New In Old Out

In With The New Out With The Old
Automotive writer Geoff Wheatley shares his vast experiences and insights on the best way to sell your car.
Published by: All Car Central Publishing
Date published: 12/2014/2

Geoff Wheatley

There is no greater thrill than collecting a new car from the local dealers no matter if it's a Ford or a Ferrari. For the next six months you will polish it every week... Check the oil and tires every month and wake up each morning knowing that your day will start with your new toy.

However in the fullness of time most of these chores will become less frequent, the wash will be confined to the local dive through machine. Polish as and when you have nothing to do, which is about every six months. Oil and tires seldom get much attention when the attraction has worn off and one day you will fall in love with another toy in the local showroom and decide that the time has come to buy a new car. The first step in this process is to get rid of the existing one... (Note I did not say old one!)...You could always trade it in but you know that you will not get the real used value despite the fact that it's certainly the simplest way

..In short... "Off with the old, On with the new". If you chose to sell the car yourself there are many ways to locate a buyer. The local paper is certainly one media and is often successful. However, there can be several problems with a local sale not least phone calls every time the car won't start and/or questions about service requirements despite the fact that you have explained such things several times to the new owner over the past year!

EBay can be a successful medium assuming you understand the process of an electronic auction and the technique of setting a reserve to attract would be purchasers. Too many times would be sellers set their reserve far too high and in consequence lose would be owners. Remember, once the reserve has been met the real bidding starts. Of course there are special magazines that are successful in selling vehicles including the Motor Club newsletters and club publications. When I wanted to find a Porsche the first thing I did was obtain a copy of the Porsche Club magazine. This not only provided me with a good evaluation of the going price for any used model but also the opportunity to contact and speak with sellers who are usually happy to discuss their vehicle... Obviously it works in reverse when you want to sell.

Another helpful tip is to take pictures, lots of pictures of your car. Sides, top, inside, underneath not for getting the engine compartment which should be as clean as the outside of the vehicle.

Today with the digital camera we can shoot off ten or twenty or more pictures and transfer them in a matter of seconds to any potential buyer. In short you can't have too many pictures.

Write a good review of the vehicle including the history and the service record. Don't be afraid to say why you are selling, and be as honest as you can. If there is a dent in the left side door mention it and send a picture indicating that it can be repaired. You will be surprised how many would be buyers appreciate such honesty; further more it creates a level of confidence between the seller and the buyer. Remember to mention the tires if they are in good condition say so, if not indicate that they may need to be replaced in the near future. Indicate that you have a nice car it is not a Concours vehicle if it was you would not be selling it at the expected price but... It is a decent well taken care of, example of the model and of course the year.

I often wonder about the term: "Near Offer". Better to say that it's a fair price that can be confirmed by simply looking at other examples that are on the market.

If as is usually the case you are not offering any type of warranty Say SO... It can save a lot of potential trouble after the sale. Good, but remember that new car that you want to buy will at some stage join the ranks of the one you want to sell. In short joy is often shot lived even when you buy your current dream car.

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