Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - flippin 'ec!

Hi

Trying to sell my car but having absolutely no luck whatsoever! Does anybody know whether a garage would buy a car - not as a trade in but just to add to their stock? I dont have much experience n this area and have tried selling on gumtree, autotrader and ebay but have not had a single call..(despite plenty of web views).

Not sure what I'm doing wrong - don't think the car is overpriced and it's in good condition with FSH and some fairly major work just done - new clutch and timing belt. However I don't live in an area with a big "catchment" and it might just be time of the year...

Car is Octavia Hatch - 2006 (55) 2.0FSi 83,800 miles @ 2,8000

Please save me from webuyanycar.com!

thanks

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - coopshere
It's too high for a private sale. Mid range model as a trade-in is around £1700, a dealer would only give you that if he was making a profit on what he was selling you. Only way to be sure though is take it to a couple of traders who deal in that price range of cars. If you want an exact value go to: www.glass.co.uk/Valuations/
For less than £5 you will know exactly where you stand. You are competing with hundreds if not thousands of similarly priced cars so to sell you need to be competitive.
Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - Simon

You have nothing to lose by making enquiries at a few but I would be prepared for a shock when they tell you what they'll pay you for it.

You say that you have had it advertised on ebay, gumtree and autotrader but not had a single call. That says it all - you are asking for way too much money to even remotely grab anyones attention.

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - gordonbennet

Have you entered the (absolutely honest warts dents and all) details on WBAC to get a ball park fall back figure...some say they try to shift the goal posts but my lad sold his Toledo to them and they paid exactly what was offered.

I have no doubt that a similar Passat would have sold by now despite its electric parking brake grenade due to explode expensively, but such is the fickle nature of car buyers.

Could you re-advertise on ebay classifieds and put the ad number here so we could have a butchers and maybe add some valid pointers you could add/delete if appropriate.

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - hillman

Winter is supposed to be a slack time for selling cars, I think you might do better during the spring. In the meantime do the mechanical things to justify the price. Attend to all the little dings and dents and polish it up . When you've done all those things you might find you've changed your mind about selling it.

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - daveyK_UK

Any independent will give you £1000 for it, maybe £1200.

its hardly a car that is going to be sold in the first week, it will take some time to shift.

If you can get anywhere near trade value for it as a straight sale, you will have done well.

Ebay buyers tend to appreicate and pay extra the FSH and lots of photos and details of work to the car.

Why not start it at 99p on a 7 day sale and see where it gets?

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - Andrew-T

I think you have implied the answer to your own question. Traders are in business to sell cars, not buy them; or put another way, they don't want to have more stock and less cash when a punter walks out than when he walked in. They might change that attitude if your car was special and they could see a profit, but if that's the case you should be able to sell it yourself and save about a grand.

Like them, you are in competition with all the other sellers. You need to find what the going rate is. Having said that, my daughter sold a 55-plate Golf Plus recently - only one interested caller, but prepared to travel over 100 miles across the country because prices were (allegedly) much higher there, She saved well over a grand compared with part-ex. It can depend on where you are.

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - flippin 'ec!

Thanks for all the help and info - it's really appreciated.

The number for the ebay ad is 191036198972 - if anybody's interested in having a look and telling me where I'm going wrong / could improve.

A lot of people have said that the car is too expensive but I'm not sure - obviously I wouldn't expect the full asking price and I've done a whole load of car valuations which seem to indicate that the price is right. However I know that in the end a car is only as valuable as sombody would pay for it!

Also peple have said that the photos could be brighter - especially for a silver car - but unfortunately we just don't get bright days in he winter up there :-(

Again - thanks for all the help

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - gordonbennet

One photo i have issue with is the drivers interior view, the pedals appear worn with ingrained dirt as does the floor and kick trim, the gearknob also appears well worn for the mileage but that could be the flash, other bits of dirt about don't do it any favours, worse though is the nasty stain on the drivers seat squab.

The car appears to be in good conditon bodywise, you could do with a better camera and get closer to the wheels etc, which appear to have ingrained brake dust staining in the inner spokes, and appear kerbed/scratched and possibly need a refurb...unkempt or scraped wheels put me straight off a car.

Seeing as you are trying to appeal to those who value good history, be more specific with service dates mileage and work done.

What tyres does it have if they are worth noting note them, what are the condition of the discs and calipers, a clear close up of a front and rear wheel would help here.

You want a finnicky buyer, so you need to show the car has been cared for as such, those pics don't show that, indeed from the evidence of marked wheels with ingrained dirt and a dirty interior show rather the opposite and that it has been washed hurriedly for the sale as against kept pristine.

Sorry if that appears negative, trying to be constructive only..;)

Edited by gordonbennet on 18/01/2014 at 13:09

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - artill

Can i suggest a fresh MOT would help. I know its not due yet, but April is less than 3 months away. Most people with just £2k for their next car would be happier witha 12 month MOT. If there is nothing wrong with your car it wont cost much to pop it through a test.

Other than that, its a fine looking car, and a decent advert.

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - flippin 'ec!

thanks - that's a great idea - the car was only serviced less than 1,000 miles ago so it should pass no problem.

I've tried to present the car as best I could - yes the allyos are not in fantastic condition and there is some wear on the seats, gearknob, pedals etc but it is an 8 year old car priced at less than £2,500! Probably if I was to buy this car from a dealer I'd expect it to be cleaner but they have more experience and equipment for prepping the vehicle. It's a bit diferent trying to do it in the pi**ing down rain when it's about 3 deg C!! Also this car is now priced at substantially less than a dealer valuation...

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - Galaxy

Looks a nice car but, for what it would cost, I would definitely get a fresh MOT done and make sure the expiry date gets changed in the advert.

You could consider getting it valeted.

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - Cyd

Fresh MoT is a must

Listing doesn't have the item specifics fully filled out

Listing is too wordy - go for bullet points and loose the verbiage. And use Arial, not TNR.

Use a design background.

Mention makes of tyres and tread depths.

Your average 37mpg matches the HJ real mpg. mention that.

Post to: worldwide .....really? Set to collection only.

Move that passenger seat forward to show more leg room in the rear.

Skoda Octavia - Would a garage buy my car (not as a trade in)? - Smileyman

Have you considered selling at auction? I'm not an expert enough to give advice, but I have sold a few vehicles this way, some went quickly other took a little longer to shift