100K+ Cerberas?
Discussion
That's miles covered, we're probably still a ways off pounds value.
So I've looked after an astounding car ('98 4.5) for three years now, was originally only going to keep for two, but circumstances gave me excuses to extend the relationship.
She was a (relatively) high miler when acquired (private from another PHer) at about 80K+ three years ago, and was a mechanically great daily driver rather than a pristine garage-queen that's sorn-ed over winter. So paintwork wasn't great, but everything worked, engine and mechanicals in fine fettle, which is why I thought it a better or more prudent choice than a pricier showroom car.
I've continued to drive regularly, and put 30K miles on her in three years (slightly more driving than her 6Kpa average), and serviced fastidiously, which has not been expensive (regular use theory and all that)
So i did put her up for sale this summer, twice, and not a sniff. Actually one inquirer, who wanted the later headlights.
There does seem to have been a bit of turnover in cars, new owners joining the fold, so my question was - is a 100K mile Cerbera simply too scary for most people?
And is that illogical, counter-intuitive, or fair?
So I've looked after an astounding car ('98 4.5) for three years now, was originally only going to keep for two, but circumstances gave me excuses to extend the relationship.
She was a (relatively) high miler when acquired (private from another PHer) at about 80K+ three years ago, and was a mechanically great daily driver rather than a pristine garage-queen that's sorn-ed over winter. So paintwork wasn't great, but everything worked, engine and mechanicals in fine fettle, which is why I thought it a better or more prudent choice than a pricier showroom car.
I've continued to drive regularly, and put 30K miles on her in three years (slightly more driving than her 6Kpa average), and serviced fastidiously, which has not been expensive (regular use theory and all that)
So i did put her up for sale this summer, twice, and not a sniff. Actually one inquirer, who wanted the later headlights.
There does seem to have been a bit of turnover in cars, new owners joining the fold, so my question was - is a 100K mile Cerbera simply too scary for most people?
And is that illogical, counter-intuitive, or fair?
Was yours the green car ending APA? If so, it just looked a bit tatty... Little details like the front numberplate appeared cracked and delaminted, no shine to paintwork, wheel colour did no favours for the car and made it appear less cared for cosmetically than it might have otherwise. It's amazing how a machine polish, bright silver wheels and new numberplates front and rear can do for a car. It sounds like the oily bits are taken care of.
I am sure that would put a lot of people off. Not so much a production car, I bought my Mercedes with 90,000 on the clock, 40K on and it is like brand-new.
It depends what price you are asking for it and if that reflected the mileage. I would certainly buy a high mileage car at the right price with the thought that I had a decent amount of change to rebuild the engine if necessary.
You also have to consider that the rest of the car has done that mileage so gearbox and differential spring to mind as the usual suspects that fail on these cars, ( thoughts from the buyers point of view) .
If you factor that these will want a rebuild and the engine may well at some point in the near future and the fact that you have said that the rest of the car is a bit tired, (paintwork et cetera) then suddenly the car has less value than you may think.
Imho.
It depends what price you are asking for it and if that reflected the mileage. I would certainly buy a high mileage car at the right price with the thought that I had a decent amount of change to rebuild the engine if necessary.
You also have to consider that the rest of the car has done that mileage so gearbox and differential spring to mind as the usual suspects that fail on these cars, ( thoughts from the buyers point of view) .
If you factor that these will want a rebuild and the engine may well at some point in the near future and the fact that you have said that the rest of the car is a bit tired, (paintwork et cetera) then suddenly the car has less value than you may think.
Imho.
Yes it is a bit tatty on paint, and needs a respray. (which it needed when I bought it)
I never did as I don't like worrying about chipping brand new paintwork. Just more of a driver than a car-show-type.
Perhaps I need to do it for sale, but there's an army of people respraying their cars and changing their colours out there.
And I thought I'd factored in paint and future work relative to market values, but perhaps not enough.
All engines will need a rebuild at some point, this one wont for a very long time given it's current health, condition and usage, and arguably lower risk than a low-miler on a forecourt with infrequent usage, long periods off the road and so on.
& chassis is great, put new outriggers on it three years ago, so wont need attention there for some time if looked after etc.
But if i'd not factored in enough, I'd expected some interest perhaps saying so.
I never did as I don't like worrying about chipping brand new paintwork. Just more of a driver than a car-show-type.
Perhaps I need to do it for sale, but there's an army of people respraying their cars and changing their colours out there.
And I thought I'd factored in paint and future work relative to market values, but perhaps not enough.
All engines will need a rebuild at some point, this one wont for a very long time given it's current health, condition and usage, and arguably lower risk than a low-miler on a forecourt with infrequent usage, long periods off the road and so on.
& chassis is great, put new outriggers on it three years ago, so wont need attention there for some time if looked after etc.
But if i'd not factored in enough, I'd expected some interest perhaps saying so.
It's the same the world over.
The vast majority of people will say buy on condition not miles but, when push comes to shove and its their money, they won't buy the high miles car. Clearly you were the exception but as you have proved if you ignore the numbers on the dial, its been a great car.
I have a 944 turbo which has been used reguarly, serviced as it should, all known marque foibles fixed etc and I tried to sell it at the first mention of mileage at 200k plus miles the phone was very quiet. Its now on 260 and still going daily!
Sadly they are always going to be a hard sell so that will have to be allowed for in the price. I didn't see yours so you may well have done that.
I also find people don't discuss it they just don't call. I hear car dealers don't move much on prices these days as they have to put their prices low or again the phone doesn't ring.
Someone will appreciate it for the package it is but it may take a while to find that person.
The vast majority of people will say buy on condition not miles but, when push comes to shove and its their money, they won't buy the high miles car. Clearly you were the exception but as you have proved if you ignore the numbers on the dial, its been a great car.
