I am changing my car in the next few months and a colleague suggested looking at auctions. I have never bought a car like that and doubt I would because I would prefer to closely examine, test drive, prod, and get a warranty from a main dealer.

Out of interest I registered and searched the BCA website. I noticed that the main dealer that sold me my ex LR car has mostly ex LR management cars as used stock, and naively never considered how they got them, until I came across this on the BCA site :

Land Rover
Auctions of vehicles direct from Land Rover UK, with stock across the Land Rover range. Late-year, low-mileage stock such as ex-management, demonstrator and similar sources. Some ex-rental cars may also be included. These auctions are closed sales, and are exclusively for Land Rover franchised dealers.

My question is has anyone managed to attend a LR auction as a private buyer as they are closed to the public ? I would guess these cars are generally better condition than the average auction lot and would love the chance to grab a bargain.

Might have to get some LR business cards made up

I believe they are closed dealer only auctions

Even then, prices can go silly

Sure you're right Nick. Be interesting to know what sort of money the dealers pick them up for though.

yep. closed shop, invitation for Main Agents only  

I would imagine that that's how they move the Land Rover experience vehicles, which although they possibly have low mileage, could have had a hard life.

Iain

All correct above. What will sicken you to know is that typically, a 6 month old HSE with circa 15k miles on it will be sold with an opening bid of £20k, and the most a Dealer would pay is around £25k. The forecourt price of around £33k shows just what sort of Mark ups there are to be had by Dealers.

Don't ask me how I know this - I have contacts in the Sytner group who visit these auctions regularly, and have told me first hand the way that it works. It seems that the price is artificially high to begin with where joe public is concerned. Foraging near Gaydon....
——————————————
MY13 HSE Lux SD4, Baltic Blue - current, 30,000> miles without fault
MY12 HSE 2.2 SD4, Sumatra Black - gone after 10 months/43,000 fault-free miles

Slightly off the topic, but my uncle works as a driver for an auction house in Canada. Apparently ONLY car dealers are allowed in (he says this is normal over there). When he wants to buy a car he gets a friendly dealer to bid for him.
You can see why LR do this - they would send rubbish trade-ins to normal auction, but a good recent model can go on sale with LR warranty etc, and with dealers often having a shortage of cars it makes sense to offer them first dibs.
Don't underestimate the dealer's costs - yes they make a fat profit, but they also have to pay for the transport, the prep, the swish premises, the unhelpful salespersons and all that free coffee! Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

Aero_383 wrote:

Sure you're right Nick. Be interesting to know what sort of money the dealers pick them up for though.

Try Brightwells 4X4 auctions in Leominster.

I have bought 4 Land Rovers through them over the years and never had a problem.

Jim Gone - MY11, TD4 XS, Bali Blue

Thanks Jim.
I have had a look after your suggestion and some interesting lots there.
Whatever car / brand I go for I want less than a year old and max 10k miles. Not got the mechanical knowledge to buy a car at a general auction, but I would be prepared to risk it at a LR auction if it was new enough because I rate the LR warranty.