Buying a car from Ebay or BCA auctions

sunshune

bezzza wrote: »

Why wouldn't you make arrangements to go view first, BEFORE you bid? As someone else also said sometimes you can make a deal there and then as my hubby did only the other week - saw a car on ebay, emailed guy to have a look, gave it a good look over, test drove it, checked log book and mot, offered cash and drove away. My advice is always ask to see car before bidding - why would you bid on something as important as a car and not see it first?

I wasn't sure how the whole process worked, which is why i asked for advice on here

sunshune

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Whatever you do, do not buy, from anywhere private/internet/auction without taking along someone who knows what they are doing.

The easiest trap to fall into is buying a car that has been a right off, but it just hasn't been through the insurers hands, hence will not appear on any HPI or suchlike search, ie, it was 3rd party only. There are many more of these about than most folks realise:eek:

Little details, like wrong spec, interior trim panel damage, wrong badges or badges in the wrong place are all clues apart from the obvious straightened out chassis members, suspension parts with breakers yellow pen on them.

You need help,

Thanks, I'll have to ring round and see who i know is clued up about cars

easy

You know, as you are inexperienced at buying cars, I'd REALLY avoid an auction or ebay this time round. Go to the autotrader site and do a search here. You can put in your postcode and the distance you can travel to look at cars, the max you have to spend, whether you want saloon/hatchback, 5 doors, and then do the search.

Look thru what comes up (I've just tried it, lots within 20 miles of my postcode in your price range), and my advice this time is that you buy from a trader, which gives you some protection if the car isn't as good as it should be.
By all means haggle with the trader, don't just pay the advertised price (for example, on a car advertised at £1,000, if you like it offer £875/£900, and look to meet the price in the middle).

When you have more experience, a less immediate need for a car, and perhaps a larger amount to spend, take your time and consider the auction/ebay route.
I know lots of people will shout down my advice, but it's advice offered by a person with 30 years experience of buying/selling/running cars.

Kurtis_Blue

For clarity:
Those stating you can look, test drive after bidding are discussing eBay, at a proper auction once you bid its pretty much game over and the car is yours.

Full details from bca here:
http://www.british-car-auctions.co.uk/default.aspx?page=11147

Personally never seen anything go through auction at a grand after charges worth having, have heard rumors and urban myths of great low end bargains but its a long day or days searching.

cyclonebri1

Kurtis_Blue wrote: »

For clarity:
Those stating you can look, test drive after bidding are discussing eBay, at a proper auction once you bid its pretty much game over and the car is yours.

Full details from bca here:
http://www.british-car-auctions.co.uk/default.aspx?page=11147

Personally never seen anything go through auction at a grand after charges worth having, have heard rumors and urban myths of great low end bargains but its a long day or days searching.

But that is the point, you go to an auction not with a specific car in mind, but a type of car, be it hatch/saloon or whatever, an age range, and mileage expectancy.

That may leave you looking at say 10 cars at an auction, usually something comes up at the price you expected and are prepared to pay.

If you go to an auction with a single model of a certain age in a certain colour and at a certain price, you will be dissapointed because all the traders are looking for that same car for a known customer.

A proper auction can be an interesting and moneysaving way to spend a day, better than chasing from car to car, only to be mislead by private/trade sellers innacurate descriptions:mad:

Kurtis_Blue

Oh its intresting alright, and im all for buying on quality rather than specific types, but like I said with only a grand in hand I've yet to see anything I would like to gamble on, maybe I'm going on the wrong days.

bugbabe1970

Hya, my dh and i have both bought from ebay and at auctuion.

I bought a VW Beetle last year form ebay. Before I bid I e mailed the seller and went to look at the car as he only lived 30 minutes away. Was really impressed and told him I wanted it, paid a deposit and he took it off sale. My DH did the same with a motorbike he bought. Both have been really good buys and have had no problems at all with either.

My DH also bough ta car at auction a couple of years ago, a nice little sporty thing. Think he paid about £800 for it and spent another £500 on it. Again no major problems.

Maybe we have just been lucky, but all have been positive experiences. (esp. my Bug, its my pride and joy)

Inactive

Kurtis_Blue wrote: »

For clarity:
Those stating you can look, test drive after bidding are discussing eBay, at a proper auction once you bid its pretty much game over and the car is yours.

Strictly speaking you cannot " test drive " after bidding, the time to view/test drive is before bidding.

You could easily end up losing your eBay account by not fulfilling your side of the deal.

Kurtis_Blue

Inactive wrote: »

Strictly speaking you cannot " test drive " after bidding, the time to view/test drive is before bidding.

You could easily end up losing your eBay account by not fulfilling your side of the deal.

Absoloutley, if you can look before auction end do so, but drive inspect again after as well, if you want to send the seller an email before bidding telling then you are going to drive to make sure it is as advertised then all the better.

The only reason for complaint would be if you did not buy, and the only reason for that would be hidden problems, Id rather walk away and deal with the mild disconcern of eBay at a later stage.

eBay will only limit your account for >3 infractions a month (that was data from a year ago).

neneromanova

Check out this site for cars:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/

It's a proper car enthusiasts site with forums and everything so any car that is being sold has more than likely been loved and taken well care of.