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What No One Tells You About Selling Your Second Hand Car In Australia

Earlier this year my colleague went down the rabbit hole of buying his first-ever car and bestowed upon us his newfound knowledge. Not being from Australia, much of it was new and useful insider information – I wasn’t aware of pre-inspections and I’m used to dealing in miles, not kilometres. However, I had already bought myself a used car Down Under (I reckon I would have ended up with something different, had I been able to take heed of the advice).

It wasn’t my first car; I’ve been driving for just over 10 years now and have sat behind the steering wheel of three vehicles previously. But this Australian motor – also a Subaru Forester, like my colleague James’ (just older and more beat up). It was the first car I had bought outright with all my own money.

It was cheap (weirdly cheap compared to what I’m used to) and was bought solely for the purpose of getting me around parts of Australia with the occasional road trip thrown in (there was only one, to Byron Bay, naturally) until my visa expired and I would have to fly back to Blighty.

Then The Bat Kiss came and I found myself facing a dilemma, do I go home, not knowing when the hell I’d be able to return to the country I’d fallen in love with and could call my new home, or find a way of staying longer. The fact I’m writing this should already prove the latter is the route I went down. New visa it was and so it was time to buy a new car, because my poor old Subie appeared to be on its last legs (and I felt I deserved something better).

So, time to sell the Forester. The only issue being, I’d never actually sold a car before. I’ve written off; passed on to my sister and left in the UK (in that order) but never sold one to a complete stranger.

Where would I advertise it? Would anyone actually want it? Would I be able to keep a straight face when telling any prospective buyers that there was nothing wrong with it?

Not only can I now answer those questions personally, but, having also spoken to Carsales’ Technical Editor Ken Gratton I can impart some professional answers to these questions too.

I didn’t take my colleague’s advice

I say “didn’t”, I probably actually mean, I forgot to review James’ piece about buying a used car and reverse it. My Subaru didn’t have a logbook, just a glove box of receipts passed on to me by the previous owner (a red flag according to James).

Clearly I must have a way with words because the sole inspector I did have wasn’t bothered.

Facebook Marketplace is a godsend and a nightmare

I only advertised my car on Facebook Marketplace, partly because it was free and also because, having been looking for a replacement vehicle myself on the platform, it offers a great chance for plentiful pairs of eyes.

And many eyes did my advert get. The only issue being, everyone sends the default “Is this still available?” message.

I’m not one to keep people hanging on an answer, so I was never sure if just seeing the notification of the message meant I had read it. I didn’t want to open message threads I wasn’t going to answer to.

I did, however, receive some messages that had clearly been written by the person on the other end. These are the ones I responded to because I felt they were actually real people.

Make the advert as detailed as possible

Is what I wished I could have done. “No known issues”, I put because I genuinely didn’t know if it had anything wrong with it. My Forester had been to a garage a couple of times a couple of weeks prior to me advertising, just to get a couple of essential things fixed, but it otherwise drove alright.

So when people asked “are there any issues?”, I didn’t have a backup response. It was only when people came round to inspect that I informed them of the work that had been done and what I assumed would need doing. I’m no mechanic though, I’m more of the tyre-kicking type.

Had I known exactly what needed doing, however, I definitely would have made the advert more detailed to avoid those annoying questions.

What saved me, I feel, was that it had rego until mid-January 2021. Apparently Australians love cars with rego still attached. To this, Mr Gratton says if you don’t have registration, “accept negotiating a lower selling price”. He also suggests “having the car serviced if it’s scheduled for around the time you’re planning to sell.”

As for the actual advertising, Mr Gratton says “take lots of photos.”

“You need a photo displaying the car in front 3/4, rear 3/4, side, front, back, interior (front seats and dashboard/centre fascia, plus rear seats), engine and boot.”

“Additional detail shots will help, such as of the alloy wheels, badgetwork, headlights, fog lights, air vents and grille etc.”

Clean it

I was prepared to show off my Subie in its then-current condition, which in hindsight, could have been detrimental to the amount of money I could ask for.

It was only a quick chat to mum that she asked: “is it clean?”. Safe to say, I went to my nearest car wash that night, washed it, waxed it (yes, really) and vacuumed it out.

A wise move.

Mr Gratton agrees, “Make sure the car is clean as possible, which may mean slinging some money the way of a detailer.”

