Hi folks, I have posted with the prefix "off topic" so I hope its ok to post this thread here. Basically I am in the process of selling a car I have just now, before I get a panda. The type of car is unimportant, but its a Citroen C2 GT if that matters.

Basically I have someone coming to view it tonight, and I am a bit nervous as I have never sold a car in this manner before (I have sold cars as auctions on ebay, and to my dad in the past) and the chap I have been corresponding with via gumtree seems to be a bit cheeky, he asked about reducing the price of the car and I said politely that there wasnt a huge amount I could do with the price but I was open to sensible offers and as a point of interest that the car owed me over £1400 in maintenance and bringing it up to a good standard alone, to which he replied "Its a car, it doesnt owe you anything". There have been a few wee cheeky comments like that, but he is coming to view the car tonight, and I am a bit nervous, I dont want to let him drive the car himself, but I am more than happy to drive him with him as a passenger, maybe in a large car park I have near me I will let him drive (this is due to my insurance not covering other drivers and I dont feel safe with having a stranger drive my car) as I said, im a bit nervous about the prospect of a stranger coming to view my car, although I know everything about the car there is to know from a buyers perspective so thats not an issue, but im just nervous, does anyone have any tips please?

Meet him somewhere neutral...take a friend....don't let him drive even in a carpark unless he has insurance. Stick to your price and don't let him bully you. Give nothing away and let him make the offers. If your not happy just say no and leave awkward silences..don't be tempted to fill in these silences with chat. He will then be the one feeling the need to drive the sale forward, not you. If he is serious then he will make a good offer..if not walk away. Don't take a cheque unless you wait till its cleared. If the sale goes through don't let him have the V5 with him saying "I will send it off, just sign it" otherwise speeding and parking tickets will come to you.

purple haze said:

Meet him somewhere neutral...take a friend....don't let him drive even in a carpark unless he has insurance. Stick to your price and don't let him bully you. Give nothing away and let him make the offers. If your not happy just say no and leave awkward silences..don't be tempted to fill in these silences with chat. He will then be the one feeling the need to drive the sale forward, not you. If he is serious then he will make a good offer..if not walk away. Don't take a cheque unless you wait till its cleared. If the sale goes through don't let him have the V5 with him saying "I will send it off, just sign it" otherwise speeding and parking tickets will come to you.

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Thank you for the tips much appreciated, I will take them on board

If he's interested in a C2 GT, i'm gonna guess he's about 18 years old and looking to get the car for £45.

At the end of the day, it's your car. Just drive away if he becomes a ****.

Yeah I'd go with that advice. And even as a car it does own you due to the investment you have made.

If in doubt keep it. My experience is that I always sell better vehicles than I buy..

Thanks for the advice folks, im just nervous because I haven't done it this way before, from talking to the chap via email I have formed an unsavoury image in my head of what this chap is like, it will probably be fine but im paranoid about 3 or 4 baseball capped hoodlums turning up to cause me bother lol unfortunately that's the kind of people that might be attracted to a car that could be perceived as a boy racers car if modified (im not one, and I bought it modified and returned it to standard) im just being nervous and silly

When I said take a friend, make that a big friend or a small friend with a big bat.

purple haze said:

When I said take a friend, make that a big friend or a small friend with a big bat.

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Ok taken on board lol, does a big bat count as a friend if a human isnt available?

Oh man thats 15p now!

The silence bit is key, if he makes and offer and you decline let him make the next move, even if your silent for a minute or two

And I concur with the take a friend bit

Mainly it's been said, but my fourpenny worth is:

Definitely don't go somewhere alone - your own house is probably safer as you're on home turf with people you know around.

Bats of any description are a bad idea btw - though I'm sure you were joking - apart from getting done for taking an offensive weapon, you shouldn't get into that situation if you think a bat may be needed!

Don't let him drive without proof of insurance as already said & don't get out to go round to the passenger side with the keys in it - he might drive it away & not necessarily care if you're in front of the car - sorry if this sounds overly gloomy.

If you don't like him, just sell it to someone else!

Don't accept a cheque or bankers draft as cleared payment - it isn't (bank drafts are often stolen) so keep hold of the car until you've checked it's cleared. A bank draft where you've gone with him into the branch to draw it should be ok, but better is a direct xfer to your account - best of all good old fashioned cash on collection.

Good luck

Well folks the guy came, and he was rude and derogatory about me and my car, he was an older guy policeman. nothing to worry about though, he came alone, and its an experience for me. Thanks for your advice boys it served me well, but I had to cut the guy short midway through a speel about how I would never sell my car at the (too low already) price and because it has a few problems which I was honest and upfront about, I then said we would shake hands and walk away and got him to leave. Thanks for the advice though folks, it served me well, the car just wasn't for him, or at least at the price he was wanting it for. And to be honest I did not want to sell it to him.

I'm in the exact same position at the moment. Going to look at a Panda this weekend, after that if I decide to put a deposit on it I'll be selling my GP.
For future reference some tips I've been given. (Probably already mentioned but TL;DR)

1. Do not let them take the V5, make sure you send it yourself.

2. If someone wants to test drive, make sure they bring proof of insurance, let them know they won't be able to drive the car themselves unless they bring proof that they have insurance cover on it.

3. Give yourself a base price you will take (assuming its fair, which it sounds like your price is fine), maybe budge on it a bit if you think an offer just below is fair for example (use your own judgement here). Don't be bullied into a lower price than you're happy with.

Happy selling

I've sold quite a few cars in private sales and if someone is coming to view your car then you already have the upper hand in that they know your price and they want your car.

Clearly this guy thought he would bully you into a next-to-nothing price and drive off in your car looking either for a very cheap car or to make some money him self selling it on

what he found was a person who knew the value of his car and had a firm sensible price and wasn't to be intimidated, so he puts a few digs in about the car you tries to demoralise you a bit, a leaves empty handed. well done you for standing your ground!

Gumtree really isn't the best place to sell a car these days and spending a few quid on an autotrader ad is never a bad idea, it puts your car ad in the hands of someone looking to buy a car

AndyRKett said:

I've sold quite a few cars in private sales and if someone is coming to view your car then you already have the upper hand in that they know your price and they want your car.

Clearly this guy thought he would bully you into a next-to-nothing price and drive off in your car looking either for a very cheap car or to make some money him self selling it on

what he found was a person who knew the value of his car and had a firm sensible price and wasn't to be intimidated, so he puts a few digs in about the car you tries to demoralise you a bit, a leaves empty handed. well done you for standing your ground!

Gumtree really isn't the best place to sell a car these days and spending a few quid on an autotrader ad is never a bad idea, it puts your car ad in the hands of someone looking to buy a car

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Thanks very much fellows, I must admit I did let him get to me a bit, but after reading this that makes sense as to what he was trying to do, I feel better about it now thanks very much everyone in this thread

:yeahthat: to Didge and Andy.

eBay classified ads are fairly good these days also.

eBay classifieds are good also what about registering and selling on a citroen forum that way it will definately go to someone who will care for it I know Chras is into his c2 he might be able to help

The Black Box said:

eBay classifieds are good also what about registering and selling on a citroen forum that way it will definately go to someone who will care for it I know Chras is into his c2 he might be able to help

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I have tried it on c2club but most of the members are in England and dont want to travel to Scotland for it, which I can understand. Ive had members from cornwall telling me they wish I was closer haha

He sounds like a bit of a clack..

Re: Re: Can anyone help me with some tips please?

purple haze said:

He sounds like a bit of a clack..

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He was man, without a doubt one of the most irritating people i've ever had the misfortune of meeting