WHEN SELLING YOUR CAR

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13309, 8 April 1941, Page 7

WHEN SELLING YOUR CAR

ADVICE TO THE OWNER WHO DEMONSTRATES TO A PRIVATE BUYER Some private owners when trying to sell a car, do not handle the trial run in qu.te the same manner as an expert would adopt. They are prone to talk too much. I do not mean to, infer that sellers should gloss over obvious faults, hut it is not necessary to allude to the fact when an engine pinks slightly on a hill, or when the springs squeak, or when it is necessary to change-gear on a gradient that the car ought to climb jv top.

The prospective purchaser of a second-hand car goes out for a trial run because he wishes to observe for himself how the vehicle runs. That being so, the wisest course to adopt is to drive in the ordinary way, not trying any stunts on steep hills* or speed bursts on the level, unless such a demonstration is spec* ially requested. It is far better to let the prospective buyer do the talking. If a man has been persuaded to take a trial run, he is probably keen on the car already, and likely to purchase, if he approves of its running. Hence it is better not to talk too much, even in praise of the car, but to let its obvious merits sink in and to concentrate on tho driving.

Given a car in moderately good condition there is no need to do more than drive it around in a reasonable way, and to show off its behaviour without ostentation. If there is- anything radically wrong with the car, such as a broken spring leaf or a leaking radiator, it is far better to point thd fact out at the beginning than to have it discovered l y the wouid-be purchaser after the trial run, and perhaps the deal, has been concluded..