Why Am I Getting No Interest In The 205?

[Masekwm 2]

Hello,

 

I've had the car for sale now since February. So far:-

 

1. Pistonheads - 1 guy, came test drove, he loved it. His elder brother suggested a talk on the way home. I didn't hear from them again, at the time it was priced at £1,100ono.

 

2. eBay - On sale twice, 7 days and 5 day. Loads of watchers. No questions apart from "Do you want to swap for an Arosa?". First auction ends at it's start price under reserve at £950, I offer it to the bidder he doesn't respond. Second auction, ends at the first bid of £750, to the same buyer, this time it's no reserve. He asks if I'll drive it to him Then doesn't turn up after agreeing that he gets a train to my local station.

 

I'm now fed up, I've stuck it up on Pistonheads tonight at £850, hoping for £750 as I just want it gone, but is there anything on the advert I'm missing?

 

It's just after nearly 6 weeks, I'd expect it to be either sold or for there to have been some interest....

 

Sale links -

 

No ebay link as they are banned but it's Item number: 200588995937

Pistonheads - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2663162.htm

 

Any advice would be appreciated, I'll hoover it and give it another wash this weekend but can't see that the little bit of mess in the passenger footwell is putting off those who are looking?!

 

Thanks for any advice, I hate selling cars!

 

Keith

 

Mods - I hope the links are ok, I've already got the car for sale in the correct section

[welshpug 1,657]

It took me about 3 months IIRC to sell my 309 last year, only two people came to see it, one just went round and picked up all the faults expecting it to be a minter at £1200

 

The second contact was a lad from Angus!

 

Exchanged emails and pictures made an offer over the phone then came down on the train with an envelope of Scottish foldings and drove it back!

 

Apart from those two, I didn't get any serious enquiries, but I couldn't afford to let it go cheap so stuck to my price.

[Phil H 16]

The interior picture where I have to turn my pc round puts me off.

Why not get another rear valance and t-cut the boot.

Some proper driving lights.

Get the wipers parked in the right position.

Perhaps mention "non sunroof" to get people excited.

get the black trim looking good and a deep polish.

 

then I read "poor welding" can this be remedied so it does not need mentioning.

Is the overall mileage intergalactic.....?

 

It's a purist buyer out there now.

[thehodgmeister 0]

Car looks really good in pictures It is a steal at £750 it's just like me with the economy as uncertain as it is people are reluctantly parting with money, nothing seems to be selling. My missus is trying to sell a horse and it's same there. Nothing wrong with ad's just very slow market. If I had £750 I would snatch your hand off!!

[MrG 3]

I think today there's two types of ads, those for ebay and those for the likes of Pistonheads/Autotrader.

 

On eBay you're right in listing the small/minor issues that may affect the sale or the interest, however for the other I'd look at a more traditional advert. 4 or 5 good pictures, and a good write up saying the good points of the car and then let the buyer ask the questions, come down have a drive and if they like it, let them barter.

 

I also feel its the pictures that sometimes let the advert down, and the small amount of rubbish collecting in the car may well put buyers off. How about sticking another £50 on it? Maybe the few that are looking feel its too cheap?

 

Regardless, it looks a good car and I hope it goes soon. We're looking at advertising our black K reg soon, but I expect it will be hanging about for a while. Hope not though.

[RickyD 0]

It's a very slow market at the moment and I'm sure the right buyer will come along.

 

I bought a 91 H-Plate 1.9 with just under 88,000 miles for £975 just under three weeks ago. I'm suprised how good it is after looking at a 90 H-Plate Ford Escort MK4 XR3i which was not in the same league and would have cost more.

 

Cheers

 

RickyD

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Presentation I'm afraid,

With the carpet's a mess with rubbish and the point of a badly welded patch would put me off, along with the points that Phil has made + repair the drivers seat or stick the original Grey ones back in , It's a backwards sum really when buying a car. So around £2000.00 when Mint or £1500.00 average minus the work that needs doing should give you a ball park of where you should be, I'd stick some labour in the work part as not everyone can DIY it.

