Problem is selling a car is a huge PITA, what with tire kickers, scammers, etc... I'm guilty of buying a Hyundai, keeping it for 9 years or 90K miles then trading it in... but then Hyundai with that many miles isn't worth dooky anyway.

My wife's Grandpa was a dick that nobody liked. About 20 years ago, he had a mint 1978 25th Anniversary Corvette with 4000 miles that he never drove, and would never let anyone else near it. He ended up trading it, and a decent S-10 pickup truck on a new downsized S-10 Jimmy, and still owed $5000 in cash.....PALM TO FACE !

Bingo. Cars bought as appliance cars, you want to drive your money out of them.

Btw, some dealer ships may not choose to buy your trade in, and are placing a call to a guy that is making a sight unseen deal with the dealer.

If I had to sell my Jaguar, I would likely not go private party sale unless to some one I knew that when I mentioned I would sell, said they wanted to buy. The "extra money" I might get for it wouldn't be worth the time and bother for me. The demographic buying a used Jaguar are probably out of their minds, I should know, I did it. SmileWavy

On the other hand, with my 944's, I think it'd be interesting some of the folks I might meet that would take an interest in the older car. I'd probably list it and go for the adventure.

Update on this topic, after less than one week on Ebay the Sienna is sold. Deposit in hand, it will be gone on Saturday. $2k more than Carmax, and up to $7k more than I was offered by some dealers in trade. I'll answer a few emails for $2k in my pocket.

I tend to agree with this - the market dictates the value of the car. There is too much information that educated consumers have to determine the car value.

I would look at the cash difference between yours and the one you want to buy. You also get the sales tax difference too. Car buying is not a pleasant experience.

well

I NEVER TRADE
only 2 of 50 cars life time were dealer bought inc wife and kids cars

dad was a flipper

my brother was a used car salesmanager at new car dealers mostly [more margin]

part of the fun is the hunt
every dealer has a basic idea of car value
many private sellers have no clue
I have cash when buying never have had a loan or needed one

I like old stuff and wish car collecting was not a main stream idea
as I would love a 356 but not at 75k when they were 2-3 in the 70's
dad had 1/2 dozen he got and flipped inc a b c 4 cam and a speedster
or the HK-500 58 with a 392 hemi dad bought for a grand in 66

best I have done post 2000 was 944 for a grand
guy said the wire broke and it will not start/jump
I said lets reattach the wire and see what happens
if it runs/drives I give you a grand
drove it home

thankfully volvo's are still not collected much
got a 67 amazon 245 turbo 745 t 940 and 2 93 240 wagons all under 1-2grand
I like RWD and hate FWD BUT DAMM FEW CHOICES NOW

I never introduce the idea of a trade until after I negotiate the price on the new one.
Revers sales tactic. Not only does it separate the things they want to bundle in to a confusing negotiation, but by the time my trade in comes up, they are already too invested to let me walk.

Awesome! You did good by taking the risk.
Let us know when all the money is in hand. I'm sure everything will go through just fine but there is an old expression in the car business that "It ain't a done deal until the brake lights cross the curb".

Selling a car is NOT a pain in my humble opinion.

List them online with autotrader/cars.com/craigslist with a picture and basic info. Make a web page with lots of pictures and all info on the car good and bad. Put the URL on the online ads.

Provide a sales agreement that includes only cash or wire transfer accepted and is required before keys and title.

Don't get many calls. Usually a couple of months before the buyer comes along. There are usually one or two tire kickers from Craigslist, but I understand as they are looking at the vehicles available in the area. There is always a couple of scammers, but I just insist on cash monies or completed bank transfer before possession (transport) or title is given.

Always got way more than carmax or trade in offers (wholesale). Basically sold for what the vehicles like it were selling for at the time (retail).

Web page for my 928GT

Web page for my Range Rover

Web page for my Cayenne S

Nicely done. Read them all. Big thing is the honesty. Some cooties.

The guy that bought the 928 drove it straight thru from OKC to New Hampshire. Didn't stop to spend the night where he had planned. Called me the next afternoon to let me know he had made it. Then said he had to go, it was a pretty day and he needed to drive some more.

The guy that bought the Rover called a week later just to tell me it was exactly what he was looking for and after driving it a week, he had found a new love.

The Cayenne was shipped to Colorado. He called the day after it arrived and told me he was sorry he hadn't called sooner, but he was so excityed had take it driving. He called because he had just finished washing it and it both looked and drove great.

Have also sold a couple of friends cars for them the same way. One seemed a little disappointed it took the two months before someone called, but it was the first and only caller and paid him what he was asking. It really cuts down on tire kickers to list and show pics of the cooties.