I had to sell my Audi and it was even easier than I hoped

Whilst an Audi TT is a lot of fun to drive, we are a one-car family and when fatherhood loomed I knew I'd need to find something a little more child-friendly.

Unfortunately, I hadn't the faintest clue where to start when I decided to sell my Audi. I knew that if I could find the right person I could convince them to buy my Audi; that would just be a matter of giving them the keys and letting them have half an hour behind the wheel (which was twice as long as it took me). The sports car comes with a 3.2L VR6 engine, four-wheel drive system, spoiler and improved suspension, which means it is more predictable and safer than the earlier models. Driving an Audi TT is a world apart from the kind of car I'll be using in the future, but needs must.

I started by making my car as attractive as possible to prospective Audi buyers. I cleaned it inside and out and took it in to have it polished and repair a scratch on one of the doors I'd been putting off dealing with. Once I'd finished it looked as good as new, making me remember the reasons I'd bought an Audi in the first place. Sleek lines and gleaming bodywork, it looks as good as it handles on the winding country roads on my journey to work.

After that I put the word out among my colleagues that I wanted to sell my Audi. I'd bought my Audi on the recommendation of one of my friends and figured that if I could enthuse my workmates enough I might find a suitable buyer of my own that way. I knew that at least one of them was looking for a new car, and didn't have the same restrictions that I did. At the very least, they might have an Audi buyer in mind amongst their own friends and families, and employing the power of networking seemed like the smartest thing to do. It would also avoid any commissions from third parties.

At the same time, I wasn't prepared to put all my eggs in one basket so I started hunting around on the internet for suitable Audi buyers. I also did some research into what sort of prices other people were after so I could sell my Audi for a similar amount. It varied a lot, depending on the age and condition of the car, but I was pleased to discover that I would have plenty of change after trading down to my new family model. I delayed placing an advert in the local paper because I was sure I could do it quickly myself and avoid any fees.

As it happened, I found a suitable buyer for my Audi within a week. One of my friends put me in touch with one of his colleagues and the deal was done the following weekend. I managed to sell my Audi quickly, easily and painlessly, and as I had expected he was thoroughly impressed with his new TT. Although I should have been pleased, I was actually a little dismayed at the time - I had counted on keeping it for at least another month! Still, I wasn't in a position to pass over the opportunity. We agreed the deal and I took a taxi home to continue searching for my own new ride.