I will be in the market for a late/low family diesel later this year. Have had much experience of successfully buying at auction in the past, but now as an employed bod do not have a lot of time.
Are the current margins big enough to make it worth while finding some time to get to the 'block' or is it better to go to a specialist or main dealer and haggle, and get a bit of warranty benefit as well?
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If it is a popular model you may only pay £500 at a Supermarket and it will be a much more pleasurable 'retail' experience.
Check out some of the prices at Fords of Winsford or Availablecar.com. They are not that much above aution.
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You pay your money and take your choice; I always buy at auction as I can make my own judgement on what a particular car is worth. Prices can vary a lot from day to day and location to location, and sometimes the low milers get quite a premium.
I advise avoiding Auction days during half term school holidays, as on my last visit to Measham the place was like a creche, with a large number of family buyers (with all the kids in tow)pushing prices to silly levels (but only on the low milers), I grabbed a high mileage Mondeo which they didn't want to touch.
Any reason for wanting low mileage? With any late car, mileage's won't be at daft levels anyway, and as a lot of backroomers will tell you, as with me, a preference for paying less for a properly run car, rather than a premium for a shopping run about.
As you will know, things can go horribly wrong if you get a dog, so check as much as you can, and set your budget. The advantages with main dealers especially can be the warranties and peace of mind, and you may get a car they want rid of, so will take offers on.
Paul
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Want late/low as use for business/pleasure - average 26,000 miles per annum over three years. So just looking to minimise depreciation and risk if I have to sell it because change jobs etc.
Was thinking locally either Brighouse/Rothwell or Rotherham.
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Davo,
You sound local to me, mate.
I'd recommend Premier Auctions near the wholesale market site in Leeds.
Found their stock better than Brighouse / Rothwell and most people don't seem to know it's there, so cheaper too.
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Not been there, will look it up.
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If you're going to do 26k a year, wouldn't you be better off buying a high-miler to start with?
If you pay a premium for a low-miler then make it a hogh-miler within a couple of years you lose both ways surely?
I'd buy a high-miler and turn it into a starship- miler over 3 years - say buy at 2-3 yrs and 75k, take it up to 150k over the next 3?
Any thoughts?
Good luck!
Neil
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Depends what you mean by late/low, doesn't it?
Is there any point in paying a premium for a car that has a ridiculously low mileage (e.g., 2k at 1 year)? No.
On the other hand, 10k or 15k is a low mileage in anyone's terms even if it is done in six months.
Personally though, if you're working full time, unless you can find a place with a sale time convenient to you, I wouldn't bother and go the supermarket or internet broker route.
What car are you thinking of anyway?
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Agree, and under 15k is fine with me.
Thinking of an estate, either a Passat, Mondeo, C5, Laguna or? Each has its merits and pitfalls.
Not up to date on prices but suspect that a C5 could be bought very cheap and run into the ground (so to speak).
Could go the balloon route with a Merc or BMW and enjoy it a little more.
Am a Honda fan and like the look of the new Accord Tourer but it is too new, too much dosh and petrol.
Any thoughts?
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Current car (Accord 2.0l VTEC)has 105k, trouble is if anything big goes wrong then it means paying out on something worth little, and experience suggests that when you start spending it never seems to stop. Also current car will need major service items soon which will cost etc.
Could also save quite a bit by getting into a diesel.
Have to factor into equation the money I get from the company and tax rebates on mileage and notional tax saved, set against the fact that I also can't afford to be off the road.
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I recently bought a replacement car for my parents, and buying late/low was the easiest auction trip I've had. Using BCA's auctionview I knew there were plenty of cars that would be OK(Corsas in this case). I paid £5100 after charges for a nice 9k 02 Corsa 1.2 comfort (a/c etc.). NetworkQ has these listed at least at £6995 and I had my choice of cars. As there's still 2 years warranty it's not a very risky buy. Similarly a friend got a good spec (satnav etc.) 13k Primera 52 reg for £8k.
I have noticed private punters swarming after small diesels though, especially at Blackbushe.
PB.
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I asked a similar question a few months ago, plese see
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=i&t=10...5
I didn't save a fortune compared to supermarket prices but auction is on doorstep and supermarket is a 3 hour drive away.
4 months and 4500 miles later I'm happy with my auction purchase.
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