A friend of mine received his new company vehicle pre Christmas, and is having no luck at all in selling his '04 2.0 ForesterX with All Weather Pack. It is a one owner vehicle, 47k miles,in black with an accident free history. I do not know the condition of the tyres or whether a service is due.
He is now looking for offers around £6k, maybe a little less. Can anyone tell me if it is overpriced, or have the recent fuel price hikes severely damaged the residual values of this marque. Similar cars on Autotrader are listed at well over his asking price.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 20/01/2008 at 17:40
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Glass's gives a part exchange value of £6500 in excellent condition.
Maybe it's too cheap?
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It's winter. Post Christmas.
It's a little known 4x4.
What can he expect? Terrible time to sell anything.
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I suppose that like every other niche market.....patience is the key. It isn't the first car someone may think of buying. I think also that the current financial constraints may be having an effect. If it affects the market overall, a niche market will be hit doubly hard?
Persevere and it will sell......eventually. Took me months to sell mine in a reasonable market.
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How about that auction option HJ has often recommended ? "Suresell" or something like that isn't it ?
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Is he located in an area where a Forester might be a sensible buy?
I can imagine if your in a run of the mill urban/suburban are there might be few takers whereas in an area near or in a rural fringe might get a few more country dwellers/those with country persuits who could be more natural buyers.
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Given the recent financial houses are reporting huge losses, they're very much more reluctant to give credit freely to anyone with a lack of credit history these days. This will naturally have a knock on effect for those after loans with poor or close to maxed out credit limits.
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Another thing is - the actual model. 2.0X. Around 10 seconds to 60, 29mpg, bottom of CO2 table. If you were already looking for high emission, low economy SUV on second hand market it's fair to presume you would want 2.5 litre version, which goes to 60 in under 6 seconds at cost of only 3 mpg less. The 2.0 Forester as a second hand car, when the price difference between models is no longer as well prenounced as when they were new, simply doesn't have that much appeal...
Edited by v0n on 20/01/2008 at 14:29
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Any subaru is a specialist bit of kit. When new they only ever bought by "those in the know" or on personal recommendation. When they come to be second hand your average Jo just aint looking for one. When selling these you need to target them.
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The 2.0X Forester is a great car for those living in rural areas and quite sought-after in certain parts of the country. Makes a very practical and safe family car. The 2.5's may 'theoretically' use only 3mpg, but in real world driving they are a lot heavier on fuel because of the temptation to use the throttle at every opportunity. Not only that but running costs are considerably higher (insurance, brakes/pads. clutch, tyres etc).
I don't know where you live, but you need to get the car advertised in a rural/hilly part of the country - or even Ebay. I would post it up at £5950 and be prepared to be haggled down to 5-10& off that.
The only thing that puts me off your car is the colour - black - I really don't think they look right in black - but that's my personal opinion of course.
Now is not a good time to sell. Very quiet on all fronts. Easter is very early this year, I reckon if you could hold it until mid-March then advertise, you'll definitely shift it then.
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Thanks for all the replies.
He (and I) live in upper Ribblesdale so you cannot get much more rural than that! It is sitting outside his house whilst he uses the company car....both MOT & tax shortening in length by the day.I understand the advice to hang on until Easter, but if I were a private buyer then I would worry about it sitting around doing little mileage for the past few months, and as the seller I would want to turn it back into cash asap. Who knows what the economy holds for us this year!
I shall advise him to advertise it within the BR classifieds and on Ebay................
Goodness knows why it won't sell, there are plenty of people running around in Freelanders in this part of the world. If you've pots of cash then a part ex at a dealer is always the easy option.
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I'd keep it. He'll need it when the weather gets bad !!!
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Pugugly,
not a viable financial option to run a car privately when you have the company provide one as well! You obviously meant this TIC....for bad weather we have the iron rail to civilization in West Yorks!!
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Civilisation? West Yorks?
These things are all relative I suppose ;-)
Lee
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Timothy Taylors is brewed in West Yorks. A very civilised drink.
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Sorry to hear that legacylad's mate can't shift his Forester. On personal basis though, I am pleased to hear of his predicament as the Forester is on my possibles list for when I change motors next year. The 2.0 would do fine.
Of course I'm sure he will have sold by then, but if they are not selling well then should be at an attractive price when I start looking.
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Of course I'm sure he will have sold by then but if they are not selling well then should be at an attractive price when I start looking.
I wouldn't bet on that.
Its pretty much a golden rule of car trading that when you have a car to sell then there's plenty of other good examples for sale and they're all underpriced. When you're buying then there's nothing but overpriced tat available!
Actually the Forester is currently a very good buy brand new. The new one has been announced and so the current model is being sold off a relatively low prices. I saw a brand new 2.0X (with the vastly better 160ps 4-cam engine) for sale at a dealer for just over £12k. I thought that was a right bargain.
Edited by Aprilia on 21/01/2008 at 08:54
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..... Timothy Taylors is brewed in West Yorks.....
You know how to make a man miss England.
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