Teach me how to sell a car.

[rherold9]

How are you going to answer the question, why are you selling?

[ispoonwithmugen]

Here is my ad right now: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/5492725250.html">http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/5492725250.html</a><!-- m -->
I expect to come down with the price, trust me.

Then why not lower in down a little more? When I see a car way overpriced (1.5x KBB or more) I just say fuqqit and move onto the next one. No idea what the E46 market is now-a-days but KBB puts this in good condition at 2,200. I'd put it up for sale for 3,000 tops.

[Senor_Taylor]

How are you going to answer the question, why are you selling?

I want to buy another Miata. I can't afford to take care of a BMW properly in college, but mainly I miss having a miata.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

[Senor_Taylor]

Here is my ad right now: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/5492725250.html">http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/5492725250.html</a><!-- m -->
I expect to come down with the price, trust me.

Then why not lower in down a little more? When I see a car way overpriced (1.5x KBB or more) I just say fuqqit and move onto the next one. No idea what the E46 market is now-a-days but KBB puts this in good condition at 2,200. I'd put it up for sale for 3,000 tops.

I don't think kbb or similar places are worthwhile. I don't care what something is worth, I care what people are willing to pay. I'm not going to set the price at 3 and have someone talk me down below that. This is not a $2000 car. I won't take less than $3500.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

[ViPER1313]

I won't take less than $3500.

Channing couldn't sell it for that, what makes you think you will have more success?

Best guide to setting price? Ask yourself what *you* would pay for your car if you were in the market. Would you spend $4500 on your car? If not, lower your price.

[SlimKlim]

Generally speaking, the older and higher mileage and more "niche" a model of car gets, the less accurate the KBB/Edmunds values become, because they are just aggregating auction and dealer sales data. As more and more of the sales happen privately and only the worst of the worst gets run through auction houses, the values become completely inaccurate. My M3 is worth like $3k according to KBB, but in the real world it's worth far more than that to everyone except DJ.

I think you're right to not set the price to match KBB, but you should have some other listings, ideally showing the car sold, as evidence to justify your asking price.

[CaptainHenreh]

Make sure in the bill of sale that they acknowledge they're buying the car as is, where is, with no warranty.

Had some chinese grad student try to stick me for like 400 bucks because my license plate bulbs weren't working. Nah son. I didn't notice, neither did you, we done.

[Senor_Taylor]

I won't take less than $3500.

Channing couldn't sell it for that, what makes you think you will have more success?

Better pictures, tires for the rear, a working door lock cylinder, a car that will be clean when looked at, and patience. I know there is someone else on this planet as dumb as me.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

[ViPER1313]

I won't take less than $3500.

Channing couldn't sell it for that, what makes you think you will have more success?

Better pictures, tires for the rear, a working door lock cylinder, a car that will be clean when looked at, and patience. I know there is someone else on this planet as dumb as me.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

Small maintenance does not add value.

[Senor_Taylor]

But not being able to lock the doors on a car you just bought with bald tires DOES subtract value.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

[WRXtranceformed]

When y'all do test drives, do you make them leave something with you like the cash or their keys or something? I don't plan on riding along with someone I don't know.

I was up in the air on this, especially with my Jag, but I have gone a few different ways. When I sold my old Stang to free up some cash for my wife's engagement ring, I was the driver and the buyer just sat shotgun as I drove it. When the Jag buyer showed up, I felt him out to see if he was going to be a serious buyer first and then he just kind of jumped in the front seat and I handed him the keys. I could have been a stickler and asked for a copy of his insurance card or something but I just went with it because he showed up in a nice Audi that I assumed was insured. Could that assumption have gotten me in trouble? Yeah sure but again I went by the feels and it ended up fine. And I understand his perspective too, if I am buying a used car for $35k I would want to be behind the wheel too to get a feel for it. I think I let Travis hoon my STI for a quick drive before he bought it years ago too.

I wouldn't worry about a deposit or anything but if you are concerned about it (especially with your um history of letting others drive your cars) I would ask for a copy of their license and insurance card with coverage info before they come and meet you.

Oh, I also conceal carried on the test drive, just in case.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Just suggestions but I know you won't listen anyway:

RTABs could be replaced, but I haven't done them yet. I can include 2 new tires for the rear if you want. (This tells me the rear tires are bad, you are too cheap to replace all 4 tires, and you never noted that the rears were bad. "Could" be replaced? Well if it is making the tires need replacing, sounds like it NEEDs)
garage kept for many years, but is no longer (delete this whole part, "is no longer" makes me shake my head)
The CCV is leaking a little, but not enough to drip or leave marks anywhere. You can only tell if you drop the driveshaft; you'll see oil residue)I have needed to add oil between changes. (I would state CCV has a small leak resulting in some residue, typically add 1/2 quart every 1000 miles)

Also, you are overpriced, but you know that. Never know if you could find a sucker, but there are SOOO many 325i on craigslist right now I wish you the best of luck.

