Car sales from the forum....

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This is a common misconception or nativity some private sellers have that their car is often up for more than it should be or they feel it is worth more than it is.

A private sale has no come back or recourse and on many high end cars there is lots to go wrong and lots that does go wrong & it is hard to find all faults on inspection even by a specialist inspection.

For this reason the price of a private sale must be some margin cheaper than a car from an independent trader let alone a main dealer forecourt. For me often the margin is not great enough, the saving not great enough & the risk too great. That is from someone who has bought many lumpy cars, many privately and most bought cash outright.

If the engine blows up 5 miles down the road & the warranty doesn't cover it you're in for a very large bill leaving you seriously out of pocket. At least a dealer... indy or main dealer will offer some recourse in this event.
 
To be fair MOR8A, I don't think your advert is offensive (perhaps I am not easily offended) and the forum is the first place I would be looking at to purchase a MB.
Again, probably in the minority I do all I can to avoid buying from the trade and happily buy a car outright privately for £25k, as long as I have done my homework on the seller and everything checks out, don't see the obsession with buying from dealers.
Obviously a different story if you don't have the funds and have to go down the finance route.

When I am ready to purchase a E63 I will be making this my first port of call regardless of what time of year it is. You only have to look how many people join this forum looking for a particular model, colour, spec etc.
People who have sold cars privately will completely understand where you are coming from and I for one would read your advert in the context it is written.

Good luck with the sale it looks like a great example.
 
Just to second what Abb says, I have no qualms in buying big V8's at over £20k for cash, and I've sold a few myself at similar prices and the buyers tend to be decisive; those that ask 10 million questions tend to be those who've never owned such a car and are trying to talk themselves into it; I had a bloke call me about the Quattroporte saying his choice was between mine and a newish Audi A6 TDi...no prizes for guessing what he went for...:rolleyes:
 
I had a bloke call me about the Quattroporte saying his choice was between mine and a newish Audi A6 TDi...no prizes for guessing what he went for...:rolleyes:

If he had soul - the Maserati
If he was a boring old fart - the diesel Audi!
 
If he had soul - the Maserati
If he was a boring old fart - the diesel Audi!

The fact he'd even contemplate a German diesel repmobile when looking at a beautiful Italian V8 shows he wasn't serious about buying one, these people just like thinking they've got the cojones to own one!
 
The fact he'd even contemplate a German diesel repmobile when looking at a beautiful Italian V8 shows he wasn't serious about buying one, these people just like thinking they've got the cojones to own one!


Some people are just not fortunate enough to be able to run one.... however, I often think the cost difference is less than the fear factor... big diesels are way more complicated than a big V8 lump.




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Some people are just not fortunate enough to be able to run one.... however, I often think the cost difference is less than the fear factor... big diesels are way more complicated than a big V8 lump.

I'm not having a dig at owning a German diesel saloon (I've owned enough myself!) it's just an example of people who like the thought of owning a big V8 and then try and suck you into their dream when in reality it's knackers!
 
I have taken it all on board and changed my advert in line with some of the suggestions. I'm sure some of you will find it equally criticism worthy.

Just read the advert, much improved and a cleaner read, good luck with the sale.
 
Regarding selling via the forum, if your car is a "known" car it helps, come sale time - take Alps E55, for example - I'd expect a queue when he comes to sell.

I've previously sold to a forum member who contacted me as soon as he saw my car coming up for sale, because he'd seen posts and photos about it and it's conditon/changes- he was familiar with it due to my copious posts (zzzzz:D).

Conversely, there was a member who constantly told everyone what a shed his car was - every fault, every problem - right up to the time when he decided to sell it, where suddenly it was a great example of a great car etc. etc.

No use at all to the OP - just thought I'd share it :thumb:.
 
Selling on the forum

I've sold my E500 and SL350 this month (sic). Both were sold via Autotrader to people who weren't MB owners. I had mild interest on mbclub.co.uk but Autotrader produced more solid interest.

Three points to be made: pricing is all about what buyers will pay and sellers will accept. Advertised prices and forecourt stickers aren't reliable guides of what people actually settle for.

The market for used, high insurance, low mpg high performance cars is tiny, so you need to cast your net as wide as possible. It's ridiculous I know, but on used cars which depreciate by thousands a year, people are still put off by marginally higher mpg or annual tax charges. (Everyone goes out of their way to be a tax avoider)

Condition, spec and provenance don't count for as much as they ought to. What matters is getting someone in your garage to look at the car. Usually that means someone less than 100 miles away - again Autotrader gives you that edge.

Which is not to diss the role of mbclub - especially for properly rare vehicles, but Autotrader does have enormous coverage and potential for casual interest.
 
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Sold my s211 e320 cdi to the 1st viewer from ebay, and as said less than 100miles away
 
It's ridiculous I know, but on used cars which depreciate by thousands a year, people are still put off by marginally higher mpg or annual tax charges.

I showed my mate an E500 that had dropped £40k in it's first six years and would lose plenty more in the next six but the first thing he pointed out was the VED.

OK, so it was about £250 a year more than he was used to paying but the difference equates to 69p per day.
 
Sold my C32 AMG to the 1st caller last May.
A student from Warwick approx 50 miles away.

Its all about presentation & realistic pricing. There is an identical car to mine just 6-8 miles away @ a garage which has been up for sale before I put mine up, it was priced at approx £5k more than mine & has about 14k less in miles on it...Its still for sale @ £5k more than mine sold for. The people who bought mine told me they had just came from seeing that car...warranty an all.
 
I sort of understand the higher VED thing, but from the perspective of being loathed to dip into the higher band for something run of the mill (i.e. picking a slightly different year of A6 TDI)

If I'm going to have to pay £500pa in VED, I want it to be worthwhile. :devil:
 
I sold my X5 through Autotrader, advert went live at 8am, had easily a dozen call by 9am, one from a dealer and the the chap that bought it lived less than a mile from me..... he was the 2nd caller.

I could have sold it 10 times over. Maybe I was a bit low on price but i hardly lost anything on it after 2 years....


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I sold my E55 on here. I had a bit of initial interest and then things ramped up come September.

If I'm going to have to pay £500pa in VED, I want it to be worthwhile. :devil:

Yes, exactly.

I don't mind paying the extra for my current steed.

I would not pay it for say a Volvo S80 2.5T registered on 24/03/06!
 
I sold my E55 on here. I had a bit of initial interest and then things ramped up come September.



Yes, exactly.

I don't mind paying the extra for my current steed.

I would not pay it for say a Volvo S80 2.5T registered on 24/03/06!

Double the value of the car lol:eek:
 
You having anymore joy?
I changed my mind on selling the car for numerous reasons, but thank you for asking. Hope you are keeping well?
 

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