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Bought another car unseen

Paddcomp

Active Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2007
Messages
516
Location
Preston
Car
E320CDI Avantgarde Estate S211
I like cars but don't have the time to scour the country on weekends when I want to change.
As I bought my last car, the CLS350 GE, unseen without a hitch I thought I'd give it another go.
I've been touring via AutoTrader and selected a few E320CDI estates, W211 post 2006 facelift. Best deals seem to be on cars around the 100k mileage mark, sub 70k cars are 50% more.
Viewed a car near home, well 30miles, one owner FMBSH 96k. Nice clean car but basic spec and some evidence of salt corrosion.

A few others were sold so found a similar car in Derby with Car a lot, on the phone these guys were super helpful and responsive. When I explained I lived 85miles away so wanted more details before viewing they explained they could deliver the car to me following a refundable £100 deposit.

They are also the only dealers to beat WBAC.com price for my CLS.

So Friday should see the CLS go and we're back in an estate. W211 E320CDI Avantgarde estate, silver with black leather. Options include COMAND NTG2, 6CD changer, memory seats, parktronic & telephone prewire.

Once I've confirmed it's UHI I'll order a ViseeO MB4 / MB4+ Bluetooth adapter. I already have winter wheels from my W219. Shouldn't need anything else.
 
That seems to have gone well. I've posted pictures in the gallery section.
 
Did you get a good valuation from WBAC?

I have always thought they gave bottom book.

WBAC offered £15180 online, this is with me entering zero damage (which is true). I phoned a few garages, looking to trade down, and only one increased this offer to buy the CLS. Most said they couldn't get near it.
 
Good luck with the car...only bought blind once from Ebay, it didn't work out for me....

Did the same as you for my uncle with Skoda Octavia few years ago from a Skoda dealer down south, deposit...dropped off, that worked really well!

My understand witih WBAC is that they give you a reasonable offer on line based on what you tell them, then try to get the quote down much lower during their 'inspection'...
 
Good luck with the car...only bought blind once from Ebay, it didn't work out for me....

Did the same as you for my uncle with Skoda Octavia few years ago from a Skoda dealer down south, deposit...dropped off, that worked really well!

My understand witih WBAC is that they give you a reasonable offer on line based on what you tell them, then try to get the quote down much lower during their 'inspection'...

Although I'm sure there are differences between the branches this isn't my experience. I sold my wifes car via WBAC and they were true to the website offer less £70 per panel with dings or major scratches, 3 panels for us, which was fair.

They use the same web interface on site as you see online and comes up with the same price, the only deductions are for damage. Unlike most car transactions there is no sucking of teeth and tales of how they're not popular anymore etc.
 

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