Should I buy a car at an auction?

fantasyvn

May I ask for your advice on this question?

Should I buy a car at an auction? In most cases, would one have a good deal by using this method?

My sincere thanks,

scotsbob

If you know about cars yes, if you don't then it's no.

TrickyWicky

As above. If you know about cars, what to look for etc then yeah go for it.

If you don't then walk away as it's a minefield. Don't even take a friend with you because if you do, they say the car is ok and then you buy it and find something wrong / expensive with it then you end up blaming the friend and it goes down hill from there.

Joe_Horner

As a generaly rule with car auctions, f you're not sure whether you should then you probably shouldn't

arcon5

If your looking for a decent car and not mechanically minded then no.
If your looking for a banger and willing to take on some risk then yes.

Our last car was from auction. New clutch. Brake discs. Lower suspension arm. Less than £700 all in and drives like a dream.
On the other hand you can buy a banger, have it transported, pay the auction fees etc etc and find the HG has blown in which case you either sell as scrap or have it transported back and hope the engine is still running to see it through another auction.

N9eav

Depends on the auction. If it's an auction where you know who the seller is, it could be a good gamble.
One auction I used to go to had cars from known main dealers. The main reason they were there was that the main dealer did not sell used cars over a certain age, other makes, mileage etc, so by picking a main dealer trade in you had less chance of getting a lemon.
Some auctions have a (return period) against serious mechanical defects too.
But in most cases you may have to spend further money on the car, but could come out OK.
Depends on what you can fix and what you have to pay others to fix.

RichardD1970

The reason the dealer isn't selling them is because they don't sell the cars over a certain age or of a certain make etc. Would you expect say, a Porsche dealer to sell 7 year old Renaults on their forecourt? (extreme example, I know, who trades in a 7 year old Renault for a new Porsche but the principle still stands)
All legitimate reasons.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

chrisjvc1

Just make sure you have deep pockets after purchase as no doubt it will need alot of extra money spent on it.

scotsbob

N9eav wrote: »

The main reason they were there was that the main dealer did not sell used cars over a certain age, other makes, mileage etc, so by picking a main dealer trade in you had less chance of getting a lemon.

There's truth in this. I traded in my 6 year old Mazda MX5, perfect condition, full dealer servicing and they just put it straight to auction because they didn't sell cars over 5 years old.

Someone must have got a bargain there.

colino

The other side of the coin is to ask why a retail car (desirable model, good colour, under 4y.o.) would be presented at auction at all by a main dealer. Non-core stock gets underwritten to the trade.
If your a privateer, don't buy at auction.

bigjl

Have bought loads of cars at auction.

Take somebody with you as the risk of buying a turd is very high.

Stick with big dealer trade ins.

Avoid anything that was privately entered as just not worth the risk.

My last 2 auctions purchase for personal use were both trouble free for three years or so each.

Both were bought as above average miles 3 yr olds with full main dealer history.

The more owners the more risk. Imho.

Take a friend that knows cars well.

If you know little then stick to a big car supermarket.

Motorpoint, Fords of Winsford and CarGiant are all reputable. I have bought several cars from CG and know several.people that have bought from the others.

Avoid CarCraft and Trade Sales.

Don't know much about CarShop.

But somebody on here said they were not the best.