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Wheels.23
How best to sell a used car?	Topic Home Topics Forum Home Forums Home Search Settings Help Exit

{Wheels.23.1}: McKenzie K. Musick {mckenzie} Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:12:12 CDT (48 lines)

I don't intend to use this post as an ad to attempt to sell a car but
to discuss the concept in general. Most of us have at one time or
another sold a use car. Some have traded in their car when they
purchase another. I believe we can assume that trading in a car is the
easiest way to deal with the problem of disposing our current car if
we want to buy another. I think it is also the costliest in terms of
value received. Hypothetically car dealers always sell near high "blue
book" and never give credit for more than low "blue book" for your
used car.

So if you intend to get rid of a car you own in order to buy another
car would you sell it yourself? If so what is the best method to
determine your cars worth? There are a number of price guides like
NADA, and Kelly Blue Book. These both do a good job of helping you
estimate the value of a car ( both used and new ).

Once you decide how much you wish to get for your car what do you do?

The options include putting a For Sale sign in the window. And either
driving it around till you sell it or parking it in a conspicuous
place. I believe based on my experience of selling cars and
motorcycles that this is worthwhile but would probalby be the slowest
way to sell your car.

How about an ad in the newspaper? Which paper? The hip weekly with a
low circulation or the big statewide paper? I would do neither now
that Craigslist is available. Craigslist would be my first choice of
places to advertise anything for sale because it costs nothing.

If you have a car of special interest like a hybrid ( don't sell it!)
I would find the online group of hybrid enthusiasts to list the car
for sale even if it costs a little. ( Craigslist is free.) There are
of course Corvette websites, VW Diesel sites and etc.

What about ebay? Not for me but if you are in a hurry to sell you
might use ebay but then you might get as much from a dealer if you
trade-in.( The art of negotiation with a dealer would suggest that you
secure a best price from the dealer before you introduce your trade in
as part of the purchase. Get their best price and ask for what you
think your car to be worth.) It is really two seperate negotiations.
You have the upper hand because you have the option to walk away.

Now I have a conundrum which is the real reason I started this post. I
was recently given a 1982 Mercedes 380 4 door sedan. I personally do
not believe this car should be allowed on the road. The huge gas
engine is a major pollution factory. This car is in very good
condition and I am considering parting it out. I have never parted out
a car and don't know where to begin. Does anyone have advice?

{Wheels.23.2}: Jil {rabbit} Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:34:28 CDT (9 lines)

I won't sell a used car privately if I can trade it in. Having sold
cars privately, I've come to the conclusion that the loss I take
from the dealer more than makes up for the aggravation of dealing
with the public.

As far as parting the car out goes, it depends on your
circumstances. You're going to need a place to store the car and
eventually you'll have to dispose of what's left. I've always just
sold the car whole to someone who wants parts from it.

{Wheels.23.3}: McKenzie K. Musick {mckenzie} Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:55:14 CDT (3 lines)

Thanks Jill, great advice to sell the car whole as a parts car.

Mac from Durango CO

{Wheels.23.4}: Jil {rabbit} Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:34:54 CDT (9 lines)

The problem with parting out a car is that you never know what
people need. If you have the room and the ability to do so, you can
take it down to its core items, store them, and then advertise them
for sale. But if you don't have the room, you're going to be left
with a hulk that becomes increasingly more difficult to move around
as parts come off of it, and when it's finally time to go to the
scrapyard you could have a rough time of it.

Spoken from experience ...

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