“[You’ll want to] clean, polish and vacuum the interior, cleaning the glass, steam-cleaning the engine bay, clearing out dead leaves ahead of the windscreen or jammed between the boot lid and the rear quarter panels.”

“Buy some tyre shine and perhaps some alloy-wheel cleaning chemical. Vacuum underneath the seats and remove everything except the owners manual, service booklet and receipts from the glovebox.”

Be prepared to be put on the spot during inspections

When my first (and subsequently only) customer came to inspect, he immediately told me I had an oil leak (an unknown issue, remember).

Mechanical speak can make me nervous because I don’t pertain any, so I fumbled my words a little and simply said: “oh really?”. I then had to answer a few more questions as best as I could while seeming as professional and knowledgable as possible.

I think I came off ok.

From a professional point of view, Mr Gratton says “selling your car is a business transaction, not a fight to the death. Be friendly when you welcome the buyer to inspect your car and talk them through everything it has going for it, as well as any blemishes”

“They will appreciate your honesty”

Resist punching the air when you make a sale

I was surprised, to say the least when the sole inspector offered to take it off my hands. It was for less than what I had advertised, but I knew it would be negotiated and I was prepared for it. What he offered me was the lowest amount I would take and still be happy.

Just for it to be gone was enough.

Find the replacement

I had already been looking for my Forester’s replacement, and although there was a sentimental attachment there, I can’t say I miss the thing. It’s since been replaced by a Subaru Liberty, one that certainly tugged at my heartstrings with a nice paint job, black rims and a good sound system.

I’ve since found out that once again I should have taken my colleagues’ advice, as my mechanic has now found an oil leak on one of the head gaskets. An account-crippling repair, and one that probably could have been avoided with a pre-inspection.

Oh, and just the morning of writing this, I scuffed one of the alloys.

I really need to start learning more about how Australia works.

Check out the summer outfits for men inspiration below…

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‘Bugatti Killer’ On Sale In Perth Is Australia’s Rarest 90s Maserati

The Italian motoring industry is one of the largest in the world, and many of the world’s most iconic brands hail from the Stivale: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Pagani… With so many illustrious names, it’s hard to keep track. That’s not to mention the many brands that are no longer, like Bizzarrini, De Tomaso or Lancia (the latter technically still exists but only sells one car, the Fiat 500-derived Ypsilon, which looks to be the last vehicle they ever produce).

Maserati was another Italian performance marque that looked to join the graveyard of departed car brands many times during the 20th century. After years of rocky finances and flitting between different owners, the brand has finally found its footing as part of a branding group with Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Abarth under the huge Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) umbrella.

However, Maserati isn’t the same brand as it was in the 20th century. Ferrari, who controlled the marque from 1999 to 2005, effectively transformed Maserati into Ferrari’s luxury division. Fiat has continued to treat the brand as such, and Maserati these days focuses on creating luxurious, big cars to compete with the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and BMW. Maseratis are still sporty cars, but many feel as if Maserati has lost much of its more focused sporting character since Ferrari and FCA have been at the helm.

Luckily, old Maseratis still exist, although it’s hard to find many in good condition – modern Maseratis might be more boring (although that’s a matter of opinion), but they’re certainly more reliable. But that’s just Italian flair, you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth. Speaking of smooth, let’s get to the point: this 1997 Maserati Ghibli GT on sale in Floreat, Perth is an immaculate, sporty example of everything that makes Maserati great.

How do you say ‘nice bum’ in Italian? Asking for a friend. Image: Carsales

“Designed by Italian design supremo Marcello Gandini who penned the Lamborghini Countach and Alfa Romeo Montreal, the Ghibli GT had the highest ever per litre power output of any street-legal car [at the time], surpassing the Bugatti EB110 and Jaguar XJ220,” the seller relates.

“Very quick, have pod fillers currently fitted but original air boxes can be reinstalled if the screaming turbo induction noise offends. One of only three white Ghibli GTs delivered to Australia. Only 1063 of these bespoke Italian chariots were produced by the Modena factory, so [they’re] extremely rare.”

“Very rare Getrag 6 speed manual (most Ghiblis were supplied as 4-speed automatics). Interestingly this was the same transmission as chosen for the legendary BMW E36 M3. These cars were also fitted with the same Ranger differential that was fitted to their cousin, the sublime Ferrari 456 grand tourer.”

