Repair scratch before trade in?

quad_red

Hi folks,

A quick one. We've a 1.4 petrol 2002 Astra (3 door) which we're hoping to change this year. It's got 83k on the clock and is in perfect condition - except for a scrape over the right rear wheel arch (car park pillar!).

Apart from that she's perfect - has had timing belt and fuel pump done last summer.

Should I get the scratch done before I seek trade ins? On the one hand, best foot forward. On the other, paying for something to be done when the garage can get it done at retail prices and it's relatively minor may not make much sense either?

Any idea how much it would be to fix?

Thanks,
Quad

finnegan2010

I have a graze like that on my vehicle. I saw some scratch repair kits in halfords but it might not do for that. Even a spray would take the look of it despite it being dented. Interested to see what the boardies say about it:)

Irish Fire

Get a quote for the repair before you go looking for a trade in as least you'll have a figure in your head when the salesman is telling you it's 3,000 to repair it. I wouldn't get it repaired. Most major garages will sell your car to the trade.

Boom_Bap

If you bring this for trade in, any dealer will use this against you in negotiations.

I would try to tidy it up first, i had something similar one a car i was trading in and 'cleaned' up the scratch with compound. It done a great job and made the scratches near invisible.

I would suggest trying this first, compound is cheap enough and handy enough to apply yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvCHyrsk4pc

Ledger

Had something similar myself, brought it to a guy in a valeting place, gave it a good buff and a quick spray, still a bit of a dent but you wouldn't really cop it.

Stevie Dakota

If it is the only thing letting that car down then maybe, around €100 for a smart repair. Certainly DON'T paint it yourself.

However a dealer will see beyond that damage and offer you a derisory trade in anyway!

Owen

Lads, look at the photos. There's a large dent in the wheel arch itself. That needs to be corrected first before any paint can be applied, and it won't polish out. Recommending the OP to spray it himself is a really bad idea too. It would come out badly, and be spotted a mile away.

OP, just trade it in as is. The Dealer will be able to get the job done for less than you can. As it is both the wheel arch and quarter combined where the damage is, expect to be deducted around 350 for a proper bodyshop repair - which is fair and average.

Zubeneschamali

PaintDoctor wrote: »

The Dealer will be able to get the job done for less than you can.

But he won't, actually, he'll just sell it on as is. It's a 9 year old car, no-ones going to fix it up, it'll be scrappage in a year.

Owen

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

But he won't, actually, he'll just sell it on as is. It's a 9 year old car, no-ones going to fix it up, it'll be scrappage in a year.

You don't know that. The OP hasn't said who they're trading it into. Just because you wouldn't want to retail a 9 year old car on your forecourt, doesn't mean someone else wouldn't. It's a car that done the lion's share of it's depreciation, and a good learner/intermediatery car - if I was still selling, I'd have no problem putting that on the forecourt for someone to get a cheap motoring legup.

quad_red

Test drove a 19k 2009 diesel Astra just before Christmas at the dealers we bought the Astra from in 2005.

They offered the Astra for 16k - so a 3k trade-in+discount.

Wouldn't divulge how much of the 3k was trade-in and how much was 'discount'.

Owen

The only way to ever know that is pretend it's a straight sale, and ask for the straight sale discount, then later ask for the 'option' of part exchanging in case your ficticious cousin who wants to buy the car bails on you.

TontoMurphy

PM sent

anneo

PaintDoctor wrote: »

The only way to ever know that is pretend it's a straight sale, and ask for the straight sale discount, then later ask for the 'option' of part exchanging in case your ficticious cousin who wants to buy the car bails on you.

100% Agree