Selling My First Ride: Ollie's Ford Ka

Earlier this week, Matthew shared his experience of selling his 1997 Jeep TJ, and referenced how quickly I waved on my beloved Ford Ka. Here's the story...

Punting my Ka on to its new owner was a perfect example of how quickly people will take the bait – for even the simplest of motors – if an advert is well-presented. Allow me to explain.

Even when I’m not seriously shopping for a new car, I spend time browsing the classifieds just to see what the going rate is on a whole range of fantasy metal. And one thing you’ll have noticed if you do too is: it appears four-year olds are in charge of writing most car ads.

The damn things are littered with typos, contradictory information, and naff quality pictures. That’s a big turn-off for someone who is, when all is said and done, looking to give you lots of money in return for your car.

Don't forget to take a photo of the most important bit!

‘2001 Ford Feista, 1 owners from new, 8yrs old, 4 sale, radio/c.D player, 2 airbugs, cassette player, £1000 NO OFFERZ O.N.O…’

How often have we seen stuff like that, instantly judged that if the seller finds creating literate adverts a stretch their car may be similarly badly looked-after, and moved on? Lots, in my case.

It’s why I promised myself that when I came to say goodbye to my trusty Ka, the advert would do the brilliant little thing justice. A clear, concise spec, no-nonsense details, and comprehensive pictures of a clean car. Seriously, who puts a car up for sale without giving it a quick wash?

First impressions count for a lot, so break out the hoover...

My Ka was both helpful and annoying in this respect. Helpful, because it was a top-spec Ka3, with all the options ticked, so I had plenty to brag about in the ad. Annoying, because the pictures were going to let it down. Though mechanically bulletproof, rust was attacking it in the usual areas, and the plastic bumpers were faded. It wasn’t looking its best.

Cue SuperDad. If you’re checking out Car Throttle (and so you should) then you’re clearly a discerning petrolhead, and you may have had that king of all hobbies passed on to you by your old man. I did; my Dad loves fast Fords, and helpfully, slow ones. He’s also a bit of a self-trained DIY supremo, and over the course of a weekend, he attacked the Ka’s acne with sandpaper, filler and vintage paint to return it to condition the Ford Heritage Centre would get a semi-on for. Every blemish was removed, a decade of scratches polished out, all the fluids topped up (except petrol), and then it was valeted inside and out to within an inch of its life.

Handily, that meant I was confident it’d sell in a heartbeat. Sadly, seeing it so beautifully turned-out made me not want The Horrible Buyer People to come and take it away.

The well-looked after car and well-sorted advert worked. It was up on Auto Trader less than 30 minutes before a call came through. Then another. And again. “Is your car still for sale? Can I come and see it? Today! Now! I’ll be there in an hour!” It was a feeding frenzy – for a 14 year-old, 59bhp teapot-lookalike on wheels.

The advert that broke hearts. Be quicker next time, punters!

The first guy who came to see it inspected, test drove, and bought it there and then. He tried to haggle; I politely refused, citing (a) the car being bloody immaculate, and (b) the fact my phone wouldn’t stop ringing with interest. I got the full amount. I could’ve gotten more.

Remember the documents. Show a buyer you've got records for everything and they'll be eating out of your hand.

Just goes to show, it really doesn’t matter what you’re selling. Old, slow, poverty-spec, uncool – it doesn’t matter. Make sure the car’s smartened up, the advert isn’t written to-sub GCSE-standard, and you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.

Hahahahaha!