Selling car - p/x or private dilema!

fluffymuffin

Hope I have posted this in the right place...

I have recently changed jobs and now travel by train to work and hence have decided to sell the car that I have at the moment and buy something with a smaller engine to slash my astronomical insurance, high running costs etc...

It would be easier I think to take it to a suitable garage and part exchange my old car for a new one but as I am down sizing I actually think my old car might be worth slightly more than the type I am considering buying or at least about the same if I get something a bit newer. Would it be better to try and sell mine privately through autotrader or something and then wait to buy a new one even though this is quite a bit of hassle.

Never done a part exchange before so not sure how it works especially if you are exchanging cars of similar or greater value?

Any genreal tips on car sales/ buying tips much appreciated xx

fatboyonadiet

Private will get you more money but give you more hassle, as long as you don't need a car urgently (will be a gap inbetween selling and buying of course) I'd sell it privately.

dougk_2

As Fatboyonadiet says you will get more money privately and it will also allow you to negotiate a better price for the new car.

If you do part exchange its unlikely the garage will budge on the asking price of the new car.

Personally I have always bought and sold my cars privately except on one occassion and then it was because I knew the dealer!

thehairybuilder

I reckon if you`re trying to sell a car privately then there is a limit to price you can ask . Up to £2000 and your car will sell no problems but if you`re trying to sell a car for £4000 or over it will be much more difficult privately . I only speak from personal experience and expect that for newer or more expensive cars most people prefer the `safety` of buying from a garage with their low cost loans and warranties . Also not too many people walking around with £1000`s cash.

Lemoncurd

Like others have said you are more likely to get a better price overall if you keep the two transactions seperate.

Not sure that I'd agree on the bit about selling privately only being suitable for lower priced cars. We've sold all our cars privately in the £5000+ range and had no problems. When we were looking to buy our current car we were looking for one that was 2-3 yrs old at around 12k and primarily looked privately. The only reason we didn't buy privately was because there were only a couple of the make and model we wanted available at the time and they weren't quite right and we just happened to see exactly what we wanted with a dealer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk is useful for doing some research into prices and seeing what people ask for similar models.

sspyrou

I have bought and sold a few cars over the years.

You typically get the best deal by selling privately but do not rule out going to dealers who have the car you want and seeing what deal you can do with them. I part-exd my last car because:
a) It was not selling privately
b) The dealer did me agreat deal after some haggling and hard nosed attitude.

Basically, you should advertise it privately (Online Autotrader is the best or pay a litlle more to get it in print as well). In the meantime, try your luck at dealers.

Uou can always walk away from dealers if you don't like the deal and won't feel under pressure as you will not be desparate as the private sale might pull through !

claretherookery

im sure ebay have a free car listing day this thursday (2 june). you can advertise it free as a lot of people look at the cars - if it sells in the mean time you can withdraw the listing on ebay -

Pink.

This thread is probably more suited to the Motoring & Public Transport board, so I hope that you don't mind if I move it over there.

Pink

fluffymuffin

thanks guys - i think i will try selling privately and see how it goes - if it doesnt sell I will have a chat with a couple of dealers and see what they say.

abomb1969

ebay 10 day auction with loads of piccies and honest description. Starting price to be the minimum you will accept (probably PX price) and do a buy now for what you would like to get. I have just bought and sold a car worth £25k so there is private money out there for cars! And it was bought and sold on ebay, autotrader is dead!

[Deleted User]

If you opt for trade in, when the dealer asks if you have a trade in say no. Haggle over the price of the new one, then when you've agreed the price ask him how much trade in for the old. That way you find out how much he's really giving you, rather than just paying for it with an inflated price on the new one.