Went to a Police auction on Saturday locally, where there was a 2001 LR Discovery II. It was in "fair" condition, but we had a hail storm here last month, and all the cars/trucks, including this one had hail marks all over top surfaces. Bidders were not allowed to drive any of the cars, but they did start all of them that would start. The Disco started and ran smooth sitting in one place. The front plastic grill was broken (hail). The drivers seat had a couple of splits in the vinyl (leather?) The console arm rest showed considerable wear, and the headliner was "just" starting to sag a teeny bit. The spare tire was history, shredded. This vehicle did not have the jump seats, did not have sunroofs. It had just over 99,000 miles. Looked underneath and there were zero drips nor was the engine or transmission damp with oil at all. I thought it maybe didn't have any oil in it. (ha ha). But I checked the dip stick and it did have oil. It did not have a CD changer. I am thinking it was stone stock in accessories. I was prepared to bid up to maybe $3500, but this vehicle went for $5500. This is Kelly Blue Book for "fair" condition vehicle. As further example of prices at this auction of siezed vehicles, a 2000 BMW BX5 which did not start (but officials said they had driven it) went for $8800.00. A 1993 Nissan Maxima went for $2000. A 2000 Volkswagon Jetta went for $4250. While I went home after the Disco went up, the only "bargain" I witnessed being sold was a 1992 Buick Roadmaster in very nice shape for $700. (I like big cars). A 2000 Cadillac Escalade that did not start (broken fan belt) in just fair cosmetic condition went for $4100. I think these prices are crazy for "as is" vehicles that one could not even validate their condition by driving them. Of all the vehicles at the auction (total of 30), the vehicles that seemed to get the most pre-auction interest were the Discovery and the BMW BX5 suv.

 

Those cars will end up on dealer lots for a premo price. Most dealers buy their used cars from aution, not police auction, but auction.
Aguy I used to work withmakes big money transporting cars from aution houses to dealer lots, he has a semi and a flat bed straight trk. Two guys make 2 trips aday each.
The dealer "pretty's" up the car and sells it for way more than they paid. If the car is to much work/money to fix it up then it will end up either at the "budget/anybody gets a loan" lot or back at aution.

 

To go for a "premo" price, the 100's of little golf-ball size craters from hail damage would have to be fixed on all the cars.

 

Hail damage is a easy paintless fix for a pro.