Selling a car privately

[Oldbugger]

I've decided to sell my 2010 FG GT and was wondering what are the do's and don'ts when people want to take the car for a drive. You hear of so many horror stories about things that go wrong I want to be prepared when I put it on the market. Thanks for your help

[Rob 351]

Being a GT, make sure you go with them when they want a test drive that's for sure. I sold my BF GT privately & sold it to the first person who looked at it .
Make sure when you advertise it, be honest. If it's perfect, tell the world but if their is any issues, make sure you put that in you add & that way their is no probs when your potential buyer comes to look at your car.
All the best!

[05_ENFORCER]

Sold my 2012 GT privately 6 months ago.

FIRST, ask the potential buyer to send a colour copy of their drivers licence.

Do a search on FB, Google, LinkedIn etc, etc, If you get nothing on the above ask a big intimidating mate to be there on the inspection/test drive day, it works well.

ASK your insurer if the vehicle is covered by insurance when test driven by a potential buyer, some do not cover damage or loss when being test driven.


.

[EBII Fairmont]

Be straight up and honest. I'm over going to look at a car and having the add say one thing, but in the flesh is the total opposite.

[kempy311]

Get a GPS tracker fitted

[Oldbugger]

Thank guys for your advice. The car has only travelled 11,500kms in the 3 and a bit years that I have had it. Oil and filter changed annually. The car did feature in the 50 years of Falcon celebrations as the latest model. Is a price of low to mid forties a realistic ask? It does not have the upgrade Brembo rear brakes or Leather

[mcnews]

I would think you will be very lucky with mid 30s at best unless you manage to find someone out there who is after exactly what you have got. They don't depreciate all that much slower when sat in a shed for years rather than being enjoyed out on the road...

[Smoke Pursuit]

I traded mine in a few months ago for mid 30's and it was only a 2008... I would put it on for around the $42,500 mark and then drop accordingly.

As for test drives / selling privately it all comes down to the potential buyer, I have sold 2 cars this year privately and the first buyers to come look bought them, NO hassles. One guy had to fly from up north to view the car, I took it to the airport so he could see it and he drove it around the block and said seeya in a week. Second car was the same, sold to the first looker!

Biggest thing with selling privately is making sure you prepare the car for sale, full detail, decent pics for carsales, roadworthy / service and a payout letter if you still owe finance.

The only other advice I have is get them to inspect at your workplace when its busy, and make sure you take them to the transport department to transfer the rego on the day!

[xisled]

Trade it in. May get less. But don’t have to stuff around with Idiots, I mean the public.

I would say around $35000 would be a good price, as you can get the 335 charged model for around $40000

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by xisled

Trade it in. May get less. But don’t have to stuff around with Idiots, I mean the public.

I would say around $35000 would be a good price, as you can get the 335 charged model for around $40000

I haven't seen too many 335's around for $40,000??? Actually I haven't seen any?

[xisled]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

I haven't seen too many 335's around for $40,000??? Actually I haven't seen any?

Around a Year and a bit ago. Ford in Deer Park was selling an ex excutive driven 335GT for $44000, It was sitting at the front of the lot. They are out there for around $40000.

[GT014]

Originally Posted by xisled

Around a Year and a bit ago. Ford in Deer Park was selling an ex excutive driven 335GT for $44000, It was sitting at the front of the lot. They are out there for around $40000.

$40000! I've Been looking for a GT335 for past 6 months. Show me one for $40000 and I'll buy it now 😃

As for the OP, be realistic on price, there are a lot of dreamers out there. I recently sold my 2008 fg Gt with leather for 43k which had 25000kms in showroom condition. Only got 1 inquiry in 6 weeks and 1st guy bought it.

I look on carsales daily and if you priced yours at around $38000 would sell pretty quickly. Problem with GT,s it's a bit of a specialised market.

