Advice: Thinking of selling the S8

[jayzee]

Bit of a heart-wrenching moment, but I'm looking for some perspective please

I just bought a SL55 AMG; it was a case of being in the right place at the right time, and the intention was to tidy it up, keep it for a few months and then sell it when the market improves on convertibles.

Trouble is, I love it! I won't go on about how sexy it is to look at, how powerful the engine is, how fantastic the equipment level is - then there's that sound...

Anyhoo, for the first time I have actually thought about selling on the S8, keeping the SL55 as it suits me in as much as I really don't need a large 4 door V8...

Which brings me on to the subject of price... Here's the real killer... Looking at values of these, I'm seeing them on at around £6-7k for sub 60k mile cars. All well and good, BUT I have just spent over £3k on mine in the last two months on an engine and gearbox service, wheels/tyres, MOT, Cambelt etc... A new purchaser would just need to fuel the car and insure it without the fear of a major expense looming around the corner.

What to do? What would be a sensible value to advertise the car on at given the spend? Should I consider selling it at all?

Argh!!!!

[ainarssems]

I don't think money spent affects selling price much maybe+/- £500
I would say £5500 is about going price for a good example of late D2 S8

[daviesbike]

Very hard decision to make there is a lot of factors to take in to account when selling ie mileage,service history,equipment levels,Tyre life,Cam belt change as you say,

I would say that given the spend you have made and dependant on mileage sadly you will struggle to recoop the input you have made, i have spent 4-5k just on the car alone with out the cost of buying the car, its a very personal thing is the 8, i can honestly say that i have never seen two that are identical, every one has there taste and adds there little improvements entertainment packs solar ect..

realistic in this market regardless of mileage unless you are a trader selling on finance, your looking at between 4-6k max there are some on PH that are 7k+ but they wont sell for that price when there is plenty for sub5k with full Audi service history ect,

just my 2 pence worth

[HPsauce]

Another way of looking at it, as a buyer, is that if money hasn't been spent recently what is waiting hidden and has the car been neglected?
Personally I'd be looking for a good solid history of regular care.

Some things come up every now and again and ARE expensive, but that's just how it is.

And if a car is getting close to a major service, cambelt, new tyres, whatever then you factor that into what you're prepared to pay.

A well-cared for car will sell, anything else just drops the market value. Nothing much increases it in the "normal" world.

[47p2]

Cars are just not moving at the moment, nobody is buying. I have to agree with all the above, so if you advertise it showing all the work carried out and showing it is a much cared for car and you should get a quick sale.

[daviesbike]

what is the mileage and spec and colour ect ? i dont remember your car

[jayzee]

Not been to any meets, so none of you have seen it.

Here it is on another thread http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2609

Mileage is 59,900, FSH brand new Michelin Pilot supersports all round (done 1k ish) all wheels including spare refurbed and diamond cut by Lepsons, 15mm spacers on the rear, 10mm on the front. Milltek cat-back exhaust and ITG filter fitted 3k miles ago. Gearbox service done - car is mint inside and out... AND underneath - looks better than a lot of 3-year old cars!

Seat leather is in beautiful condition, and it also doesn't suffer the common "baggy rear seat leather" I see on so many of these!

Manifold stage thingy working 100% too.

Another member on here sold this within days for £6k http://pistonheads.com/sales/3613902.htm

As I've said, I'm in two minds. I was going to run it into the ground going on used values - that was my intention when buying it 2 years ago.

As an enthusiast, I would pay more for a car given the expensive things have been done. That said, I could buy a cheap set of Avus 18" wheels, shod them with some budget tyres and put them on the car. Could remove the milltek too with an asking price of £6k

[IT]

It will be hard to recoup your servicing costs - It always is.

Being well serviced will sell it quicker, but wont necessarily get you that much more for it.

Its a buyers market at the moment. Theres plenty of cheap choice.

No-ones going to pay thousands over the odds for a car thats had thousands spent on it. The majority would rather buy a cheaper motor, and spend the money when absolutely needed.

In short, if you sell, be prepared to lose quite a lot on it. D3's are regularly coming in at 5 to 6 K now, some cheaper, and the D3 S8 is dropping quickly too.

If you're gonna sell, get it sold quickly, before it drops much more.....

[jayzee]

Originally Posted by IT

If you're gonna sell, get it sold quickly, before it drops much more.....

Difficult one as this, like many others on this forum, isn't your regular 10 year old car. More like a 3-year old one in every respect.

One for the enthusiast maybe?

Like I say, all the really expensive stuff has been done, so a potential owner wouldn't have to worry about this going forward.

Damn, I also put a private plate on it a couple of months ago - one that had been in the family for the last 10-years.

I just knew that as soon as I did this, I would start thinking about selling the bloody car - that's why it took me 19-months to do it... Just to be really sure I was going to keep it - NOT!!!

[IT]

If its any consolation, I had an S8 that I took my private plate off and on twice before I actually sold it....!