Selling a Car - without Getting Scammed

jizmo on 30/06/2025 - 18:25
Last edited 30/06/2025 - 18:48 by 1 other user

During Covid I did a panic buy on a new car and ordered one just in case the old one dies on me.

Anyway, car came after Covid in mid 2023 I didn't like it from the moment driving away from the dealer. It's done less than 4,000 km in two years and due for its third service, the registration and insurance works out around $150 a month for something I don't like nor use, and it has just turned into a money pit.

What would be the easiest way to sell it without some idiot trying to run a scam? I wasn't looking for a trade in.

Automotive

Comments

  • JimmyF on 30/06/2025 - 18:39
    +4

    What would be the easiest way to sell it without some idiot trying to run a scam? I wasn't looking for a trade in.

    Trade in, but you don't want to do that.

    Maybe instant offer on carsales? Basically trade in without the buying a new car bit.

  • carlJack on 30/06/2025 - 18:45

    Which one? Where are you located?

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 30/06/2025 - 19:05
    +3

    Original Post about the vehicle: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/753376

    • Nugs on 30/06/2025 - 19:28

      Holy sh1t
      .

  • Protractor on 30/06/2025 - 19:20
    +1

    Use a broker. You didn't say you wanted the cheapest option.

    • jizmo on 30/06/2025 - 20:10

      I know I'm going to take a big hit on it already, and then the monthly overheads it's costing me. ATM anything's worth considering as it's a liability.

    • kiitos on 01/07/2025 - 10:12

      I didn't know you can get brokers to sell your car. Learn something new everyday

  • tephra on 30/06/2025 - 19:35
    +5

    car sales instant offer will get you about 80-90% of the fair market value…

  • elgrande on 30/06/2025 - 20:15

    So was it your car on display in the lot?

  • Euphemistic on 30/06/2025 - 20:26
    +2

    Based onnthe other thread, and assuming it is an isuzu dmax, you should have no problem selling it. They are popular enough. A buy it now service should jump on it.

    2 choices: use the buy it now service, or deal with tyre kickers and lowballers with a private sale but get a few extra sheckles. Look at cars sales listing prices for similar models. Get a buy now offer and compare. Then make your decision.

    • jizmo on 30/06/2025 - 20:33

      Exactly. Then they want nearly $400 to list it, so tyre kickers and scammers can come around to stuff your weekend up.
      Just checked Car Sales, the offer wasn't too bad if I hadn't put all the extra parts on it.

      • Euphemistic on 30/06/2025 - 20:46

        What dont you like about it? Like mine, of course its got a few little things im not keen on, but overall its a good rig.

        You can possibly take the accessories off and sell separately, but thats more work.

        • jizmo on 30/06/2025 - 21:05

          You're driving in a backstreet say 30-40khr, 2 parked cars either side of a narrow street, you need to drive in the middle of the road to avoid both vehicles. The car sees the white line in the middle of the street and tries to steer you into the parked car.
          Everytime you start it, you have to hit the nag button to disable part of the crap for 5 seconds and then there's still more I should disable.
          There's a ton of shit on it, so they could get their NCAP rating, but if you need all the computer assist on it, you shouldn't have a driver's license in the first place.
          I can't really pull the bull bar off it and other things they all fit that car and will make it more salable anyway.

          • Protractor on 30/06/2025 - 21:10
            +1

            @jizmo: It seems a car far too complex for you, and these are one of the most simple of all in that category, so I'm feeling generous.
            I'll give you fifty bucks and 3 chooks for it. These are seriously good chooks.

            • jizmo on 30/06/2025 - 21:15

              @Protractor: I know it's lane guidance, but it's wrong and dangerous. You need to hit the nag button every time you start the car so it doesn't do it

              • Protractor on 30/06/2025 - 21:40
                +2

                @jizmo: Find an auto sparky or someone in car ECU field who can add a manual override?
                Why did you buy a 4X4 ute anyway?
                And next purchase forget FOMO and do some research.

          • Euphemistic on 30/06/2025 - 21:12
            +1

            @jizmo: Couple of business cards shoved in over the cameras fix the caemra stuff. Ive just got mostly used to that stuff, its just what you have to put up wirh in new vehicles. Just wish it would auto disable the autonomous braking when in 4 low. Had it go off a far too many times on overgrown bush tracks. On the road it hardly goes off now ive learned to drive with it.

            • jizmo on 30/06/2025 - 21:24

              @Euphemistic: 2nd service I was over it, they said the same as you, but you get some nag on the dashboard apparently "radar down" something like that, I'd rather get rid of it and find someone who knows how to build a car.
              I just came back from Asia and I noticed a lot of new cars don't have all that amber warning on the side view mirror for lane assist. They had no idea what I was talking about, when I was telling them about Australian cars.

      • Hardlyworkin on 30/06/2025 - 22:02
        +4

        It's not that bad. I sold a newish car recently on Carsales, do your research and put plenty of details in the ad. Put on a price that is competitive, a little cheaper than dealer prices. If it's still under warranty, heavily advertise that.

        In the 24 hours it took to sell mine, I was only contacted by 1 private seller though a few car dealers. I was surprised at how much they were willing to pay, well above trade in or Carsales instant price. I made it clear in the ad I was firm on the price. When dealers called me I just said I knew that car was well priced, I didn't need the money and I was in no rush. One of them came back to me and gave me the price I wanted, paid upfront without viewing. Supply must be low out there.