 

With everything done you could get double with ease, I know the one's I'm helping with all fetch a average of £2500.00

[james_pug 26 1 Cars]

To Start with I'd get some descent photos, give it a good clean inside and out and on the interior pic miss the wear on the drivers seat. Mention it in the ad but you need the 3 pics on pistonheads to be the best you can

 

Don't start the ad with negative points add them right near the end anyone that could be intrested wont be put off straight away then. Also add non sunroof to the title.

[brumster 135 1 Cars]

Stick it on a rally forum at £750, I'm sure someone would snap it up if the shell is all in good nick. Christ the roof alone is probably worth £100!

[Cameron 16]

Paint it Laser Green and I'll bite your arm off for it.

[Richie 32]

I think at the moment its a crap time to sell.

 

If it were me, id do the following.

 

Treat the plastics with plasticare

Get some leather/interior dye from glyptone

get some tyre dressing

scrub up the mud flaps with plasticare/autoglym bumper goo

take pictures with the wipers in a normal position, and get the pictures somewhere nice (ie a 205 environment) and try and snap them on a sunny day

Also mention any old mot's/receipts/previous owners.

If the boot floor is nice and straight mention that/picture

 

I know some of the above is a pain in the ass for a car advertised for £850 but they are cheap things to do, i'd probably put it up for £1150 after the above adjustments. But thats just me.

Edited April 1, 2011 by Richie

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Personally, as a buyer, I would steer well clear of it because of the poor welding. Possibly even the boot. There are plenty of boots about to replace, the crap welding won't cost much to get down if you rub it back, get it welded then fill and paint yourself? Boulster repair is also very easy and add £100's by itself. When I sold my £250 diesel 205 I think I cleaned it out more than you have nothing beats a bloody good clean and polish!"

[maturin23 10]

eBay seems to have generated a culture of writing ads that are basically arse-covering disclaimers. This is NOT the way to sell a car via classifieds.

 

A private sale is all about 'buyer beware' and 'sold as seen' so stress the positives and don't feel obliged to point out every blemish and fault. It would be wrong to describe it as 'in show condition' but probably fair to say "in good condition for age". It would also be wrong to sell a car with dangerous faults, but cosmetics should be up to the potential buyer to spot.

 

If someone writes an aplogetic advert pointing out the faults AND has a low end price, it gives off a real sense of your lack of confidence in the car - perhaps you're pointing out the small things to hide even bigger problems.

 

Spend a little time with the spit and polish and sort out the easy fixes, write a confident ad focusing on the good bits, add some decent photos and price it high and be haggled down.

 

Might be worth anticipating a few typical questions and showing off your knowledge at the same time - "The ream beam can be a weak point with these cars, I've had the beam refurbished within the last x thousand miles - the suspension compresses and rebounds exactly as it should. Another area of potential issues when you're purchasing a used 205 is the stem seals - I'd have had them replaced etc...."

 

The following goes for all sales situations - If you appear to value your product highly then prospective buyers will do also.

[Phil H 16]

agree with above...

 

...as soon as I see the add on Pistonheads I read about the poor welding, even before I click on the ad, so it gives me the impression it is rusty.

You need to generate interest in it, emphasise the positives and the good points and then tell buyers offline what the faults are, so they do not turn up and expect a concours example.

Let viewers spot faults within reason. Do some new photos and photoshop the reg out, relist it, so it looks like it is the first time on there, maybe even paying for a 12 picture ad. My logic is that if the buyer spends £16 on an advert, he wants to showcase his car. Three photo ads just don't show enough sides.

 

I actually like the car and if it still about in a month or so I would come and have a look at it.

[Alastairh 47]

Start again. Give it a fresh clean. New pictures and just keep it simple in your advert.

 

Its easily worth £750. If i had the need for it, i would take it off your hands.

[Anulfo 22]

Yeah i agree with some of the things people have written here and maybe honesty is not always best policy.Who buys a car of this age expecting wads of service history to validate the mileage on the clock?As soon as i read the words 'bad welding' i automatically think its going to be a £400 shed!!! Maybe get it sorted if its that bad in a kind of spend money to make money way but essentially maximise the cars good points and let the buyers come and have a look at it and find the not so good bits for themselves.Other than that it looks like a great car and i'm sure with a bit of time and patience you will get the money you want from it

[Alastairh 47]

Peugeot 205 1.9 GTI F-1989 in non faided cherry red.