Good luck

[calais]

I personally wouldnt allow any kind of test drive without serious credentials in addition to a bank cheque in my hand or something of equal value of theirs in my possession.

Ive heard enough horror stories to warrant putting as many protective measures in place as possible.

Also. Never and I mean NEVER will I have someone come to my home. And I will always take the long way back with errands or other commitments.

[RedHotGT]

Originally Posted by GT014

$40000! I've Been looking for a GT335 for past 6 months. Show me one for $40000 and I'll buy it now 😃

As for the OP, be realistic on price, there are a lot of dreamers out there. I recently sold my 2008 fg Gt with leather for 43k which had 25000kms in showroom condition. Only got 1 inquiry in 6 weeks and 1st guy bought it.

I look on carsales daily and if you priced yours at around $38000 would sell pretty quickly. Problem with GT,s it's a bit of a specialised market.

Good luck

Know of a BF Cobra GT with very low km that just sold for $38k - so I reckon $40k for a 335 GT would be CHEAP!

[xxx000]

don't accept a bank cheque, they can be stolen, forged etc or can bounce

cash or bank transfer are the only safe ways to get paid

before test drives get their licence details recorded and go with them or preferably drive it for them

when you sell it make sure you notify the RTA or state equivalent of the purchasers details immediately and keep a copy of them for yourself in a diary in case something goes wrong

remove toll tags and house keys from the cars key ring when it's sold or even while it's for sale

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by calais

NEVER will I have someone come to my home. And I will always take the long way back with errands or other commitments.

Selling a high end falcon, i'd also meet at a public place. also don't get out of the car without the keys if switching seats (so you're not left on the side of the road).

[Silver Ghia]

Always be suspicious of thieves.

Never get out of the car without the keys securely in your hand. Don't leave the keys in the ignition or with the purchaser at any time when you're out of the car.

Arrange to meet the prospective buyer at an easy to find location like a car park a kilometre or so away, not at home. Get an idea of the person before arranging to meet to see if they are genuine. Have a friend with you.

Remember their registration number and car details when you first meet, discussing with them what they've already seen, what they are really after etc., to see how much of an enthusiast they are.

Check their licence details, writing down name and licence number (or scan it) before you let them drive.

Drive first with the prospective buyer in the passenger seat to somewhere else, so they get the idea of it before they drive.

Have a route in mind for them to get a good idea on how it drives, preferably on the freeway. Suburban streets are not inspiring for the driver, and they are concentrating more on where to go than the car itself.

Let them talk rather than you talk. Mainly just show the not so obvious features and answer their questions.

Secure with a cash deposit of at least the cost of the rwc inspection, so if they back out that expense will be covered. Cost of any rectifications from the rwc inspection will need to be done in the future anyway, so you need to pay for that. Being in Vic, I always get the rwc after sale.

[Oldbugger]

Thanks for all your input. A lot of good ideas contained in your posts. Trading in does save a lot of hassles and I guess it come down to how quickly you want to sell and how much stress for that extra $5K is worth. I was hoping to keep my change-over to around $20K (employee discount) but may have to stretch a little further.

[GT014]

People are making this bigger than Ben Hur. It's a 40k car for gods sake. I've been looking at cars worth heaps more at dealers and they just throw me the keys.

My only recommendation would be sit in the passenger seat.

Wish it was a SC GT, cause id be interested.

Put it on the forums and carsales and see if you get any bites.

[Powdered Toast Man]

To the guys saying drive it for them, the OP wont sell it that way. I've never bought a car I've never driven. Go with them in the passenger seat though for sure.

Apart from that like has been mentioned, be honest.

As for not having them come to your house etc for security reasons, well that your choice but a little OT as far as I'm concerned. If its insured don't worry about the slight chance it will be stolen by a potential buyer/crook.

