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Comments
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Edit: I just went back and looked at them again. What a mess, second option... put them up at no reserve and take the poor soul who takes on the project out to dinner! :P
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
The issue here is not so much the right way to sell this, uh, collection.... The unfathomable lunacy is winding up with the collection in the first place ;->
-Mathias
It's totally a matter of wishful thinking, with a total disconnect from reality, that the seller thinks he can just dump them off and end up with a Little Lotto amount of money in the end.
Ummm, maybe someone should break the news to the seller that it wasn't the wrong category that resulted in 0 bids, especially after 14000 people saw the listing, but rather the price.
eBay Jags
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
"http://www.personaltouchautobodyny.com/"....on his website, he mentions that his business is much slower than previously. If that is the case, why doesn't he at least build value in these Jags and do work to them? Wouldn't that make more sense? Unless he has already realized that any money invested in these Jaguars will never see a 'return on investment', and he has just given up.....
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Pretty scary engine bay, though. I think I'd walk away just based on looking at that. One engine problem and this car is totaled.
You can't treat a Benz like that.
My friend wanted to sell his '89 Toyota 4Runner. 4X4 Decent body, filthy interior, some rust spots on the removable rear cabin trim, dirty engine, 300K miles.
I told him sell it as is for $1500. He says, no, these are desirable trucks because they are 4X4 and this is last year for the removable rear section (turning it from an SUV into an instant pickup truck). This is true, people do like 'em.
So, he pays for a massive detailing $300. We buy all the materials to repaint the wheels---a good thorough job---- (+ our labor) and also install new chrome lug nuts. ($100). He buys a jack $35. He buys seat covers (the old seats were pretty bad) $60. He buys carpeting for the back (all rotted away) + glue, snaps, etc + labor ($100 materials). He buys new wiper blades (old ones hanging off), buttons for the door locks (missing), one chrome strip for windshield (missing, very ugly, leaks)---so another $150 bucks.
Then, the truck really looks GOOD, for what it is....and he advertises for $2900.
First buyer comes, says yes, backs out next morning.
Some tire kickers come, go for rides, no takers.
Another buyer comes, wants to take truck for inspection 35 miles away. Does this, comes back with long list of defects, offers $2000. My friend says no.
Another buyer comes, truck finally sells for $2500 if my friend pays for smog ($80).
SUMMARY: In my opinion, he should have just sold it for $1500 in the first place. Putting lipstick on a pig is difficult and expensive.
He basically netted $175 for all his and your labor. This sounds a lot like a Wheeler Dealer's episode!
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
I guess this fits in with the Shiftright "Basement Theory".
This theory suggests that there is an imaginary "basement floor" for ANY basically decent-looking used vehicle that is registered, passes a safety check, and has no presently horrible problems. It looks okay, it starts, it stops, it goes.
For a car in 2010, my opinion is that this basement floor is about $1500 to $2000 for a decent "grocery getter" (not a cross-country car).
Now for a 4X4 pickup, this might be a bit higher.
In the Basement Theory, mileage becomes irrelevant because the fact that the vehicle is running and decent looking defeats cheaper cars, even with 1/2 the mileage, that look worse and don't run very well.
Car that can get you to 7-11 and the gym (or bar)....sure.
makes me feel better about the last care I bought (12/08), which coincidentally, I paid exactly $2,000 for.
2000 Acura TL. 1 owner, always dealer serviced. Some scratches (although I think it got most after my son drove it to HS!).
So far, only needed an oil change and new tires, and that was just bacause my son whammed a pothole, and bulged a sidewall, so I decided better safe than sorry. We have put about 3-4K miles on it I think in the 15 months, so not exactly wearing it out.
150K on it, but it runs like 1/2 that, and the interior (other than drivers seat) looks like new.
No idea what I could get for it, but I suspect if I detailed it all up, with the new sneaks, that I could advertise at $3,995 and get plenty of action?
Certainly helps that it was a family deal (my sisters car), and she offered it to me for the same price that the dealer was giving her as a trade in!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The trans in the 528e is slipping (barely moves under its own power, but will shift gears, I've driven it VERY short distances) again: I had this problem in December, but had the fluid, filter and gasket changed ($120) and it ran/shifted fine for a couple months. So, like I said, I'm just waiting for a check (401k money I didn't even know I had....yeah, I know I should roll it over, but I'm unemployed and just need it) to at least have it looked at; clearly, if it needs a new trans, it's going bye-bye (maybe the BMW shop will buy it as a parts car, though at its age, they probably don't see much need). I'm just kinda bummed, cuz everything works, it has nice tires, runs great, brakes and steering are fine, and it looks OK, at least for 22 years old. I guess I'm saying if it were plagued with a bunch of other problems, I wouldn't mind so much the prospect of dumping it and possibly getthing another car.
I did have a guy stop me on the street, give me his number and offer another '88 528e (tan with tan leather, I guess) but we didn't get around to condition/price, etc. Plus, if I were to buy another car, it probably wouldn't be that!