        So my advice, put on your big boy pants, quit whinging and put an ad up.

  • lgacb08 on 30/06/2025 - 20:37
    +1

    Lol, wouldn't want to buy anyone problem but in the end became your own problem trying to get rid of. Sorry mate, you're creating your own problem out of everything, just need to learn to deal with issues like this in life and tackle it one by one. Your dmax should sell but if you don't want to do the hard work of dealing with people then dealer is the better option, if you're willing to take a further $10k hit on the price.

    • Protractor on 30/06/2025 - 21:41

      Someone else's potential bargain, if the details are all true.

      • jizmo on 30/06/2025 - 21:57

        I doubt that very much, the dealer's had a good win would be a better statement.

        • Protractor on 30/06/2025 - 22:13

          What homework did you do, to lead you to making the wrong choice, though? (so we can all learn)

          • jizmo on 30/06/2025 - 22:28

            @Protractor: Mates said get one, shortage of cars over covid, sick of hearing salesmans pitch, Nissan wanted heaps more and they're Thai built shit too. Toyota talked out of their ass and Thai built same.
            90% Thais drive Izuzu and they take a hiding, they're part of the truck division that only make disiel motors.

            • Protractor on 30/06/2025 - 22:29

              @jizmo: The Thais have it right. You dodged a potential bullet with Nissan, IMO.

  • jizmo on 30/06/2025 - 22:37
    -3

    I know Thailand well anything that comes from there in the last 25 years will be problemmatic.Stanley tools Samsung Nissan Toyata Izuzu just to name a few all went there to increase profits and ended up degrading their name and quality.
    Anything that comes out of that country try to avoid.

    • geekcohen on 01/07/2025 - 05:44

      My ute has come from Thailand and I've never had a problem. Love driving it and don't have any issues with the quality.

    • OZBargainer in SA on 01/07/2025 - 08:37
      +3

      Thailand's manufacturing industry is more advanced than ours now and they make complex electronics, like computer hard drives, cameras, etc…
      The Japanese brands wouldn't export vehicles that are of a very lesser build standard to what they'd build in Japan. But if it's a product which has poor design or durability, it'll suffer from that irrespective of where it's built.

    • Protractor on 01/07/2025 - 10:31
      +1

      Nah. The quality out of Thailand isn't that bad.(Pretty good in fact. Though not as consistently good as Korea seems to be) Depends what you get, and like every auto production line it's possible to draw a short straw.
      If there are weak points in Thailand's auto chain, it's probably the cheap migrant labour in the mix.Australia will experience quality issues in housing, from covid on, for the very same reasons. Having 'skin in the game' is a great attribute to a work ethic.

  • Brick Tamland on 01/07/2025 - 08:16
    +3

    Scams are pretty easy to spot. Just keep your wits about you and if any offer is too good to be true then ignore. It's also safe to ignore the flurry of messages immediately after you list. Dont sell to anyone that doesnt inspect the car in person. The car is not rare enough to entertain inter-staters or any other excuses for not inspecting.

  • Stalker on 01/07/2025 - 09:41
    +2

    Having bought and sold a few cars over the past year, I still think Carsales is the best way even if there is a cost to list the ad. You can obviously list on Marketplace as well, but you will get a mix of genuine people, scammers and time wasters.

    Regardless, give it a good wash and vacuum, take a bunch of photos from various angles, write up the details on what you have done to the car and why you are selling (note: people will still ask you) and price it just under what other similar ones are listed at. Don't get involved with anyone who wants to pay without seeing the car, and be prepared to drop a few $k if someone turns up and asks 'what's the best you can do?'. Good luck. :)

    P.s. I also completely understand and share your gripe about the new car tech being too intrusive. :/

    • RufRuf on 01/07/2025 - 10:42

      How do you then get paid without being scammed?

      • Stalker on 02/07/2025 - 20:30

        Only accept cash in hand, bank transfer or bank cheque. Bank transfer takes some trust on the buyer's side as it can take a day or 2 to clear depending on value. Bank cheque is also risky (and less common nowadays) as losing the cheque is essentially like losing cash.

  • tenpercent on 01/07/2025 - 10:38
    +1

    During Covid I did a panic buy on a new car and ordered one just in case the old one dies on me.

    But how much toilet paper could you fit on the backseats and in the boot?

    Anyway, car came after Covid in mid 2023

    How long of a wait was that?

  • mksc09 on 01/07/2025 - 11:32

    Carsales do have an option where they take the payment/act as the middleman and funds don't get released until you press go

  • sprocketoctopus on 01/07/2025 - 13:47

    I think nowadays you just can't avoid it, whether that's Carsales, Gumtree, and FB Market place.

  • Kelpei on 01/07/2025 - 14:24

    I've had most success buying and selling cars on Marketplace. I tend to find there is more listings on Marketplace compared to Gumtree and Carsales because it's free to list. But in saying that, there are a lot more scammers to be weary of. Just arrange to meet the buyer/seller in person for an inspection, you will know at that point if the person is serious and genuine or just a scammer/tyre kicker. Good luck

  • MeesusEff on 02/07/2025 - 19:34

    I had a 2013 Honda Civic which was low kms, like 70k? Drives fine but the paint all over was absolutely f'ed as it was parked outside. A paint job would have cost a few grand. I cbfed dealing with lowballers and time wasters on gumbook so i contacted autoflip and 3 hrs later got an offer for around $9k. I was happy with that price and i paid Autoflip their $200 fee

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