Advice re tarting up for sale!

[Gollom]

Mrs. Gollom shortly taking early retirement so we'll only need one car going forward. Will get rid of her black Piccanto via someone like WeBuyAnyCar (don't want the hassle of a private sale, partly as I suspect the clutch may be toward the end of it's working life!) Is something like T-cut the best thing to tart the body work up without spending a fortune? Mainly everyday cosmetic stuff, scratches, bird crap left to dry so scratches when removed (she will insist on parking right outside her son's house under a very big tree )

 

[Gfromleeds]

You'd be very impressed in what a decent scratch remover, wax and Polish can do!
T-cut is fine but remember it takes the top layer off which mean the paint will need a decent wax reapplying !
Yes it is a big job to do it all so I do it in sections one day one side then another day the other side ect...

 

[colinallcars]

Mrs. Gollom shortly taking early retirement so we'll only need one car going forward. Will get rid of her black Piccanto via someone like WeBuyAnyCar (don't want the hassle of a private sale, partly as I suspect the clutch may be toward the end of it's working life!) Is something like T-cut the best thing to tart the body work up without spending a fortune? Mainly everyday cosmetic stuff, scratches, bird crap left to dry so scratches when removed (she will insist on parking right outside her son's house under a very big tree )

I doubt it will make any difference to a WBAC quote.

 

[fabes]

A quick hoover and a wash could help, but only to stop them deducting even more from the enticing initial quote.

Motorway, however, in getting quotes from dealers who would be in the market to retail it (rather than just quote you a safe auction price) would be better.
The photos you upload would also look better with a quick half hour working on the worst of any scratches and scuffs

I used this stuff and find it really impressive for the minimum effort required.

Scratch remover

I then used a post wash spray that actually did bring up a good shine on my daughter's white 207

Spray

For the sake of an hour you could avoid a £50 reduction for WBAC, or get £50 more from a bidding dealer - and according to YT dealers, they are short of good small car stock.....

 

[Ted]

T-cut and the coloured polishes are hard to polish off but give a great finish when the job is done.
I would go with some Poorboys black hole. It gives a great finish, is easy to work and can be used with any darker colour once you are finished doing the Picanto.

 

[Pontoneer]

Mrs. Gollom shortly taking early retirement so we'll only need one car going forward. Will get rid of her black Piccanto via someone like WeBuyAnyCar (don't want the hassle of a private sale, partly as I suspect the clutch may be toward the end of it's working life!) Is something like T-cut the best thing to tart the body work up without spending a fortune? Mainly everyday cosmetic stuff, scratches, bird crap left to dry so scratches when removed (she will insist on parking right outside her son's house under a very big tree )

Why not save yourself a lot of time and effort ?

Find one of these local car valeting operations ; tell them you just want the car spruced up to sell it and ask for a price .

These guys often have access to better products than the shops sell , and might not charge you much more than you’d pay for your own cleaning products.

It will only cost you a bit of time on the internet or a couple of phone calls to check out .

Balance that up against how much a day or more of your own hard work is to you .

 

[fabes]

Yup, £25 or so to the local hand wash, if they are a good bunch, would be a plan B.
But then you might get it back, take some photos (if Motorway or Carwow) and still want to fettle it, just because, you know.....

 

[Pontoneer]

Just a thought worth pondering over ...

once the Picanto is gone , is Mrs Gollom going to be using YOUR car to go round to her son's , and parking it under THAT tree ?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Why not save yourself a lot of time and effort ?
Find one of these local car valeting operations ; tell them you just want the car spruced up to sell it and ask for a price .
These guys often have access to better products than the shops sell , and might not charge you much more than you’d pay for your own cleaning products.

Amen: Depending on the value of the car (£1500?) , spend £25 at your local valeting / car wash operation.

Then do some excellent photos in bright sunlight with a neutral, but pleasant background. If you're not that great with a camera, get a relative or mate to do it.

Wiser than spending a demanding day washing, t-cutting, polishing and waxing. Plus vacuuming, glass / tyre / engine cleaning. (Plus the cost of products)

(I say this after spending four hours washing, polishing, and coating just the 3 main panels of a car that was immaculate anyway. But better exercise than Pilates any day of the week)

.

 

[ALFAitalia]

My cars always look their absolute best the day I sell them......I never seem to be bothered to put so quite much effort in for myself!!!

 

[Gollom]

Just a thought worth pondering over ...

once the Picanto is gone , is Mrs Gollom going to be using YOUR car to go round to her son's , and parking it under THAT tree ?

View attachment 170642

She has been informed, in no uncertain terms that if she does it once more, she'll be getting the bus!

 

[SmartAmg]

My cars always look their absolute best the day I sell them......I never seem to be bothered to put so quite much effort in for myself!!!

And they also seems to drive, the best it's ever driven. When your selling it. As though it's saying to you, why?

 

[HappytalkAgain]

And they also seems to drive, the best it's ever driven. When your selling it. As though it's saying to you, why?

Agreed. Funny really, our new car is a much better car (in so many ways) than the car we just sold. But I felt gutted the day the lad collected it and it pulled off the drive.

Even worse, he only lives 4 miles away and so I keep seeing it out and about. Really miss our ole white estate.

 

[RichardF]

Since retiring, I've found we need more cars not less.

Just a thought.

 

[ray_hennig]

All OK assuming that nobody suggests bodging cheap parts prior to sale. Evil practice.

R

 

[Gfromleeds]

T-cut and the coloured polishes are hard to polish off but give a great finish when the job is done.
I would go with some Poorboys black hole. It gives a great finish, is easy to work and can be used with any darker colour once you are finished doing the Picanto.

Poor boys black hole is what I use too!
Brought my last car (black nissan navara) up like a mirror!

 

[TooFunny]

Something cheap I do to the tyres is applying some tyre gel to sidewall of the tyre after thoroughly cleaning them and letting them dry. Rather than that dull grey colour of rubber it brings out the black nicely with a good shine, especially if you have a high end tyre brand.