Wallet Watch: used car sales acronyms explained
Today we're looking at:
Used car sales acronyms. Selling your old car is easier now thanks to the good old Internet and all the lovely space it provides to write big, tear-jerking adverts about how wonderful your old banger is. It wasn't always like that, though: not so long ago, hapless sellers had a page space of about an inch square in a newspaper or trade magazine to do the same thing.
The solution was to chop everything down to its bare minimum, which led to a flurry of commonly used acronyms - loads of which are still in use today. So, if you're confused about what they are, prepare to be un-confused. It's as simple as that really.
Your options are:
ONO: or nearest offer
In other words: "I'll take a bit less, but don't go much lower than this."
OVNO: or very nearest offer
In other words: "I'll take a bit less, but really don't go much lower than this."
FSH/FDSH: full service history / full dealer service history
In other words: "It's been looked after properly, and I have the paper to prove it."
ABS: anti-lock brakes
In other words: "It's safer than it looks."
A/C: air conditioning
In other words: "Icy cold air is only a dial away."
PAS: power-assisted steering
In other words: "No more aching arms."
R/CD: radio, CD player
In other words: "Finally, you can ditch the cassettes."
TC: traction control
In other words: "It's definitely safer than it looks."
CC: cruise control
In other words: "Right foot not necessary."
AWD: all-wheel drive
In other words: "Gas guzzler."
RWD: rear-wheel drive
In other words: "Proper car."
GPS: global positioning system (satnav)
In other words: "No more suction cup marks on the windscreen"
EW: electric windows
In other words: "Remember wind-down windows?"
RCL: remote central locking
In other words: "Remember putting the key in the door?"
VGC: very good condition
In other words: "That's not Polyfiller - it's meant to look like that."
P/X: part exchange
In other words: "I'm desperate to get rid of it, so how about a swap?"
EM: electric mirrors
In other words: "No more leaning across the front seat passenger"
Here's how to save:
The above list is by no means exhaustive, but knowing these common acronyms won't so much save you money as make you savvy about what you're looking at - which should stop you wasting any time. Mind, if you're paying to sell your car per letter, we may well just have saved you a small fortune here...
