Hi, I am looking at a car listing at grays online auction. I checked the ppsr and its all good. The car has rego (victoria) till march 2022 and it says that they will transfer it to my name if i win the auction. The one thing that is not mentioned is RWC. The car in pictures looks imaculate and even the tyres are pretty good. Will I have to get the RWC after delivery. I am new to car auctions so if anyone has bought a car from grays online auction please share your experience. Thanks
They need RWC to transfer it to your name .
"They" do not need a RWC to transfer to a buyer, the buyer needs the RWC to effect the transfer into their name. I think the Gray's listings do not come with a RWC and are sold "as is- where is"
If you call Grays they will tell you if it has a roadworthy. As they are all independent sellers on Grays, some will get a roadworthy before sending it to the auction house. Grays won't do the roadworthy themselves.
If it doesn't mention it then it doesn't have a RWC. Also Grays perform all the ppsr checks and only auction non incumbered vehicles ect so that isn't necessary they state in the auction terms on their site. Good luck, make sure you inspect in person! Buying site unseen is a gamble, take a mechanic if you can with you to assist depending on the outlay you want to spend.
I got caught doing this, bought a car sight unseen that needed a semi major repair straight away.
Arrange an inspection by a mechanic before you purchase.
< insert michael jackson eating popcorn gif here>
Yep… next post… “didn’t come with RWC and now needs $4,000 worth of repairs… how do I cancel the purchase?”
"Grays said it was in good condition over the phone…."
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Unless you are mechanically inclined Grays is a huge risk. You can't even test drive the car. You could pick it up and find it's got major engine problems and you will have no recourse. Buyer beware!!
The car in pictures looks imaculate and even the tyres are pretty good.
Looking immaculate in pictures means nothing if it doesn't run properly. At the very very minimum, go and personally inspect it.
Also, I hope you have put aside a huge amount of money for the (likely) repairs that'll be required!
As a friend of a few dealers Grays Online is seen as the last resort for a car that is pretty much too far gone and where the money they put into it for repairs outweighs the cost and profit margins. If you are inexperienced mechanically it probably isn’t the best idea.
Grays is the dodgiest of all auction houses.
Noobs should avoid auctions.
Mates bought 6 cars from them in 2 yrs, all have made him quite a tidy profit.
And I've made a fortune at the casino yesterday. But i don't tell you all the losses I had before.
Hes 6 from 6, I'd say thats better than your casino.
Shame he wont sell the SV6 he got, I'd buy it in a flash.
They're not worth anything unless you're new to this. Only Holdens worth buying are the HSV/special editions in V8 Manual guise. The normal ones with a V8 and in manual are okay too.
Of course there is profit to be made. Have gotten a few cars from grays over the past 2 years and also made. But to someone who is inexperienced mechanically and doesn’t know a lot about cars you are more likely to buy a lemon and lose. If the bloke is asking about Grays on a bargain site I would assume he doesn’t know much lol
Your right on all counts… Not for the novice.
I was just saying it isn't all doom and gloom. I still want his SV6..
I purchased this online a month ago: https://www.grays.com/lot/0001-10311351/motor-vehiclesmotor-…
Undisclosed were:
- windscreen cracked from one side to the other (hidden beneath wiper blades)
- busted shock absorber
- left of front bumper is loose and cracked right through in two places
- very apparent remanence of a large sticker on the bonnet, unable to buff out
- many more scrapes than pictured, right down to the metal
Overall, likely bought at market value or slightly above once buyers premium, green slip, rego, transfer tax, new windscreen is added etc.
Couldn't inspect - lockdown.
Saving grace is I like the car.
Be careful of shill bidders.
Be careful of shill bidders.
As in Grays doing fake bids to boost the auction price?
The amount of legal shit they would be into would be hilarious to watch if they are doing that.
You can setup auto bid to a max amount.
Several times someone would continually bid until I was pushed to that max, but not exceed it.
This would leave the auction in the position that we'd bid the same amount, but me first.
Sus.
