Best way to sell an old car?

JMPRO · JMPRO's Garage

After the dealer offered practically nothing for my mother in laws buick in trade I said I would sell it. It is a very nice low mileage 88 w/ leather and power everything. Now I find when someone does a search for a used car the last car they search for is "Buick". I have tried craigslist and a few others to no avail. Maybe some sort of trick marketing? I even offered a free tank full of gas.
JMPRO

onewhippedpuppy · 09-06-2007, 01:30 PM

Isn't an '88 Buick only worth practically nothing? One good approach is to find a large parking lot on a major street and park it with a sign in the window. Make sure it's not too near a business, and there aren't any signs threatening to tow it. Other than that, Craigslist and Autotrader.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

eBay or post ads at the local churches so the older folks can see it. Older folks tend to like Buicks and other large American "barges". You'll sell it!

tab tanner · 09-06-2007, 03:16 PM

Put chrome wheels on it and it will increase the market for it, go for somthing like 22's with spinners and some fur on the dash LOL

LeeH · 09-06-2007, 03:19 PM

How much are you asking? If it's a decent car it should sell on Craigslist. You are absolutely right. Chances of someone looking for a cheap car to actually search on "Buick" are slim.

Repost your ad on Saturday mid-morning and Sunday mid-morning. You'll have to rearrange the wording Craigslist will block the ad for overposting. Include photos. Is there a high traffic area where you can get away with parking it with a for sale sign? Do you have a *very* local paper with few car ads? Friends who need a cheap car for their teen? I've seen cars similar to what you're describing sell for just a few hundred dollars at the wholesale auction.

tab tanner · 09-06-2007, 03:23 PM

See if you have a radio station in your area that has a tradio program, It's a call in show were you can sell most anything. Also the bulletin board at the local super market is a good place as well

tab tanner · 09-06-2007, 03:26 PM

stomachmonkey · 09-06-2007, 03:28 PM

Park it on a busy corner with a for sale sign.

Pick your location based on what you hope to get for it.

If it's in really good shape mechanically and priced to move scout out near your local commuter RR station.

I have always owned a "station car".

Lots of daily commuters would rather drive a POS to leave at the station 5 days a week vs the "good" car.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by tab tanner

Tab,
Is this your new car?

tab tanner · 09-06-2007, 04:19 PM

you got me Art, this is mine. I'm getting gold teeth tomorrow and a zebra stripe fur coat. I think this will be a great car for me!!!!!!

JMPRO · JMPRO's Garage

Man, if the buick looked that cool i'd keep it. Maybe I could get some of those girls you see on "COPS"to give me a toss. I have tried almost all of those suggestions except fot the rr station thing. We don't have many rr stations in So Cal. Well its only been a week so far and I have gotten 2 calls and 2 no shows. Tomarro I will show up at my local Costco and get a front parking spot and leave it there all day and see what happens.
The car only has 45,000 miles on it for $2,000 so its a good deal for someonr.
JMPRO

thamlin000 · thamlin000's Garage

Looks like you are on the right track.

My Grandmother replaced her 90 Caddy DeVille with a brand new Seville last year. The '90 Caddy had 40k mi and was pristine. She washed that car every week and detailed the interior/white walls/engine everytime. That engine was cleaner than any of my Porsches (even when I used to clean the engines....long time ago). Not to mention the car was garage kept in rust-free California. It was a real time-capsule car.

The dealer offered her $500 as a trade-in. Instead, she gave it to my father and shipped it to FL to use it as his daily driver. He loves it....

RickM · RickM's Garage

Go to Costco at 7am on a Saturday and Sunday and park (with 4 sale sign) it in the parking spot that everyone passes as they exit the store. Works like a charm.

Drew001 · 09-06-2007, 09:06 PM

Carmax?

Since I've got my 911, I'm contemplating selling my Honda Accord coupe (1999 with only 26K on the odometer) to Carmax.

The main reason is that I just want to get rid of it and I don't want to deal with a bunch or people coming over and wasting my time.

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Drew, I've got a friend looking for a car like yours RIGHT NOW. Drop me a PM with contact info, Dan

competentone · 09-06-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMPRO

The car only has 45,000 miles on it for $2,000 so its a good deal for someonr.
JMPRO

You haven't said what model it is, but if it's the Century, you're probably about $1100 too high on your price.

Check Kelly Blue Book online:
http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/default.aspx

You cannot compare your price -- as a private party seller -- with what dealerships are charging for something similar (if you've done that). A used car dealer will be financing; his buyer will likely only be interested in, "What will my monthly payment be?"

As a private seller, looking for a cash buyer, you're going to have difficulty finding someone interested. Most potential buyers, if they have $1000-$1500 saved, will be looking to use that as a down-payment on something more expensive.

Very few people (including kids buying their first car) think along the lines of "paying cash" for an older car.

It is not impossible to sell a good older car for cash, but is more difficult than it was in previous generations.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Carmax is good, but if a car is more than about 6-8 years old, I doubt they'd be particularly interested.

I'd go private party sale with it, as has been suggested. Dealers will always "low ball" you and you're starting with a vehicle that's worth practically nothing to begin with. Not a good situation to be going into when dealing with people that are professionally-trained negotiators.