As for that Acura, Stick, unless it's more beat up than I can imagine, I'd think you could get at least $5k for it, even with 150k (which isn't really all that many on a 10 year-old car, especially not a Honda). Kinda shocked a dealer would offer your sister only $2k on trade, that's laughable. FYI, just checked autotrader, cheapest TL of that era--it's a 2000--within 100 miles is $4495 and it has 220k (though a new timing belt and water pump, at least). All others are $5500-9900, the latter having 52k miles.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
clean '89 4Runner
Actually, I was thinking I would sell my '98 DGC (213K) for $1500 this Spring if I can figure out the darned electrical problem that has it hobbled right now. Otherwise, even though the mechanical, body, and interior are all in beautiful condition, it is essentially worthless.
If, of course, your indy can find a reasonable deal on a used one that checks out. Just do the math. If you can get it replaced for 2K, or sell it for $200, you are looking at having an effective $2200 in the BMW.
Or, you can have $2200 in cash, and have to find another car for that which will be as good (and non-needy!) as the 525. Might not be that easy.
I would have the same dilema on the TL if the tranny went south (also a possibility with a V6 Honda!). rest of car is very clean, engine runs strong, so if I put a rebuild in it, I would likely still be ahead of the game over what I could otherwise get for the money.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
If it starts, the van works perfectly until it is shut off. After that, it is back to the same old game. I am thinking it may be related to the Body Control Module, which is, apparently, notoriously faulty in the third generation Chrysler vans, but the link is not entirely clear to me.... :confuse:
Okay, so the re-telling was not to painful for me - was it for you?! :P
A failure to get a signal from your distributor pickup will shut down the ASD relay.
Yup. Sounds exactly like my 190E. :P
Actually, the neck-snapping has been reduced greatly since I discovered you can adjust a vacuum switch to "soften" the shifts.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Another complicating factor is the quarters-in-the-CD-player incident (kids, you know...) that preceded all these lovely happenings by a few weeks. That stunt fried the radio, but the radio fuse didn't separate when it blew... it essentially fused together such that current passed through it. As a result, it blew a little 10A fuse in the main fuse/relay box under the hood. When the fuse was blown, things such as the power door locks would not work unless the car was "on." When the fuse was replaced, the locks were fine until it blew again. I eventually tracked down the radio fuse and removed it, so I think that issue is at least temporarily resolved.
LOL! That it did.
And that example is exactly why I sold my pickup "as is" when I had the chance.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Had to order parts and wait for a free moment to fix it, so I drove the Benz Thurs, Fri, Mon, and Tues. I was so grateful to be back in the Volvo today. God I love this car.
And, in just 9 months, I can put the Benz on my Hagerty policy.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Did the $300 detail include all the parts (paint, jack, seat covers, carpet, etc) plus another $150 for the windshield strip? So, maybe $500 + labor ?
Is that the same 4Runner from post #19835?
If so, I thought the original post was a 'yes' vote on spending the money to spiff up an old vehicle like that. :confuse:
The 4Runner fans must consider it "desirable" if not collectible since they were still interested despite 300K miles. Still, I would have chosen the advice for a quick-sale at $1,500.
[..] she offered it to me for the same price that the dealer was giving her as a trade in!
All is right with the world after all.
-Mathias
As you may know, if you spiff up one part of the car, the part NEXT to the spiffed up part looks like crap.
When we washed and waxed it....well, it looked pretty dull next to those nicely painted wheels----so then it was buffed out professionally. That looked great, until you opened the hood and saw a grimey, greasy engine that contrasted sharply with the exterior---so that needed doing.
Then, when we washed it, we noticed the chrome strip missing and water leaking into the interior (he always parks in a car port and NEVER took it to a car wash).
So, you know, "the best laid plans of mice and men...etc."
Good enough for me!
Now what about the red 5 speed? Whatta you think it's worth going through the auction?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Repairs are gonna happen on a $6800 near-luxo car. You won't hear me crying about it. It doesn't detract from getting in, hitting the road, and my back is thanking me for the wonderful seat, my right foot is thanking me for the wonderful power, my ears are thanking me for the quiet ride and wonderful stereo, and my hands are thanking me for the wonderful feel of the wheel.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
after replacing the fuse, everything was fine until my wife washed it.
anyways, i disabled the programming for the easy entry seat, it slides back when you open the driver's door, put in a new fuse and so far, so good.
if the fuse goes again, i have 3 left in the pack of 5 i bought and am willing to invest another $5 for another pack of 5, before i will consider having someone else look at it.
Ah, okay got it.
It's funny how things work out. Sometimes the seller can look at his car with the optimism of an interested buyer who really wants to like it.
"Just needs a bit of TLC and cleaning and then it will fetch a good price."
The old guy who sold a 1939 Plymouth to the American Pickers TV show had a different approach. He made his old car more appealing by turning down a generous offer until the next offer was just too good to ignore.
Turned down a $5K offer, asked something like $6K and accepted $5,500.