Has anyone been to a car auction before?

[Leyland Lawrence]

What happens?

 

Are cars at a classic car auction any better than your standard auctions or is there still plenty of opportunity to buy a lemon?

Do you get a chance to look at the cars and any paperwork on the day?

Are some of the cars suspect or are checks made by the auction house prior to accepting them?

 

I wouldn't mind going to a classic car auction, there's a few cars on at no reserve and I doubt there'll be much interest. No mention of service history is common problem in the auction adverts and I seen to have to base the purchase on photographs and not much else.

 

Thanks

 

h

 

[Sloth in a bowl]

Assume any car bought at auction has no service history, oil or coolant.

If it has service docs scattered over the dash assume the servicing stopped 60000 miles ago.

 

They will tell you the tax and MOT position, apart from that look at the bodywork and assume the worst.

[sierraman]

Depends, if you go to p/x auction you might drop on, but avoid the general entry crap. This is stuff entered by joe soap who knows its got something serious up with it. I'd say as with any gamble don't pay more than what you could afford to lose. Remember also there's a premium to pay on top of sale price before you get carried away!

[nottinghamphil]

If you are considering 'Anglia Classic Car Auctions' be VERY careful.... Don't ask too many questions because the office staff just don't have a clue, and IF you are lucky enough to get a reply expect a very short, curt, and downright rude answer , even after waiting nearly a week for it !

[Rocket88]

Classic car auctions are a bit less intimidating.............less throughput, and staff may actually have some idea what they're talking about.

[Station]

Used to go through the local one, but every week the same cars are allegedly bidded on reserve and sold and then reappear the next week. A black Suzuki Alto went through about six times. I'm sure 95% of the clientèle are in on it and are only there to get away from the wife.

 

If you want to simulate a car auction, stand by the side of the road during rush hour on a council estate. Same old Rovers, Focus's, ex taxi Mondeos and all the part ex stock from all the local car dealers. zzzz

[Cavcraft]

Do your eyes work ok? Good, now just remember every motor you see is a fillered up, felt penned pile of scrap and everyone you see is going to rob you blind, mug your nan and charm the knickers off your bird. That's the better ones out of the way, it's the others you have to worry about.

 

'Only gamble what you can afford to lose'

[richardmorris]

You could be bidding on this at Anglia Car Auctions....

[Mr Livered]

Wow!

[sierraman]

Again though you might save £50 100 on a private sale but at least you can give it more than a cursory inspection. I'd say if you are thinking of buying £300 worth then buy it on what you see, least then if it packs in you haven't lost...much.

[Ratdat]

Isn't that GMC the one that was lurched round the back of the Haynes Museum?

 

Edit: Just looked on their website. Yes it is.

[Gerald]

I've been to livestock and machinery auctions...

 

Avoid any involuntary movements including hiccuping or sneezing unless you want to come away with a Hereford bull, a 1 Cwt bag of PTO pins or a crusty DB990.

 

This *may* apply to car auctions.

[xtriple]

Used to make a decent second income by buying at auctions and selling on. Most cars going through the ring have faults... quite frequently major ones! Get to know the drivers (the people who actually put the cars through the ring), buy them a cuppa/butty and then ask them when the car is going through.

 

Also, watch the driver themselves, quite often they will bid on the car they are driving, then it's worth apunt for sure!

 

Always be at the car you are interested as it's started up to make its trip through, you can tell a lot by that first start. Ask the driver to pop the bonnet and give it a rev. Watch the traders, they all know each other and the cars to stay clear of!

 

You do get some decent cars through, cars that are just undesirable and no bugger will buy retail, p/x's that are from 'decent' garages tend to be no-no's as all the traders sell to the trade. If the trade doesn't want it... why?

 

Use your eyes, ears and sense of smell.

 

Go a couple of times without any cash (other than cuppa/burger cash) and just watch/learn/get to know the score/the faces. The are bargains, but there are also BIG ways of losing loads!

[Bobthebeard]

My only experience of an auction was in 2001. I needed an estate car so bid on a 1994 Ford Escort Estate. On the face of it it looked great. In reality it was rubbish! Part of the bulkhead was sculpted from expanding foam skillfully* painted over. Plus it was terminally rusty. Hidden again by filler and underseal.

Never again!

Cars are in the auction for a reason. The reason is usually because they are beyond economical repair and it is the last chance for the owner to get some kind of financial return other than scrapping the thing!

Bit of a last chance hope IMHO.

[mercrocker]

Only ever bought once at auction - Mk 4 Corty for thirty sovs.   Ran it for a summer while my  Yank was off  the road and flogged it for £70.   This was 20 years ago mind.  I have not wanted  to chance any more than thirty quid since.   Classic stuff at the lower (autoshite) end of the market seems extremely likely to  me to consist of pudding'ed up,  oil-burning, plate-robbed  "mistakes".   Surprising how  much of  it subsequently (2 days later) ends up on Ebay by people who sound like classic car dealers but are probably just chancers moving on from Vauxhall Astras to something else they can bullshit up and flog to some mug.    I prefer my cars without three lots of profit level and tend to buy from other  enthusiasts who, whilst not beyond bodge and bullshit, generally give you the time to really look at  what you are  buying.   People who don't know what they are talking about should not be involved  in selling items and that  goes as much for charity shops with record sections as it does for auction houses knocking out old motors alongside their forecourt  rejects. 

[castros_bro]

All car auctions are full of low life just wanting to relieve you of your cash money. Take all your money from your bank account and go to the nearest, dodgiest one wearing a smelly old sheepskin (trousers optional)  with a homemade cigarette in the corner of your mouth and a polystyrene cup of cold brown sludge in one hand.  Bid randomly in the approved manner, waving your knob like a propeller and shouting “OI WANKER!!!†at the  auctioneer whilst creating  live postings on the interweb site Autoshite. When you have shot our wad you will have amassed several new imaginary friends and a couple of “likesâ€Â. Lager is optional.

[bub2006]

Our vectra was bought at auction. 2003 model. Bought in 2012 for 900 quid. Loads of history and never let us down. Really regret selling it.

[Pete-M]

I've bought plenty of stuff at auction without any real problems. My experience of classic auctions is worse than the regular auctions as it's the only time I've ever bought two cars - both over £8k - and both had well hidden issues. Problem with the classic auctions is you're not buying a car as domestic appliance, you're buying a car you really want. Most auction standard classics look brilliant or shit when they're presented. The shit is expensive and needs full restoration. The shiny ones are often fucked after standing in a bubble for 10 years only going out for the mot. Press them into service and everything breaks.

[panhard65]

I bought my maserati from coy's auction in Kensington back in 2001. It was a gamble but looked sound enough and I got it a couple of grand cheaper than the one I had been looking at with a dealer. It was also newer and lower mileage. I think I got a bargain even with the commision that coy's put on (about 20% if I remember correctly) I ran it for a couple of years and doubled the mileage but still got back what I paid. I wish I still had it as bi-turbo spyders are really starting to make serious coin now. All auctions are a risk just do your homework and stick to your limit some stuff can go for silly money especially project cars.

[xtriple]

I've had some right bargains at auctions. Years ago when I was a dedicated biker, I rode all year round, then learnt that it was better to buy a 'heap' and run it for the winter rather than trash my pride and joy.

Bought a lovely Austin 2200 for £70 that refused to die and cheerfully towed trailers loaded with three bikes all over the country at ridiculous speeds (we used to 'proddy' race bikes). I loved that car and even though it ended up using nearly as much oil as fuel and knocked like Phil Collins on speed I still made a profit from it when it finally went 9 months later.

Then I bought a Cortina 1500 GT estate ( a rareity even back then) for £30 with T and T. It had big flared arches and banded steel wheels along with four bald tyres - it was brilliant. Finally killed it towing a MK10 Jag 20 miles - clutch smelled rather bad... Got £45 for it from a scrapyard as the (non standard) headlight were from a current Escort and worth dosh....

20 years ago I bought a series three XJ6  4.2 in pearlescent white from Exeter auctions... went bang in grand style about halfway home - rod through the block, but it was still running! Got another engine for £100 and sold it for three times the purchase price.

Bought a lovely BX Citroen that was REALLY cheap (about £50) with TandT and ran it for a couple of years alongside the bikes.

Bought a Renault 25 that was three tone (!) gold, TandT and apart from an auto box fault on the first gearchange of the day (then totally fine for the rest of the day) was absolutely perfect (colour apart). Paid about £100 for it!

[twosmoke300]

Being a traders son I have spent many hours at car and van auctions and I love the atmosphere and energy of the ring.

However as mentioned before , everything is there for a reason.

The best bet is to go for things with an obvious fault . Mega miles , clutch , non runner etc.

[Cavcraft]

Can someone explain why all cars are in the auctions for a reason, i.e implying they're shit?

 

If you buy a second hand car from the local paper, internet or side of the road, why are the owners selling it? Most adverts seem to describe perfect cars with seemingly no faults with a 'genuine reason for sale.'

If a car is so great, why sell it? It could be because it's knackered, it could be because they're up or downsizing or because they want something newer, flasher, faster, more economical etc. 

So those who don't sell privately will save themselves the grief of dealing with dickheads and part-exchange their car at a dealer. The dealer then decides the part-ex is too old, has too many miles and will look crap on the forecourt, so will save themselves the grief of dealing with dickheads and take it to the car auctions.

So whilst there's crap on AutoTrader, eBay, local papers, side of the road, there's crap in the auctions. Yes of course there are some incredibly unscrupulous people selling cars in auctions, but you wanted a bargain and that's why you're there. You might get bitten, you might not.

If you don't like it, go to a second hand car dealer who's got the cars out of the auction himself and pay them a few hundred quid more for the same vehicle, only this time with a warranty that's not worth the paper it's written on.

[EssDeeWon]

Went to both Chelmsford and Basildon car auctions with my dad years ago, Basildon was older chod GR9 if you wanted something for £400, Chelmsford was more ex fleet and main dealer part ex.

