Selling a used car - advice needed!

adjulian · 05-12-02, 12:44

Needed some advice from fellow Autopians. Getting the new car itch, for my wife that is. I think we are pretty set on a 2002 A4 1.8T quattro. We have the Focus Sony Edition and already have a window sticker printed from Edmunds.com.

What other channels, or things we should be doing to move this car sooner rather than later? I don't know if I should post on a internet car site, ad in the newspaper, at your local grocery store, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

BradE · 05-12-02, 12:55

I would put an ad on www.autotrader.com that should help some. Also, try the local newspaper. If you want to move the car quickly you should put ad's every where you can to increase interest in the car, the more people you can get to look at it the better odds are someone will buy it.

crv · 05-12-02, 02:30

adjulian- Since you're a long time poster here I bet the car is ultra clean. I'm in a similiar position selling my civic/ buying an 02' crv. I asked one person at work if they knew anyone who might be interested and had a buyer that day. As I'm trying to time sale (actually pre-sale) of this vehicle with delivery of the new one (two months), I was in a predicament. I wanted to try word of mouth prior to posting an ad as an attept to avoid the hassle. I had planned on working outward over time, i.e. first at work, then for sale sign in driveway, then local paper, etc. I didn't plan on going beyond that to avoid any kooks from the internet, etc. If the above didn't sell it, I'd take the hit at carmax or such.

BTW: the article on 5speed shifting you refered me to several months ago was right on the money, I can't thank you enough.

Jngrbrdman · 05-12-02, 02:38

Quote:

Originally posted by ShowroomLincoln
I would put an ad on www.autotrader.com that should help some. Also, try the local newspaper. If you want to move the car quickly you should put ad's every where you can to increase interest in the car, the more people you can get to look at it the better odds are someone will buy it.

Amen to that. When I sold my wife's Accord I tried to put it in the papers and everything. I put it on AutoTrader and it sold in less than a week. I was really impressed. In fact, when I was looking for my Integra I found it on AutoTrader. I had a dealership bring it in from California for me. The 4 door GSRs aren't usually for sale so it was kind of lucky that I could find one. I don't know how rare the Focus Sony edition is but I'll bet that you'd have better luck in AutoTrader because sometimes when someone is looking for a car they will go anywhere to get it.

bretfraz · 05-13-02, 09:20

Well, my comments won't be about "where to sell", more like "how to sell".

1) Run a Carfax on your car and be willing to provide a copy of it to prospective buyers. CarFax has become a necessity for used car buyers and most smart buyers will use it. By saving them $14.95 you show your a serious seller with nothing to hide.

2) Do some extensive research in your local market for prices on Focus's and price your car competitively. All the info on the internet is nice but let's face it, the World Wide Web is not going to buy your car, a human being living someplace close to you is. Focus's may be hot property where you are....or maybe they're not. Local markets dictate prices so keep that in mind.

3) When writing an ad for your car, be honest but not overly wordy. No one wants to read a 10 paragraph description but they want more info than a couple of words. Mention mileage only if its low; don't mention color in your ad; mention recent major work but not the little stuff like oil changes or new tire valve caps; if the car needs nothing, say so; try something like.....
1999 Ford Focus Sony Edition
23K miles
5 speed
loaded with all the options
owned and maintained by car enthusiast
perfect condition; needs nothing
must sell
$11,000 obo
call 555-1212 wkdays before 10PM

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

adjulian · 05-13-02, 05:25

Thanks for all of the advice. Already posted it online at AutoTrader and have signs in the windows of the car. Now we just wait and see.

At least now I know where I am going to buy the car - got someone to come in below Edmunds TMV (about $400 over invoice) for a 2002 Audi A4.

Thanks again.

Dave C. · 05-13-02, 06:18

My advice, do what the others have said and don't use Edmund's when selling a car. They always have a lower price than Kelley does. I would post the KBB value b/c you will get more for it. When buying a car I always use Edmunds b/c it is lower!!

BTW, Have you had all of the possible 14 recalls taken care of. If I were buying that car I would be interested in that.

adjulian · 05-13-02, 08:45

All 14 recalls present and accounted for. Interesting you say that KBB is higher, because when I ran the two (KBB & edmunds), edmunds came out higher by almost $400.00 which is good for me, the seller

Dave C. · 05-13-02, 09:13

Hmmmm....I could have sworn KBB was always higher so I ran my car @ Edmunds under "clean" and the private party came out to $12,960. KBB under "good" came out to $13,275. A difference of almost $300, but it has been my experience that KBB is higher, except for '00 Focuses.

anthony · 12-23-02, 03:08

i have a 68 chevy impala special edition 4 door 327 dubble hump heads elderbrock intake holly carb chrome engine need nothing a little rip in the front seatwas wandering would 8500 be a resonable price to sell it orginal paint rebuit trans it really in good shape with air shocks on the back it's pushing about 300hp

Lowejackson · 12-24-02, 03:16

Another useful tip is to collect all receipts for anything to do with your car from buying a lightbuld to a full service. There is nothing like a large wad of receipts to show how much you cared for your car, apart from the perfect detailing job you have just done.

Steven

Idrops · 12-24-02, 05:33

Also make sure you have a simple buy/sell document ready for the transaction. And CYA.