Have used car values really dropped through the floor?

[Fimbo]

We own an A6, 1999 2.4 SE (petrol) manual. Lovely car in very good condition (and mechanically excellent as we always deal with any issues) but after 7 years we thought it time to move on. I was at a dealers at the weekend and asked what they would offer for my car against a used one they were selling - he came back with a figure of £1,200

According to "What Car", the current value for our car is £3,795 (based on 90,000 miles). Now I'm not expecting to get that but, £1,200, just doesnt sound realistic. Do I need to adjust my expectations or was the dealer basically telling me he doesnt want the car (and therefore the sale)?

[sjg]

http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vaux/pages/global/valueM...

Assuming average mileage (I've gone with 100k):

Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition:
£1205
Average condition:
£1055
Below average condition:
£900

[sjg]

Sorry, missed that you said 90k:

Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition:
£1280
Average condition:
£1120
Below average condition:
£955

[istoo]

i have noted the gulf between the parkers/ trade valuations has grown a lot in the last few months. only the guys sellign cars can tell you what they are actually going for now.

[Fimbo]

Thanks for your posts. A big dose of reality has just hit me!

[Dr G]

That's a very fair offer I'd say - I just took a '99 A4 1.8T quattro Sport with about 80k in as a p/ex for £1000. Nice enough little car but simply not worth anymore money.

It isn't a case of the dealer not wanting the sale at all, your A6 falls into an area of the market that has one priority: Cheap.

[Dracoro]

Sell it privately. You'll get £2k+ easily I think.

[rsstman]

a 10 year old car unless a specific, rare or very sought after model is not going to be worth much.

[GreatGranny]

Dr G said:

That's a very fair offer I'd say - I just took a '99 A4 1.8T quattro Sport with about 80k in as a p/ex for £1000. Nice enough little car but simply not worth anymore money.

It isn't a case of the dealer not wanting the sale at all, your A6 falls into an area of the market that has one priority: Cheap.

So, how much would that be put on the forecourt for?

[istoo]

i would love to see the answer to that question too...

but I am guessing DrG deals with newer cars and them selling a 10yo car wouldn't be economically viable so it imagine it will go to a smaller garage for sale. i imagine it would be on at double that.

[Bemmer]

Dracoro said:

Sell it privately. You'll get £2k+ easily I think.

EASILY Not a word used in the current MARKET..!!

[Fimbo]

Bemmer said:

Dracoro said:

Sell it privately. You'll get £2k+ easily I think.

EASILY Not a word used in the current MARKET..!!

You only have to look in the classifieds section of PH and see how few have "sold". I guess I should try and sell it privately - trouble is you have to be prepared to deal with some real idiots turning up (or not turning up which is even more annoying) and the bit extra you make on a private sale doesn't often seem worth the additional hassle!

[Dr G]

Fimbo said:

Bemmer said:

Dracoro said:

Sell it privately. You'll get £2k+ easily I think.

EASILY Not a word used in the current MARKET..!!

You only have to look in the classifieds section of PH and see how few have "sold". I guess I should try and sell it privately - trouble is you have to be prepared to deal with some real idiots turning up (or not turning up which is even more annoying) and the bit extra you make on a private sale doesn't often seem worth the additional hassle!

Give BCA sure sell a go if you don't fancy the hassle; although stuff like this isn't making very much dough at auction right now.

GreatGranny said:

Dr G said:

That's a very fair offer I'd say - I just took a '99 A4 1.8T quattro Sport with about 80k in as a p/ex for £1000. Nice enough little car but simply not worth anymore money.

It isn't a case of the dealer not wanting the sale at all, your A6 falls into an area of the market that has one priority: Cheap.

So, how much would that be put on the forecourt for?

Think my dad's having it but a dealer that wants to sell it rather than look at it would ask 1995 I suppose.

[goodlife]

I just got £1500 privately for my 170k mile, S-Reg, A6 Avant 1.8T.

It was almost spotless, maintained perfectly and some major expensive bits had just been done - new Clutch and Cam Belt service.

Have to say at this end of the market IMHO cars are "disposable". Bought 20 months ago for £2.6k, drove it for 70k miles, spent around £1.2k in servicing, sold for £1.5k.

That's 20 months and 70,000 miles of solid, reliable motoring for just £2.3k all in (except fuel). I lost that much in 2 months depreciation stupidly buying a nearly new Jag a few years back - and the 10 year old Audi was more reliable

edited for typos

Edited by goodlife on Wednesday 21st January 08:02