[Scott]

Just suggestions but I know you won't listen anyway:

RTABs could be replaced, but I haven't done them yet. I can include 2 new tires for the rear if you want. (This tells me the rear tires are bad, you are too cheap to replace all 4 tires, and you never noted that the rears were bad. "Could" be replaced? Well if it is making the tires need replacing, sounds like it NEEDs)
garage kept for many years, but is no longer (delete this whole part, "is no longer" makes me shake my head)
The CCV is leaking a little, but not enough to drip or leave marks anywhere. You can only tell if you drop the driveshaft; you'll see oil residue)I have needed to add oil between changes. (I would state CCV has a small leak resulting in some residue, typically add 1/2 quart every 1000 miles)

Also, you are overpriced, but you know that. Never know if you could find a sucker, but there are SOOO many 325i on craigslist right now I wish you the best of luck.

^listen to the man..... If you want top dollar for the car, you need to have it in that shape.

I don't care what something is worth, I care what people are willing to pay.

This statement is very telling.....

I'm not going to set the price at 3 and have someone talk me down below that. This is not a $2000 car. I won't take less than $3500.

If you really want to sell the car, price it realisticly and don't have unrealistic expectations. Price it at $3500 and be thrilled at the first $3000 cash that shows up (which I believe is on the high side anyway, especially using oil)....

[Senor_Taylor]

Great suggestions, DJ. I'll make some changes.

Scott, I'll see what I get in the days to come and price accordingly.

[*insertusernamehere*]

Personally I'd ride with them on the test drive. If anything happens doesn't it work out better in terms of insurance on Taylors end that he's in the car anyway? (That's a question to everyone idk the answer)

[Ken]

Personally I'd ride with them on the test drive. If anything happens doesn't it work out better in terms of insurance on Taylors end that he's in the car anyway? (That's a question to everyone idk the answer)

I had no idea it was even a thing to let someone drive without you in it. That sounds like an awful idea.

[SlimKlim]

Yeah I've always ridden shotgun with people that test drive my cars, the exception was when I sold Kaan's FZR, the person that bought it took it for a test ride and I stood guard at the car they showed up in, which was obviously worth more than the bike they were buying.

If I was shopping and a seller told me that I could only ride shotgun, I'd tell them to go fuck themselves and find another car to buy, but I'd be ok letting them hold my other car keys or hold onto the cash as collateral.

[Senor_Taylor]

Personally I'd ride with them on the test drive. If anything happens doesn't it work out better in terms of insurance on Taylors end that he's in the car anyway? (That's a question to everyone idk the answer)

I had no idea it was even a thing to let someone drive without you in it. That sounds like an awful idea.

I drove alone in the Miata and the E46, so I figured that was the standard. Hell, even a dealership let me and Matt drive off in a Miata my freshmen year. I just would rather lose my car, and not my life if the person wrecks it, but I'm open to suggestions.

[Ken]

Personally I'd ride with them on the test drive. If anything happens doesn't it work out better in terms of insurance on Taylors end that he's in the car anyway? (That's a question to everyone idk the answer)

I had no idea it was even a thing to let someone drive without you in it. That sounds like an awful idea.

I drove alone in the Miata and the E46, so I figured that was the standard. Hell, even a dealership let me and Matt drive off in a Miata my freshmen year. I just would rather lose my car, and not my life if the person wrecks it, but I'm open to suggestions.

A dealership is another thing entirely, they should have coverage on the thing. You're insurance would be a nightmare, if it even did cover it.

Just get a feel for the person, if they look sketch and are acting sketch than don't let them drive it. I also scoped out an area where i felt comfortable with someone driving it and had a nice little stretch where they could open it up if needed; just guided them through it.

That being said i guess holding onto the cash a collateral is a good move; which also serves the dual purpose of assuring you they actually have the cash on hand.

[*insertusernamehere*]

Personally I'd ride with them on the test drive. If anything happens doesn't it work out better in terms of insurance on Taylors end that he's in the car anyway? (That's a question to everyone idk the answer)

I had no idea it was even a thing to let someone drive without you in it. That sounds like an awful idea.

I drove alone in the Miata and the E46, so I figured that was the standard. Hell, even a dealership let me and Matt drive off in a Miata my freshmen year. I just would rather lose my car, and not my life if the person wrecks it, but I'm open to suggestions.

Tell them not to drive like an asshat. If they wanna get into it find them an empty road, if they don't want to listen tell them to pullover. Idk, just suggestions. That was the only time I've test driven a car and they never rode along, but it's a Miata and there's already two of us so...you know...he kinda had to lol.

But i went to go look at a 328i the other day with James and the owner just hopped in the backseat. Perfectly fine with me, I got to point out random things while he was there to see for himself and he got to explain things that were peculiar. And the added weight revealed his rubbing issue he "didn't realize" he had :lol: