Honest,
Looks like we may have to depart with my beaut Audi A6 1:8T SE 1998(R). It has been the best car I've ever had (don't pity me!!) It has done 106K and has a fully stamped up Audi Service history. It is silver and is faultless. I still think it is one of the best looking cars on the roads today.
Having perused the Autotrader site it looks like similar models with that mileage are starting at about 8K. What is my beauty worth and what is my best way of realising it's full value...........will the fact it is silver make it worth a few more quid? (doesnt have leather standard SE spec)
What about selling it at auction......
Any advice, hints etc would be greatly appreciated.............
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Silver is good. But 106k kills it to everyone but a clocker. Ask £8k and you might find one.
HJ
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HJ said about an Audi A6 that "106k kills it to everyone but a clocker".
My 1995 Ford Escort has done 108k and still drives very well. Surely a newer and higher quality car such as an A6 still has plenty of life in it at 106k and therefore is not such a bad car at the right price. Or is it that the maintenance will be expensive compared with a similar aged A6 but with much lower mileage?
I am confused!!
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When trading in cars I've always found that if the vehicle is within spitting distance of 100k then it's value is downgraded automatically. It's illogical, of course, but it's still seen as a significant milestone (pardon the pun) and I think this is why a lot of clocking goes on.
I think if you are planning your car owning strategy then either:
1. Get rid of it well before 100k
2. Plan to keep it well beyond 100k to recoup the lowered value
3. Adjust price expectations accordingly
I always look carefully at dates and mileages on all documentation, i.e. service records, MOTs (are they all there?) looking for unexplained gaps or changes in mileage patterns. It's sometimes interesting what you can deduce.
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Clock it.
The bloke you sell it to will.
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"Kills it to anyone but a clocker" means kills its value. Sure a member of the public will probably buy it for £5,500. But if the car looks clean enough to stand a haircut, then a clocker will pay a lot more for it and sell it on to some unsuspecting punter for £9,000 or more.
HJ
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honest john wrote:
>
> "Kills it to anyone but a clocker" means kills its value.
> Sure a member of the public will probably buy it for £5,500.
> But if the car looks clean enough to stand a haircut, then a
> clocker will pay a lot more for it and sell it on to some
> unsuspecting punter for £9,000 or more.
I always used to put a business card down the back seat of my cars with the true mileage.
That way when the next owner buys it after it's been through the trade they can get in touch.
Nobody ever has though so maybe the cowboys clean them better than I thought.
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HJ
I like this idea - I've often thought about leaving a note about mileage where the next owner might eventually find it.
I believe the logging of mileage on V5's is to become compulsory. This should go some way to stopping the clockers. Won't eliminate it of course, as some owners will clock cars before they sell them on, and declare false mileages on the V5.
Plus there are the adverts offering 'correction' of speedo readings, or sale of second hand dash boards - it's still down to the buyer to use their eyes and instincts when they buy cars. I've only ever had one request to confirm mileage on a car I've sold - and that was a form from Trading Standards about 18 months after i'd sold it.
Regards
John
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Sorry, Dave, not HJ! I'm having a bad day here!
Cheers
john
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If it were a Mercedes - even 200K miles would not be an issue.
Some one would buy it.
My wife is driving a 1986 Mercedes 200 UK registered C-Plate - with 6 owners in Singapore since 1992 and 200K km on the newish spedometer. It drives like a dream.
My 1984 built Mercedes 190E has 250,000 km or more on it. It some how drives so much better now that I have fitted a new spedometer that now reads 3500 km.
There is still a market in Asia for "super high" mileage Mercedes. (Because the 175% import tax is lower on a high mileage car).
regards
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Dear Nigel,
That's why a RHD 1996-1997 MB E230 5-speed auto and 80,000 miles plus fetches £17,000 to £18,000 at auction in the UK. They are exported to Singapore and Malaysia. In contrast, a 1998/99 MB E240 with 50,000 miles fetches less, so may well be worth buying now for two years and 30,000 miles free motoring after which it can be sold for the purchase price for export to Singapore or Malaysia.
HJ
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106 000 miles is nothing on a "quality" car like an audi a6 so why is it an issue ? surely if a car has been maintined to the schedule laid down by the manufacturer, it must be saleable. A car is made to be driven - otherwise it is nothing but an expensive ornament....
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How do I go about finding people who are preoared to pay sensible money for my 1997 E230 with only 58000 miles on the clock?
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We are talking here of a five valve per cylinder 1.8 litre turbocharged engine which develops 150bhp and has to pull a heavy car. Turbos are much more oil sensitive than non turbos because if they are not simmered before switch-off they cook and carbonise their oil. So I wouldn't be as confident as Ken about buying one which has done 106,000 miles.
HJ
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