Time to sell...

[smithy1311]

A new arrival is going to force my hand soon and I'll be selling my beloved Scirocco in the next few months.

I've not sold a car privately before (always gone the easy route and part-ex'd), but given I have got a bit of time to play I thought I might try a private sale.

Has anyone got an any tips for finding private buyers efficiently, or does the obvious route (Auto Trader) actually generate genuine interest rather than canvassers and time wasters trying to get a stupidly cheap deal?

Cheers!

[maisbitt]

Its always hard to sell a car privately over about 8 grand - people want the reassurance of a dealer or the ease of finance/part-ex when parting with big money for a nearly new car. It'll have to be considerably cheaper than the used forecourt of your dealership for a cash buyer to come along and give you more than part-ex money for it.

Best to post it for free on the forums for starters - people come here when researching their planned purchase and might be tempted by a bargain. You can try autotrader et al but unless you're 2 or 3 grand cheaper than the cheapest main dealer used price you might not have many bites.

[Grampa]

The most expensive car I've sold privately was advertised at £10500 so no experience of selling something as pricey as a Scirocco, but when I have advertised on line, Autotrader produced zero serious interest and was an expensive place to advertise, whereas Ebay classifieds (i.e. you advertise the price rather than enter it in an auction) sold the car (a Megane 225) in two hours flat at the asking price. I've advertised two other cars on Autotrader and Ebay classifieds and each time it's the Ebay ad that's sold the car.

[smithy1311]

thanks -- I might have a go a private sale first and see how I get on.

If anyone's interested in haing a chat about my car (2010, pewter grey, GT, Petrol, DSG, 15k miles, cruise, flat tyre) .... PM me.

[goatboy]

Try pistonheads too, free and it has quite a big readership

[trix]

Try pistonheads too, free and it has quite a big readership

not free anymore unless you have been registered with PH forums since before 1st Jan 2009

[wigit]

never sold a car privately until my last A3, shoved in it Autotrader and didn't get a great response but sold for £1,500 more than dealer wanted to give me, £99 hire car for a week till the roc arrived and job done, the roc will be going the at/ph route with a px as a last resort

[mrtrendvampire]

has it got leather>
i might be intested!

[harryc]

Good pictures = good advert. Get a good quality camera that does the car justice and people will want to view it over other cars with rubbish thumbnail pics. Forums are always good, I always search the enthusiast forums when buying a car as they are usually well looked after and have documented history on the forum.

[jonallen628]

Just sold mine via autotrader. Much as the guys have already said but do a proper valuation on parkers or similar. Include your options and mileage to get an accurate valuation. Checkout the competition and be realistic with the pricing. If you're not in a rush try starting high with the price (don't go silly), go for one of the longer web packages on autotrader and reduce the car weekly if interest is slow. This will be more cost effective than having to renew your advert after a couple of weeks.

Or based on your valuations and the competition price it keen and sell it quick.

Good luck!

[ArgyleMatt]

No, no, no, have two kids, and when i got my roc they were 3, and 6 mths! The roc happily took us to where ever we wanted with a weekends luggage. Answer is....don't sell it!

M@

[gibbsy]

My two grandsons, 11 and 7 years, think the Roc is brilliant. They prefer it to their other grandad's Ferrari 360, perhaps it's because they are allowed in the Roc but not in the 360.