Selling to the trade

[Makanik]

With a new Macan S waiting for me to collect on 2 Sept, I needed to sell my current car - an April 2016 2 litre Macan with 28,000 miles and a ‘modest’ £5k’s worth of options.

I didn’t want the hassle and timing uncertainty of selling privately, and I got the following 3 quotes:

£29,000 - OPC trade-in
£30,200 - We Buy Any Car (knocked down from £31k online quote)
£30,500 - Independent garage

So I shall go with the garage. No doubt I could of got a grand or two more with a private sale, but as it stands, after 3 years 4 months, I will have retained over 62% of the cost price. I pretty happy with that. Its equivalent to £5500/yr average depreciation.

Interestingly WBAC knock money off for every tiny paint chip they can find, but take no account whatsoever for any options fitted. Conversely the garage were interested in the options, but relaxed about minor paintwork damage. Neither drove the car.

[VanB]

Traditional wisdom says that you write off the value of options when you drive the car off the forecourt. The reality is that some options do increase the desirability of your car on the second hand market so the adage isnt strictly true. WBAC are well known shysters and you are very unlikely to get the best offer from them. I have nearly always had success selling on Autotrader at a value far in excess of WBAC or what I have been offered in trade in so worth a punt

[Paul]

Squander a few quid on an autotrader ad over the holiday weekend at, say £32 999 (or whatever) - you never know

Then late next week, take the indy offer

[Wing Commander]

Seems like quite a few forum members have got good offers from independent garages. A lot of them seem to sell cars at or very near OPC prices, but are likely to have lower overheads than your typical OPC, so I guess that’s why their offers are often so good.

[Deleted User 2325]

I bought the car I wanted and a pile of options I wanted. I was well aware that in investment terms it was madness but I prefer driving the GTS to watching stock and bond prices riding the waves.

Why buy the car, even the basic car, if you are concerned about depreciation? It’s a stupid large 4 wheel drive, overpriced monster that goes like hot s..t and is a joy to drive, especially with everything that opens and shuts attached, and I am not selling it!

A new Porsche is not an investment its a (working) toy. Buy a Honda next time?

[pmg]

Seems like quite a few forum members have got good offers from independent garages. A lot of them seem to sell cars at or very near OPC prices, but are likely to have lower overheads than your typical OPC, so I guess that’s why their offers are often so good.

That agrees with my own experience with getting rid of my previous BMW. If you do not want the hassle and risk of a private sale then the best disposal proceeds come from independent specialists in the marque.

[Paul]

OP, did this get resolved to your satisfaction in the end.....?

[Makanik]

OP, did this get resolved to your satisfaction in the end.....?

Yes I went ahead and sold to the garage for £30,500, which I’m happy with (I didn’t get round to trying Autotrader).

I noticed the garage have put it on sale at £34,995 (with 6 months warranty).

[Wing Commander]

^^^ Allowing for haggling, that’s less profit margin than an OPC would be looking for, but plenty for most independents, hence their decent offer to you. Everyone’s a winner!

[Makanik]

^^^ Allowing for haggling, that’s less profit margin than an OPC would be looking for, but plenty for most independents, hence their decent offer to you. Everyone’s a winner!

Yes I guess an OPC would have been asking for something like £38k. I think it will be a decent buy for the next owner at £35k.