Car Auctions ???

scooby girl no1

Can anyone tell me where is the best place to for an auction?
Never been on any and I'm wondering is it worth it?
What kind of cars are sold on them?

Mr Benevolent

Don't go near an auction unless you know lots about cars. It's far too easy to think you've gotten a bargain and end up with a overpriced lemon.

bazz26

There are very little bargins at auctions these days, alots of noobies getting caught up in the moment and end up bidding too high and end up paying close to retail prices.

Considering you have around 15 mins to inspect the car prior to the auction, have no comeback or warranty and the car may sell for just under retail prices, your not saving a whole lot over buying from a garage with a warranty. Also most of the good stuff is spotted and snapped up by those in the trade or who know what they are looking at.

By all means go to a few auctions and see how things work but you really need to know what you are looking at considering the risk involved.

Anan1

Good advice from the lads above. I'd be very wary of buying at auction, and i've bought a fair few cars over the years.

mickdw

Yes the auctions are not how they used to be.
Cars are going retail money almost which is madness. Dont listen to the crap you hear on the news from the auction houses. There is nothing going for half its value.
A few years ago, it was interesting to see what cars were really worth, the brgains were there & the trade were making a nice margin but we have a very odd situation now. If I advertise a car for sale privately, I will get people people offering insulting offers for it but if that same car was put through auction, it would likely now make a good price as people think they are getting a bargain.

User Friendly

car auction = another mans trouble avoid

Saab Ed

mickdw wrote: »

. If I advertise a car for sale privately, I will get people people offering insulting offers for it but if that same car was put through auction, it would likely now make a good price as people think they are getting a bargain.

Thats so true. There's been no value in the Auctions for about 6-8 months now. All the big heavy repo auctions are done, you never know things might just be getting back to normal soon :eek:

OP , seeing that you're a novice to the auction game my advice would be as per the others on here and thats stay away

scooby girl no1

good to know, I think I'll take your advice and stay away from it
thanks

abceeire1

i have been to a car auction today, if you find a good car that you want, you will save money, no doubt about it, golf gti s on net for 18 are going for 13500, there would want to be alot wrong with the car to eat into your saving of 4or 5 grand

bazz26

abceeire1 wrote: »

i have been to a car auction today, if you find a good car that you want, you will save money, no doubt about it, golf gti s on net for 18 are going for 13500, there would want to be alot wrong with the car to eat into your saving of 4or 5 grand

So ask yourself this question, if you can get €18k for one why sell a perfectly good one for €4k/5k less? I've heard of a few horror stories from people who thought they were being clever picking up a bargin at auction that ended up being lemons.

pieface_ie

So ask yourself this question, if you can get €18k for one why sell a perfectly good one for €4k/5k less?

Because alot of the motors been sold will be repossessed,and the financial institutions will want quick sales.

abceeire1

pieface_ie wrote: »

Because alot of the motors been sold will be repossessed,and the financial institutions will want quick sales.

they mostly finance cars

Wambago

Buy privately and haggle,its the only way.The money you save in an auction on the price is somethings the amount of work the car will need to be fixed

allthedoyles

abceeire1 wrote: »

i have been to a car auction today, if you find a good car that you want, you will save money, no doubt about it, golf gti s on net for 18 are going for 13500, there would want to be alot wrong with the car to eat into your saving of 4or 5 grand

a new engine would eat your savings

bazz26

pieface_ie wrote: »

Because alot of the motors been sold will be repossessed,and the financial institutions will want quick sales.

There are high reserve prices on alot of repo stuff and if it isn't reached they put them through again the following week. There is probably negative equity on alot of them so the banks want to recoup as much as they can get for them. They are not letting them go for half nothing.

If the new owner of that GTi can say to me in 12 months time that I actually saved €4k or €5k by buying that car at auction then I would happily agree with them.

abceeire1

bazz26 wrote: »

There are high reserve prices on alot of repo stuff and if it isn't reached they put them through again the following week. There is probably negative equity on alot of them so the banks want to recoup as much as they can get for them. They are not letting them go for half nothing.

If the new owner of that GTi can say to me in 12 months time that I actually saved €4k or €5k by buying that car at auction then I would happily agree with them.

dealers bought both these golfs, or dealer, i know the guy from seeing him in the sunday world alot

ART6

pieface_ie wrote: »

Because alot of the motors been sold will be repossessed,and the financial institutions will want quick sales.

It's also common for hire companies and company fleet cars to be sold through auction. All one owner, but driven by everyone and his brother without any concern for the vehicle.

bazz26

abceeire1 wrote: »

dealers bought both these golfs, or dealer, i know the guy from seeing him in the sunday world alot

Who would have a trained eye for knowing if it was worth buying or not, would average joe have the same knowledge or experience to know a dud from a good bargin? Also someone in the trade would have access to cheaper parts and labour on any repairs meaning they can tell pretty quickly if it needs work done and if it is worth their fixing it. Would your average joe?

Someone in the motor trade buying at an auction is alot different to the man on the street wondering in and looking for a bargin.

badboyblast

What could a garage man know over your average Joe into cars, when he also only has 15 mins to look at the car, listen to the engine for a min or two.

besides obvious signs of a crashed car? wheels wearing on one side, oil/ fluid leaking onto the gound, dirty smoke from the exhaust?

I think its down to luck!

bazz26

badboyblast wrote: »

What could a garage man know over your average Joe into cars, when he also only has 15 mins to look at the car, listen to the engine for a min or two.

besides obvious signs of a crashed car? wheels wearing on one side, oil/ fluid leaking onto the gound, dirty smoke from the exhaust?

I think its down to luck!

Of course they know more than average Joe, they buy and sell cars every day. With experience like that you have a better idea of knowing a dud from a good car than a novice would. Buying from an auction is not as rosey as some people seem to think here.

abceeire1

i wouldnt tell average joe to go, but if you know a bit about cars and have done your research then check it out, if you know what car you want, its worth going to see if there is a saving at the auctions, it costs nothing to go look, and please stop with the 15mins
you can go look the day of the auctions at any time that day, wed and tues auctions near me are at 7pm, so you ve all day to go look over a car , not 15mins

R.O.R

ART6 wrote: »

It's also common for hire companies and company fleet cars to be sold through auction. All one owner, but driven by everyone and his brother without any concern for the vehicle.

Only the absolute sh1te that won't sell any other way from Fleet & Hire goes to auction.