Citroen XM Forum

Ok -- I give up --- something clearly odd going on here. The black indeterminate mileage 24V is back on Ebay yet again. Always dubious of stuff that keeps reappearing.

Mike.

Hi

Probably more than anything else it shows the difficulty of selling decent cars on ebay as much as anything.

Tony

Or there's more than one? Now, there is a thought!
robertm

XMV6 sadist wrote:Hi

Probably more than anything else it shows the difficulty of selling decent cars on ebay as much as anything.

Tony

Nope -- don't see it like that. I think good kit sells OK. Problem with this one is the absence of corroborative history, plus the much debated issue of what an XM (or anything for that matter) is acually 'worth'. To me, the issue of what anything is worth in monetary terms is very simple -- it's precisely what a real buyer will give for it in a free market at the time at which you wish to sell it -- and I think it may fairly be said that Ebay, for all its faults, is as good a marketplace as any.

Mike.

yeah, it seemed like a nice car but its had too much work done to it with no expanation as to why it needed to be done...........V6 engines shouldnt need changing out full stop unless its had a hard life...............

D

I've tried selling a very decent car for a pal using ebay and from a seller's point of view you'll be very lucky to
attract a genuine bidder. Most if not all contacts are from smart alecs trying it on with just a small chance of a
genuine buyer. I've found as much having bought about 50odd cars through ebay too when I get chatting to the
seller and they express real astonishment when I make first contact and follow through and arrive at the
predetermined time as agreed after they've being badly messed around by other ebay bidders before!!

Basically, not all buyers are as keen (or sad) as me; was annoyed with myself many years ago to be half an hour
late for an eta to collect a GS in deepest France!!

My bet in the case of the black 24v, is the winning bidder has either given a load of old flannel about their Aunt's
neighbour's budgie has broken its foot and they've spent the money they were going to pay on vet's bills. That, or
the car is really 3 Xm's welded together. Why not write to find out - I will if anyone wants as he'll remember me
from buying his last v6 XM; there are few Citroen nutters in South Wales...

Andrew

Hi Andrew

I'm with you here. Lots of time wasters out there. Although I also think that this seller has done hinself no favours again by not adapting the listing details with the extra information that was cleaned out last time. How many miles the car had done before the engine/gearbox were replace. Why they were replaced. etc... I he doesn't sell again then I think he only has himself to blame.

Tony

I agree Tony - the seller really does himself no favours considering the uncertainty over key aspects of the car when
weighing into consideration the value he is expecting to return on it with his previous £2.5k+ reserve. This latest
listing is an open no reserve auction so the true market value will now show what everyone thinks about the listing!
That is unless it disappears into the ether with a day to run or magically becomes SOLD SOLD SOLD etc.

FWIW - I spoke at length about Xm's when I bought one off him and he genuinely waxed lyrical about this particular car
and all that had been done on it and when asked where it was, I was told it was in dry storage.

If it stays on £10.50, I'll have a pop at it myself!!

Andrew

Nah, it'll magically blow a head gasket at about £15!!

Hi All

I suspect that the reason the seller does not supply the missing information is simply because he does not know.
He says that he originally bought the car from one of the half dozen specialist XM resellers.
It is not unknown for people to consider the sellers high reputation a key part of the decision that the car is a good purchase.
That the specialist seller could be relied on for maintenance and repair would be another factor.
This all works well until come sale time when it is only the actual documentation that came with the car that counts.
It may well be that only at this point does it become apparent how much the original sale depended on verbal assurances and reputation.

John