 

- MOT until February 2012 and tax until end of July 2011

- Exstensive cylinder head rebuild and cambelt change in 2009

- Recent discs and pads all round

- Recent overhaul of the front suspension and driveshafts including uprated BBM top mount rubbers

- Typical 1.9 GTI refinements like half leather interior, electric windows, disc rear brakes and the more sought after 1.9 wheels.

 

Typically what with the car being 22 years old, there are a few negative points:

 

Previous history of welding to where the driver's door shuts. Nothing major. Was only repaired due to a very picky mot tester. The odd blister, dent and scratch around the vehicle, but honest.

The speed odometer shows 71000 miles. The history shows a clock change in 1998 but without the mileage being recorded. This has never caused alarm bells due to myself personally from seeing the condition of the car in the flesh.

 

Reason for sale, I get very little time to use the car being a 3rd car and a toy. I can't see me having any more time in the future what with have a baby on the way.

 

Overall, a good, honest, fun car that is ready to go, with long tax and mot to be enjoyed down the country road on a sunny afternoon, but also a useable everyday car that returns 30+ mpg that can be used to commute.

 

Any questions, don't hesitate to give me a call.

 

Something like that, fresh pictures. A hint of green countryside in the back ground and a picture on each corner and two pictures inside.

 

Al

[Masekwm 2]

Thanks Al! I appreciate that.

[hothatch 2]

well the lads have explained things really well for you, but one thing i will say is that ive just spent weeks looking for a good one and soon as the word rust or welding was mentioned i would just skip to the next one, thats the way it is when your skulking the net for one, you narrow them down. i think its worth way more than 750 ! she just needs some tlc, it could fetch really decent money.

 

good luck mate all the best with the sale.

[DaveW 6]

I think at the moment its a crap time to sell.

 

If it were me, id do the following.

 

Treat the plastics with plasticare

Get some leather/interior dye from glyptone

get some tyre dressing

scrub up the mud flaps with plasticare/autoglym bumper goo

take pictures with the wipers in a normal position, and get the pictures somewhere nice (ie a 205 environment) and try and snap them on a sunny day

Also mention any old mot's/receipts/previous owners.

If the boot floor is nice and straight mention that/picture

 

I know some of the above is a pain in the ass for a car advertised for £850 but they are cheap things to do, i'd probably put it up for £1150 after the above adjustments. But thats just me.

 

I agree, tart it up abit and take some nice photos

[mainline 2 1 Cars]

Clean the car properly mate. If you can't be arsed to clean it, you probably can't be arsed to look after it. Perhaps that isn't true, but that's what buyers will think.

 

Get someone with a decent camera to take some pictures.

 

And take it somewhere nice for the photos, or at least don't park it on the kerb, don't have the wipers half way across the screen, it looks a bit careless.

 

All the buyer has is the photo and write up to go on and to be honest, neither are brilliant. Sorry to sound like a bit of a tosser, but you need to do a better job if you want it to sell.

Edited April 3, 2011 by mainline

[Ludi 2 2 Cars]

Clean the car properly mate. If you can't be arsed to clean it, you probably can't be arsed to look after it. Perhaps that isn't true, but that's what buyers will think.

 

Get someone with a decent camera to take some pictures.

 

And take it somewhere nice for the photos, or at least don't park it on the kerb, don't have the wipers half way across the screen, it looks a bit careless.

 

All the buyer has is the photo and write up to go on and to be honest, neither are brilliant. Sorry to sound like a bit of a tosser, but you need to do a better job if you want it to sell.

 

 

Honestly this is a VERY good suggestion.

[AJA_GTi 0]

Hi mate - you open your advert with negative points which puts a bit of a downer on the rest of the ad.

 

Sell the good points first to draw in the reader. I'm not saying egnore or lie about the negatives but there is being honest and there is being far too honest. Can you sum up the bad points a bit more attractively then explain to potential buyers once the phone starts ringing?

 

Just think 'this is the best car for sale in the UK' and be possitive with your add. For £750 it probably is the best car for sale in the UK!

 

Dont forget you are asking for less money for it than say a couple of tyres on a modern sports car and buyers know that.

 

Good luck

Edited April 4, 2011 by AJA_GTi