If you HAD to sell your p-car...
 

I am in no way thinking about selling my car, but im wondering, many of us are really attached to our cars. Lets say you wanted to sell it, and advertised your car at $15,000, and you get calls from 3 buyers.

Buyer #1 is a kind old man, with a real appreciation for porsches, known them his whole life, his father used to work as a porsche mechanic. He is about 60 years old, and wants to relive his dream before he dies, offers you $14,000.

Buyer #2 is 17 years old, shows up with his father, and must have the car, neither have any idea about porsches, but the kid just likes the way it looks. Offers the $15,000.

Buyer #3, humble man early 30's, shows up with a PPI mechanic, who reviews the car, gives it the pass, but only values it at $13,000 due to some mechanical issues, which are completely true, and lets be honest, you know the mechanic is right about the value of the car. The man who brought the mechanic has limited car knowlege, but wants to work on this car as a mechanic, and you can see the passion in his eyes for your car as a true work of art and stepping stone for appreciation and education of a true automobile.


Do you?
A) Sell it to buyer 1, the elderly man, who wants to live out his youth and take the 14k? You know its worth honestly $13k from the PPI mechanic of buyer 3? But you also know this old man probably won't live past the next valve adjustment the car will turn into a rust bucket. But at least you get an extra $1,000 than its worth?

B) Sell it to the snobby kid with the rich father for $15k knowing you're lucky to get that amount of money for the "cool car." But will probably end up letting off the throttle 2 days later in a tight turn after getting scared trying to impress his girlfriend... you know the rest. Eff him though, you ripped him off and got the $15k. He's a snob and deserves it. But wait, his father works hard for his money, can you really do that?

C) Sell it to the humble man in his 30's, who has a strong potential to be a real enthusiast, is willing to offer you the true value of the car,$13k, and you know your car has the potential of being loved for at least another 15 years? And if it's remotely possible, will love it more than you? Lets face it, you've had it 10 years.

Uh, D.

Let rich snobby kid have his way. One less Porsche raises the value of everyone else's! And think of all the yummy parts that will come back into the market...

C?
 

Let's be honest...in this market, the guy in scenario C will probably flip the car for 20k inside of 3 months and rip off the kid/father in scenario B.

The goal is your asking price which is probably a deal anyhow.

I'd have to have info on one additional variable -- rarity and provenance of the car.

For instance, if it's an 84 coupe, let the kid have it at top dollar. But if it's a '69 S, better to let somebody respobsible have it. One less S is NOT a good thing, regardless of the market. I know the price you were talking doesn't correspond to my examples, but you get the idea.

I'm a whore. I will sell anything for the right price.

As am I. I'd do anything for the right car.

Does the humble man also make the offer on bended knee? With a tear in his eye? Swearing that he'll love my car for ever and ever and ever? Cause then I will sell him my car for whatever number he sees appropriate. Forget that stupid old man who will surely die five minutes after purchasing the car. And definitely forget that ungrateful RICH KID with his obnoxious RICH DAD and stupid drunk RICH MOM and his slutty RICH SISTER who will probably fornicate all over the interior after she snorts COCAINE at one of those after hours clubs where RICH BOYS and RICH GIRLS go in their PORSCHES. :D

Dude. When I sell my car, it goes to the highest bidder with the check in U.S. dollars that clears at my bank while I'm standing there. Like if there was a fourth buyer on this one, maybe a blind, developmentally-challenged dwarf who was offering me $16,500 and couldn't even drive? SOLD!

And if the kid is really rich, Big Daddy's laying down the black Amex for a $60K Escalade or Hummer, not some old worn Porsche his girlfriend wouldn't be caught dead in.

Lol

+1

right on the money there! If the car is only special to you then off to the highest bidder it goes. If its something special in the market then I might, hear that MIGHT not sell it to someone who trashes it.

I bought an e30 M3 brand new off the lot at Braman in Aug 1990 and kept it for 4 years ( a long time for me ). I ended up selling it to a guy who would convert it to a full track car and his wrecked m3 was right there when I dropped the car off. I was bummed out for a minute then that feeling passed when I hopped in my next ride.

+2

But hey now, what's wrong with '84s? :(
IIRC, more 911's rolled off the assembly in '86 than in any other year.

I have several friends with rich parents that bought them older 911's (a '75 S and an SC) when they were about 17-20. They drove the snot out of the cars, no doubt about that, but they dutifully maintained them as well.

Am I selling because I WANT to or HAVE to. If it is the HAVE to, I take the best price possible and be done with it. If it is because I WANT to, then I can play my bias card and choose. Note that all 3could be "flippers". If I had 3 people offering money, I might let the others know and see who comes up with the extra coin.

IMHO, if you should try to avoid selling something you still have an emotional attachment to. Once that bond is over, it is just a commodity.

I chose B. The fact that the new owner loves the car won't stop him selling it to any numbnuts with some greenbacks- after all, it's not stopping YOU!

Let capitalism rule. If all parties were willing to pay equal amount, go with the person who you think will best take care of the car.
On the other hand, I think it is important to let younger people touch and feel the early cars. So few younger people (under 30) know the feeling of driving a no power anything, no computer anything, 1000 kilo weighing, go kart handling car, that the torch must be passed along as we baby boomers slowly faded to gray. Proof in point. When was the last time you sat or drove in a 1950's car?
Don't let these cars sit in a garage or a museum...

Are you nuts? What Porsche is out there for 15k that is "rare" to the point where you feel historic responsibility? Top dollar gets the car, as long as there is no worries about the transaction or getting paid. 1k buys a lot of track time with the new Porsche that you will probably already have sitting in your garage. I always am negotiable on the price as soon as the first sane and serious person comes up with a reasonable offer, so I probably never would have three buyers lined up anyway.

George

I would also take the kid's dad's money. Once it leaves me, it's someone else's business/problem.

C...I am that person (IMHO;)); bought car one month after turning 33 after hounding PO for 5 years.

Great senerio.
But in this market, I would sell it to whomever could come up with the money.
Because as well all know everyone wants a Porsche, but not too many are will to take the plunge.
Plus it is just a car there will be another that you will love just the same if not more. Finding the perfect car is hald the fun and it always takes a while.

Aloha.

To me the key is for you, the seller, to get beyond your emotional attachment. There is nothing to say that any of your buyers isn't a "flipper". The one who meets, or exceeds, your asking price gets the car.