Also having trouble selling...
Discussion
Like the chap with his MkI, my Mk2.5 has been up for sale, and has been since Christmas. I thought it might be slow to sell in the winter but I didn't anticipate a complete lack of any interest. At all. for six months solid. So why do you think everyone wanting to buy an MX-5 is totally ignoring my car? It's not overpriced as far as I can see (I priced it mid-way between other cars of the same age and mileage) so I'm kind of baffled - it's been unseasonably warm recently and I'd have thought people would be biting my hand off for a mint red sportscar - if there wasn't a wee bairn on the way I'd just give it up as a bad idea (and may do anyway - just found a Mazda car baby seat with the transponders that deactivate the passenger airbag - yay!).
Edited by Flat_Steve on Wednesday 29th October 20:38
Because you're up against things like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/279908.htm
Cheaper, lower mileage and longer tax!
Plus your advert is a bit basic - it reads like a newspaper small ad. Don't get me wrong, you don't need to write an entire essay, but a few paragraphs about the history of the car, why you're selling etc go quite a way!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/279908.htm
Cheaper, lower mileage and longer tax!
Plus your advert is a bit basic - it reads like a newspaper small ad. Don't get me wrong, you don't need to write an entire essay, but a few paragraphs about the history of the car, why you're selling etc go quite a way!
Edited by MKH9130 on Tuesday 20th May 06:57
Actually, in terms of a comparison, I think that is a little unfair. The OP is selling a Mk2.5 in a strong colour, where as the other car is a Mk2 in the least popular racing bronze colour.
The mileage is a little on the high side, but the price is not an unreasonable asking price. As suggested, I would also add more of a description - and if it is not selling, its all about demand and supply, you may have to drop the price. Where else have you tried selling? eBay? the owners club website?
The mileage is a little on the high side, but the price is not an unreasonable asking price. As suggested, I would also add more of a description - and if it is not selling, its all about demand and supply, you may have to drop the price. Where else have you tried selling? eBay? the owners club website?
As well as on PH, it's been up on eBay and autotrader (though admittedly earlier in the year when it was cold). I've already reduced the price twice. One thing I noticed is hardly any similar MX-5's were selling on eBay - one of the few that did, in an open auction, ended at just £3,500 - which is virtually giving it away!
The ad was originally much much longer, but I truncated it as I thought people were being put off by that. I'll add it all back in when I get home tonight though!
The ad was originally much much longer, but I truncated it as I thought people were being put off by that. I'll add it all back in when I get home tonight though!
I've just bought an mx5, and the points that made me interested in ads were: details on how the car has been maintained and upgraded (so make sure you sound like a careful and knowlegable owner), and lots of details on condition (tyres, bodywork, brakes, MOT). Basically, at that sort of price range, I think buyers want to know that they can buy the car and run it without any need to pay out for anything unexpected.
2 things for me.
1)Which part of 2001 is it? Will it be in the high road tax bracket due to the recent tax changes.
2)You say you are looking for a Focus RS replica. I'm not sure I'd want to buy a car off someone who wants a "chaved" up Focus. Under PX I'd want to see "Family car for New Baby".
1)Which part of 2001 is it? Will it be in the high road tax bracket due to the recent tax changes.
2)You say you are looking for a Focus RS replica. I'm not sure I'd want to buy a car off someone who wants a "chaved" up Focus. Under PX I'd want to see "Family car for New Baby".
jazzybee said:
Actually, in terms of a comparison, I think that is a little unfair. The OP is selling a Mk2.5 in a strong colour, where as the other car is a Mk2 in the least popular racing bronze colour.
I disagree. Many non-MX5 enthusiasts (and lets face it, most are bought by non enthusiasts!) won't know the differences between the Mk2 and 2.5 and therefore the only difference will be that the car I used as an example will be a year older. If I wasn't specially looking for a mk2.5, I'd rather go for a (slightly) older car with considerably less miles.Granted the racing bronze is not a strong colour but the car does look well cared for, I was merely highlighting the competition out there. At the end of the day, it is worth what someone is prepared to pay be it high or low!
If there has genuinely been zero interest in six months, the only answer really is the price. Even allowing for a below par advert, you'd still expect some calls
4 months MOT and 1 month tax is your problem fella. If I were you I'd get a fresh ticket and 6 months tax - ok will cost you £150 but that's trouble free motoring for the forseeable. I've never understood peeps who sell a car with so little MOT/tax - as a buyer all I see is you ditching it before MOT time.
hornetrider said:
4 months MOT and 1 month tax is your problem fella. If I were you I'd get a fresh ticket and 6 months tax - ok will cost you £150 but that's trouble free motoring for the forseeable. I've never understood peeps who sell a car with so little MOT/tax - as a buyer all I see is you ditching it before MOT time.
Just checked and my tax is actually up this month so I'll have to get a new one in the next few days - I'll change the ad to say six months' tax.You state that an Independant has done the servicing except "basic things which I can do myself".
To some, this might sound like you've done all the servicing yourself and so book might not be stamped? change Full Service History to Fully Stamped Service History if this isn't the case. State what mileage last service was done as well as the date.
You don't neccesarily need to state the chrome interior additions - in fact, I'd probably take that out. It's easy for the enthusiast to see you've added that and if they queried it at viewing then they might.
You say it's been looked after - have you hand washed it weekly, regularly waxed/polished etc - if so, say so.
