Post by Ant on Aug 29, 2008 10:05:54 GMT
Anyone seen that "we buy any car" advert on TV? The advert proudly states you can hop on the website, enter your registration and the condition of the car, and they'll value it for free. Sounds pretty good doesn't it? Can't be bothered with the hassle of selling the car? You can go on a website and they'll buy it off you.
In case you think this sounds like a good idea, just DON'T.
Some of you have seen my car (chasing Kev's on the way to Redbourn ) and it's in pretty good condition for a ten year old car, a few little bubbles of rust and a leaky sunroof but only 41k miles which is nothing for a ten year old car (average for this age would be double that for a small car).
Now, I conservatively estimate the value of my car at about £1200 ish. I've seen very similar models with higher milage go for £1500 on ebay, but they have power steering which mine doesn't.
I went on this website, and thought that they'd probably value it at around a grand. Maybe £800 of they were being really stingy.
No. They valued my car at... wait for it...
£365
WHAT? I could sell my two budget guitars for more than that. And I'd still have one guitar left to tide me over. I feel very, very sorry for anyone who's that scared or lazy that they'd prefer to use the daylight robbery website instead of selling the car themselves. The fact that they've valued my car at less than a third of even my conservative estimate of it's value is pretty shocking.
Now, I can't say I care too much really, I would never entrust my sale to a website like that, and when I get around to selling my car I'll do it the old-fashioned way by actually writing an advert and listing it in mags, in autotrader and on ebay. But if this serves as a warning to even one person here who isn't too clued-up on cars then I consider it worth it!
In case you think this sounds like a good idea, just DON'T.
Some of you have seen my car (chasing Kev's on the way to Redbourn ) and it's in pretty good condition for a ten year old car, a few little bubbles of rust and a leaky sunroof but only 41k miles which is nothing for a ten year old car (average for this age would be double that for a small car).
Now, I conservatively estimate the value of my car at about £1200 ish. I've seen very similar models with higher milage go for £1500 on ebay, but they have power steering which mine doesn't.
I went on this website, and thought that they'd probably value it at around a grand. Maybe £800 of they were being really stingy.
No. They valued my car at... wait for it...
£365
WHAT? I could sell my two budget guitars for more than that. And I'd still have one guitar left to tide me over. I feel very, very sorry for anyone who's that scared or lazy that they'd prefer to use the daylight robbery website instead of selling the car themselves. The fact that they've valued my car at less than a third of even my conservative estimate of it's value is pretty shocking.
Now, I can't say I care too much really, I would never entrust my sale to a website like that, and when I get around to selling my car I'll do it the old-fashioned way by actually writing an advert and listing it in mags, in autotrader and on ebay. But if this serves as a warning to even one person here who isn't too clued-up on cars then I consider it worth it!