Have you ever noticed how some cars languish on lots for weeks (or even months) while others disappear almost immediately? It doesn’t always have to do with price or, indeed, obvious things such as mileage. There are hidden influences that make certain vehicles far more appealing to buyers.
Color Is More Important Than Anyone Wants to Believe
One thing many people wouldn’t consider until it’s too late is color. White, silver, and black are some of the three most important car colors on the road today. They appeal to a large enough buyer pool that they have the best chance of moving. They’re also neutral enough colors to be considered safe.
However, regional preferences play a larger role than one would assume. In hotter climates, lighter colors become more appealing as they absorb less heat. For example, no one wants to get into a black car in the middle of summer after it’s been sitting in the sun all day; however, a cherry red sports car might look great in theory, but it rules out all buyers who are not specifically looking for that. Unique color choices can be tough to sell – even if they happen to be trending at the time.
For example, what is interesting and fresh today can be considered out of date in three years when someone wants to move on.
Owner History Counts
It’s a psychological fact that single-owner cars move faster. When a buyer sees a vehicle with multiple owners (especially in quick succession), they immediately wonder what was wrong with it. Why couldn’t anyone keep the car?
Even if there’s a logical explanation (relocation or family dynamics, perhaps) as to why a car has moved ownership hands, the psychological damage is done. Tenure is tied to careful ownership; thus, a car owned by one person for five years tells a better story than one owned by three people in five years.
Service History Beats Out Other Factors
This is where it gets interesting. A complete service history does not necessarily play in everyone else’s favor; rather, it’s what separates two cars when both have everything else going for them – make and model, mileage, color – and it’s virtually beyond the control of a seller.
It’s one thing to say you’ve had service on your vehicle. It’s another to provide documentation of oil changes, brakes checked and serviced, and maintenance every six months (or consistently at parallel intervals). The way a buyer sees it is this vehicle was someone’s pride and joy; thus, it obviously was looked after properly as a priority and not as an afterthought.
The failure to maintain owner records raises immediate red flags. What else could have been missed? What’s done in good faith without receipts?
Spec Level Wins Out
The lower end of the spectrum makes cars harder to sell while those with mid-range specs find quicker success. Most buyers want at least one creature comfort – air conditioning, sound system, parking sensors – and as they browse cars for sale Perth, dealerships confirm this idea – vehicles with optional extras (reverse cameras, Bluetooth accessibility, safety packages) always seem to garner more interest than those without features.
On the contrary, the top-tier lux specs are harder to move too; at this point, buyers are discerning and picky with limited pools. The mid-range sweet spot seems to give enough features without feeling ripped off – or paying for them for no reason either.
The Sweet Spot for Age and Mileage
It’s ironic how there’s a sweet spot when cars become surprisingly appealing to buyers. Either buyers fear buying too old or too new (in terms of depreciation). If they view a vehicle that’s nearly new, buyers are afraid of depreciation and loss of income. If they view an old clunker, buyers fear reliability issues.
Instead, the ideal buyer is looking for something 3-7 years old. The initial depreciation shock has plateaued; modern features are accessible enough for safety; warranty and insurance are still viable for safety net goals. While numbers matter when it comes to mileage, it’s not merely enough – it’s about circumstance. A five-year-old car with highway miles has less wear and tear than a three-year-old car with stop-and-go traffic wear and tear.
Name Brand Rules
There are some manufacturers out there whose reputation precedes them and makes purchase appeal easy. For example, Toyota has tremendous appeal for reliability. Honda vehicles do as well – they make vehicles that will run forever as long as basic services occur (oil changes, air filters) at regular intervals.
The caveat? It must be the right vehicle for the right person. For example, just because a manufacturer has a great reputation doesn’t mean their minivans trump their sedans or their SUVs or trucks, either. Buyers do their research for vehicles through models – not brands – therefore subtleties matter.
Fuel Efficiency Doesn’t Get Old
This has evolved over time but fuel efficiency becomes more and more important daily. With gas prices fluctuating wildly over time – and often year to year – buyers are becoming budget conscious with running costs, too. Therefore, low-fuel consumption cars will always win over those that guzzle gas – even if the sale price is slightly higher.
Diesel vs petrol factors into play as well; once upon a time diesel was best for those running highway miles but now it varies based on who drives more frequently where – the type of driving someone does dictates who the ideal buyer would be in which circumstance.
Layouts Are More Important Than Quirks
Another factor constantly noted by dealers is layout versus design. A highly practical interior overrules effective but awkward clever layouts. For example, a uniquely designed dashboard might boast interesting cupholders but if your backseat is jammed or your middle console not functional enough for necessary storage, buyers see this instantly.
In addition, five-seater SUVs outnumber seven-seaters often due to clearance and storage rather than needing an occasional seventh seat that’s cramped anyway; sedan buyers want a sizeable boot; hatchback buyers want seats that fold flat. Convenience matters over aesthetics every time.
Timing Matters
Car types that work best at certain times boost sale effectiveness. For example, four-wheel drives or SUVs move quicker before winter or holiday seasons when traveling plans kick in; convertibles or sportier cars work faster come springtime or summer months when windows down create interest.
Tax time spurs interest across the board as does the end of financial year for business searches – needing to find purpose before budgets cut up money – if people miss these opportunities certain vehicles sit around longer than they should since the season passes quickly without notice.
Clean Title and No Questions
While this seems like common sense, any question marks from the onset about history on vehicles kill interest dead in its tracks. Written-off vehicles that were repaired – even minor accidents – cause concern; odometer discrepancies or outstanding finance registration questions will have people walking away before initial conversations begin.
Transparency is critical here; if there was any history (even in minuscule proportions), disclosing information fosters more good faith than hiding something that will ultimately show up on a title check regardless.
The Bottom Line
What’s easy to sell usually emerges from several factors rather than one major component making things easier – and those cars that sit around longer usually have multiple working against them – paint color trends; spotty service histories; ownership counts; unattractive specs – which even if competitively priced won’t make all things equal.
Therefore as a buyer or seller it’s vital to understand these hidden influences so they either make sense while buying or selling easier or serve as cautionary tales down the line about why someone shouldn’t stay fixated on what seems like a perfectly priced car without recognizing potential pitfalls down the line that retroactively make sense once you’ve got skin in the game.