I have a 944 turbo which has been used reguarly, serviced as it should, all known marque foibles fixed etc and I tried to sell it at the first mention of mileage at 200k plus miles the phone was very quiet. Its now on 260 and still going daily!
Sadly they are always going to be a hard sell so that will have to be allowed for in the price. I didn't see yours so you may well have done that.
I also find people don't discuss it they just don't call. I hear car dealers don't move much on prices these days as they have to put their prices low or again the phone doesn't ring.
Someone will appreciate it for the package it is but it may take a while to find that person.
Look at this with only 38,000 miles on the clock, never seen it before, don't know anything about it but looks spectacular. Only £23K.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I hate to say it but I'd be looking at paying about £12-13,000 for yours.
Pay £13,000, and minimum £5000 for a good quality paint job and that gives you £18,000 cost for a high mileage car and the aggravation of getting to work done. That would seem about right in my opinion. Maybe even a little too much.
Unfortunately high mileage is a real off putter. I bought a Skoda VRS Octávia a couple of years ago, 160K on the clock. Loads of extras, expensive wheels and a remap. It was in excellent condition and I paid £1000 for it. Sold it to a friend and it is getting close to 200,000 miles now but that is VAG for you.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I hate to say it but I'd be looking at paying about £12-13,000 for yours.
Pay £13,000, and minimum £5000 for a good quality paint job and that gives you £18,000 cost for a high mileage car and the aggravation of getting to work done. That would seem about right in my opinion. Maybe even a little too much.
Unfortunately high mileage is a real off putter. I bought a Skoda VRS Octávia a couple of years ago, 160K on the clock. Loads of extras, expensive wheels and a remap. It was in excellent condition and I paid £1000 for it. Sold it to a friend and it is getting close to 200,000 miles now but that is VAG for you.
phazed said:
Look at this with only 38,000 miles on the clock, never seen it before, don't know anything about it but looks spectacular. Only £23K.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I hate to say it but I'd be looking at paying about £12-13,000 for yours.
Pay £13,000, and minimum £5000 for a good quality paint job and that gives you £18,000 cost for a high mileage car and the aggravation of getting to work done. That would seem about right in my opinion. Maybe even a little too much.
Unfortunately high mileage is a real off putter. I bought a Skoda VRS Octávia a couple of years ago, 160K on the clock. Loads of extras, expensive wheels and a remap. It was in excellent condition and I paid £1000 for it. Sold it to a friend and it is getting close to 200,000 miles now but that is VAG for you.
What I would say, is you could pay 18k for a car that needs a respray to be perfect.. https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I hate to say it but I'd be looking at paying about £12-13,000 for yours.
Pay £13,000, and minimum £5000 for a good quality paint job and that gives you £18,000 cost for a high mileage car and the aggravation of getting to work done. That would seem about right in my opinion. Maybe even a little too much.
Unfortunately high mileage is a real off putter. I bought a Skoda VRS Octávia a couple of years ago, 160K on the clock. Loads of extras, expensive wheels and a remap. It was in excellent condition and I paid £1000 for it. Sold it to a friend and it is getting close to 200,000 miles now but that is VAG for you.
I think though, there is sadly a stigma of mileage you will be fighting.
phazed said:
Look at this with only 38,000 miles on the clock, never seen it before, don't know anything about it but looks spectacular. Only £23K.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I hate to say it but I'd be looking at paying about £12-13,000 for yours.
Pay £13,000, and minimum £5000 for a good quality paint job and that gives you £18,000 cost for a high mileage car and the aggravation of getting to work done. That would seem about right in my opinion. Maybe even a little too much.
Unfortunately high mileage is a real off putter. I bought a Skoda VRS Octávia a couple of years ago, 160K on the clock. Loads of extras, expensive wheels and a remap. It was in excellent condition and I paid £1000 for it. Sold it to a friend and it is getting close to 200,000 miles now but that is VAG for you.
That car has been for sale on and off for 6 months now. I read a post about it from the owner a while back (pilchard8):https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I hate to say it but I'd be looking at paying about £12-13,000 for yours.
Pay £13,000, and minimum £5000 for a good quality paint job and that gives you £18,000 cost for a high mileage car and the aggravation of getting to work done. That would seem about right in my opinion. Maybe even a little too much.
Unfortunately high mileage is a real off putter. I bought a Skoda VRS Octávia a couple of years ago, 160K on the clock. Loads of extras, expensive wheels and a remap. It was in excellent condition and I paid £1000 for it. Sold it to a friend and it is getting close to 200,000 miles now but that is VAG for you.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
ianwayne said:
That car has been for sale on and off for 6 months now. I read a post about it from the owner a while back (pilchard8):
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Wonder if he'll take 18 for it?That's a good thread, it's certainly a low volume market.
I spent nearly two years waiting for the the right sort of Cerbera to pop up, which was mainly restricted to being a 4.5 AJP V8, an acceptable colour combination (interior especially), and minimising risk of it going bang off the forecourt / chassis disintegrating. (and reasonable price)
I looked at a number of mint-ish low mileage cars at traders at the time, and each one sparked some concern of history/usage/reliability.
I spent nearly two years waiting for the the right sort of Cerbera to pop up, which was mainly restricted to being a 4.5 AJP V8, an acceptable colour combination (interior especially), and minimising risk of it going bang off the forecourt / chassis disintegrating. (and reasonable price)
I looked at a number of mint-ish low mileage cars at traders at the time, and each one sparked some concern of history/usage/reliability.
phazed said:
ianwayne said:
That car has been for sale on and off for 6 months now. I read a post about it from the owner a while back (pilchard8):
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Wonder if he'll take 18 for it?Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff