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Flicking through the channels last night at 6:30, I saw a story on buying cars from auctions. It was on ACA (I know ) but they showed some pretty good deals, I think it was an 11 month old Futura wagon that had sold for $15K cheaper than new, and also a 6 month old Focus was just over $6K less. What are some of the pros and cons of buying a car from auctions? In this case it was at Fowles.
Pros I can think of are that you'll get a car for cheaper, but then I'd be weary about buying ex government vehicles because I'd generally think they wouldn't be driven like a private car would be from new. Any other things people would take into account?
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"If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier -- just so long as I'm the dictator." -- George W. Bush (December 18, 2000)
Yeah I've bought from those auctions before as well. However they're almost exclusively 'vanilla' cars meaning family rubbish with no excitement. Unless you count the cop cars etc.
When you get the odd desirable car like an executive driven SS or something the private buyers go nuts and I've seen cars go for virtual retail - except no perks like buying from a dealer.
I thoroughly recommend the auctions of ACT government and federal vehicles in Fyshwick Canberra. Better cars - less fools shopping.
Beware though. ACA as usual gave the BEST examples. It was only yesterday I saw an 'asian' oringin vehicle recently bought from just such an auction sitting in a repairer's shop. Despite having logbook service record the engine was stuffed (51,000km)due to oil contamination of the valvetrain - it seems being a government car or whatever the servicing people did just that - a logbook service (as opposed to underbonnet service). Well ovewr $2000++ later this owner may have a good car!
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BA'1.5' Pursuit 290
Lightning Strike / Reflective Orange Stripes 'General' Dog - AP's German Shepherd and Best Mate - 02Dec1998-15Dec2003.
'Pepper' Dog - General's and My Little German Shepherd Sweetie - 1996?-02Apr2006. 'Sako' Dog - My Beautiful and Pretty German Shepherd - 2001?-23Aug2006.
Got my ex police XR8 from Pickles in Sydney december 2001, was able to chase up the cop who had it (45, only driver, country patrol) checked out its service history and it had an NRMA inspection rating of 9.5/10. Got it for $26K, did 50,000 km on it and had it 2 years, nver missed a beat. Sold it last month for $24K. It is definitely worth just going along to a couple of them to get to know the process and the regular dealers and purchasers who buy every week. Check the obvious things like which govt department had it, any warranty left, tyre wear ie: scrubbed up against gutters etc.
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Mess with the bull, get the horns!
I guess it depends on luck too? I'd probably have more peace of mind by paying a few grand more and going to a yard in the end.
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"If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier -- just so long as I'm the dictator." -- George W. Bush (December 18, 2000)
I don't think there is any warranty from auctions. Though the car you buy would probably be several thousand dollars cheaper than car yard so in effect you are paying for the repairs (if any are needed) yourself anyhow from the car yard.
Presuming you have a particular car in mind look around car yards, redbook.com.au etc and find out what they are going for. The number of auctions I've been to (equipment, not cars) and I'm staggered by the prices people are prepared to pay for stuff, more than new retail in some cases! They obviously have no idea of the value and think because it's an auction it must be cheap.
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You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen. It said, 'Parking Fine.'So that was nice.
The govie auctions at pickles are mostly cars that have done 40,000km or are 2 years old. this means that you have the balance of new car warranty left - 60,000km or 1 year.
Definitely the way to buy a car, if you just want something 'vanilla' (as AP put it). The money you save should be enough for mags, suspension and exhaust to give it some 'flavour'. And the ACT ones usually have XR6s and SS commodores - the XRs usually go for high 20's, the SS low 30s.
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AU1 XR8 Auto147.9 rwkw (approx 215 fwkw)
AU2 Wagon HAD Auto
17s, Pacemakers, 3" Intake & Pod filter (The Family Hack)
My parents got a EF2 in 2000 for about $8.5k. Nothing wrong with it. Ave kms, country car. I thought it was a good deal, esp considering the ave sale price at time was $10k+
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TPC Mod/henchman
previous rides;
1st car EA Fairmont Ghia, extractors, exhaust
2nd EF GLi, 'custom' interior, extractors, exhuast
3rd EA Fairmont 5spd, low'd, extractors, exhuast, head
work, 3.45LSD, EL dash, interior+ El ECU
4th EB2 Fairmont, EL dash and interior, BBM, LSD etc etc
5th EB Fairmont Ghia 5L. All leather, lowered, exhaust etc
Yes where i work we do alot of dealing with auction yards, and in most cases we buy without looking. Havent struck a bad one yet, and at the moment these are the deals i have been getting.
07/02 AUIII Fairmonts with 4000 kms - 30 grand
07/02 AUIII Futuras - 500 kms - 26 grand
12/01 AUIII XR8 - 50 000 kms - 31 grand
06/02 AUIII Fortes 1000 kms - 24 grand
12/99 AU UPDate Fairlane - 80 000 kms - 20 grand
They are as cheap as chips, and most have manufacturers warranty. Pickles had a huge amount of AUIII Futures with delievery Kms on them, apparently there arent many left.
) but they showed some pretty good deals, I think it was an 11 month old Futura wagon that had sold for $15K cheaper than new, and also a 6 month old Focus was just over $6K less. What are some of the pros and cons of buying a car from auctions? In this case it was at Fowles. 
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