Price Advice - 190 Cosworth

[RonnieIrl]

I'm thinking of selling my 1990 190 2.5-16 but I'm having real difficulties coming to a realistic price.

This is a pristine, original car, 105K, full leather, aircon, all the gubbins. It's still registered in Northern Ireland, so no problems selling in the UK. But my problem is, the classic car magazine only seem to list the 2.3-16; they're saying v. good condition, private sale is about £10 - 11,000.

However, the only price guide I can find for the 2.5-16 is an Auto Trader sort of mag, and they're saying £3 - 4000!

Obviously, I find this a huge difference. And to be honest I don't want to give such a good car away for next to nothing. Anyone any opinions, or know any realistic prices for 2.5 Cosworths sold recently ?

 

[jaymanek]

Hi mate,

although i havent personally owned a cossie, i doubt that youll get 10K... i have seen them for half that price.. If your car is mint then you can ask for top dollar, but usually no matter how immaculate, the mileage needs to be very low to command that sort of money. To get the best audience, advertise in Mercedes Enthusiast magazine or in club magazines....

Jay

 

[mike65]

I know nothing about the cars value but I agree about the marketing
sticking it in a general car sellers/buyers rag is a waste to time and money You'll get no end of 20-something tyre kickers... (no offence to 20-somethings!). A specialist car needs aiming carefully at the right market.

Parkers price for 2.5 16v - http://www.parkers.co.uk/pricing/us...1402&year=1989&plate=G &pay=false Ouch!

Mike.

 

[NormanB]

Hi Ronnie

I sympathise with you.

The car that you know and love is always worth more to you than anyone else. That is why I always move my unwanted metal around the family or at a push friends if I can. I hate 'giving' erstwhile good cars to a stranger. I would rather take a bit of a hit and give a family member a bargain. They of course get a known product with known history - I always used to worry a bit that major failures would come back to haunt me - but they never have.

I suppose you could try and sell it on the forum - after all we hardly fall into the stranger category :wink:

Good luck in finding a good home and a good price for your car!

 

[RonnieIrl]

Thanks for the help... sadly nothing I didn't really know

In a twist of irony had a guy who deals in classics call round to the house where the car is kept yesterday to have a look and maybe suggest a price... he ended up going away having bought my mother's MR2 which was in the garage beside it, and is coming back to me tomorrow with a price for my Cobra replica! (this is typical Northern Ireland car trading)

I'm sort of heading in your direction NormanB... my dad's been driving the car occassionally and he's slowly coming to the obvious conclusion that it's better than his 156 Alfa, so perhaps it's going to stay in the family a little longer.

I think it's going to be one of those cases of "someone, somewhere" wants it - I spent about 5 months trying to locate a good 2.5 Cosworth when I bought it in 98, but it had been sitting at a dealers for 5 months before I came along, so I'll keep mentioning it's available to anyone with an interest and perhaps eventually it'll find a good new home.

And, of course, anyone reading this...

 

[NickO]

Ronnie, i'm quite a fan and an owner of 2.5-16 model...so here goes

About 18 months ago i picked up an original immaculate 2 owner 1993 2.5-16 for £6.5K in the UK. Immaculate with 60-70K on the clock in black/blue...with full spec (leather, a/c, s/r, e/w etc etc) and full M-B Germany history, yes it was a LHD and had belonged to a German based UK businessman.

At the time i felt i had found a bargain regardless of the lhd. And upon viewing it became apparent that the seller wasn't totally aware of what they were selling, they thought it was a slightly sportier spec 190E. A typical rhd equivalent would no doubt go for more i'm sure in the UK, although with these models i feel its the condition, history, spec and originality that sell them (lhd or rhd is not a worry of mine).

Took me about 7 months to locate a car that met my requirements....original, genuine, full history in vgc etc. Not sure if you've sold your car just yet but there is sure to be someone out there with the same requirements that has yet to discover yours is up for sale.

In the current market i've seen totally immaculate G & H cars with below 50K going for up to £10K. Alternatively i've seen equivalent cars with 100K going for £3.5K-£6K.

There are many abused 2.3 and 2.5-16's knocking about with horror repair bills awaitng around the corner too. A bargain if someone is prepared to spend as much as thier initial purchase value again in repairs alone. So depending on what part of the condition, spec and service history spectrum you feel the car falls into up to 6K could be commanded in my humble opinion.

Do be carefull who you pass her onto good examples are few and far between.

All the best.