If, hypothetically speaking, I had a car that needed fairly major work doing on it that I don't want to do - is putting it into an auction considered morally OK ?

I always thought it was quite acceptable - but I had someone get upset with me at the idea.

PS - anyone looking to buy a 57 plate black TDV8 in the near future can PM me

This is why a lot of cars (not all) are sent to auction. The price used to reflect this but recently auction prices are often near retail prices.

Ive always been under the impression auction means risk. like 362 says the auction was the go to place to dump a bad one. That said it is clear the trend is changing and I guess it now seems the auction outlet seems to dictate the lileyhood of quality.

Two 405's went through Brightwells this week and fetched mid 50's but don't suspect there was a fat lot wrong with them.

A crappy auction outlet is likely to see the dumping of bad ones.

Don't know how the cost of putting you car into an auction varies. 405 AB exec seats Baltic and Cirrus
93 RR Classic efi

Remember it's easier to get forgiveness than permission!

Gone in order:
4.4 TDV8 SE - gone to a good home
93 Classic hard dash Plymouth Blue
03 L322 Oslo Blue
2000 Disco TD5 ES Epsom Green
98 P38 Rioja Red
89 Classic Cairngorm Brown

I ask people who buy their cars from dealers only, where do you think these cars come from? when i tell them an auction, they dont believe me!
I know not all cars do, and many go/come as trade in to another lot selling lesser priced cars etc.
but the auctions should be treated at arms length, UNLESS you know what you are going into.
the phrase CAVEAT EMPTOR. meaning 'buyer beware'. -cars are 'cheap' because they often come with no warranty, and no disclosed faults/history. So, yes, people offload cars to auctions, with no comebacks.
so beware, but behold! there may be a real bargain there, even after the fault is fixed etc. some cars are obvious, some are not. Dealers listen to the report, and know what companies offload ALL their cars through auctions, therefore they can get an advantage, knowing that it may be no more problematic than any other car from that company... etc. -eg hire cars etc.
You are best off going along to an auction, with someone else, KNOWING you are not going to buy ANYTHING, just for the experience.

in the mid '90's i saw a fiat panda with no keys, go for £5. as nobody wanted it. it raised many laughs, but it had its place for someone.

Read up on auction buying, as you do have things to be aware of.

My cars DO NOT EVER come from auction, all offered to me direct by owner or some private sales, so not all dealers buy that way although popular at the low end...

Thanks - I would not ever sell a car privately that I knew had a problem.

PX with a main dealer seemed like the best bet - 120k miles so straight out to auction

Selling a faulty car privately isn't a problem if you advertise it as faulty.

Quote:

Two 405's went through Brightwells this week and fetched mid 50's but don't suspect there was a fat lot wrong with them.

That's impressive for a couple of old Peugeots.

Alistair wrote:

Thanks - I would not ever sell a car privately that I knew had a problem.

PX with a main dealer seemed like the best bet - 120k miles so straight out to auction

Totally agree - if asked, cough up every time

However, if you were asked-
Was it purchased by you new ?
Was it used abroad before UK registration ?
Is the displayed mileage correct ?
Has it been used as a taxi ?
Has it been in an accident resulting in total loss ?
Has it got a current MOT ?
Is it free from finance ?

and you have the signed sale agreement with these listed and also clarified that it was going straight to auction.....

TBH, he hardly even looked at the car and I walked away kicking myself for leaving a good spare wheel & tyre, RSE remote & headphones etc in it.

There is a MASSIVE difference in prices paid by dealers at auction dependant on how it was entered... So, if entered as a main dealer PX with warranted miles, its a much less risky option then privately entered car by joe bloggs with NO guarantee’s it will drive out of the carpark!!!

Don’t get me wrong, the privateers & influx of eastern europeans have pushed auction prices up but, don’t expect much if you privately enter a FFRR into an auction!

Most of the big chains (like Guy Salmon for instance) have internal auctions that independent dealers can subscribe to, far less risky too

Alistair wrote:

If, hypothetically speaking, I had a car that needed fairly major work doing on it that I don't want to do - is putting it into an auction considered morally OK ?

I always thought it was quite acceptable - but I had someone get upset with me at the idea.

PS - anyone looking to buy a 57 plate black TDV8 in the near future can PM me

Read this again Alistair, then you will I’m sure understand the confusion sir...

Sorry for any confusion - I'll re-phrase.....

Anyone looking to buy a black 57 plate TDV8 - and doesn't want to buy one that might need a few £k's spending on it, should send me a PM

I PX'd one that might not be 100% - I'm not a mechanic - and it's also possible that it's a simple job & I was mis-advised......

I've not misled anyone and certainly told no lies - I have not volunteered information that was not asked for.

I would, however, feel guilty if someone on here bought it.

I am a partner in an independent vehicle auction business. My company is unique in the UK as we're strictly a business to business auction, minimum requirement being VAT registration and bank details - we do not accept cash either. Our philosophy is that the private individual should be buying this kind of commodity in the retail showroom, getting their warranty and anything else as required.
We deal with a vast array of clients (both buyers and vendors) ranging from small businesses to worldwide corporations.

In essence, if a vendor advises of a known fault the auction is duty bound to advise bidders accordingly. Most if not all respectable auctions, have an electronic inspection process (which is only as good as the inspector admittedly) which details aesthetic appearance but not mechanical condition. Vendors often supply service history and anything else that would assist a potential buyer in making the professional decision to bid, or not, on a particular lot.

Auctions vary tremendously, both in their trading style, client base and entry quality.

Caveat Emptor is accurate with auctions, however, we don't sell to the public because we do get the occasional un roadworthy car / van / truck that the business buyer is deemed to understand the implications of buying, and the private buyer is not.

Most, if not all manufacturers have regular 'closed' auction sales, purely for their invited franchisees, where they sell former demonstration / press fleets, management vehicles etc, and this is how many distributors / dealers get some of their retail stock to sell, including our beloved JLR.

Hope this helps? '17 RANGE ROVER L405 SDV8 AB LOIRE BLUE with INDUS SILVER ROOF
'14 RANGE ROVER L405 VSE 3.0TDV6 SANTORINI / INDUS (gone)
'17 LAND ROVER DISCO SPORT HSE DYNAMIC LUX, BLACK PACK (Wifey's)
'16 RANGE ROVER EVOQUE 2.0 AB, FIRENZE RED (Daughter's)
'17 DISCOVERY 5 HSE LUX, MONTELCINO RED (gone)
'16 DISCOVERY 4 LANDMARK SANTORINI (gone)
'10 L322 5.0 SC AB STORNOWAY GREY / ALMOND (very relunctantly gone)
'04 4.4 V8 VOGUE EPSOM GREEN / CREAM (reluctantly gone)