Losing the plot!

[Colddespiteduvet]

I’m losing the plot as DH is insisting that I’m clearly wrong here. he’s being pretty forceful and I don’t get it.

We are buying a new car. Have found a couple. To part exchange we’d get less than car is worth with private sale.

DH wants to go with private sale. I’m fine with that. He wants to buy the new car now and the put the old car up for sale. I want sell first, then buy.

He doesn’t have a reason for this. But was very vexed that I didn’t agree.

I don’t want a few thousand pounds of our assets sitting on the drive when we don’t know for sure it will sell. The car will depreciate whereas money in the bank will accumulate. If it’s a short time it will be minimal but what if it doesn’t sell?

He says it will sell, at the right price. Auto trader get their prices from sales so they are selling, he said. I said, but we don’t know how many are selling and how fast.

So we don’t know is if ours will sell though. We live very rurally, it’s not in fantastic condition and it is old. I’m concerned it will end up sitting on the drive, it will still need to be insured. I also don’t see what is to be gained by buying first. We have another car that we are keeping, so we’d never be without a car.

So lovely MNs. What do you think? Am I being ridiculous? Are my arguments valid? He is totally convinced I’m just being stubborn and making spurious arguments.

AIBU to want to sell before we buy?

How much less are you getting if you part ex? Private selling is a flipping faff and can take ages, I’d just part ex and see it as a ‘service charge’.

FWIW, I’ve sold before I’ve bought new. Men just seem much less patient than women!

I've always bought first and then sold privately, because I didn't want to be without a car.

It's also 'proof' of a genuine sale reason- "I bought that one there, so I'm selling this one."

’can take ages’ - can you call my DH and tell him this please! 😂 I knew it!! Never done it before as always drove my cars into the ground. Thanks.

Men are impatient when it comes to new toys.

Theres no right or wrong with this there's valid arguments for both. He wants to sell privately and get a good price, you want to just get rid and not have the hassle which comes at a price.
You could try and compromise and say put it on market for 2 weeks before buying the new car if it doesn't sell in this time then part ex. At least he'll only have to wait a couple of weeks.

Ah. Ok. That’s one reason to buy first. Showing a good reason for sale. We have another car so don’t need to factor that in.

Trying to sell anything to members of the general public can be a challenge. I've given up on it now.

We've always bought the new one before selling the old one, Auto trader has always been really good and we've sold our previous cars within a week or so.

Thanks, but it’s not a dilemma about whether to part ex or not, it’s buy first then sell or sell first then buy. I want to sell first. He wants to buy first.

Thanks. I suspected as much!

Ok. One for DH. That’s helpful.

I think that is true with many things, but selling cars is fairly easy as there is quite a bit of demand for second hand ones.

If you have another one though, so two cars currently - there's no need to buy the other car first as there's no gap where you'd be without a car?

I'd sell first, private sales are time consuming and also a bit fussy. You'll have to prep the car, deal with time wasters, possibly lower the price etc - best get that done first and get the £!

Just out of interest though, how long does it tend to take?

Also, can you see the reasoning in my view or do you think it’s idiotic too? He says I don’t have any valid arguments. I’m being ridiculous apparently.

My worry re selling before buying is that you have no car for Abit. No right or wrong here. Some cars on auto trader are over priced I've found. If priced well it will sell. Part exchange is easier and simpler. How much less.

I’d never sell privately again after getting my fingers burnt with a dodgy buyer - I’d take the hit and go part exchange unless you are talking 000s which is unlikely.

Otherwise both points are reasonable. But you know your DH - will he be proactive about advertising and selling car? Have you looked yourself to see what the market is like for the one you’re selling? Do you need the money from the old car to fund the new?

This is an EV car that’s ok on the outside but very worn on the inside - peeling trim and very dirty.

We have another car so that’s not an issue.

It’s about 2000 different. I’m happy to go with a private sale but would rather sell first.

For me if you really need two cars any length of time without two would be inconvenient so it makes sense to buy first and sell later.
If you can't afford to do that then I would part-ex.

Do you have a confirmed delivery date for new car? Is it brand new? OHs date got pushed back 6 times and was 18 months late in the end (company car though) my friends "new" car spends more time in the garage than out.

If you can genuinely manage with one car indefinitely then sell first.

I dont think it's idiotic at all, there's just different ways to do things and I would choose to buy the new one first so that I knew it was all sorted. In the long run it really won't make all that much difference, though if you've seen a really good one you may want to snap it up before it's gone.

Well, we have had, for years lots of things he’s going to sell but hasn’t so that is an underlying concern. But I think with this he will be on it.

What happened with you buyer if you don’t mind me asking?

Have you looked at We But Any Car or similar? You could compromise and buy first and if not sold privately in a couple of weeks then sell to WBAC?

I genuinely couldn’t be arsed with the faff of a private sale. I’d either part-exchange or “We Buy Any Car” (or similar) it. I’ve gone the latter twice and I’ve always got a reasonable amount, and they haven’t knocked anything off their internet valuation.

New car is a used car so should be quick.

I was thinking that we should put our current car on the market and see what happens first. If lots of interest go for it, if sluggish then wait.

Yes. That’s a good plan. They are about the same as part ex.

Thanks. That’s definitely an option.