Glasses guide seems to think your price is about right for a Dealer, so perhaps it is a little overpriced, hence the lack of interest.
If it's any consolation, yours is the sort of car I'd be looking for if I was after an MX-5 right now!
ETA: Why did you only fit 3 new tyres - seems like a very odd thing to do!?
To some, this might sound like you've done all the servicing yourself and so book might not be stamped? change Full Service History to Fully Stamped Service History if this isn't the case. State what mileage last service was done as well as the date.
You don't neccesarily need to state the chrome interior additions - in fact, I'd probably take that out. It's easy for the enthusiast to see you've added that and if they queried it at viewing then they might.
You say it's been looked after - have you hand washed it weekly, regularly waxed/polished etc - if so, say so.
Glasses guide seems to think your price is about right for a Dealer, so perhaps it is a little overpriced, hence the lack of interest.
If it's any consolation, yours is the sort of car I'd be looking for if I was after an MX-5 right now!
ETA: Why did you only fit 3 new tyres - seems like a very odd thing to do!?
Edited by justlivyalife on Wednesday 21st May 11:06
justlivyalife said:
You state that an Independant has done the servicing except "basic things which I can do myself".
To some, this might sound like you've done all the servicing yourself and so book might not be stamped? change Full Service History to Fully Stamped Service History if this isn't the case. State what mileage last service was done as well as the date.
You don't neccesarily need to state the chrome interior additions - in fact, I'd probably take that out. It's easy for the enthusiast to see you've added that and if they queried it at viewing then they might.
You say it's been looked after - have you hand washed it weekly, regularly waxed/polished etc - if so, say so.
Glasses guide seems to think your price is about right for a Dealer, so perhaps it is a little overpriced, hence the lack of interest.
If it's any consolation, yours is the sort of car I'd be looking for if I was after an MX-5 right now!
ETA: Why did you only fit 3 new tyres - seems like a very odd thing to do!?
Thanks - I only fit three tyres as the fourth was still fairly new at the time. Yep, washed and waxed regularly - I'll add that in tonight. I'll also add in the S/H details you suggested.To some, this might sound like you've done all the servicing yourself and so book might not be stamped? change Full Service History to Fully Stamped Service History if this isn't the case. State what mileage last service was done as well as the date.
You don't neccesarily need to state the chrome interior additions - in fact, I'd probably take that out. It's easy for the enthusiast to see you've added that and if they queried it at viewing then they might.
You say it's been looked after - have you hand washed it weekly, regularly waxed/polished etc - if so, say so.
Glasses guide seems to think your price is about right for a Dealer, so perhaps it is a little overpriced, hence the lack of interest.
If it's any consolation, yours is the sort of car I'd be looking for if I was after an MX-5 right now!
ETA: Why did you only fit 3 new tyres - seems like a very odd thing to do!?
Edited by justlivyalife on Wednesday 21st May 11:06
With regards to the Glasses guide - yeah I've had a look at that, and though it's better than Parker's, the valuations seem a bit on the low side compared with what's on autotrader, PH etc (I'm after a Mini Cooper and I'd LOVE to be able to pick up a second-hand one for what they reckon they go for!).
Flat_Steve said:
Thanks - I only fit three tyres as the fourth was still fairly new at the time. Yep, washed and waxed regularly - I'll add that in tonight. I'll also add in the S/H details you suggested.
With regards to the Glasses guide - yeah I've had a look at that, and though it's better than Parker's, the valuations seem a bit on the low side compared with what's on autotrader, PH etc (I'm after a Mini Cooper and I'd LOVE to be able to pick up a second-hand one for what they reckon they go for!).
Re the tyres - mention that you'd had to fit a new one due to a puncture and then changed the other three shortly after - it provides a plausible reason for it (I assume this is what you did).With regards to the Glasses guide - yeah I've had a look at that, and though it's better than Parker's, the valuations seem a bit on the low side compared with what's on autotrader, PH etc (I'm after a Mini Cooper and I'd LOVE to be able to pick up a second-hand one for what they reckon they go for!).
Parker's guide figures appear to be plucked from thin air, but Glasses shows an Excellent Condition trade in of your age MX with 70k miles at almost £5.5k - which is excellent! As long as yours is priced similar to examples on AT/PH Classifieds then there is not much more you can do really? Have you thought about a notice in the windscreen etc when it's parked up?
Well believe it or not but I'm STILL trying to sell it!! It's coming up to a year since it was originally advertised and I've dropped the price right down to 4.1k. It's the cheapest 1.8 mk2.5 by some considerable margin on Pistonheads - and it's still not garnering any interest at all. Not a sniff.
I thought I'd try sticking it on Ebid a few days ago as it was cheap to list but the bids are a joke. After five bids we're up to the heady heights of Seven whole pounds!! (I think I'll be allright as long as I limit my next car to 1:18 scale.)
I know we've had a dire summer, winter's now on its way and we're heading for recession - but I don't think I could give this car away which I don't understand - MX-5's are quite well regarded cars.
I thought I'd try sticking it on Ebid a few days ago as it was cheap to list but the bids are a joke. After five bids we're up to the heady heights of Seven whole pounds!! (I think I'll be allright as long as I limit my next car to 1:18 scale.)
I know we've had a dire summer, winter's now on its way and we're heading for recession - but I don't think I could give this car away which I don't understand - MX-5's are quite well regarded cars.
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