“This car spent a large part of its life in sunny/dry Western Australia, went east for 4 years and returned home in 2016. Only 68,400.00 km from new, serious money spent by previous owners… Retrospective engineering approval was gained for brakes as part of securing a roadworthy for this car when re-registering on its return to Western Australia [and the] braking test surpassed current 991 Porsche braking distances.”

A surprisingly uncluttered engine bay for a 90s Italian car. Image: Carsales

The Ghibli GT was and remains a particularly fast car: its twin-turbocharged 2.8L V6 made 228kW in the GT, the fastest version of the second-generation Ghibli ever sold in Australia. For reference, that’s only 32 more than the current third-gen Ghibli – which is a much bigger, bulkier car (that also has a more than two decades-newer design). Hell, you can’t even get a new Ghibli with a manual transmission; it’s not an option.

From an aesthetic perspective, the older Ghibli GT is a much more distinctive car, too. While it does share much in common styling-wise with the bigger Biturbo it replaced, it’s very much its own car. If anything, it looks more its contemporary rival, the Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione II, particularly in a paint job like this baby – although the Ghibli GT is much more refined and a coupé as opposed to a hatchback.

Inside, it continues to impress aesthetically. Swathes of luscious, completely unmarked dark blue Connolly leather and light blue Alcantara are contrasted by beautiful burr walnut trim. The steering wheel is not original (although the original is supplied) but it is period-accurate: the same wheel was fitted to the rarer, explicitly race-focused Ghibli Cup, which never made its way Down Under.

So clean, it’s almost as if no bunga bunga parties have ever happened in here. A shame, really. Image: Carsales

We’re strongly of the belief that the 90s is one of the best periods in time for cars. It was an era of technological innovation, striking designs and fun: cars really haven’t been as fun since. The past custodians of this Ghibli are clearly on the same page, because this car’s condition simply beggars belief.

Someone else who likes 90s Maseratis is Cary Joji Fukunaga, the director of the upcoming twenty-fifth James Bond film, No Time To Die. In the latest trailer for the much-anticipated picture, a fourth-generation Maserati Quattroporte from the same era as our lovely Ghibli GT can be seen attempting to run down Daniel Craig as the famous fictional spy.

If you want to get in on the 90s Maserati action, this spicy Ghibli GT is listed for an eminently reasonable $42,000 on Carsales. Get on it pronto.

The Nose Knows

When tasting any fine alcohol for the first time, it’s a natural inclination to want to sniff your drink before you knock it back. However, this leads to one of the most common mistakes whisky novices make: breathing in too deep and too close.

Alcohol is a powerful solvent that can irritate your body’s mucous membranes, especially those in your nose and throat. If you breathe in too close and too deeply, the vaporised alcohol can “burn your schnoz,” Lilburne-Fini explains, which can damage your olfactories and compromise your sense of taste.

Instead, Lilburne-Fini recommends holding the glass about 20cm from your nose, and breathing in with both your nose and your mouth. That way, you’re still getting to smell the whisky, without damaging your nose. Then take a sip.

Flavour Combinations

While we’ve just recommended not sniffing whisky like you’d sniff wine, you should definitely consider how it pairs with food in a similar way. Just as you’d pair a nice Shiraz with a steak, different whiskys suit different foods, and you can open yourself up to a whole new world of flavour combinations, experts relate.

For example, the characteristically sweet-spicy nature of Speyside Scotches pair exceptionally well with chocolates or cheeses, like Maasdam or Emmentaler. Alternatively, the smoky peat flavours of an Islay single malt match nicely with red meat.

Lilburne-Fini recommends chasing a taste of whisky with a morsel of food in order to allow the tastes to mingle in your mouth, and allow the whisky to develop even more complex flavour profiles.

Whisky Cocktails

While whisky is great neat or on the rocks, it’s also the perfect basis for a cocktail.

Lilburne-Fini is a great proponent of the Rob Roy, a cocktail very similar to a Manhattan except exclusively made with Scotch as opposed to rye or bourbon. It’s easy to make, too – simply a combination of sweet vermouth (e.g. 1757 Rosso) and Scotch, with a dash of bitters and garnished with a Maraschino cherry.

Another way to use whisky, which is becoming incredibly popular in Australia, is in a highball. The Japanese have long been fans of the humble whisky highball: go to any pub in Tokyo and you’ll see just as many highballs as beer. To elevate a highball above a simple Scotch and soda, you can simply add a squirt of citrus such as lemon or yuzu.

