Gauging interest 2000 base Boxster low miles

[Zeke]

Yes, it is the wife's car. Due to ongoing illness the car has sat for 5 years. Gets an occasional start and has been out of the garage maybe once a year. I can check the smog certs I have for the mileage each year, but it's under 2000 for 10 years and likely under 500 for 5 years. She keeps it fully insured and that's a waste that even she is reconning with.

As with most women, she is emotionally attached and tells me driving the car makes her feel good. Well, that's the only reason it's still here. I would be more than pleased it it made her feel good at any point.

W/o going into a long story, we showed the car to a guy and he immediately said he'd take it for his wife. When we got home I could she what a toll this was taking, so I called the guy and explained why we couldn't sell it at the times. 3 months goes by and my wife is reconsidering. I think she sees the writing on the wall.

Well, that's the backstory.

The car: Red over black, a solid 8 if not 9, 63,000 miles and a new flawless top. No IMS work and is behind on scheduled maintenance — it did not get the 60,000 service although I have kept up with oil changes and a L&M screw on filter adapter. It has Motul in it. Original brakes. Never tracked or even driven hard unless I took it out on New Years Day 10 years ago. I don't fit in the car well, so I don't drive it.

Sits on barely used Michelin Pilots that might be getting dated. But it sits covered in a dry SoCal garage.

So, I'm told the value of these has come back a little from a low of about 7K at one point. Is there any truth to that? Does anyone buy 23 YO 2.7 Boxsters?

If that is all it's worth it would be worth keeping it to see her smile one more time. However, her driving days are coming to an end.

[Matt Monson]

Take it into the dealer and get the 60k service on it, and cut the filter to inspect it. Then you can get $10-12k for it.

I sold a similar car, similar mileage 5 years ago for $8k. And mine had a hardtop. They are worth more now than they were then, but not $20k+ like a 996.

[Zeke]

Thanks, Matt. The 60k service is partly done so I'd take 10k for it as it sits. That is not an official announcement for sale. Gotta talk to my wife some more.

[Matt Monson]

Then at a minimum do an oil change. Cutting open that oil filter goes a long way to calming IMS nancies and increasing your pool of buyers.

[Zeke]

How much do they need? I just put 200 worth of Motul and an Mann filter in it.

[Matt Monson]

What they do is cut open the old filter, and if the ims bearing is failing, it’s full of metal shavings. If it’s new, don’t sweat it. It’s just a nice litmus test folks use.

[Zeke]

Yeah, I guess it wouldn't have had time to accumulate the metal particles. The way I see it is at 63,000 it's not likely to fail before the car will need a clutch. Then do it for sure as a preemptive.

If my wife was driving it I wouldn't worry myself. I could actually put my Durametric on it and show cam deviation numbers. But I would be amenable to sharing the cost of a PPI if the car comes up for sale.

I appreciate your comments. Helps me know what to expect. Shame it isn't being driven.

[sugarwood]

Really sorry about your wife's health.
Glad she got to own a fun car while her health was better

[911hutch]

On that motor I feel deviation stats are an important indicator and should be valuable information to a knowledgable potential buyer.

[Zeke]

Well, we decided it's time. My question is how? I see a lot of negative comments about BAT. Yet that seems like a hassle free way if I give them the whole nut, taking the pics and all. I hear they like it that way. I don't think I have a problem with the fees.

However, there may be better ways to sell. I haven't sold a car in 10 years and am definitely not looking forward to this. I'm setting the price at 10K just so that's out of the way discussion wise.

I'd go ahead and list it here but I have no pics. Yet.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, we decided it's time. My question is how? I see a lot of negative comments about BAT. Yet that seems like a hassle free way if I give them the whole nut, taking the pics and all. I hear they like it that way. I don't think I have a problem with the fees.

However, there may be better ways to sell. I haven't sold a car in 10 years and am definitely not looking forward to this. I'm setting the price at 10K just so that's out of the way discussion wise.

I'd go ahead and list it here but I have no pics. Yet.

The deal with BaT is that you have to babysit it to maximize the sale price. Lots of questions, some really stupid, and you have to be the nice guy the whole time.

I’d advertise it here and with the PCA if you are a member.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I see a lot of negative comments about BAT. .

BAT haters are clueless, obsolete, and irrational. BAT sends a photographer to your house. You never leave your chair and click, click, click, and your car is gone and money in your account. Literally can't be easier and you get national exposure for maximum price. However, the process will take 1-2 months. BAT haters are clueless, obsolete, and irrational.

For a low value $10k car like Boxster, the absolute price variance of local sale vs. BAT is not great, and $3000 shipping is a larger percentage of the final price for the buyer. So, in this case, you can just as well list it on the local sites, and have people visit your house, and test drive it, and bargain with you. The advantage of local sale is that if priced right, you can sell it within a few days. The correct answer is both. Start the BAT process and list it locally.

[Zeke]

Given that advice concerning shipping I think locally first is going to be the answer. Not a PCA member but I know those that are in the market hit all the sites all the time. So redundancy is not going to help, AFAIK. The exception is the buyer that is not in the know. Friends of mine sold a '98 Boxster Tip to a newly arrived resident to CA that thought he needed a sports car immediately. IDK how or where they hooked that fish.

[NYNick]

Shipping isn't all that expensive unless you demand delivery on your schedule, asap, white glove. Cross country is about $1500 from a reputable shipper.

I just sold a car on BaT. The process was pretty easy and I found them to be helpful. Of course they tried to lowball my reserve, but we compromised. And of course, I baby sat the auction on a daily basis, kept it positive, stayed engaged and answered any questions. Thank goodness there were no trolls during my auction.

Your local P-car mechanic may know someone who is looking for a car like yours. For the kind of money you're talking, probably a local ad on FB, CL or even Pelican might be the way to go. In my experience, decent first offers are usually the best, save low ballers.

GL.

[usera]

I have bought and sold a bunch of cars here and on Rennlist, you get better people than FB/Craigslist.