Selling a car that needs repairs

nicki_2

We've recently bought ourselves a new-to-us car and now we need to sell our old car but I have no idea where to start!

Its a N reg (1995) Peugeot 106 XS 3 door hatchback with over 100,000 on the clock. At its last service (25th July) there were a number of problems most of which we've been able to remedy ourselves but there are two which we can't : Fog lights /horn not working but its the fuse keeps blowing and there is an oil leak which says "sump & engine". It has been taxed until April so there's still quite a while left on that. Also the MOT expires 5th April but considering the above problems I don't think it would pass if it went in for one now!

So my questions are :

1) Would we be better off paying for the repairs to be done or sell it as it is?
2) How much should we expect to get for it in its current condition/repaired? We paid £1,200 for it in November so would like as much back as possible.
3) Where's the best place to sell it? Dealer? Garage? Private? Ebay? Auction?

Any help would be much appreciated as its currently sitting outside the house doing nothing!!!

Fran

I would not buy your car!

Can't you go to garage and ask what problem is and for a quote for the work? Usually they'll give you a quote in the hope of your business. If it's easy/cheap then fix it, but who is going to want to buy a car with an oil leak that's done over 100,000 (and N reg is getting old now).

See Parkers Guide where you can look up value of your car and what you might expect for it.

You would have been better getting rid of it in part exchange when you got your new car by the sound of it!

nicki_2

Sorry, should have pointed out - our new car is a new-to-us from an old friend who was selling it due to it being excess to his requirements after movign in with his car-owning girlfriend.

waster_2

The fog lights are irrelevent to an MOT. The horn would be a fial and is unlawful to use on the public highway if not operating. Sounds as if they are both on the same fuse? I would suggest that they are shorting out somewhere. Does the fuse blow when you before as soon as you change it or when you operate either the fog lights or horn. This would then narrow down what is causing the problem. If you have a workshop manual, Haynes are the well known ones, (if not try the local libraray) you should be able to determine the clour code for the wire and trace it back looking for damaged insulation. Otherwise replace the wiring for the horn and disconnect the fog lights which are an accessory/extra and not a standard requirment.

The leak is probably the gasket between the sump and engine block. Normally have to either jack up or remove engine to get sump removed to replace. You could try one of the proprietry sealers that you pour in your oil and then set when they find air. They sell these in most car accessory shops, although I have never tried them myself.

I would think that an N Reg 106 would not fetch more than £350 - £500 top whack. If you were trading in you may have been able to negotiate a bit more but as a private sale then good luck.

Dave_G_5

There's nothing like being optimistic is there!!

Is it a big oil leak (ie do you have to keep topping up the oil) or do you just get the occasional drip on your drive? If it is just a small leak then I would leave it alone. The same for the foglights/horn. How many people check the horn when buying a car? If you want to fix the horn, a quick check would be to disconnect the wires from the horn and see if the fuse then doesn't blow. If it doesn't then you probably need a new horn and it shouldn't cost more than about £20 at the most.

I'm guessing the car is the XS and not the XSi? If it is just the XS then it isn't quite as sought after as the XSi, but it sound like a decent enough car with some service history (you said you had had it serviced) and tax and Mot until April. No one expects perfection at this age/mileage. I would try putting it in your local Adtrader or similar (it's free to advertise), don't bother mentioning the faults and you might get around £800 for it. Don't bother with a dealer, they will offer you a very low price. Other options would be the Autotrader or Ebay. If you put it on ebay though, I would mention all faults in your decription so buyers don't have an excuse not to pay after winning the auction.

Hope this helps.

vansboy

ebay - just describe it as you have done here.

You COULD come unstuck, by selling it as in an unroadworthy condition, if you had a buyer, that wanted to be awkward, with you.

The way around this is write your invoice & describe it as being sold as acollection of parts, rather than a vehicle.

Sounds silly, but you'd be better protected, if something did go wrong.

VB

wazza

if you get the garage to repair it you will not recoup the repair costs due to labour charges. if you can do it yourself then its worth doing. if you are not mechanical minded then advertise it the local papers and let the buyer check the car out himself. When writing the invoice/receipt make you add the words 'sold as seen'. Keep a signed copy for your records. Your car with the mileage stated a buyer will not expect a as new car, he should expect wear and tear.

scheming_gypsy

waster wrote:

The fog lights are irrelevent to an MOT.

They do check for fog lights (or at least that you have one) as i've got European Lexus style lights on my motor. As they're european there's no fog lights on so they had to turn a reverse light into a fog light or fail it.

Dunkyboy_2

I thought that any lights fitted to a vehicle must work, the easiest thing to do would be to remove the lights from the vehicle,( you can always put them back on again afterwards), am prepared to be shot down in flames
Some people buy these cars with a view to part exchanging them, as some garages offer minimum £1000 trade in (as long as it's mot'd and taxed )

wazza

Dunkyboy wrote:

I thought that any lights fitted to a vehicle must work, the easiest thing to do would be to remove the lights from the vehicle,( you can always put them back on again afterwards), am prepared to be shot down in flames
Some people buy these cars with a view to part exchanging them, as some garages offer minimum £1000 trade in (as long as it's mot'd and taxed )

true but you will find that you have to take out a finance package which carries a high interest rate