K.M wrote:

I know, right!

In all seriousness, what’s wrong with her? Is it the market?

I spoke to a few resellers and they acknowledged she’s a beaut, but said that the high end / high quality stuff isn’t shifting whereas the carrots are flying

jpboost wrote:

K.M wrote:

I know, right!

In all seriousness, what’s wrong with her? Is it the market?

I spoke to a few resellers and they acknowledged she’s a beaut, but said that the high end / high quality stuff isn’t shifting whereas the carrots are flying

The top end of the market is always really difficult as a private seller. You get to the point where people want the comfort and facilities provided by dealers. Warranty, credit facilities, reputation etc are all factors.

Of course trading through a reseller is an option, but they want their cut, and if the market is slow, you typically find the resellers may increase their margins to cover their trading costs over fewer sales. It sounds like you've already explored this and not found what you're after.

The dealers and resellers are (generally) happy to sit on stock rather than drop prices, as they are trying to steer the market and keep the value (of their stock) high.

Market economics are what they are, the price ultimately dictates everything. If you haven't been able to sell it at the prices you're after, then you're asking too much (for the car and the circumstances of the sale). We all know we could sell our cars within the hour if they were cheap enough, it's just a case of balancing all that out. I'm not criticising what you believe your car is worth, and it may well be an accurate price for what it would take you to replace it, but that's not the same as the amount of money you can realise from the sale (in any reasonable timeframe).

I recently had to sell a couple of classics, and went through the painful process of selling a car that was easily worth £25k on paper, and would be towards £30k from a dealer. Final selling price was less than £15k. Of course the more specialist the sale, the more volatile prices. Thankfully the Defender market is larger and a fair bit more stable than the market for a Delta Integrale that needed some bodywork...

If you really want to sell. I'd start again, advertise in all the wider locations (rather than just specialist forums etc), price it keenly, and it'll no doubt go. Long timeframe threads where the owner isn't highly motivated to sell, seldom find buyers IME.

This post is genuinely meant to be helpful, and I hope you receive it as such. It is indeed a lovely example and I'm sure it's new owner (whenever that happens) will be very happy with it!

dainger wrote:

Nicely put by jpboost. I would add that many buying at this price don’t see quality and well loved vehicles, they think all defenders are equal so why would they pay 40k when they can get, a non unsealed, non maintained, ex workhorse which has had a touch up paint job for 35k. (£15k later they realise why they should have gone for the 40k one but that’s too late for you).

Stick with her, but for sure expand your advertising. At the end of the day if you really want rid then collectingcars.com will give you dealer bid price. Sucks but such is life atm.