Firstly, Derrrrrrr's review here is useful and hints at the very many pitfalls of auction buying. Having said that a key factor for me is that the traders also buy their cars/vans at auction and sell from fancy forecourts with the same faults. The difference might be that you get a warranty but then again you might skip the expensive warranty on that late low mileage shiny 1 owner... that is missing a cooling fan.
I'm always surpirsed how expensive cars/vans are at auction but the traders also make on HP and warranties. They also repair cars at maybe 10% of the cost to a private buyer.
Agaion I agree with Derrrr, watch what the traders want to buy but be prepared to make a mjaor repair - why else is the vehcile at sale in auction. Good vehicles are either kept or sold privately. Don't touch anything with obvious faults like its towed in even if "it was driven in". Dealers repair/replace engines/wind mileage clocks back for a few pounds but private buyers face bigger costs.
If you want something newer then wait until late in the auction when the dealers might have spent there budget. You cannot compete with dealers they pay less commission and pay less for repairs.
The really cheap 'one job' vehicles go for too much because more people are willing to risk a little money.
I bought a transit for £1600 which would be on a forecourt at £2600 but I'd be lucky to sell it privately for £1900. Its a 'one long job' van for me so it will do. Its a transit so its potentially cheaper to repair and its a very high mileage (200K) diesel so fewer people want it. diesel engines are very reliable and I only need to do a few thousand so that great.
When I got the van home, I found: its dripping water slowly so I have to carry some with me; the cooling fan is missing but its diesel and doesn't run too hot; the spare tyre was missing and it had a slow puncture. I reckon I got off lightly and these kinds of faults you should factor into your purchase if you're a private buyer without trade facilities.
This van was sold as "NO VAT" but when I was billed BCA added VAT and I didn't check the paper work!! It was also described as with a new MOT but there was none, BCA later provided a new MOT and after chatting up the very friendly help desk girls, I got a cheque back for the VAT - and this is the main point of my review. BCA now try to offer a good service.
Auctioneers speak a language of their own and hide things from pirvate buyers with 'codes' but these are easily learnt so observe for a while.
For instance, body damaged but otherwise good vehicles are not for traders so these are huge potential bargains but make sure you know if the auctioneer is talking about hundreds or thousands. I saw a £4750 van sell for £475 but at either price its described as forty-seven. "Might" means "does not" as in might be the later year or might have power steering. also when outbidding at the end of an auction (the only time you should bid), if the auctioneer asks for another 100 offer just 25 or 50. Auctioneers lip read. If you don't want the vehicle do a runner otherwise its a £500 cash/switch deposit. BCA just want cash, you can register the V5 to anyone, say, if you're buying for someone else.
You can get a cheap van; a late mileage ex rental that's NEVER had any servicing but can be used then sold on for little cost or a hugely expensive; cheap luxury car like a Porsche with a whole host of electrical faults and dodgy accident repairs that will likely never be properly repairable - it all depends how fussy you are. I'm happy to run a van that drips all day long but my car has to work perfectly so I'd check pirvate sales first.
Very typically though an auction is as good/bad a as trade dealer but slightly cheaper if you have the cash.
BCA sell all kinds of vehicles: late ex-lease cars; commercial vehicles, luxury cars and are slightly cheaper outside of bigger towns.
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