Is Ebay depressing used car prices ??

[big x]

Take a look at this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160105710460
OK, not the best car in the World and probably clocked but still cheap.
Can't of cost the dealer concerned much more than £1300 or he wouldn't have accepted the sale offer.Cars like this sell for much more on the Continent.
With so much choice on Ebay it does seem the prices of older cars are in free fall compared to the equivalent 5 years ago.

adam

 

[gurpz]

Have seen this one before also, for a pre facelift its fairly equiped

 

[nick mercedes]

Take a look at this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160105710460
OK, not the best car in the World and probably clocked but still cheap.
Can't of cost the dealer concerned much more than £1300 or he wouldn't have accepted the sale offer.Cars like this sell for much more on the Continent.
With so much choice on Ebay it does seem the prices of older cars are in free fall compared to the equivalent 5 years ago.

adam

It's more that Mercedes are simply depreciating like normal cars now, a combination of poor quality (rust etc) and oversupply.

 

[Spinal]

I found that eBay seems to be raising prices of cars! I've seen adverts for cars "out and about" that would go for more on eBay.

Not too mention landies! Compare a landie on eBay and on any "real" auction company, and you'll notice a quite large difference!

 

[fuzzer]

It's more that Mercedes are simply depreciating like normal cars now, a combination of poor quality (rust etc) and oversupply.

What he said

 

[Rory]

Cars like this sell for much more on the Continent.

Aparently there's quite a big trade in older, cheap, UK cars being transported to Eastern Europe and sold there.

I always wonder what sort of person (in the UK) buys cars like this, though? My concern would be that if almost anything significant went wrong then the car would be uneconomical to repair. The real danger is a series of smaller things and the car becomes a money pit.

 

[nick mercedes]

I always wonder what sort of person (in the UK) buys cars like this, though?

People who want a nice car but are on a budget.

Not everyone wants or can afford a new car.

 

[gina2201]

OK, not the best car in the World and probably clocked but still cheap.

Not necessarily clocked, mine had similar mileage when I bought it this year, same age of car. Aslong as it has the history to prove.

I always wonder what sort of person (in the UK) buys cars like this, though? My concern would be that if almost anything significant went wrong then the car would be uneconomical to repair. The real danger is a series of smaller things and the car becomes a money pit.

People like ME buy cars like this, that can't afford a brand new car and quite frankly, prefer older cars in some cases. You seem to get alot for your money these days. Although any second hand car can turn into a money pit, it's the chance you take.

As ebay gives buyers a far wider range of choice ultimately the market is competitive and prices go down. There is still money to be made on ebay though....

 

[Rory]

People who want a nice car but are on a budget.

Not everyone wants or can afford a new car.

Of course that's true, it just strikes me that running a modern Benz as they get older is likely to be a very financially risky business.

I've run some real old bangers - we had 2 when we first got married, but we needed 2 because only 1 was ever working at a time! But they were the days before things like ECU's, ABS, air bags, a/c (which I know you can disconnect, but it gets messy if the compressor seizes) etc etc.

A business acquaintance of mine bought a (not very) old 7 series for £3000 - "lots of car for the money". But it developed a fault where the heater only output at max temp and volume. Cost to fix - £3000! He was driving around with all the windows open last I heard.

 

[BTB 500]

Of course that's true, it just strikes me that running a modern Benz as they get older is likely to be a very financially risky business.

A business acquaintance of mine bought a (not very) old 7 series for £3000 - "lots of car for the money". But it developed a fault where the heater only output at max temp and volume. Cost to fix - £3000! He was driving around with all the windows open last I heard.

Yup, see the recent thread on buying a Y plate CL600! At least you can still drive a car with dodgy heating - if it's the trick suspension (ABC) that goes you are up the creek.

 

[Rory]

Yup, see the recent thread on buying a Y plate CL600! At least you can still drive a car with dodgy heating - if it's the trick suspension (ABC) that goes you are up the creek.

That's my point really - surely those cars are going to be unsaleable after a certain age? (Probably 3 yrs, once the warranty has run out!!).

OK, the one in the OP isn't quite that bad, but there are still potential issues.

 

[gina2201]

Thing is (in my experience) that having an older car like my merc, it doesn't go wrong, or if it does it's just one larger thing rather than lots of small niggly bits with other makes.......not saying which!