Selling Car - Some advice please!

stiofan85

Hi guys,

I want to sell my 05 Focus, but it has a few minor issues. The electric mirrors only work on 2 of the 4 directions, I've just the one key for it and I don't have the original manual for it with service history etc... These are things I overlooked when I bought the car a year ago mainly because it was my first time buying a car and I just didn't have a notion.

Here's the slightly bigger issue (I don't know how I didn't notice this when I bought it, which is slightly embarrassing): One of the doors is a slightly darker shade than the others. I genuinely didn't notice this when I bought it and it was only highlighted to me about 3 months after I bought the car. I can see it now every time I look at the car. I don't know if it is that obvious, but it's one of those things: Once it was pointed out to me, I can't help but see it every time.

So here's my question: Is it worth sorting any of these issues to add value? In particular the door.

The car is otherwise mechanically sound. It's recently serviced, has 2 years' NCT, new brakes and ignition kit. Low mileage and drives really nicely.

Thanks in advance

bazz26

Don't get too bogged down about they issues, they sound like they are not that big a deal. Get a quote from a locksmith for a replacement key, though it is not that uncommon that used cars only get sold on with only one key. Personally, I wouldn't spend too much money on a replacement, maybe just get one made that will open the doors as a cheaper option.

Same with the door mirrors, may only be a small thing that needs sorted, most cars of that age will have small issues but you just need to take these things into account when pricing the car.

Different shade of paint would suggest some sort of cosmetic damage occurred in the past and most likely a poor/cheap repair where the paint wasn't matched correctly. Again on a car of that age cosmetic repair is not uncommon but because it doesn't match correctly it will effect the selling price.

At the end of the day it is good to be honest with the buyer up front about these things rather than trying to hide them.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Get the mirrors fixed, its possibly only the switch that needs replacing but it could be the mechanism inside the mirror.

I don't see any point in trying to sort the mismatching paint. 9 times out of 10 it'll still be a different shade unless you painted the whole side of the car.

Factor in the painted door to your price. If the at us mechanically good then it shouldn't detract from the car too much.

stiofan85

Thanks for the replies. I had similar thoughts, but it's one of those things - enough money to make me sweat about it.

Ultimate lesson: Bring someone that actually knows what they're talking about when you're buying a car for the first time. I'd definitely have haggled more on the price when I got it had I known about some of them. Oh well, live and learn!

Scortho

Do you have receipts for new brakes ignition kit and the service.

It wouldn't bother me if the service manual wasn't there from previous owners but knowing what the current owner has done is more important to me anyway.
At the end of the day if rather a car that has a record of being serviced regularly for the last 3 years and never in its first 10 than the other way around.

stiofan85

Scortho wrote: »

Do you have receipts for new brakes ignition kit and the service.

It wouldn't bother me if the service manual wasn't there from previous owners but knowing what the current owner has done is more important to me anyway.
At the end of the day if rather a car that has a record of being serviced regularly for the last 3 years and never in its first 10 than the other way around.

Yup, have receipts for the brakes and ignition kit. I did the service myself but have receipts for the oil & filters. Brakes & ignition were done 4000km ago and service about 400km back.

Leo Demidov

I have to ask how someone capable of servicing a car claims incompetence when purchasing said car, worries me a little tbh.

Scortho

stiofan85 wrote: »

Yup, have receipts for the brakes and ignition kit. I did the service myself but have receipts for the oil & filters. Brakes & ignition were done 4000km ago and service about 400km back.

For me they'd be the most important things. What an owner did to it 5-6 years ago is of no concern really of the current owner has done nothing.
When you sell tale a pic of all of the receipts. It's something I like to see but so few put it up.
I'd get the mirrors fixed and wouldn't worry about the door or the key.
So long as the car wasn't written off or anything I'd be happy. If rather a door that's slightly different in colour than one tgats scratched to bits.

stiofan85

wexfjord wrote: »

I have to ask how someone capable of servicing a car claims incompetence when purchasing said car, worries me a little tbh.

Fair point. I've done a lot of reading since buying the car and used the thread on here as a reference for the service. In fairness, there's not much to changing oil and filters.