[ILLaViTaR]

The license at least and I'd definitely want to go with them, I'd also consider a small deposit just incase something more minor happens (like a broken mirror for example which wouldn't be viable to pursue legal action over)

Shouldn't be much of an issue on a newer car but don't say it's "almost RWC" or only needs tyres and wipers or some crap without actually providing the cert because it actually has 1000 perished bushes underneath it... This is a pet hate of mine! If it hardly needs anything and only serviceable items replaced, then it's in the buyers interest to capitalize off this and provide the RWC as it can usually mean over a 1k in price difference in the cars value, my last RWC added 25% market value to the car... well it cost me 25% of the cars value, I then advertised it for 25% more than before and it sold right away.

The vehicle is either unroadworthy or it isnt, try getting that across to all those people who think their $500 unreg no rwc 300k+ EF EL GHIA is worth the same as a 3k one lol.

[BPXR6T]

If you're insured why worry about theives. Surely insurance would cover it...

[EB#]

For test drives, my method would be:
- double check with your insurance provider on coverage for other drivers
- no drivers under 25, as they are likely not covered at all
- sight and jot down the details of the potential buyers drivers licence
- definately go with them for the drive
- let the buyer politely know that if the speed limit is exceeded or the car is thrashed,
then the test drive is over

[Morexbs]

Tell them to bring the asking price in cash to be used as a holding deposit for a test drive.That usually sorts out the time wasters.

[creative]

Originally Posted by Morexbs

Tell them to bring the asking price in cash to be used as a holding deposit for a test drive.That usually sorts out the time wasters.

I certainly wouldnt be rocking upto a carpark with $40k in my pocket...... does that make me a time waster if i was in the market for your car?

only advise from me.. be sensible and be safe.

[GT014]

Originally Posted by Morexbs

Tell them to bring the asking price in cash to be used as a holding deposit for a test drive.That usually sorts out the time wasters.

If someone said that to me I would say forget about it.

[Spurious]

I posted this in the "stolen car only thread" some time ago. ***IF YOUR PRIZED RIDE IS FOR SALE*** and someone comes to view it, put it in a secured yard, if you can't then park another car behind yours on the driveway. Also open up all doors boot and bonnet during the viewing prior to a test drive. If the buyer rocks up in a car, take down the rego'. If a buyer rocks up on foot then ask if you can hold their license while they look through and/or start your car (they need one on them to test drive anyhow and be sure to look at the photo on it) DON'T give them the keys to fire it up if you can help it. YOU jump in and start it up, if the buyer is in the drivers seat and asks for the keys, you should stand in the doorway within reach of the keys. Take the keys out ASAP when they're done and NEVER walk away or around the car while engine is running (to shut bonnet before test drive, etc). When I sold my '85 XF s'pack (owned for 10yrs) I drove the first leg of a test drive with a potential buyer who came across a bit suss'. When I stopped and got out to allow him to drive, the fat bugger slid over the console to get into the drivers seat! If the buyer wants a test drive, you get in the car first (front or back seat) and then give them the keys. Don't get out 'til your back home again & take a mobile phone for security. At the end of the day it's YOUR CAR until money has changed hands, so do what you have to in order to protect your asset.

[MITCHAY]

I think some people are way too paranoid. Check their licence and sit in the passenger seat on the test drive and you've covered most of your risk.

Or just trade it and not have to worry about it. Sure you won't get as much money but that's because the dealer takes the risk of it sitting on the lot for however long.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

I think some people are way too paranoid. Check their licence and sit in the passenger seat on the test drive and you've covered most of your risk.

Or just trade it and not have to worry about it. Sure you won't get as much money but that's because the dealer takes the risk of it sitting on the lot for however long.

Exactly. Im surprised someone hasnt mentioned a urine sample yet.
And even though we've had a thread on it already I've NEVER had a problem with a bank cheque.

[xxx000]

b2tf I've never had a car stolen or had my home burgled or been robbed but lots of people have and simple precautions help minimise the chances
Risk - control measure.........we all do it lots of times daily