To cheekily ask for tips on selling DD's car

[familycourtq]

It's a 2001 Corsa 1.2 with long MOT and in decent condition and good working order. Have advertised in a couple of online places asking £500 expecting to take less but are just getting timewasters so far (and only 2 of them).

Is a car like this actually worth anything these days or does everyone want something newer?

Not sure why you think it's poorly built

There was a clue in the word "Vauxhall"

I think there is still the point that these old cars have high road tax especially as a percentage of the car value and insurance will be significantly higher than the insurance (2-3 times higher) for a new driver.

Cars like this are terrible first cars for new drivers as the cost of driving is so high you may as well spend £2000 and get something with lower road tax, better safety and newer in general.

Finally, it's not all about miles driven. Parts, especially rubber parts, have a life measured in years not miles so there is plenty which could be wearing out.

Good clean inside, good clean outside and some exhibition polish going over with a chamois, and bumper black...jobs a good'un!

I think the issue might be the price and the low mileage probably makes people pretty wary.

Can you back up the low mileage claim at all? I would worry why a car that age hadn’t been driven more. I would wonder if it had spent most of its life in a mechanics getting fixed for some issue or another otherwise why wouldn’t a car nearly 20 yrs old have been driven more?

Don't suppose you are local to Aberdeen? That would do just nicely for SDS and we have loads of Corsa spares already!

Have you tried Gumtree? A friend bought a similar car, similar price for her newly qualified 18yo recently. And we bought similar from our neighbour for our DD also newly qualified, but early 20s
We figured if it lasts a year while she gets experience it's worth it, and if she trashed it it's a) only £500, and b) not our car!
Both cars going strong after 6 mths, so we reckon we've got our money's worth already.

PS are you in S West perchance? We'll need a car for DD2 soon 😀

Actually if you go onto the 'Honest John' website, a Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 2001 can be worth over £1000.

This is ridiculous advice and completely untrue.

I'd say reduce the price to £400 and see how it goes, OP. I would say you are looking around the £300 mark but you can always try a bit higher first.

PS are you in S West perchance? We'll need a car for DD2 soon 😀
Sadly not - the Englsih Midlands

Don't suppose you are local to Aberdeen? That would do just nicely for SDS and we have loads of Corsa spares already!
Unfortunately not - English Midlands although I often wish I lived in Scotland

Have you tried Gumtree?
No - maybe that should be the next stop.

Can you back up the low mileage claim at all? Online MOT history confirms this pattern since 2007 when it had done 28000 - I suspect (but can't prove) that previous owners have been elderly folk who didn't use the car much.
It's hardly been used recently - hence being for sale DD is at Uni and can't take it there

Online MOT history confirms this pattern since 2007 when it had done 28000 - I suspect (but can't prove) that previous owners have been elderly folk who didn't use the car much.

That would be enough for me to think it genuine tbh.

I obviously don't have conclusive proof but it's surely unlikely someone would have been hacking up and down motorways (or mincabbing) in a car of this sort that would make falsifying the mileage worth it - especially sine everyone seems to be saying the low mileage is a bad thing :)

Should have read this earlier, would have been cheaper than fixing my car! Mine isn't as old and is a more premium brand so perhaps worth £1000

Do you have a full service history? Any advisories on the MOT? If so and no, as long as the car is clean and the body work is in condition £500 Ono is reasonable. I’d rather buy a car like this than one 5 years younger, that hasn’t been looked after.

A couple of tips, list @£499 as many people will be looking for cars under £500. And spend £10-15 on a mini valet, it’s worth the investment when selling a car.

PS and defo list on gumtree. It’s free and usually the first port of call when people are looking for a cheap car.

I've sold a few cheap cars in my time and having lots of photos helps, as does a recent service (in the last 30 days). Make sure it is really clean and looks smart.

Mot is online these days so the buyer can look that up.

Try Gumtree and Ebay motors too, though I've had the most luck with Autotrader.co.uk

You could try Ebay auctions and set a reserve but I've never done that so no idea how practical it actually is.

Sell it to a dealer and take the hit.
Not worth the time wasters / trying to get the money / people coming back because they’ve had an accident in it and try to sue you.