Yeah... good point.
Few years ago there was plenty good value at Merlin with probably 1 in 3 cars at a better price than classifieds or forecourts.
The past year... more like maybe 1 in 150 cars good value... rest are at market value, or in many cases over market value.
Not only that... but regardless of invoice cost... lots of "dirt" and few genuine motors there now when compared to some years ago (crash repaired, clocked, mechanical / electrical failures which in some cases are nigh on impossible to get right and total money pits etc).
Probably need a "good" financial crash before good value and better selection of ok motors return to the auction houses.
On that note... saw article in the paper that Duffy's is setting up a national network of "car supermarkets" to sell cars at "low" prices that are not negotiable. Obviously this will lead to even less stock for the auctions as Duffy one of the biggest sources of Merlin stock. I suppose that Duffy's decided they may as well retail the cars directly themselves instead of letting Merlin take their cut and then the smaller traders etc. Similarly there are now several of the rental and leasing companies selling their own cars instead of using auctions. Market fast being "tied" up...
