General Breaking better than selling ???

[zaphodski]

Hi Guys, need some advice if possible. You will be aware of the disastrous outcome I had getting the Barchetta for my daughter, well I advertised it on ebay but being the time of year etc replies have been pretty poor (and the asking price has dropped to less that £2000 !!!). I was wondering whether it would be worthwhile stripping it down completely and selling the parts.....comments?

 

[gar074]

That would be a great shame - there are fewer & fewer of them about, and yours looks to be in fine fettle.

This is probably the worst time of year to be selling a convertible. The prices generally pick up in the spring. Can't you hang on to it until then?

Anyway, breaking is a pain unless you've got plenty of space to store the parts, and are prepared for endless f*ck-witted enquiries - not from people on here, of course - people not turning up when they say they will, etc. I broke a 2CV a few years back, and at times I wished I'd just pushed it off a cliff. Funny just how many components that were working perfectly when stripped off mysteriously broke or failed when fitted to someone else's car.

(I've just had a quick look at your listing. Buyers might be put off by the fact that you're new to ebay - sellers without any history are often dodgy, tbh - and you don't give any information on the history of the car - number of owners, service history etc. I bought my B unseen off ebay nearly 6 years ago, and with hindsight I was very fortunate not to buy a pup, but the car did have a full history, and had been in the same ownership for 5+ years, so it was a calculated risk)

 

[zaphodski]

Yeah, I get your point. It's the first time I've tried selling on Ebay, I've also listed a few sets of headphones as well (I sold an aircraft I own a few months back (not on ebay) so not much need for headphones now). I thought by selling a number of items I might get a few more points as a reliable seller. As far as history goes there isn't much. I did get it thoroughly tested by Fiat who confirm it's in very good condition for the year.

I guess whoever does purchase it will be very happy especially as it looks like its gonna sell for a knock down price.

 

[gar074]

Have you put a reserve price on it? It's a useful way of preventing things from going for a song.

If you were closer to me, I'd be very tempted at that kind of price, but the wife would probably murder me if I bought another B (I came close to buying a 'project' Murena a while back, and she gave me grief for a week until some other lucky sod snapped it up)

(I've never seen an aircraft on Ebay, but I'm sure someone must have flogged one on there sometime!)

 

[Snailshed]

comments?

I read the Daily Telegraph on Saturdays and their motoring correspondent swears by this website called sure-sell. From what I gather (I've never used it, nor am I endorsing it in any way) you put the car on the page and traders and normal individuals submit their best offer for the car within a set time period. It means your not stuck by the vagaries of being a new seller on ebay and if you get offers they are made fairly promptly. Worth a punt maybe?

Equally there is a nice looking blue one on autotrader up at £2250 (dropped from £2350) thats got quilted seats, turbine alloys and certainly doesn't look shabby in the pictures - although has done 127k miles, and that went on ebay as a no reserve auction for £1500 yesterday. I realise its winter and all but the cars are getting old now, and a 15 year old lhd Fiat with a prevalence to rusting, filling up with water and comedy electrics looks like a general liability to most average car buying punters..

 

[desert rat]

Hi Guys, need some advice if possible. You will be aware of the disastrous outcome I had getting the Barchetta for my daughter, well I advertised it on ebay but being the time of year etc replies have been pretty poor (and the asking price has dropped to less that £2000 !!!). I was wondering whether it would be worthwhile stripping it down completely and selling the parts.....comments?

Personally I would not recommend it. .

I bought an Old Lotus Elan here last year that has been a parts doner for my new car. I found it in a scrap yard. No engine, drivetrain, wheels, clocks, etc....
Because of my location it was impossible for me to import the amount of parts needed to fix it up.

Although I had never driven this car. I did find it mentally disturbing destroying such a lovely car (or at least what was left of it).

If you strip it for parts you will be amazed at the amount of space it takes up !! (shed and house flat roof full here)!!! You will probably easily sell the high value items such as headlights, bumpers, etc... But you will probably be left with 90% of the car that you can not sell.

Depending on your circumstances. If you have the time and space... Maybe you would get more for it in parts then selling it as a roadworthy car.

Have you looked at advertising on www.pistonheads.com , www.autotrader.co.uk , etc.... Even stick a for sale sign in the back window and have fun driving it around town to advertise it....

Soft tops do sell better in the summer months.... Err, is there such a thing as summer in the UK?

At the end of the day it's your decision what you do with it. I can only comment on my experience.

I guess no good deed goes un-punnished !!

 

[gar074]

The Pistonheads classifieds are a good suggestion - I regularly check out the Bs for sale on there.

 

[Crachat]

You could also try www.preloved.co.uk I have no connection with them etc. etc. Just an idea.

I still say keep it though. Mind you, it is red so not a popular colour...

 

[Richpea]

Crachat is right, keep it. Of course I have no idea of your circumstances but if possible just enjoy the thing. I have owned my B for some years as a fun car and during that time my daily drivers have been new, large engined Mercs, BMW's and a Range Rover (I change cars often) but for sheer fun none of them match the B. When we want to go anywhere in style it just has to be in the Barchetta, nothing else comes close on a sunny day, even in the winter. You will not regret it, except for the colour!

 

[33JOF]

Zaphodski - did she go on eBay?

 

[HP]

Looks like it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230882055782?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

[33JOF]

wow - someone got a bargain! I wish my garage was bigger!!

 

[zaphodski]

My membership of this forum is now at an end.... The Barchetta did sell....for the paltry sum of £1700! Though as yet the cash hasn't hit my bank account.....

Thanks for all those who've given advice regarding these lovely little cars.

Cheers guys

 

[s130]

Don't forget to keep a souvenir of the 'B'. Something unique, get it cast into an acrylic block and put it on display everytime your daughter comes around!

"all done in the best possible taste"

 

[gar074]

All the best, mate. We salute you for your efforts - your daughter's very lucky to have such a devoted dad - and for your decision to sell the B on, so that others can enjoy it.

 

[33JOF]

:yeahthat::wave: