Hi all,
Is it normal after advertising a car to only get one call in 4 days? I priced it as one of the lowest on there (but not the very lowest). I've just spent over £1000 on servicing too which I detailed in the ad. It's a 2002 51 plate Golf GTi 1.8T, superchipped to 180BHP. Maybe I shouldn't mention the chip - although it is the same one VW offer officially through their dealers. The car has 66k miles and FVWSH. I cleaned it up a treat for photos and took them with care, the road I live in looks pleasant etc - yet no calls. Should I lower the price or is it too soon? I'm not in a hurry to sell, but should I accept that 1 calls in 4 days = price too high?
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I'd give it another week before dropping the price. The poor weather over the weekend won't have helped.
As its chipped you might have more joy with specialist owners club type forums or Pistonheads, which is free.
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I think its probably more calls than usual unless you've priced something around trade price
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I read often, only post occasionally
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Depends where you have advertised it.
I find Autotrader online about the best, but maybe if it has been chipped it might do better on PH?
But no, 1 call in 4 days does not warrant distress selling. Give it 2 weeks before thinking about re-pricing.
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Thanks all, reasuring words. I'll definitely try PH too - when I was a buyer myself I always found the sellers on PH to be very friendly & knowledgable - I felt really bad about letting a guy know I had bought a car who I had previously arranged to see, as he was such a nice guy.
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I would say chipped, just put GTi 180PS in the title.
If they ask, just be vague and mention that VW offered it as an option.
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I would say chipped just put GTi 180PS in the title. If they ask just be vague and mention that VW offered it as an option.
How refreshingly honest.......
Why not put in the classified section here?
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I wouldn't mention chip till sold. It only takes one call. Not unusual to get no response 1st week. don't panic
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My experience of selling cars is that with a Golf GTI it will definitely sell if you price it competitively with others in a 25-mile radius - doesn't have to be the cheapest, but should be toward the bottom of the range for age/mileage - taking account that you are private seller and no trade back-up.
Unfortunately most buyers won't take much account of your £1000 service expenditure - so don't try to get that back by inflating the price.
Definitely mention the chip - either in the ad or at first enquiry. Some buyers may be very insurance sensitive and will want to get a quote before purchase - if you suddenly drop the 'chip' issue at the last minute then they may pull out and you'll have lost them, and possibly other potential buyers, and wasted everyone's time. I am always very upfront about a car's spec and any work its had done. If you try to drop something on a buyer at the last minute it destroys trust and just gives them a reason to pull out.
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although I appreciate that you are trying to demonstrate that evertything it tip-tip, I must admit I would take the £1,000 service bill as a grim reminder of the potential cost of running the car.
I would only mention this at the time of viewing when you can disseminate the information at the right moment.
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Did I miss the bit where yo mentioned what you've got it on at?
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I don't think you need to panic. If you've pitched the price as you say then you've done what you can.
As regards the 'chip' - are you able to retro-fit the original if need be? You could then advertise the car as standard and tell interested parties that the chip is available - it's their choice then.
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Low response in july is normal
I wouldnt mention the chip in advertising it as it may be seen as a negative by someone keen on the car but not clued up.
Get them on the phone sus them out then tell them once you have their interest,the rest is up to them then,but, make sure you put the chip details on the invoice in case of future problems.
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You could, and maybe you already have, describe the ECU upgrade as a VW approved ECU performance upgrade, but original apart from this (if it is of course!) with full VWSH - I would mention the very full & expensive service - most people know that service costs vary depending on service complexity/type, so may well be assured (I would) by seeing the 'expensive' service as having been carried out - which also further enhances the 'good provenance' vibe.
Maybe I'm not in your natural selling constituency, but, I get wary if ever I see mention of how fast the car goes, or phrases like 'drives superb'
(which is wrong grammatically!) or 'head turner' etc., etc. Yours sounds like a very respectable, straight car - so I would emphasise that - all
the 'boring' stuff up front: service history (with mileage @ last service & its type, i.e. 'A/B' ,inspection' with any consumable replacements etc), MOT, mileage, , 'unmolested' good condition, approved upgrade (with producer detail), number of owners.
good luck!
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perleman, if it was chipped by Superchips or one of their agents, did they give you their supplementary warranty that covers any damage to the car attributable to the chip? If this can be transferred over to the new owner then you can mention it as a positive (in fact it is a £500+ option!) when describing the car - VW approved plus Superchips warranty which might ease any concern a prospective purchaser might have.
As well as PH, perhaps you could try joining the popular VW forums and advertising it there to like minded enthusiasts?
Good luck
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Thanks all for this very good advice & opinion. I have mentioned in the ad that I have retained the original ECU program on a chip so it can be returned to stock if needs be, I also mentioned that it's the official VW option but may revisit the wording. It's currently on at £6649 ovno BTW.
I haven't put any 'runs lovely' type comments on - as a buyer & marketing professional I always interpret these as being a statement of the opposite! It's a given that a car 'runs lovely', isn't it.
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I'm afraid if I saw the ad and not knowing any better, I'd pass onto the next.
£1000 recently spent and someone who wellies it (assumed from the chip) - too much potential trouble for my liking.
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What's the general consensus on changing copy to "Just had major service including cam belt, water pump, front tyres" from "£1100 spent"??
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i would
as martint123 said i would agree with him,
i would just put last major service just completed all bills with car
let them come on the phone and then you can bore them with the wiggly bits, when they turn up they will have their little legs with their shorts on hanging out the drivers door reading every scrap of paper you have left in the glove box for their perusal,they love it especially if they dont know you planted it there
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when they turn up they will have their little legs with their shorts on hanging out the drivers door reading every scrap of paper you have left in >>the glove box for their perusal,they love it especially if they dont know you planted it there
But do you think people are always so naive? Perhaps people you sell to are, I don't know. My attitude is treat as you would be treated, oft times being too slick or clever can sink you. I sell product, of a different nature, to large companies to people with highly attuned BS detectors; the truth is always the best 'lie'.
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What's the general consensus on changing copy to "Just had major service including cam belt water pump front tyres" from "£1100 spent"??
Change it! £1100 spent could have been due to problems, service, cambelt etc have real value to the buyer.
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So are you running the Boxster as a company car??
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I've always found eBay motors the esbt way to sell a car (have tried Autotrader and local free paper).
Wasn't there a report on here a month or so back about how cars being sold on eBay are going for more than the book price so it's a good place to sell but a bad place ot buy?
I've sold 4 cars on eBay varying between £400 and £5000 succesfully.
Always make sure that you agree a price before the auction ends, so that you can end the auction early and avoid the final selling fee that eBay put on the ad.
Chris
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