Cars at auction - any views?

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi all

I'm looking to buy a used car, 12 -18 months old, and I know from past experience that leasing companies will put ex-company cars through the auctions. As these are normally one driver with a full service history I would be interested.

As I haven't been to a car auction before I'll obviously need to go along to understand how it works, but are you able to find out who the owners are before bidding commences?

Any useful tips would be appreciated.

Thanks, in advance.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Fecn]

I bought my first car at auction in the late 80s. The auction place was mostly full of 3-year old ex-lease cars. The auction site was open for viewings in the afternoon so you could wander round the lot and check out what was around. The actual acutions happened in the evenings.

Most of the punters at the auction were car dealers - (easy to spot back in the 80s because of their brick-sized mobile phones) - They'd snap up a 3-year old car, FSH, 1 owner... add £1000 to whatever they paid, and stick it on the forecourt.

I think buying at auction's a great idea.. as long as you know what you're looking for, and how much you're willing to pay for it - Don't let youself get carried away in the heat of the moment when bidding.

 

[Slim]

Also, in the days of manufacturers warranties, a lot of the risk has gone from buying at auctions.

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Fecn

I think buying at auction's a great idea.. as long as you know what you're looking for, and how much you're willing to pay for it - Don't let youself get carried away in the heat of the moment when bidding.

I am happy about not getting carried away with the bidding and I thought if I bought Parker's that I'd be pretty close to the correct price.

Did it give details of the owners?

Thanks,
Neil

 

[Fecn]

Did it give details of the owners?

I don't remember seeing owner details...Just age, spec and mileage. It was 17 years ago when I bought at auction, and I've only ever been to one auction place...and i might have forgotten... Maybe they tell you the onwers these days.

Edit - I've done a bit of searching... This is the place where I bought my first car.. http://www.tmaltd.co.uk/index.html .. They have a Stock List link at the top-right... From what I remember, that looks like the same information they had stuck on the windscreens 17 years ago.

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Fecn

It was 17 years ago when I bought at auction, and I've only ever been to one auction place...and i might have forgotten...

:lol: :lol:

Thank you.

Cheers
Neil

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Simon

Also, in the days of manufacturers warranties, a lot of the risk has gone from buying at auctions.

That was my thought as well.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Noel]

Hi Fecn

I think buying at auction's a great idea.. as long as you know what you're looking for, and how much you're willing to pay for it - Don't let youself get carried away in the heat of the moment when bidding.

I am happy about not getting carried away with the bidding and I thought if I bought Parker's that I'd be pretty close to the correct price.

Did it give details of the owners?

Thanks,
Neil

Neil, no details of past owner/s are usually available other than the slight possibility of finding out who the lease company/ HP is or if it's a mixed sale you'll find out very little. Pre-auction, cars can be viewed, but are locked and may or may not have been dickied up for the occaison. You cannot see any registration docs or available service history. Technically the only information supplied is what the auctioneer very quickly announces before the vehicle enters the ring. Sometimes there may be a short description on the windscreen.
If you've made a short list of cars you've seen that you may have an interest in go to each car as the car jockey unlocks the car and starts driving it into the ring. Stick your head in the passenger door and try and have a quick look in the glove box for any service history and also see how much blue smoke is coming out of the exhaust........
Most inportant time is to listen to the auctioneer's description - V5 present? major faults? stolen recovered? Re-po, only one key (£150 odd for another) etc, etc.
There is a slight chance of gaining a little info from the sales desk if you get a friendly member of staff. But do pay a visit some afternoon just to see how things work.

