I have just come back from Turners Auctions and am stunned at the amazingly cheap prices of auctioned cars. Its an area I hadn't investigated much before, but its certianly the way i would purchase vehicles in the future.

We went to the under $6000 auction here in chch to get a car for a german friend, and saw many direct Jap imports, and 1996 + newer cars being passed in (not sold in auction lingo) at around $2000 to $4000. Seems that car dealers buy the cars and then add their 1/3 profit and on sell them to us.

For the euro lovers, there was a saab 9000 passed in at $3500 (I think) heaps of festivas which sold at around $3500 to $5000. A 1990's volvo went for about $2500.

Saw a nice 1995 Legacy, with all the works, pass in for $2500, with no bidders.

I would do what we did, go and just see what the prices are first, there are tons of cars passing through, so another week is a new set. I was totally stunned.

Many cars not sold (about 70% when we were there) will rotate around in a week or two. By then you have a fair idea of the reserve price. Seems cars will go for the MINIMUM listed on their windows rather than the max.

Here is their site..
http://turners.co.nz/

and you can get a catalogue for the upcoming auctions online to check out.

I was soooo tempted to get one on the spot, so tie your hands behind your back on the first time there. Try it, its an eye opener...