good. Haven't most cars that go to auction have something wrong with them?
We're in the process of p/xing daughter's car - a lovely little Mitsubishi Colt. Dealer used WBAC to value it and said they'll send it off to auction as they can't sell off-franchise.Doesn't really even need to be re-MOT'd - runs out in March.
I live near Blackbushe and have been down many times for entertainment. The volume is huge. Clientele seems to be 90%+ traders. I guess some are intermediaries because I notice some present only bid on MPVs, ie future minicabs, as you can only drive one at a time so I guess they are in the chain somewhere. Then lots of people bidding on everyday hatchbacks which I assume are for stock at your local used car dealer. I like looking at the prestige motors. There is usually a scruffy Aston or C63 hanging around among the high mileage BMWs.
Urban Sports said:
Don't forget ex motability cars, I have never in my life seen cars as consistently abused as they are, for low mileage vehicles they are by and large absolutely fked.
This. Very much so. ked.I've been a valeter in the trade most of my working life and can confidently say 90% of motobility cars I've seen have been ruined.
Don't know what it is about them but I can spot them pre valet from a mile!
Steer clear!
Depends on which end of the spectrum you are buying at......
The better auctions (eg anagram of ABC) will warranty a lot of their better stock for a limited time against significant defects.
Having said this - a lot of the cars are due a major service AND many need a new set of boots plus a proper clean/detail.
The same faces/traders appear at the dozen or so (best) sites spread throughout the country.
Regularly see the cars selling at £15-17K and appear on their forecourts at £20-23K. No harm issue with this - it is a business after all.
Have regularly bought at auction and would have no hesitation doing so again.
The better auctions (eg anagram of ABC) will warranty a lot of their better stock for a limited time against significant defects.
Having said this - a lot of the cars are due a major service AND many need a new set of boots plus a proper clean/detail.
The same faces/traders appear at the dozen or so (best) sites spread throughout the country.
Regularly see the cars selling at £15-17K and appear on their forecourts at £20-23K. No harm issue with this - it is a business after all.
Have regularly bought at auction and would have no hesitation doing so again.
Bca and Manheim sell nearly 20k cars a week nationwide...
The auction network is a significant backbone to the economy / car market.
Because I know what I am doing I can buy some amazing one owner full main dealer totally genuine vehicles for a fraction of market value.
Virtually all ex lease cars are sent to auction such as autolease etc etc
Please don't belittle traders who buy from auction, many are running multimillion pound businesses paying fortunes in vat and tax keeping the economy going!
The car market is so competitive that traders often sell cars as cheap as private sellers so why would you not consider a trader?
The auction network is a significant backbone to the economy / car market.
Because I know what I am doing I can buy some amazing one owner full main dealer totally genuine vehicles for a fraction of market value.
Virtually all ex lease cars are sent to auction such as autolease etc etc
Please don't belittle traders who buy from auction, many are running multimillion pound businesses paying fortunes in vat and tax keeping the economy going!
The car market is so competitive that traders often sell cars as cheap as private sellers so why would you not consider a trader?
nct001 said:
Bca and Manheim sell nearly 20k cars a week nationwide...
The auction network is a significant backbone to the economy / car market.
Because I know what I am doing I can buy some amazing one owner full main dealer totally genuine vehicles for a fraction of market value.
Virtually all ex lease cars are sent to auction such as autolease etc etc
Please don't belittle traders who buy from auction, many are running multimillion pound businesses paying fortunes in vat and tax keeping the economy going!
The car market is so competitive that traders often sell cars as cheap as private sellers so why would you not consider a trader?
I don't think anybody has belittled any traders here who buy from auction, I don't think it's a secret that stock is bought from auction, where else would a plentiful supply come from?The auction network is a significant backbone to the economy / car market.
Because I know what I am doing I can buy some amazing one owner full main dealer totally genuine vehicles for a fraction of market value.
Virtually all ex lease cars are sent to auction such as autolease etc etc
Please don't belittle traders who buy from auction, many are running multimillion pound businesses paying fortunes in vat and tax keeping the economy going!
The car market is so competitive that traders often sell cars as cheap as private sellers so why would you not consider a trader?
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