Buying a car that you know has been sold cheaper before
Discussion
I'm Interested in a car that appears to be on privately for a reasonable price, around £4k. The current owner hasn't had the car long but has a plausible reason for selling.
A bit of digging and I've found a previous ad for the car (amazing what you can find on the net!), presumably from when the current owner bought it given the date. It was with a small time trader and for considerably less than it is currently up for, around £2k. I'm not sure if that's down to the dealer mispricing or what, but that was a bargain price.
So, assuming history and test drive etc. check out, and there's no reason I can see why it was so cheap, what would you do? Accept it's currently a reasonable price and the current owner got a bargain? I fear I'd always have a nagging feeling I paid twice what I could have. But I missed the deal, so would it be daft to avoid it for that reason?
A bit of digging and I've found a previous ad for the car (amazing what you can find on the net!), presumably from when the current owner bought it given the date. It was with a small time trader and for considerably less than it is currently up for, around £2k. I'm not sure if that's down to the dealer mispricing or what, but that was a bargain price.
So, assuming history and test drive etc. check out, and there's no reason I can see why it was so cheap, what would you do? Accept it's currently a reasonable price and the current owner got a bargain? I fear I'd always have a nagging feeling I paid twice what I could have. But I missed the deal, so would it be daft to avoid it for that reason?
I don't get this mentality. I'm currently selling a car which has been engine converted. I've had a few people ask me why i'm selling. I've been honest, have said I bought it with a damaged engine with the intention of converting it and selling it on. I never hear back of anyone after telling the truth. It seems like i'll need to trot out the old classics, "wife is pregnant", "company car forces sale", etc.
It seems like people aren't happy if they feel someone else is making a few quid.
As for the plausible reason this car is for sale again, don't be daft. He's selling it on as he can double his money. The thing is, if it's priced well and you're happy with it, why should it matter what he paid?
It seems like people aren't happy if they feel someone else is making a few quid.
As for the plausible reason this car is for sale again, don't be daft. He's selling it on as he can double his money. The thing is, if it's priced well and you're happy with it, why should it matter what he paid?
Escy said:
I don't get this mentality. I'm currently selling a car which has been engine converted. I've had a few people ask me why i'm selling. I've been honest, have said I bought it with a damaged engine with the intention of converting it and selling it on. I never hear back of anyone after telling the truth. It seems like i'll need to trot out the old classics, "wife is pregnant", "company car forces sale", etc.
It seems like people aren't happy if they feel someone else is making a few quid.
As for the plausible reason this car is for sale again, don't be daft. He's selling it on as he can double his money. The thing is, if it's priced well and you're happy with it, why should it matter what he paid?
Or they don't trust your dodgy mechanical skills..It seems like people aren't happy if they feel someone else is making a few quid.
As for the plausible reason this car is for sale again, don't be daft. He's selling it on as he can double his money. The thing is, if it's priced well and you're happy with it, why should it matter what he paid?
The
James19181 said:
I'm Interested in a car that appears to be on privately for a reasonable price, around £4k. The current owner hasn't had the car long but has a plausible reason for selling.
My bet is that his plausible reason is made up and that he saw a chance to make a few quid and took it. He might even be a trader masquerading as a private seller.Jasandjules said:
What are similar cars priced at? If 4k, then it is a fair price and the bloke before you got a bargain.
Do you also look up the land registry sale prices and not bid on houses? I mean, I think my house sold in the 60s for a few thousand quid......
But houses appreciate..Do you also look up the land registry sale prices and not bid on houses? I mean, I think my house sold in the 60s for a few thousand quid......
I would not worry too much if the car was worth what you are paying for it. Forget what it sold for in the past.might be more opportunity for a haggle.
As long as it stacks up on its own merits,what is sold for previously is irrelevant.
Everything we buy was bought cheaper than we pay usually.
As long as it stacks up on its own merits,what is sold for previously is irrelevant.
Everything we buy was bought cheaper than we pay usually.
It's worth what it's worth (only you can decide re the value, we don't even know what it is) but it's price history is meaningless, however, you knowing it, means that you are in a position to bargain (if you don't let on). You know that the vendor is still doing well if he accepted an offer of 3k so he may be inclined to accept it.
Use the knowledge to your advantage. Vendor happy, you happy. Spread the love!
Use the knowledge to your advantage. Vendor happy, you happy. Spread the love!
Have sold lots of cars in the past through the various places I've worked at. When a punter comes and and asks for some sort of discount 'because you're making,(insert your own figure here), profit out of it', my retort is always to say that it is irrelevant what I bought the car for - I may have got it for free.........their facial appearance changes.
Similar thing happened to me, but I had some insider knowledge!
I bought a cheap Lexus RX300, tidy looking and low miles - but short MOT and gas guzzling petrol. It needed a number of issues to be fixed, including suspension work, new exhaust and grinding brakes. I only paid a few hundred pounds for it as the previous owner was sick of it and wanted rid! Ignoring the first nightmare sale that went Pete Tong (see my previous posts), I was able to get the car back and readvertised it at £800. It sold to a chap the other side of the water to me.
Barely 6 weeks later it popped up at £2000 on a local ads site. It now had 12 months MOT. I'd copied the docs from last time, so was able to check on the MOT details and seen it had earlier failed spectacularly, with dire warnings on the dangerous state of the brakes, suspension and exhaust and emissions. The guy had then obviously stumped up for a lot of expensive garage work to get it through the MOT and get shot of it.
Now, armed with an MOT with no advisories, he kept on reducing the price, eventually letting go for £1400. Still a bargain in my book.
I bought a cheap Lexus RX300, tidy looking and low miles - but short MOT and gas guzzling petrol. It needed a number of issues to be fixed, including suspension work, new exhaust and grinding brakes. I only paid a few hundred pounds for it as the previous owner was sick of it and wanted rid! Ignoring the first nightmare sale that went Pete Tong (see my previous posts), I was able to get the car back and readvertised it at £800. It sold to a chap the other side of the water to me.
Barely 6 weeks later it popped up at £2000 on a local ads site. It now had 12 months MOT. I'd copied the docs from last time, so was able to check on the MOT details and seen it had earlier failed spectacularly, with dire warnings on the dangerous state of the brakes, suspension and exhaust and emissions. The guy had then obviously stumped up for a lot of expensive garage work to get it through the MOT and get shot of it.
Now, armed with an MOT with no advisories, he kept on reducing the price, eventually letting go for £1400. Still a bargain in my book.
I have been looking at a specific model for several months, nearly 6, so see a lot of cars coming and going.
Seen one recently that was very cheap but other end of country. Sold cheaply to private buyer in end.
Next day, new ad on Pistonheads for same car with a few grand added on with some tale it was taken in part-ex for another car he was selling.
Would not buy from a "private" buyer who sells cars as a "hobby" and who has not owned the car for a reasonable amount of time.
Seen one recently that was very cheap but other end of country. Sold cheaply to private buyer in end.
Next day, new ad on Pistonheads for same car with a few grand added on with some tale it was taken in part-ex for another car he was selling.
Would not buy from a "private" buyer who sells cars as a "hobby" and who has not owned the car for a reasonable amount of time.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff