Motor fanatics continue to hunt for deals on used cars at auction despite coronavirus outbreak – The Sun

IT’S 10am and I’m standing alongside dozens of traders and private buyers looking for a deal at auction.

Business as usual, then, except for two things.

The first is one person in the crowd is wearing a face mask. Just one.

The second is that all the cars being driven into the auction halls have the windows shut to protect the drivers and punters.

They are usually open for people to have a nosey.

That was the only concession to Covid-19 as a car went under the hammer every 15 seconds here at BCA Measham, Derbys, on Tuesday. Total: 580 cars sold.

Trader Gareth Molley flew in by private jet from Dublin to buy a BMW 7 Series.

He says: “There were six of us on the jet and I’m pleased I made the trip because I got a real bargain. But I don’t think I’ll be flying again until this is all over.”

Gareth paid £24,200 for a 2017 BMW 7 Series Executive long-wheelbase with 30,000 on the clock that would have cost more than £80,000 new.

The selection of cars here suited every taste and budget, with an A to Z of models from city cars to executive motors, costing a few thousand pounds upwards.

For those looking for a touch of nostalgia, there was even a classic collection, including a 1981 Ford Cortina with 45,166 miles that sold for £1,450, a 1992 Fiesta SX with 48,532 miles that went for £1,700 and a 1994 Rover 827Si with 103,442 miles that made just £950.

A classic Cooper underlined that buyers are still happy to pay £8,200 for a 20-year-old Mini with 44,138 miles on the clock, confirming yet again the popularity of the world’s favourite small car.

One dad bought a 16-reg Range Rover Evoque with 55,000 miles for his daughter for £13,700. It cost £32,545 new.

But not everyone finds the right deal, such as pensioners Chris Guest and Christine Plastow, who left empty-handed after more than two hours of searching.

Chris said: “It is getting tougher to find a bargain around £10,000, especially when it comes to low-mileage cars, which seem to fetch top money. You don’t stand a chance against the dealers.”

Not every car made its reserve. An 18-reg Audi SQ7 SUV with 20,000 miles attracted a bid of £45,800 but was not sold.

But how about this for a bargain? A top-of-the-range 2017 Skoda Superb Laurin & Klement estate in great condition with just one owner but a high mileage of 151,582. It cost £33,275 new and sold for £7,200.

And a one-owner 2017 Range Rover Vogue with 70,000 miles, which cost £76,000 new, was snapped up for £29,800.

British Car Auctions is the country’s biggest auction group, with 23 sites selling more than a million cars every year.

It supplies nearly-new cars to everyone from the big car supermarkets to franchised and independent dealers and the general public.

Bosses hope to continue “open-door” auctions next week while monitoring Government guidelines. But clearly online bidding in the weeks and months ahead is inevitable.

Manheim Auctions, which sells north of 400,000 cars a year, is closing its 15 UK sites to the public from tomorrow.

Auctioneers will sell stock via live video links with collections at “controlled” handover locations.

A Manheim spokesman said: “The calendar of sales remains as planned but bidding will only be available to our trader account-holders. The public will not be able to buy until further notice.

“The health, safety and well-being of our employees and customers is our top priority.”

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