A classy way to have your whisky is to order it with a ‘water back’ – that is, to chase it with a sip of water. That way, you don’t compromise or dilute the whisky itself, but make sure you’re drinking responsibly. It’s also a way to get cred with bartenders; they’ll respect your drinking nous.

Of course, drink whisky however you like. Just remember to always spell it without the ‘e’ if you’re talking about Scotch (the Irish and Americans use ‘whiskey’ instead).

‘Cash Is King’: Australian Economist Explains Why We Should Hold On To Our Notes

Despite our international reputation as a bunch of uncouth, cricket ball sanding, barbeque loving bogans, Australians are actually incredibly tech-savvy and we have consistently led the world in the adoption of new technologies. One area where this is particularly apparent is in the realm of finance. Not only was Australia the first country in the world to use polymer banknotes, but we were among the first countries to widely adopt contactless payment (e.g. tap-and-go, mobile payments, etc.)

Indeed, Australia has hit a contactless payment ‘saturation point’, Westpac reported in 2017 – over 90% of all Visa card payments made in Australia are contactless, a trend that’s continued to grow, particularly in 2020. Contactless payments have been touted as a more hygienic way of transacting compared to handling cash, swiping a card or writing cheques during These Unprecedented Times.

Not that many people write cheques these days. According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, 52% of payments are made by car (of which 66% are contactless), 37% by cash and only 0.2% by cheque. When credit cards were first introduced, cash often still beat card for convenience, especially when it came to small purchases. But now that contactless payment methods are so widespread and so accessible, credit has supplanted cash as the go-to for small payments. You can pay for anything from a chiro visit to a coffee in seconds and not have to worry about carrying around change.

Contactless payment poses a real threat to physical currency, particularly right now when there’s heightened concerns about hygiene. On top of that, credit is widely considered to be safer and more environmentally friendly than cash. Of course, we haven’t even begun to talk about online payment, which makes up another 13% of all payments, and is another payment method that doesn’t rely on real-world dollars and cents.

Being that we’re usually so ahead of the curve with these things, does that mean cash won’t exist in Australia in a few year’s time? Most Australians would probably agree that they could live without it, but one expert suggests that we shouldn’t be so quick to give up our cold hard cash. Economics Explained, an Australian finance YouTube channel with over 624,000 subscribers, dissects how moving away from cash entirely could have unforeseen consequences for Australian consumers.

His video covers a lot, and is definitely worth a watch in full, but we’d like to focus in on two main angles: value and privacy.

The first major problem with moving to a cashless society is that consumers will be at the mercy of merchants. When you pay by card, whether that’s credit or debit, businesses attract transaction fees. Sometimes businesses will simply note that they add a surcharge for card users, but it’s more common that they’ll pass on that fee to consumers by raising prices – which affects those who pay by cash, too. Effectively, those who use cash subsidise those who use credit, and if we ditch cash entirely, that won’t happen any more. It’ll also allow merchants to raise their prices, because they won’t have competition from cash.

The other major problem Economics Explained mention about going cashless is the privacy angle. He compared how in China, mobile payments such as AliPay and WeChat Pay are prolific, and unlike Western services like Apple Pay don’t charge a transaction fee. However, they do collect a huge amount of data about what you’re purchasing, with the Chinese government effectively subsidising the difference in order to continue their surveillance.

Indeed, that’s one of the main reasons cash still gets used: it’s anonymous, which is precisely one of the main reasons financial institutions and governments are so keen to get people to go contactless. Fraud – whether that’s getting paid cash in hand for painting a fence or organised crime raking in millions in ill-gotten gains – is something governments are obviously keen to stamp out. Businesses too want to collect our data in order to sell more stuff to us. The issue is that we can’t always trust governments or businesses to handle our personal information.

The cashless society argument effectively boils down to inconvenience/sustainability vs price/safety. Are we happy to deal with the hassle of manufacturing and transacting with physical currency if it means lower prices and more personal privacy? It’s hard to say. Consumers already readily give up their privacy in exchange for goods and services. That’s how social media works: you get to use this thing for free in exchange for companies targeting you with advertising.

Alternatively, you could eschew both options entirely and just invest in gold – although that comes with its own issues…