Help With Selling G/F's Car to buy me an MX5 !!
Discussion
Can I ask the power of PH to help me raise funds for my weekend toy - an old MX5.
My G/F has said anything over £5k I get for her car we split 50:50
So how do I write the best add for PH Classifieds and also Autotrader?
Also what do you think it is worth? – hopefully over £5k or I am doing all of this for nothing – well except love !
The car is a 07 Corsa SXi (woo hoo !)
1.2 Petrol
3 Door
Metallic dark grey
Alloy Wheels (passenger side front curbed a bit - no surprises there) Others are OK.
Mileage 22,000
Body work in great condition (big surprise there), with one slight mark on the rear bumper – passenger side on the plastic)
Manual,
Full dealer service history
1 Lady owner (really)
Electric Windows,
Front Fog Lights,
Immobiliser,
Dual Front Airbags,
Electric/Heated Door Mirrors,
Height Adjustable Driver's Seat,
Height Adjustable Steering Wheel,
Radio CD Player with Finger Tip Controls,
Remote Locking,
Sports Seats
New tyres front
Lots of tread on the rear
1st MOT not due till July
Taxed until Sept
Also it had the clutch and master cylinder replaced around 2k ago due to manufacturing fault, should I mention it in the add? All done under warranty.
Some pics here http://tinypic.com/a/23vcy/4
My G/F has said anything over £5k I get for her car we split 50:50
So how do I write the best add for PH Classifieds and also Autotrader?
Also what do you think it is worth? – hopefully over £5k or I am doing all of this for nothing – well except love !
The car is a 07 Corsa SXi (woo hoo !)
1.2 Petrol
3 Door
Metallic dark grey
Alloy Wheels (passenger side front curbed a bit - no surprises there) Others are OK.
Mileage 22,000
Body work in great condition (big surprise there), with one slight mark on the rear bumper – passenger side on the plastic)
Manual,
Full dealer service history
1 Lady owner (really)
Electric Windows,
Front Fog Lights,
Immobiliser,
Dual Front Airbags,
Electric/Heated Door Mirrors,
Height Adjustable Driver's Seat,
Height Adjustable Steering Wheel,
Radio CD Player with Finger Tip Controls,
Remote Locking,
Sports Seats
New tyres front
Lots of tread on the rear
1st MOT not due till July
Taxed until Sept
Also it had the clutch and master cylinder replaced around 2k ago due to manufacturing fault, should I mention it in the add? All done under warranty.
Some pics here http://tinypic.com/a/23vcy/4
My advice would be to sit down and actually write a paragraph or two about the car and your experience owning and running it. A list of features is very dull and looks exactly like every other advert out there (most of which will also have the same features - can you even buy a Corsa without electric windows these days?).
Be honest about any flaws it has. Put them somewhere in the middle of the text - not at the start, so people don't get turned away early, nor at the end - you don't want to leave a bad taste in their mouth when they finish reading. If people know about its flaws before they arrive to view it, they won't be surprised by anything, and therefore tend to have less chance to feel negative about it. Going to view a car that you know has some scratches on the door is much more pleasant than going to see a car that you expect to be in fine condition and then discovering it's knackered.
Plus if you really like a car before you go and see it, you've had time to mentally write off any problems it has - if you discover them when you see it, they become a big negative in your head and therefore, a point to negotiate price on.
Of course, keep all that list of features in there, but write some bloody sentences about it! I've written reams about the cars I've sold and every buyer has praised the advert. You're also less likely to get people that muck you about this way.
Best of luck!
edit: Also, fix any problems that need fixing - you'll probably spend less than a buyer will knock off the price for it. Depending on how bad that kerbing is on the wheel, it might only be £30 to fix - and once it's done, that's another point that the buyer can't knock you down on (or lower their opinion of it).
DON'T underestimate the importance of GOOD PICTURES - don't just snap some shots in the dark in the garage from 6 inches away. Find a nice location and take your time over it - make it look its absolute best. I know I personally am massively swayed by what the pictures look like, even making you willing to pay more for one car than for another car that's probably identical but just didn't look as attractive in the pictures.
And obviously, make sure it's clean for pete's sake! Empty out your old chewits wrappers and the pennies from the ashtray, give it a proper clean inside, duster and all - maybe even pay for a pro detailer to come round (not sure how much they charge these days) to make the exterior as pretty and shiny as it can be.
The first sight of the car is what makes up most of our mind to be honest - make a good first impression and you've already got a leg up on things.
Edit again: I don't know how it works on cars not old enough to require an MOT yet -can you get one done early? Cars are always much more appealing with a full ticket than with just one month left! It's new enough that I doubt it will fail on anything (especially if you check as much as you can in advance, bulbs, headlight alignment, wipers etc) and will make the car much more appealing to buyers.
Be honest about any flaws it has. Put them somewhere in the middle of the text - not at the start, so people don't get turned away early, nor at the end - you don't want to leave a bad taste in their mouth when they finish reading. If people know about its flaws before they arrive to view it, they won't be surprised by anything, and therefore tend to have less chance to feel negative about it. Going to view a car that you know has some scratches on the door is much more pleasant than going to see a car that you expect to be in fine condition and then discovering it's knackered.
Plus if you really like a car before you go and see it, you've had time to mentally write off any problems it has - if you discover them when you see it, they become a big negative in your head and therefore, a point to negotiate price on.
Of course, keep all that list of features in there, but write some bloody sentences about it! I've written reams about the cars I've sold and every buyer has praised the advert. You're also less likely to get people that muck you about this way.
Best of luck!
edit: Also, fix any problems that need fixing - you'll probably spend less than a buyer will knock off the price for it. Depending on how bad that kerbing is on the wheel, it might only be £30 to fix - and once it's done, that's another point that the buyer can't knock you down on (or lower their opinion of it).
DON'T underestimate the importance of GOOD PICTURES - don't just snap some shots in the dark in the garage from 6 inches away. Find a nice location and take your time over it - make it look its absolute best. I know I personally am massively swayed by what the pictures look like, even making you willing to pay more for one car than for another car that's probably identical but just didn't look as attractive in the pictures.
And obviously, make sure it's clean for pete's sake! Empty out your old chewits wrappers and the pennies from the ashtray, give it a proper clean inside, duster and all - maybe even pay for a pro detailer to come round (not sure how much they charge these days) to make the exterior as pretty and shiny as it can be.
The first sight of the car is what makes up most of our mind to be honest - make a good first impression and you've already got a leg up on things.
Edit again: I don't know how it works on cars not old enough to require an MOT yet -can you get one done early? Cars are always much more appealing with a full ticket than with just one month left! It's new enough that I doubt it will fail on anything (especially if you check as much as you can in advance, bulbs, headlight alignment, wipers etc) and will make the car much more appealing to buyers.
Edited by OwenK on Wednesday 2nd June 23:18
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