Swap me and buy one

This month I come to the end of a 3 year lease and will have the option to purchase my 2006/56 Ford S-Max 1.8TDI with panoramic sunroof, runflat tyres and electronic parking brake. I will only buy the vehicle if I can sell it for a reasonable profit. I have had a 'valuation' from webuyanycar.com, which indicates that they would buy the car for around £11,500. That would make it worthwhile. Do you have any information to suggest this is a reputable company? If I agree to sell to them will I be paid? A valuation from a local Ford dealer was only £9,000 because the colour is solid blue rather than silver or black. In the past I have seen you recommend ‘sure-sell.info’. How can I find out what price my vehicle might realise through one of its auctions? As I live near Newcastle upon Tyne I'd be interested to know anywhere local offering a similar facility.

Asked on 26 December 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
Webuyanycar.com is part of a national chain of car supersites. They played fair during the rising used market for the first 9 months of the year. Used car prices generally then dropped a bit in October, but even by the end of November had started to rally in anticipation of the New Year. The offer may change when they see the car. www.sure-sell.info is always a gamble, but a good one because the car will be competitively bid for, and BCA has a site near Newcastle. I don’t see many S-Max at auction, but on 28th October a 2006/56 2.0TDCI Titanium with 26k miles sold for £12,300, about £900 under trade book for November. Probably better to sell mid to late January.
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