I agree with this! I enjoy seeing them pass through and looking at the prices but wouldn't bid for one myself. I had a poor expirience buying my last car (924 Turbo S2) from auction, alledgedly 'Fully Restored' by Porsche Centre Bolton. After weeks of doing work that a OPC should have done lets just say i'm passed it with online auctions.I'm going to try and be careful how I word this, as I wouldn't want to ruffle feathers...
In it's early days, I used to thoroughly enjoy the whole CC experience and indeed indulged in a good amount of bidding on certain things, which generally always went beyond my self imposed limit, something which now, I'm probably relieved about.
Then things got more serious, about 3 years ago I began a search for a specific vehicle, backed up with a healthy budget, this wasn't just blithely bidding for kicks on the off chance of snagging something interesting, and thus CC was often my 1st port of call on this search and a good few examples of this particular motorcar were often available and this is when I started to get a different viewpoint. When it comes to the car in question, I'll have to confess I'm sadly one of those annoying geeky rivet counter types, I know the cars inside out from many hours, wasted some might say, tinkering, tuning, building and re-building the bloody things in my teens and twenties. I know what's what as it were.
Glossy, outwardly attractive examples of the things popped up like shiny buses on CC, and I'd be all over them, but the more I looked the more disenchanted I became. Every one, and I mean that... every bloody single one had some sort of issue. And I'm talking about the sort of issues way beyond just being a dog dressed up in a dinner jacket. When my interest and questions on a particular car quite clearly NOT the car it was claiming to be culminated in some rude reactionary words from a 'famous' racing driver of some notoriety sticking up for his mate I decided, I was out. CC was not the place for me to be buying one of these cars, one thing (among many) I can't abide is wool pulling.
So, I've since taken a step back, but certainly watched with interest the Trophy phenomenon on there, and I think it has certainly had a good hand in raising awareness and also the value of the cars in the last few years, which as owner/enthusiasts we should indeed be grateful for. It's just, as others have mentioned, all a bit blind, all a little bit too caveat emptor, and I think that in a way is where it's starting to let itself down sadly. It's probably still the best place to head to if you've got a Trophy to sell, but to buy? I'm not too sure, like that other old motor there's becoming too much disparity with some of these cars.
I personally now look increasingly to owners forums for specialist cars, you can get a feel for the cars, their owners, the passion, the stories (or provenance if you want to be posh...) and enthusiasm. Then when things come up for sale, you almost know the car before you view it or buy. It's perhaps a bit old-school, but it's more personal, granted probably more time and work, but for me more of a reward at the end and you generally end up making friends with like minded folk rather than being shouted down by some Goodwood pedalling gobshite.
Just my two-penneth tangent on the subject.
Another for the list Chaps - coming soon 451.
Reserve was £8500 I do believe.£7100 - unsold.
Yes.. I just saw that on the Facebook group, though it appears the owner is looking for 9+.Reserve was £8500 I do believe.