Best way to sell a car

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Best way to sell a car

Lizard1977

2137 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 630

ID Verified

#222674 23-Aug-2017 11:35

My father-in-law is moving to a rest home and we are faced with the task of clearing out most of his stuff from his flat and selling things, including his car. I've never sold a car before (always traded in), so I'm looking for some advice on the best way to go about it, to get the best price at the least hassle.

I could sell it privately on Trademe, but with everything else going on I'd rather not have to deal with people coming round to look at the car, test drive it, etc. But I don't know who would just buy it outright e.g. a dealer. We're in Palmerston North, so I don't know who buys cars (as opposed to a dealer who sells cars but accepts trade ins). It's an older car - a well worn Ford Falcon Futura (formerly a taxi) running on LPG - so I don't expect it will fetch a lot of money, but obviously my FIL wants to get the most he can.

Any advice or suggestions?

1 | 2

6614 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2153
Inactive user

#1851141 23-Aug-2017 11:39

An older car like that won't be of interest to a dealer, your best bet is to sell it on trademe, An auction will get low interest with this sort of car and sell cheap from what i'd say, a classified would move a bit faster if priced well but wont close on a day, could be a minute or a month.

If this sounds like too much effort get rid of it cheap to a mate or their mate.
If that fails call the scrapie!

Try used car yards too but i wouldnt expect to get much from them.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30047 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6235

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1851147 23-Aug-2017 11:48

Trademe. Sell it attractive, price it right, it will sell.

Unfortunately you will have to deal with people wanting to see.

Lizard1977

2137 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 630

ID Verified

#1851149 23-Aug-2017 11:50

Thanks mate! Psst - wanna buy an old Ford Falcon? ;)

Complicating matters are the facts that the WoF is due to expire, as is the Alternative Fuel Certificate for the LPG. The cost of getting it warranted and licensed is probably going to range into a $100 or more, and that's assuming it passes the WoF (not certain by any means).

What does a car of this size tend to fetch at the scrapyard?

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2153
Inactive user

#1851150 23-Aug-2017 11:52

Lizard1977:

Thanks mate! Psst - wanna buy an old Ford Falcon? ;)

Complicating matters are the facts that the WoF is due to expire, as is the Alternative Fuel Certificate for the LPG. The cost of getting it warranted and licensed is probably going to range into a $100 or more, and that's assuming it passes the WoF (not certain by any means).

What does a car of this size tend to fetch at the scrapyard?

In Auckland its pretty much a flat rate of $300-$500 and they pick it up anywhere.
Take it for a WOF now and just throw it on trademe with the wof sheet $1 start reserve equal to what the local scrappie will give you and you can't lose!

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2638
Inactive user

#1851167 23-Aug-2017 11:55

What's it cost to park up at memorial park these days? I sold my old commodore down there years ago before the council got their claws in it.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30047 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6235

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1851177 23-Aug-2017 12:03

Check the price of comparable Ford and price it around there. But make it sound like yours is different or better, more bang for buck. But don't increase the price or nobody will buy, don't decrease (the asking price) or it will sound like you're desperate or there's something wrong with it

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

jonathan18

7419 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2850

ID Verified

Trusted

#1851187 23-Aug-2017 12:12

chevrolux:

What's it cost to park up at memorial park these days? I sold my old commodore down there years ago before the council got their claws in it.

Last time I did this I think it was $20, which ostensibly covers the full week, but in practice most use it only for the Friday-Sunday period (or just the weekend). Tried it twice there (two different cars) with a 50% success rate.

Edit - it's only $10 a week - see http://www.pncc.govt.nz/services/parking/parking-permits-and-exemptions/

Wheelbarrow01

1796 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2682

Trusted

Chorus

#1851211 23-Aug-2017 12:43

Having LPG is a bonus so it's likely to attract a little extra interest than a petrol Falcon in my opinion, even with the LPG cert expired.

Your other option is to drop it in to Turners Auctions in Palmerston North and let them do all the leg work. You'll at least get what the market is willing to pay, and you don't have to muck around with people test driving it.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30047 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6235

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1851221 23-Aug-2017 12:54

Turners auction can be a hit and miss with pricing. Some cars are overpriced at Turners, and some only gets you spare change when you sell at Turners. However no harm asking though. But every time it goes for auction there is a fee even if you don't want to sell it (for the spare change that was bidded for)

MikeAqua

8203 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3956

#1851240 23-Aug-2017 13:13

The easiest way is if you know someone who is interested.

Next easiest is a Turner's auction. You will need it to be road legal for the main turners auction.

But they (used to) have a secondary auction for non-roadworthy cars - mostly insurance write-offs

TM is mostly tyre kickers and fools in my experience.

Mike

gbwelly

1264 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 777

Subscriber

#1851338 23-Aug-2017 15:04

Coil:

In Auckland its pretty much a flat rate of $300-$500 and they pick it up anywhere.
Take it for a WOF now and just throw it on trademe with the wof sheet $1 start reserve equal to what the local scrappie will give you and you can't lose!

My last car sold at auction on it's second listing for way more than the buy now the first time I listed it. Only difference was I scrapped the buy now and lowered the start by $1000.

In my experience people coming to take a look at the car will be low ballers and tyre kickers. My last 5 cars I've bought on trademe without inspecting, and I've never sold a car to anyone who has come to take a look, I think some people make a hobby out of wasting sellers' time.

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

Batman

Mad Scientist
30047 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6235

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1851386 23-Aug-2017 17:01

gbwelly:

Coil:

In Auckland its pretty much a flat rate of $300-$500 and they pick it up anywhere.
Take it for a WOF now and just throw it on trademe with the wof sheet $1 start reserve equal to what the local scrappie will give you and you can't lose!

My last car sold at auction on it's second listing for way more than the buy now the first time I listed it. Only difference was I scrapped the buy now and lowered the start by $1000.

In my experience people coming to take a look at the car will be low ballers and tyre kickers. My last 5 cars I've bought on trademe without inspecting, and I've never sold a car to anyone who has come to take a look, I think some people make a hobby out of wasting sellers' time.

OTOH, I had the complete opposite experience. I have never sold a car on Turners. Just throw money away every auction. And their starting estimate for my cars have been $3000-$5000 lower than what I eventually sold on Trademe for. Every car I have put on Trademe have sold for what I wanted.

Mind you I do know about tyre kickers so I make it very hard for them to view, so that only genuine buyers work their way to viewing them. Some of them turn up with cash in their hand, some buy without seeing (bank transfer), one flew from Auckland and drove it away.

gbwelly

1264 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 777

Subscriber

#1851388 23-Aug-2017 17:08

Ah I wasn't very clear about that, I also have not used Turners, by auction I meant trademe.

Andib

1401 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 978

ID Verified

Trusted

#1851389 23-Aug-2017 17:10

+1 on Trademe time wasters, I'm trying to sell a car at the moment and am getting multiple asking to come view / buy and never show up or come offer and offer a unrealistically low price.

<#
.DISCLAIMER
Anything I post is my own and not the views of my past/present/future employer.
#>

dickytim

2514 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 537
Inactive user

#1851591 24-Aug-2017 06:14

Trade Me or the wreckers.

Taxis are notorious for not being serviced well so cut out a lot of the market. Falcons are reliable but drive pretty badly once they have a few km on the clock.

What model, year and km? If anything AU or older they are just not worth anything!

1 | 2