What could be easier than clicking, prodding and pressing your electronic device and seeing thousands and thousands of cars for sale?
I love the crystal clear pictures I see online. If the picture is a rubbish one taken on a mobile with the sellers thumb in the way, then I won’t bother taking it any further.
Like the old days I can ring the seller up, but it’s even better if I can just email them. It wastes less time and money and I get all the information I need. Even better, I’ve had sellers who are tech savvy enough to send me film of the motor and scans of the documentation.
However, the fabulousness of modern technology is no substitute for going to see the car. You must never, ever get lazy and buy without trying. A great online advert should tickle your fancy and if you like the car enough then you must go back to basics and start kicking the tyres.
It's true that classified ad magazines have less of a purpose now that we can see what's for sale right now. Online ads give us that instant fix at any time of the day and in a far better format than was ever possible from those grubby, dated little mags.
Hold on there, because actually the car mags are wonderfully chock-full of nice ads, as well as some great articles too.
In fact, I am not so sure that looking exclusively online is the answer. I love the sheer randomness, particularly in the classic newspapers, when you can stumble across a fire engine and automobilia.
I get fed up looking at screens all the time and handling paper is much more satisfying. I can make notes, put rings around ads and jot details down when I phone up the seller.
I think the two can co-exist quite happily and, on balance, I would prefer to browse through a mag.
What do you think?
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Mags are best for browsing, web best for buying
Herd mentality...
So there are well defined paths that the most potential buyers tend to take, (much as you might like to think you are individual/different/& interesting).
Great if you really do want a 3 series BMW, VW Golf/A3, Mini, etc.etc.
For the oddball and unusual car this is a problem as it will never get seen...few people I suspect search for all makes/models.
James is right, searching in hard copy you suddenly come across these oddballs/wildcards which you would never have had in your consideration set ...unless you are a bit left field.
I am sure James like me has spotted such a car and decided to 'take a punt' - try something really different as a result.
Having said that I now only look on line...haven't bought a copy of Auto Trader (do they still print it?), in years.
Its the sort of thing I would buy to read on a long train journey...and I haven't done that in eons, but that's another story!