Traktion

Yup, the buyer seemed like a nice guy though, so I think she will be treated well. I just forgot how much I hate selling cars... it's like selling a limb!

There seem to be a few other bargains out there, so I'm sure you'll bag yourself a good one!

For now, I'm sharing the other half's 1.2 Clio...

Just watched it drive off... absolutely gutted...

This happened to my car when I first bought it a few years back.

I took it to a Nissan dealer and they set the keys up free of charge.

IIRC, there is a combination of ignition twists and button presses which does the job too, but I couldn't get it to work!

Cool, shame nobody made the effort

Well, it's easier for both me and the buyer this way, anyway! I've had plenty of interest at this price point (and even a couple of people asking to call if it falls through!), but I'm just happy that she will have a new home soon. I'm certain the new owner will have plenty of fun driving her!

Anyway, I'll stop counting chickens, until the eggs are in the bank account!

About time Did someone from the mainland buy it?

Blimey, that was a quick reply!

Nope, he's from NI, so she will be going to a local!

I have received a deposit for her now, so pending no mishaps, it looks like she should have a new home soon. I think the new owner will be very happy and has got himself a bargain!

I'd consider doing an independent car check if this was something important to someone, but I've not had anyone request this so far?

There isn't much point in me dropping the price further (or paying for ferries etc), as it becomes easier to just trade it in at that price. If this means it isn't attractive to mainlanders, there isn't much I can do, other than to get a mate to try his luck selling it near London for me.

Also, from looking at Pistonheads, when I checked the other day, the only cars of a similar price were either imports, non-GT packs or had some fault or other. My car is in great condition for the age/mileage, other than the scuffed alloys + seat bolster.

I appreciate your points though and it would be easiest if the buyer was from Ireland. I thought I would point out what is involved in moving the car to England though.

This is going to be such a bargain for someone!

 

Is there anything that you have to do to bring it over to the UK? i.e. change number plates?

You just have to fill in a form (V55/5) at the post office to say it's registered at Cardiff DVLA, instead of Belfast DVLNI. It's literally 2 fields on a form (registration + fuel type) and, IIRC, it was free (or a small handling fee).

Number plates are still English plates, so nothing needs changing there either. We're all in the UK, so it's just that the paper work is handled at a different office.

The only bother is having to fly over here to view it and take it home again. Consider that a road trip, and you could enjoy your new wheels too!

P.S. I will be unable to deliver the car to a potential buyer for a viewing in England, unless a (decent) deposit and my transport costs are paid for. If you're serious about the car, and live outside of Ireland, I can pick anyone up at Belfast airport for a viewing. IIRC, a single ferry journey starts at around £80 (Belfast -> Birkenhead) to get back to England again.

Gutting!

I hope it gets back to the rightful owners!

There was a huge property bubble here, that made the rest of the UK look like a pimple, so the fall out is pretty bad, for sure. It's like the tap had been on full and then someone turned it off...

Too cheap? Well, I've tried every price from about 14k down (see my thread for a blow by blow account! ). I've had a few people offering trades, a few people asking "what's the cheapest you will sell at" style time wasters and only one viewing. The single viewing loved it, agreed it was in good condition and he said he wanted it... but then he had to sell him car first, for which he had no interest (Subaru)

I've waited a year for a sale, always being keenly priced and, recently, an absolute steal. If it doesn't sell in the next week or so, I'm just going to have to trade it, unless one of my business projects makes a break through. They're moving forward, but I don't know whether I have time to wait. It's an awful feeling, but I suppose you have to think of these things are business decisions, even if it tugs at the heart strings...

Anyway, enough of the pessimism, surely someone will want one of our bargains!

Buyers with cash seem to be a rare breed in these economic times. I've been offered subarus, elises, volvos... but I don't need the car anymore, but need the cash. It's frustrating, for sure!

I was talking to some friends last night and they couldn't believe how cheap I was trying to sell mine for. The problem is, if you want a sale, there isn't much choice it seems!

Down to £9,500 - no offers and I want to sell this week.

If it doesn't sell, it looks likely it'll be traded in. It's a bargain for someone out there!

For man made global warming sceptics: http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/

It's a great site that cuts through the bull!

You're about the 3rd/4th person to ask me this, but it's easier for someone to fly to Belfast than for me to drive the car to England.

