Doing up Car before selling?

[EvianBaby]

As per my previous post, I'm thinking about selling/part exing my car. I obviously want to get the most money possible for my car but there are a couple of bits of cosmetic damage to it. The front grill has a bit broken off (the bit that sits around the VW badge). It's not overly obvious but you'd see if it you looked. There are also some dents which all happen to be on the right wing. Is it worth trying to replace these parts from a brakers yard before I sell/part ex or would it be more cost effective to just sell it as it is?

Also, I've had new brakes and a new cambelt (plus smaller bits) fitted in the past year but both were done by a friend who works for VW at my house so I don't have receipts to prove the work was done. If someone in the know was to take a look would they be able to see that I'm being honest about the new parts?

[Zacs-Master]

Totaly depend what the value of the car is. If it's not wirth more that a few hunderd quid then it obviously isn't worth it. If by spending a couple of hundred it's value and saleability increases, then it's worth doing.

[Zacs-Master]

(crikey, how many spelling mistakes can you do in one short answer?)

[hc4361]

I thought you had a South African accent, Zacs.

Agree with Zacs answer. How old is the car?

[tonyav]

What year is your car and is it a petrol or diesel, Evian. ?

[Zacs-Master]

LOL hc

[EvianBaby]

Hi All. It's a 2003, 1.6, 16v Golf.

[EvianBaby]

Oh and petrol.

[Zacs-Master]

And what are you asking for it.......

[tonyav]

Wouldn't bother if you are going to part ex it Evian, but if you are going to sell it privately then I would tart it up a bit and make sure it is clean.

[EvianBaby]

Nothing yet. I'm looking at my options before I try and sell or PE. I think it's worth about 2k but that's just a guess really.

[EvianBaby]

Ok, thanks. I'd probably get more from a private sale than a part ex wouldn't I?

Any ideas about the cambelt and brakes bit?

[Zacs-Master]

£2k would be about right for one in very good condition. I would try to sell at £1750 taking into account the 'knocks'. It's not worth the hassle & cost of tarting it up.

[tonyav]

Yep you will get more selling privately, but weigh that up against how much money you spend on tarting it up. Could you get your friend to write you a receipt saying when the work was carried out Evian ?.

[EvianBaby]

Thanks Zac and Tony! Very helpful. Might take it round a few garages over the weekend to test drive some cars so I can see what they would offer me for my car as a part ex. I'd rather not go to the effort of getting things done to it and from what you say it does sound like that might be a pointless exercise.

I could ask the guy who did my car to knock something up for me but it was just cash in hand work so he might not.

[tonyav]

The cam belt replacement is a good selling point ( especially if selling privately ) Evian.

[EvianBaby]

I thought so, I know it's a pricey job to get done at a garage. That's kind of why I'm hoping if a mechanic were to stick his head under the bonnet he'd be able to tell it was new (ish).

[jomifl]

If you part exchange it you won't get any more by tarting it up, quite often they are just taking an old car off your hands as a favour if it is 10 years old or more. They would probably sell you the car you want for the same price whether they take your old car or not, so you might as well sell it privately. It is only worth tarting it up if you can do it without making it look tarted up. By all means replace any broken parts if you can get them cheaply second hand. People expect old cars to have picked up small dents and chips.

[tonyav]

Not really, Evian.

[Zacs-Master]

Evian,

You'll get next to nothing part exchanging it. My guess would be £700 tops.

[EvianBaby]

£700!!!!! Might aswell just give it to them for that.

Anyone want to buy a car?