Having said all that there are relative bargains to be had but you need to do your research, stick to your budget and have bigs ears when the auctioneer describes the car. I've been to BCA at Netherfield a few times and they generally have a good selection of nearly new stuff as well as older cars. 95% of the younger cars are ok but bear in mind an auction is a great place to get rid of problem cars. And the less popular (colour model make etc) cars do get a lot of "invisible" bids to try and get the price up. Also keep in mind that you may be selling the car again in a year or 2.
http://www.british-car-auctions.co.uk/D ... px?page=70

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Noel

Thank you for the excellent tips, the link looks as if it gives me all that I need.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[DomValente]

Went to an auction many years ago and the thing that stuck in my mind is what Noel said," listen carefully to the auctioneer ", the speak so quickly you might end up bidding on the wrong car

Dom

 

[Waka]

Neil

You might want to have a word with Mahking he goes to car auctions on a regular basis, I'm sure he'll give you some do's and don'ts.

 

[lostintheforest]

Bought my first car at auction a few years ago. don't forget that they add a fee to the final price. I bought the car for £600 and think paid £150 on top of that so £750 in total. Would recommend you go to a few first and take someone who knows about cars.

 

[Paul.J]

Neil.
Saw a programme last week,can't remember which one,on about Police vehicle auctions,and how well they are serviced 2-3 times a year with all genuine manufacturers parts.
Looked to be some good deals.
Paul.J.

 

[matt]

I seem to recall that you also get a fixed period at the end of the auction to return the car if there is a serious fault that was not mentioned. I think it is only about 1 hour. Do check this though to be sure.

 

[mahking51]

Neil,
I have accounts at Mannheim and BCA and buy regularly from the fleet franchise lines.
Trust me, show up with Parkers in your mitt and they will run you on the bidding like you cannot believe. Even Glasses Guide will cost you a fortune if you go solely by its prices yet on some cars you will not get within 1 - 1.5 k of what they make.
Also the buyers fee commission structure is set to really rip the private punter, a car that costs me £75 to clear away will set you back 180-250 on top of bid price.
They do not call it the 'Piranha Pit' for nothing!
Give me a ring on 07774-773414 to chat about it if you wish.
Regards,
Martin

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Neil,
I have accounts at Mannheim and BCA and buy regularly from the fleet franchise lines.
Trust me, show up with Parkers in your mitt and they will run you on the bidding like you cannot believe. Even Glasses Guide will cost you a fortune if you go solely by its prices yet on some cars you will not get within 1 - 1.5 k of what they make.
Also the buyers fee commission structure is set to really rip the private punter, a car that costs me £75 to clear away will set you back 180-250 on top of bid price.
They do not call it the 'Piranha Pit' for nothing!
Give me a ring on 07774-773414 to chat about it if you wish.
Regards,
Martin

Thank you, I will.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Bodgit]

I bought a 2001 Merc E240 last year for £8000 at Blackbush. It had 25000 miles on the clock. It has been great, probably the best car/bargain ever. I was "lucky", the car had a few minor dents and some of the plastic bits had got too near to the kirb, and the prvious owner had run the alloy wheels along the kirb here and there.. A dealer wants a car he can take from the auction, wash, polish and sell the next day for a few hundred quid more. If it has to have dents fixed, alloy wheels replaced because of kirb scuffs etc etc, he's not interested. I wasn't too bothered about a few cosmetic bits and bobs so I got the car cheap with almost no other bidders.

 

[Anonymous]

Neil,

I'm sure Martin will give you all the information you need. I've seen him at the wood auctions and he sees things I never notice.

I've never been to a car auction but if it's anything like the wood auctions then they try and take you for a ride. They start shouting numbers as if somebody is bidding even though they're not. It's only when nobody sticks their hand up that the price comes back down. e.g. they'll shout 10, 20, 30, 40.....but nobody has bid. It's caught me out before.

Dave

 

[devonwoody]

I used to go to car auctions, I went in one car with four mates and that meant we were able to drive successful bids home after the sale.

In those days dealers had things pretty much there own way, only bid knowing the car was good for a shout. If it wasnt private buyers were left to bid and they thought they were getting a bargain because of the price.

So what I am trying to say is that you are going into an arena, and they have more experience than you.