struggling to sell my car

Shaka_Zulu

Fresh MOT?

kmb500

Shaka_Zulu wrote: »

Fresh MOT?

Garage has confirmed it will need the rust on the sills to be dealt with in order to pass an MOT - if tested today it would fail.

Ozzuk

I'm usually very aligned with Motorguys comments but in this situation I have to say I disagree!

I always list the bad things on a car when selling on ebay - people are bidding to own, not to view. "may well need some remedial work to the sills at some point but driving great"." could be seen as misleading.

I wouldn't make it the focus of your ad, I usually do an overview, then at the end list any negatives in a open and frank manner. Last thing you want is to waste your time or theirs if someone wins without viewing, pays, turns up and its obvious the rust is far worse than described.

My tactic for selling, I run a classified ad for 30 days at the price I really want, maybe with offers. If it doesn't sell then I change to auction style. It used to be free to relist but I think they stopped it - I had to pay twice on my last one.

good luck!

motorguy

Ozzuk wrote: »

I'm usually very aligned with Motorguys comments but in this situation I have to say I disagree!

:eek:

Ozzuk wrote: »

I always list the bad things on a car when selling on ebay - people are bidding to own, not to view. "may well need some remedial work to the sills at some point but driving great"." could be seen as misleading.

I wouldn't make it the focus of your ad, I usually do an overview, then at the end list any negatives in a open and frank manner. Last thing you want is to waste your time or theirs if someone wins without viewing, pays, turns up and its obvious the rust is far worse than described.

My tactic for selling, I run a classified ad for 30 days at the price I really want, maybe with offers. If it doesn't sell then I change to auction style. It used to be free to relist but I think they stopped it - I had to pay twice on my last one.

good luck!

I dont think we're a million miles away from each other with our view - maybe "this car WILL need remedial work on the sills and rear arches for the next MOT"?

I've just found that painting a very bleak picture can be very off putting, and what you or i would consider as maybe a "show stopper" isnt for other people.

I'd say £500 is probably the price of it, but i'm surprised at the minute that hes not getting any calls or bids.

TBH i'm the sort of nutter who'd buy that car - only theres the irish sea between me and it. I love a basket case.

TELLIT01

kmb500 wrote: »

Garage has confirmed it will need the rust on the sills to be dealt with in order to pass an MOT - if tested today it would fail.

And I suspect that is what most people will assume when they see the ad. You have the additional problem now that if anybody asks about the rust you either have to tell them it will fail the MOT or lie to them.
Rust removal and repair ain't generally a cheap job when its structural.

AdrianC

kmb500 wrote: »

Garage has confirmed it will need the rust on the sills to be dealt with in order to pass an MOT - if tested today it would fail.

<looks at pics> They aren't wrong. That's within 30cm of seatbelt mount, so straight fail.

Frankly, you should not be driving it. Sills are structurally vital - especially on a convertible.

I think you've got a choice. Look at getting the sills patched so it's at least driveable, and advertise it as needing cosmetics, or take it off the road and sell it as a project.

As it is, it's neither fish nor fowl. It's not driveable, yet you're pricing it as a car on the road.

kmb500

AdrianC wrote: »

<looks at pics> They aren't wrong. That's within 30cm of seatbelt mount, so straight fail.

Frankly, you should not be driving it. Sills are structurally vital - especially on a convertible.

I think you've got a choice. Look at getting the sills patched so it's at least driveable, and advertise it as needing cosmetics, or take it off the road and sell it as a project.

As it is, it's neither fish nor fowl. It's not driveable, yet you're pricing it as a car on the road.

It is perfectly driveable, I drive 1000 miles per month in it.

motorguy

kmb500 wrote: »

It is perfectly driveable, I drive 1000 miles per month in it.

+1

Sell it for what it is - a car someone can run over the summer then either sell on as a project or as a breaker or do the work themselves.

motorguy

TELLIT01 wrote: »

And I suspect that is what most people will assume when they see the ad. You have the additional problem now that if anybody asks about the rust you either have to tell them it will fail the MOT or lie to them.
Rust removal and repair ain't generally a cheap job when its structural.

I'm not seeing the issue here. Hes pointed out the rust - too brutally IMHO - and people will see it and make up their own minds.

It clearly needs work done on it for next MOT. At least you know that about that car. Its cheap for a mk2.5, especially one with leather and an SS exhaust.

EdGasket

The £795 would put me off. Makes you look like a street trader. For goodness sake round it up or down to the nearest £50.