On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 23:36:26 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
Jimmy wrote:
I dare say, but would you buy a car from an auction? I only ever did
it once.

Yes - I've bought several. It can be risky, of course, but some auctions
are much better than others. Some of the rougher ones seem to specialise
in selling worn out mini-cabs to unsuspecting punters. The trick is to
know what you're looking for.

Never again will I buy a car without being able to drive and
test before I buy.

Well, you pay dearly for this.

I'm sure it depends a lot on the auction, as you said. Last time I
went to our local one it struck me as a bit of a joke people
(including me, I confess) were paying about the same prices as they
would have from private newspaper ads, but without the opportunity to
try first. Yes, there certainly is risk involved. I never was much of
a gambler.

Most secondhand dealers source their cars
from auctions and put them straight on the forecourt with nothing more
than a clean. And a large markup.

Interesting point, assuming that;s correct. But of course, they are in
a better position to get things fixed cheaply if an auction
asquisition turns out to have a najor problem, I suspect. Or perhaps
they just shove it back in the same auction and let the next sucker
deal with it.

J