Selling a used car that needs wirk

lmsi80

Does anyone have any advice on how/where best to sell a car that needs work doing to it?

My Nissan Qashqai 59 plate has just unexpectedly failed it's MOT  and my local garage has said it will cost a significant amount of money to get it through.  We have looked at getting used parts but even then, with the high labour costs it will be more than we think we can justify when it's worth around £2500 in good condition. It's too good for scrap or the paltry amount webuyanycar would pay, so we'd like to sell it as is to someone who could do it up themselves.

Does anyone have any tips on selling a car like this? The car is otherwise in good condition in terms of paintwork, upholstery etc., but needs the front subframe and a rear suspension arm replacing, plus a couple of smaller jobs that I think are labour-only.

Thanks in advance for your help.

AdrianC

FB marketplace or eBay, and be honest about the faults. Spares or repair.

Somebody'll have it.

It's also worth phoning around the breakers in your area for something like this - they may well pay decent money, knowing the bits will be in demand.

Herzlos

Just advertise is honestly and with a suitable price. You'll get a few chancers offering pretty much nothing for it, but some have-a-go mechanic or trader might pick it up.

Generally, you'll get more for it working than the broken car + estimate to repair, because the mindset is that if it's that easy to fix why isn't it fixed?

What do you reckon it's worth in good condition and how much are the garage quoting? Do they have a parts/labour split from that?

Ebe_Scrooge

As above - if you're sure that it's not going to be economically viable for you to fix it, advertise on eBay or Facebook.  As long as you describe it honestly, there will be no problem.  Someone will take it - either to strip it down and sell off for spares, if they have the time and storage space to do this, or to repair it.  Stuff like welding, particularly, can be pricey at a garage because it takes time and a fair amount of skill.  But there are plenty of folk out there who are keen amateur mechanics who have learnt welding at night classes or whatever and will gladly take on such a project to either use themselves or sell on at a profit.

lmsi80

It's worth probably £2500 and the minimum cost to sort it would be about £1200 if we sourced used parts, and there would still be advisories on the MOT. New parts would be around £1500 without any labour costs. Used parts in the region of £400-500 we think, allowing a bit extra for additional bits which we are told are generally required when re-fitting. 

Just not comfortable spending so much money on it and then potentially not being able to sell it. Not sure what the market for used diesels is like at the moment!

AdrianC

lmsi80 said:

It's worth probably £2500 and the minimum cost to sort it would be about £1200 if we sourced used parts

Well, you ain't going to be able to sell it for £1,300 in the current state...
You might, if you're lucky, get £500.

couriervanman

OP....just because one garage failed it on a load of faults doesn't mean another will can you list the work it needs doing

As regards selling it just list on ebay etc with all faults and loads of pictures

Grumpy_chap

OP - has the garage that did the service / MOT work offered a "buy" price for the vehicle in current condition?
Sometimes they can, and the labour can be effectively "free" which makes it viable for them and then they sell on.
Always worth asking - at least that garage can't try to come back at you later saying there was stuff you did not tell then about the vehicle.

lmsi80

Grumpy_chap said:

OP - has the garage that did the service / MOT work offered a "buy" price for the vehicle in current condition?
Sometimes they can, and the labour can be effectively "free" which makes it viable for them and then they sell on.
Always worth asking - at least that garage can't try to come back at you later saying there was stuff you did not tell then about the vehicle.

Sadly not, their advice is to part-ex it but we are not in a position to buy anything else at this point.

BOWFER

FB marketplace for sure.

AdrianC

lmsi80 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

OP - has the garage that did the service / MOT work offered a "buy" price for the vehicle in current condition?
Sometimes they can, and the labour can be effectively "free" which makes it viable for them and then they sell on.
Always worth asking - at least that garage can't try to come back at you later saying there was stuff you did not tell then about the vehicle.

Sadly not, their advice is to part-ex it but we are not in a position to buy anything else at this point.

So we come back to the elephant in the room.

To bin this will net you £500.
To repair it will cost £1,200.

What will £1,700 get you? Will it get you something equivalent or better to this with a new MOT?