WITH car prices in the...

WITH car prices in the doldrums at the moment, youтЂ™d think there would never be a better time to head down to your local auction house and bag a bargain.

ThatтЂ™s what Auto Express reader Robin Hopes had in mind when he visited the BMW sale at his local British Car Auctions (BCA) site last month тЂ“ but he was in for a shock.

Robin, from Bedford, had scanned the classified ads and price guides to get an idea of the value of the car he was after. With a budget of ТЈ20,000, he expected to drive away in a second-hand BMW 6-Series.

тЂњI was shocked when all five of the models I was interested in were sold for more than the recommended price тЂ“ and that was before the auctioneerтЂ™s fee had been included!тЂќ Robin told us. тЂњI expected to find a bargain at auction, but I could have gone to a dealer and got a near-identical car for less money.тЂќ

We found a 2006 BMW 630i convertible, with 15,000 miles on the clock, in the classifieds. It was on offer for ТЈ22,990 at a dealership in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Robin told us that an identical 630i convertible made ТЈ26,700 at BCAтЂ™s auction тЂ“ not counting the auctioneerтЂ™s fee.

We quizzed the firm, and a spokesman said: тЂњThe market was more bullish in January тЂ“ so values crept up.тЂќ However, an official from rival Manheim explained: тЂњDealer group sales often have higher conversion rates and values than with conventional sales. Or it could be that traders at the sale were buying models to order, for a customer with a set budget.тЂќ

Auto Express also spoke to Jeff Paterson, from trade bible GlassтЂ™s Guide. He told us: тЂњThe used car market is healthier than it was last year, so values are strengthening. But auction has traditionally been the cheapest way to buy.

тЂњPerhaps that particular car had a very high spec, or it was bought by a dealer when values were at their lowest, and he had simply waited until the market strengthened and sold it on for a bigger profit at auction. тЂњHowever, if you can find a cheaper car at a dealer, thereтЂ™s no reason not to go for it.тЂќ