[paultrfc]

hi , well the time has come to part with my MCS

I am off to Auz and theres no room in my suitcase for the mini, i am a bit gutted about selling as it is a fantastic car...

some questions

1. should i put the original mini stereo back in, it is a tape player as i wanted to hook my mp3 player to it OR sell it with my £300 alpine fitted. will i recoup this cost in the sale price?

2. personal plate - i will give this to my mum to keep it active but what is the score with changing back to a 'normal' plate.

3. people that come to test drive it do you ask to see insurance before they do? i have never been asked. what happens if they crash it??

4. roughly how much ? dark silver mcs , 53 reg (oct 03) chilli pack , sunroof, new bullets and tyres 36,500mls. i have checked auto trader is £11,500 a good starting point??

cheers for any help

Paul...

[Ant FR]

1) Well i would leave the Alpine unit in, unless you have use in Aus for it, but make it known when selling you have the original, but as tape unit not reallty of any use to most people.

2) personal plate, once transferred you will 99% get the original back ie the one it had before you put yours on, the only reason you would'nt is if the DVLA sold it on etc. If the car was registered brand new with your plate then it will be given a plate of correpsonding year.

3) Yes you do need proof , cos unless you have proof, how can you be sure that if they stack it you are covered. I know the chances are low, but last week the local Mitsubishi garage had a customer right off an Evo 9 when out on test drive, and that was witha salesman in the car. so bear that in mind.

4) Yep 11-11500 sounds about right, although if you look on Mini Cherished at the moment there is a 53 plate Cooper S Works in indi blue with same milage for 11850, so prices are creeping down a little.

PS i have to make the same sacrifice next year when i leave for Sydney, but hey they do Mini's in Oz

[Martin F]

3) The problem with someone producing an insurance cert which makes it legal for them to drive other cars eg your car, is that it is likely to only cover them for third party damage. In other words, for damage to people and things they hit and not for damage to your car. So whilst they may be legal to drive, its not much comfort to you.

When I sold my last car privately I found that my insurers would extend my policy on a temporary basis for £10 per driver. They just needed a phone call with the potential buyers details. I told the buyer he would have to pay the £10!

Even with this, take great care not to get in position where the potential buyer can drive off in your car without you.