That is a tactic from a lot of dealers and auctions themselves as they see you have an auto bid on and will bid until it maxes out so you don’t get a car for cheap
@Marioedd: Exactly, I was trying to amend the comment to mention that. This wouldn't be Grays themselves, but rather the dealers.
Have a look how many cars are back, week after week, with the same "people" bidding them up.
Problem is vendors and unrealistic expectations, why they end up back. Also people will see the car they did research on and bid on them again. Here's one I bid on several times, many more cars same story. Doesnt mean its shill bidding but strongly suspect greys doing it on some lots
https://www.grays.com/lot/0001-10050777/classic-cars/1998-su…
https://www.grays.com/lot/0001-10050862/classic-cars/1998-su…
https://www.grays.com/lot/0001-10050893/classic-cars/1998-su…
@Bid Sniper: The prices I've seen are astronomical for the shitboxes that are being sold. It has to be shill bidding. It's the same names bidding on many cars, week in week out, all ridiculous prices.
I don't tend to subscribe to conspiracy theories but I've witnesses some suspicious bids on Grays (which could have easily been a third party (owner of goods?)).
But there are some repeat items (Euro brand) that are repeatedly listed every few weeks and end with no bids (no one wants them at those prices). Suddenly one stove listing took a bid (I've seen this item listed at least 4 times over the proir months without sale). But strangely that item then received competing bids pushing the price up.
Could have been coincidence, but seemed a little odd.
Thats not a bad a deal considering covid tax, risk however.
I can prove shill in live auctions, pretty easy when you see empty chair making bids. Harder online but lot of dealers probably bidding on their own stock with sock puppet accounts. Again I cant prove it.
Lost quite a few cars, seen them end up at dealer lots at stupid mark ups.
Best place to buy a vehicle at Auction is on eBay IMO. At least you can check them out and talk to the owner etc.
Unless the car is rare as unicorn, surely you can find something similar on FB Marketplace or Gumtree? Could be equally dangerous but at least there are no buyer's fees.
Valid question…
Where do you trust to buy a used car?
Recently looking for car for daughter, found 2 at a car yard in Ringwood that looks perfect…
Cars looked fantastic, spent more $ on detailing than anything else.. I got extra photos when asked for, discussion with the bloke was all going great until I looked at Google Reviews - and (profanity) knows how this bloke is alive - let alone still in business. Pure Del Trotter
Ok - which Car City dealer is this? I'm curious to see what the reviews say! 😂
I bought several cars auctions including my current WRX STI.
Most cars are pretty rough there and been monitoring prices. Honestly go private sale, bit more expensive upfront but will be cheaper long run. Go see and test drive the car, get it properly checked. There were a few I thought looked immaculate, went and saw, it was really bad condition. I remember a few that were basically write off sold as good condition, including a low kilometre Subaru Forester that was cleaned but obviously was pulled from saltwater. Photos didnt show that because underbody was all rusted and falling apart.
Unless its ex demo kays, its a huge risk sight unseen.
Be careful with odometers !
I was about to buy this Toyota Hiace; https://www.grays.com/lot/0001-7797826/motor-vehiclesmotor-c…
And please look at the report; https://www.carify.com.au/report?key=89e813fa-66dd-4263-9749…
The auction ended at 7.30 pm and I was the highest bidder for the Commuter. Purchased a history report at 7.19 pm and surprise :) Odometer has been roll-down.
@Bid sniper; Did you use https://www.carify.com.au/japanese-import-car-history-check ? I was also chasing EVO GSR and purchased an import history report. Found the original Japanese auction sheet. The report stated that the vehicle had seriously damaged and water/rust damages back in Japan 2019. It is hard to believe that some of these vehicles can get roadworthy here in Australia.
PPSR is $2
https://transact.ppsr.gov.au/ppsr/SearchBySerialNumber?v=Sea…
Greys has disclose any history legally, they do a PPSR and attach the report. That website way too expensive for a car you will probably lose in auction.
This might be useful https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/514416
https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2574687
OP. You going with the Honda 1987 second gen Jap model Prelude. Then user checks out