With the number of time wasters there are at the moment, I'd also need to be very sure that someone wasn't wasting my time.

I'm also no longer accepting any offers below 10.5k, also due to chancers.

Thanks Adam - honest feedback is always the most useful!

I'll pass on your comments on and will let you know if we need another photographer. Where are you based? Could be a bit of a drag to head over to NI!

I had a look at the tarmag - some nice pics in there and read the page about you. I'm not a huge fan over sites with non-standard interfaces, but the content looked good!

Hey, Review reads quite well,

 

its definetly as good as the others on the rest of the site,

 

if i may be slightly critical (constructively)

 

The idea is great, the reviews and layouts are great, i just think you could have better photographs.

Are some of the photos used in the reviews stock release shots from the companies?

 

But overall i like!

 

Adam

Thanks for your honesty! I'm hoping my writing style will develop with a bit of practice, but at least I didn't make a complete dogs dinner of it!

For the pictures, I'm afraid they were just some snaps which I took in a few moments, which is why they're a bit naff! We have a member of our team, Chris Huston, who is much better than I am. Some of his handy work is here: http://www.drivewire.eu/reviews/cars/ferrari/f430/195-2008-ferrari-f430.htm (FYI, at the Spelga Dam in the Mournes) and http://www.drivewire.eu/reviews/cars/bentley/continental_grand_tourer_convertible/190-2009-bentley-continental-grand-tourer-convertible.htm. But yes, some articles have press release snaps, but we're keen to make a habit of always getting a decent photo shoot done for each car.

We have big plans for a more creative layout too, but we're trying to see how this one goes first. We've just hit a deal to add a big dealer's cars to our classifieds, so hopefully this will be our break - we've got big plans for the magazine!

I'll try to get some pics that do the car some justice sorted!

I love how directly under your review is your for sale ad

Complete with matching images!

I will shed a few tears when someone drives it away, I really will...

It's actually a bit accidental though - it's just that we don't have many classifieds on there yet, so mine matches the search. We're hoping to get a few more on soon!

We're a UK magazine, with a slant towards Northern Ireland. We've got a few professional writers, but they've agreed to let me put a review up for the 350z.

http://www.drivewire.eu/reviews/cars/ni ... review.htm

Please take a look at the review and the site. We're trying to build up a community too, so sign up to the forum if you have a mo! Oh, and please don't be too critical of my review - it's my first one and I think it shows how much I love this car!

One of the new projects I'm working on is DriveWire Magazine. We're a UK magazine, with a slant towards Northern Ireland. We've got a few professional writers, but they've agreed to let me put a review up for the 350z.

http://www.drivewire.eu/reviews/cars/nissan/350z/748-nissan-350z-review.htm

Please take a look at the review and the site. We're trying to build up a community too, so sign up to the forum if you have a mo! Oh, and please don't be too critical of my review - it's my first one and I think it shows how much I love this car!

Mods, is there a place I can post the review on a separate media thread or some such too?

did i read somewhere in ireland, insurance is quite high too compared to mainland?

 

He is in NI not Eire though

True, but the insurance is still a bit higher here. It's something to do with the legalities and no win, no fee law being different. Or so I was told, anyway...

P.S. I should have a viewing on Thursday from a chap from NI - wish us luck!

did i read somewhere in ireland, insurance is quite high too compared to mainland?

In the north, the insurance is a bit higher. In the republic, the tax is much higher (and I think the insurance may be too).

Both of those are the next steps, basically.

I'm hoping a local might want to snap up a bargain first though.

These sort of retrospective taxes make me so mad!

The sooner this bunch of muppets in power are turfed out the better!

At least the oil price is coming down with the trouble at the banks. As long as the pound doesn't slip too, we may be able to at least afford to fill up our cars after all the tax has been taken!

If that car was here on the mainland, it would sell imo. I wouldn't travel to NI to buy a car.

I think you're right. The only genuine interest I have had is from people in NI and Rep. Ireland. There isn't much else I can do other than ask a friend on the mainland to sell it for me, though.

It doesn't feel great having to price so keenly, but if things work out, the money will be put to better use than sitting on my drive.

I work from home these days and I've got a few projects on which need to cash spending on them.

I never thought the market would be so quiet for a lovely car like the 350z, but like you say, it's likely a sign of the times. I wish there had been decent zeds about for a little over 10k when I was looking a few years ago!