 

Its good when you see something go through auction for say £1300 (a BMW 3 Series Convertible) I clocked last year at Chelmsford car auction) then see it advertised with a local trader for £2995 2 weeks later, I wasn't that interested but if I was imagine the bargaining you could do knowing his marked it up £1700.

[Pillock]

Remember that although people go through auctions to get rid of a troublesome car, to some people a troublesome car might just need a service, a radiator, an airbag light reset or whatever.

 

There are bargains out there if you're a little bit clued-up. Also, there's festering piles of shit that are barely managing to get through the shed.

 

Once saw an MGF get its front wheels into the arena, make a funny noise, stop running and get pushed back out through the cloud of steam it had just emitted. Also seen ex-minicabs with just high miles and the odd warning lamp.

[Pete-M]

I think the few hundred quid you give to a trader over the top of auction prices are sometimes worth it. You have a small amount of come back, can test drive the car, and you can haggle and trade in your current shite. Surely that's worth a little bit extra.

 

I've bought some great stuff at auction. A little 318ti Compact last year which has passed two MOTs with no bother and hasn't caused any issues whatsoever. Great Little thing. Cost me £420.

 

Another was the Saab 9-5 estate I bought. £305 and all it needed was an electric window switch and the alarm back up battery replacing.

 

Both were FSH, good spec, low owner cars bought "direct from main agent". They're the only things I'll normal touch at auction. They're too old for main agents to retail so they go to auction.

 

The stuff to always avoid is the highly polished and (bald) tyre blacked privately entered stuff with little rectangles of sticky tape in the windows where someone has tried to turn it over for a few quid profit, discovered issues and bodged it to get it through the auction.

 

 

Problem at classic auctions is most of the stuff is cosmetically bodged and you're unlikely to spot it until a month later when all the bodged bits break through the rust. Also, often at a classic auction they don't start or move the cars during the actual auction so if you spot something at the last minute you're blind as to whether it's gonna chuck its conrods 1/2 mile down the drive.

[DeeJay]

I've bought 5 cars at Liverpool auction 4 were great, 5th was a lemon (Scenic).

My own fault, I was in a rush and missed the one I wanted.

[dollywobbler]

I've sold a car via a classic auction, but have never bought one there. Most classic auctions don't drive the cars through, so you've really no idea. ACA (and EAMA?) actually do. There's usually a viewing day, but that doesn't exactly involve test drives.

 

All this 'blink and you've bought a car' is nonsense. Firm movements are required to get the auctioneer's attention. A very slight nod may then be enough to say you're still interested. Bid late, and don't go beyond your set limit for that car. Be prepared to go home with nothing rather than overpay for something in the excitement.

 

I don't know why I feel uncomfortable about bidding on a car I haven't seen move. I've bought cars I haven't even seen before now quite merrily!

[Sloth in a bowl]

An auction is great if you are looking for a £1000 car and have £10000 available, but not if you are looking for a £1000 car and £1000 is all you have.

 

With £10,000 you can afford the odd bad buy amoungst the bargains and accept that over several buys you will come out ahead.

With £1000 you have to be willing to accept that what you are buying is a bit of a gamble and though there is the chance of a bargain there is also the chance of a complete dog.

 

 

I have seen a Proton Satria GTI with Tax and Test go through an auction for £300 and in the local area that is currently a £700 to £900 car, bargains are to be had, but with your eyes open.

 

Finally for our local auctions, the best bargains are to be had in the first lots before the main crowds get into the ring, though they tend to dump though cheap rubbish then in the knowledge that the number of bidders is low.

[Stanky]

When I was out of work about 2 years ago I used to pop down to Southampton Motor Auctions a couple of times a month just to get out of the house. Never bought anything, only once paid for a 'catalogue' - but it was fun to watch what came through, how much they went for and what fluids they left behind as they drove through the ring. I'd say at least 40% of what I saw didn't hit reserve or got no bidders whatsoever, and there were bargains to be had. 

 

Saw a guy buy an N-reg peugeot 106 for £160 which had T&T and only about 70k miles, might have been fucked but it looked ok, just a bit tatty. I suspect like others have said that this was a Part-ex which the dealer didn't want cluttering up their forecourt and bringing down the ambience or whatever. Still slightly wish I'd bid on that, but there.

 

Diesels fetched silly money every time but if you were prepared to take a punt on a 90s/early 00's pezzer saloon you were spoilt for choice. 

 

good evening out if you're ever down that way. They publish the entries on the website and they do at least 2 auctions a week with ~40 cars going through, at least they did when I went.

[rml2345]

I've been to loads of auctions and I reckon if you've got half a brain you can spot the dross from the decent cars. As others have said, it's important to be there for the first start up and to have as good a look round your prospective purchase as you can. It's easy to miss things but that's just hard luck sometimes. "Main Agent" part ex stuff is usually a good bet as it's often just too old/scruffy/leggy for them to bother with but is otherwise fundamentally decent.

I'd say it was better than buying blind from eBay as at least you're able to have a good look round.