Selling – How to sell your Nissan Figaro in 10 easy steps

The price you sell for will normally start by being calculated by what you paid for your Figaro originally, plus any updates or restorations carried out during ownership. No one likes to lose money, but then again, you need to be realistic about what you will accept and be happy with.

Using the table below, decide on what type of condition your car is in

The table below is a simple starting guide on what the car could be sold for; however, it is a guide only!

NOTE: THIS IS A GENERAL GUIDE ONLY

In truth, this can be a bit like entering the lottery. The buyer of your Figaro is out there somewhere, but it may take time to find them. Selling the car privately will normally achieve a higher price, but the downside is that you have to go through the process of dealing with individuals and possible time wasters. Selling to trade will mean that you will be paid less, but you need to balance this with the outcome that you have sold the car and can move on.

Privately 

• Figaro Smiles Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/figarosmiles (FRIDAYS ONLY)
• Figaro Owners Club Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/nissanfigaroownersclub
• https://www.autotrader.co.uk (UK)
• https://www.ebay.co.uk
• https://classiccars.com/sell-my-classic-car (USA)
• https://bringatrailer.com (USA)

Trade

• The Figaro Shop – (UK) enquiries@thefigaroshop.co.uk
• The Little Figaro Car Company – (UK) sales@thelittlefigarocarcompany.co.uk
• Figaro Club – (UK)  info@figaroclub.com

Preparing your Figaro properly can make a used car look new, adding hundreds of pounds to its value.

Car maintenance checks

Most car buyers will check under the bonnet when viewing a car. Remember to:

• Check your oil level and top it up if needed – information on this will be included in the car’s handbook.
• Fill all water and coolant vessels – again, check the handbook.
• Check your tire pressure and replace any worn or damaged tires.
• Remove leaves and debris from the air intakes in front of the windscreen.
• Repair damage to the trim if possible.

Washing your car

Spending a few hours cleaning your Figaro could add hundreds to the car’s value by giving it a cared-for look. You could hire a professional valeting service, but washing your car yourself will be much cheaper.

Wash the bodywork and remove watermarks with a chamois leather cloth. Alloy wheel cleaner helps remove stubborn dirt from wheels, and it’s a good idea to replace damaged wheel trims.

Clean the interior

A clean interior is as important as sparkling bodywork. Make sure you:

• Vacuum the carpets, mats and seats.
• Remove rubbish from the wet boot, dry boot and glove box.
• Wipe the dashboard and trim panels with a damp cloth.
• Clean glass with a window cleaner and a damp chamois.

The paperwork

Buyers will want to see the car’s history, so gather it all together and put it in a folder, removing any credit card receipts. Don’t forget to include:

• The V5C registration document (logbook).
• Service history – receipts and service book.
• MOT certificates.
• Warranty documents.
• The car’s handbook.

Photos sell Figs, so it’s important to get some good shots of your Figaro looking its best. We show you how.

The first step is to thoroughly clean your Figaro. Make sure you keep the camera steady, checking the camera’s focus is sharp and not blurred – most cameras have an automatic setting for this. Avoid:

• Parking on a dirty street.
• Taking photographs in dull, overcast weather or at night.
• Taking pictures from above or too low down.
• Artificial light and direct sunlight.
• Cutting part of the car off, unless you’re photographing details.

Where?

Park your car somewhere bright and spacious if possible – a clean driveway is ideal. Leave plenty of room for you to walk around the vehicle and take pictures from different angles. Remove any distractions such as luggage and rubbish. Make sure the car is well-lit but not too bright.

What to photograph?

• Front straight-on
• Back straight-on
• Side profile
• Roof Down
• Close-up of a wheel and hubs
• The dashboard
• Front and rear seats
• Inside the wet boot
• The engine bay
• Spread out and photograph any Figaro handbooks
• Any damage to your car

Remember to take more than one picture of each area to give you a choice later on. Try to keep the whole car in the image.

Be very descriptive about the car’s condition add these as bullet points.

• List all and any Figaro accessories.
• Include any upgrades and improvements you have made over the years.
• Add when the car was last serviced, and if the cambelt has been replaced within the last 12 months, include this too.
• If you have an agreed valuation certificate, then include this figure.
• If parked in a dry garage or undercover, include this.

For example, if you receive this email or one that appears to be from us, it will likely be a scam.

Good Morning/Afternoon,

I’m glad you still have it for sale. I want you to keep the ad off the market and consider it sold to me. I really want to purchase the goods.

Have seen the picture and it looked absolutely beautiful! I’ll take it and I am okay with the price £xxxxx (will be above the price you are asking), and like to proceed straight with payment by certified cashiers cheque. Therefore, I would like you to get back to me with the details requested below to issue the cheque.

Your Full Name (Name on Cheque)….
Full Address (Delivery Address)…..
Phone……..

*Note: I will handle the shipment so do not worry about that. OK, the shipper will come to your location for the hauling once the cheque is cleared by your bank.

Moreover, this is my first time dealing over the internet, so do tell me more about its present condition.

Regards.

A name will be added here….

Selling a Figaro car privately can be daunting, but knowing what to expect and how to deal with buyers helps you avoid running into any problems.

The golden rules of dealing with buyers:

• Never let a buyer test drive your car alone.
• Make sure they have a valid driving license and suitable insurance cover, or you could be liable for any accident.
• Ask a close friend or relative to be with you.
• Keep hold of the car keys at all times, and never leave the buyer in the car with the keys.
• Let buyers follow their own route, as many are suspicious if you dictate which roads to take.
• If they drive recklessly, tell them to slow down or stop; it’s still your car.

Inspections

Make sure you’ve prepared your car for sale

• Allow the buyer to take their time and view the car properly.
• Avoid distracting the buyer from carrying out their own checks.
• Most buyers will want to start the car when the engine is cold, so try not to drive the car shortly before a viewing.
• Used car inspections are very popular. The buyer will pay the cost, and if you’re serious about selling the car, you shouldn’t have any objections.

Haggling

Buyers will be keen to haggle on your asking price. You need to be firm, without being unreasonable.

Decide on the lowest price you’re willing to sell the car before you begin negotiations. Don’t decline a sale if a buyer’s highest offer is only slightly below your set price – it could cost you far more in re-advertising fees, time and hassle.

Payment
The best way to take payment is in cash and at a bank, so you can pay the money straight into your account and the cashier can check for fake notes!

• Ask to be paid in cash – this is the safest method of payment.
• If you receive payment by Cheque or electronic transfer, the money can take a few days to appear in your account and you should keep possession of the car until it does.
• Ask the buyer for ID with an address and landline telephone number.
• Don’t hand over your car until the full amount is in your bank account.

Selling a Figaro can be a daunting prospect, but by knowing what to expect, you can avoid being caught out by experienced hagglers, time wasters or criminals. Follow these steps to make sure you’re not caught out.

• Don’t let a buyer go out alone, as they might not come back.
• Check they have adequate insurance cover, or you could be liable for any accidents.
• Keep a close friend or relative with you – especially if you’re selling.
• Always keep the keys on you when swapping seats or getting out of the car.
• Let buyers follow their own route, as many are suspicious if you dictate which roads to take.

Buyers will probably be keen to haggle on your asking price. You need to be firm, without being unreasonable; set a price beforehand and keep it in your head during negotiations. While this price in your mind should be the lowest you’re prepared to sell the car for, don’t decline a sale over a £50 difference in your lowest and their highest offer. It’ll cost you far more in re-advertising fees, time and hassle

Once you’ve sealed the deal, you’ll need to write a receipt acknowledging the following information:

• The date
• The amount paid
• The make and model of the car sold – Nissan Figaro
• The car’s registration
• The names and addresses of the buyer and seller

Make two copies of the receipt; one for you and one for the buyer. The most important thing for you to do next is to fill out the tear-off portion of your car’s registration document (its V5C) and send it off to the DVLA; give the top part of the V5C to the new owner. Telling the DVLA that the car has a new owner means you won’t be liable for any fines racked up after the sale.

Finish off by handing over any other useful documentation, such as:

• The car’s handbook and service records
• The MOT certificate (if it’s over three years old)
• Any paperwork that relates to the car’s warranty, if it still has one

Inform your insurance company and return the tax disc to the DVLA for a refund (unless it’s part of the deal).

In an ideal world, you’d be paid cash during office hours, which you’d pay in immediately, but this isn’t always possible. If you do receive cash, try to get it handed over in a bank, so you can pay it in immediately, and the cashier can check for fake notes. If your buyer gives you cash outside banking hours, pay it in as soon as possible.

A far better way is electronic transfer BACS. It allows you to transfer funds online. Today, it should be almost instant, but it can take a few days, so don’t release the car until the bank tells you the funds have been successfully transferred.

Personal cheques and bank or building society cheques can cause problems. Personal cheques can be cancelled or issued without the available funds in the account, so if you’ve already handed over the car, you could be left seriously out of pocket. Despite common belief, bank or building society cheques aren’t as good as cash; forged cheques are common.

Other precautions you can take include:

• Ask the bank if you can draw funds against the Cheque; asking if the Cheque has cleared can mean something different.
• If possible, go with the buyer to the bank to draw the Cheque.
• Ask the buyer for ID with an address and landline telephone number; if they’re reluctant to give this information, be wary.