Critique my ad please

[Christien]

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/671489-fs-86-911-coupe.html

Bear in mind that prices are generally 10-15% higher in Canada. Compared to all other 3.2s across Canada on auto trader, mine's in the middle of the pack, price-wise but well above the mid-way point for mileage and condition.

[geshaghi]

A couple of quick observations:
- Why is it necessary to say "firm"? This is almost always a turn-off for me unless a car is priced well under market, and I think it just says to a potential buyer that you are unreasonable.
- While the car looks nice, I think that by US standards (no idea about Canada, but I find it hard to believe that Canadian buyers are willing to pay a substantial premium), the price is at the top of the market. You are asking a top of the market price, but the photos are mediocre at best. Take some better photos

[Christien]

I put "firm" to avoid dickering over price, which, in my recent experience seemed to be a turn off. I sold a car a few months ago and the first question everyone asked was "what's your bottom number?". Maybe I'll change it to a higher price obo. As for the price, everything costs more in Canada. Literally, everything from clothes to food to cars. I bought that car in NJ and it cost me roughly 2k to get it here and registered, which is typical. Plus I've had the tranny pulled and fixed. I'm selling it for what I've got into it. Local prices for a similar car are high 20s/low 30s from dealers, mind 20s for private sellers, so the price is fair. Not a steal, but fair.

What do you dislike about the pics? No problem at all to change them.

Thanks for your feedback.

[geshaghi]

I think the price is on the high side, Canada notwithstanding, as it seems that the benchmark for price is being set by Europeans buying cars and repatriating them, but not unreasonably so given the low miles.

If I am in the market for a car, and I see one that fits my description but is priced slightly out of the range I was expecting, I'm less inclined to call on the car, simple as that. From your perspective, if firm really means firm no matter what (i.e., if someone waved $24,500 in front of your face and you would reject it or you discovered some unknown issue during a PPI), then it probably makes sense to tell people not to call you if they are not prepared to pay this amount. But from a few photos and a brief description, it is hard to tell whether the car has any needs which might justify an adjustment in price. If I have a serious buyer at hand, who is willing to invest the time in looking at a car and pays for a PPI, and discovers unknown and legitimate issues as a result, I would consider a price adjustment for a car that is priced as having no needs. When a seller says "firm" it tells me that even if the buyer discovers a legitimate issue, the seller is less likely to be reasonable in addressing it. In these circumstances, as a buyer I would be less likely to invest the time, effort & money to investigate a car.

Regarding the photos, they just don't do a $25k 86 911 justice. Fro examples of better quality pics, take a look at some of the higher end dealers like Sloan, AutoKennel, European Collectibles, Carparc, Victory, etc.

[coldstart]

It sounds like a great car. I agree with the comments above that the photos could be better but are likely as good if not better than I could have taken. Photos look better in a nice setting, at dusk or in a shop. I would check out the photos taken by Victory Motorsports-- they almost make me want to buy the car despite their lousy reputation.

Porsche : 911 | eBay


For this car, I have a work client that is interested but was not willing to pay even near the asking price. It is a tough market in Canada as the prices are higher but we can only drive out toy cars for 4 to 5 months per year. While I understand now that it is better to buy a $20K car in great shape over a $10K car that will need substantial work, it is a hard sell to the average person (including me 6 years ago).

Best of luck Chris!

[RD911T]

It does seem to be a very nice car. I agree that the pics need to be better. They are high enough resolution with the link to photobucket, but the car in shadows and light ruins the quality. Like others said above, better to take pics at dusk or in a shop. Find a nice park like setting and go when the light is better. As far as price, I would say you're on the extreme high end. I'm in Missouri and I saw two local cars that were in similar condition to yours go in the $16,000 range. One was a 1980 SC with less than 60,000 miles and brand new complete rennair system, turbo tie rods, original paint, but his interior was not as nice. The other was an 87 with a complete windows out repaint, working A/C, red sport seat interior and 123,000 miles. These cars were both bargains, but still your are more than 50% higher. I saw both of these cars in person and drove them. I would have bought either one, but I wasn't ready to buy yet and was really holding out for a long hood. Just my take on it, I'm trying to be brutally honest. You have a beautiful car and I hope you get what you need out of it.

[bwall]

Originally Posted by geshaghi

- Why is it necessary to say "firm"? This is almost always a turn-off for me unless a car is priced well under market, and I think it just says to a potential buyer that you are unreasonable.

+1

Negotiation is a part of the joy of selling cars for a living. With the headlines we've enjoyed for the past four years everyone today is looking for a deal. Though this is not to imply that people weren't looking for deals before the crash.

So while you may scare off the tire kickers by saying "firm" at least having SOMEONE call on your priced-at-or-above-the-market car advert can
a) make you feel better about your ad.
b) confirm that people are actually LOOKING at your ad.
c) give you the opportunity to practice your sales speech on THIS CAR so that when the real buyer comes along, you will be ready for him.
d) provide potentially useful feedback on a detail that may have escaped your notice.

If the car is priced well under market, (as geshagi made note of) then the car will sell anyways quickly and you won't need the benefit of any of these four points.

[Christien]

Good stuff guys, thanks. I've adjusted the price and will take new pics as soon as I get a chance in better light, tomorrow hopefully.

[Christien]

btw, does anyone know why the photo quality gets so degraded when I upload to Pelican? It doesn't seem to happen on other sites. I reduced the pics from the original to 40%, still at 100% quality. The smaller versions look crystal clear on my computer, but after they've been uploaded they look all grainy.

[G450X]

Most everything has been covered, but I'd add that a red over black '86 911 Coupe is one of the most common color combinations that was available. If it was something like slate gray over red I'm sure you would see $26k (and probably more).

All German cars from the 80's seem to be red, white, black, or silver. Maybe it was a sign of the conservative times...

[schumicat]

that price seems really high to me. Car is in the rust belt (as evidenced by the underbody shot) and has a black interior (not good if you live where it is hot and seats are 120 degrees every time you park car) and the most common 80s exterior color. Tires are 5 years old and probably time to be replaced (due to age/hardness not wear). A friend sold a car in comparable condition for $24k asking price, I think he got $22k, and that was when the economy was strong. But maybe the Europeans have skewed the market now.

[carjmark]

Good looking car, like that you've done: leak down, transmission and ac works. Even given values up, season's here and Canadian market would agree on avoiding "firm" and top of market dealer price; I guess your price depends on whether you really want to sell or are just testing the market. I like your ad but would suggest pricing at around $24K and add ONO (or near offer) to convey I'm negotiable but not too much, have an actual selling target in the $22.5K area. Best of luck with nice car.

[1979911sc]

Nice car...might want to critique yourself for wanting to sell it. Ask what you like, personally wouldn't put "firm" in the ad unless your one price is highly competitive because you will create shoppers. 99% of people are gonna want to negotiate price and you gain a commitment with their offer.

[Macroni]

I am going against the trend. The car looks good the miles are on the low side. I think the price is right. And if you are firm I have no problem being told that.....

Carrera's values tend to be pulled down by the low end of their market. Meaning the cars that sell for $13 to 16,000 pull down all the other cars being sold regardless mileage and condition. You would never see a high end seller (Truspeed, Holt, Victory etc..) list a nice 86 Carrera for under $26,000. Low mileage cars are not that easy to find. I would love to see all the bargin basement under 100,000 mile G50 coupes.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by macroni

i am going against the trend. The car looks good the miles are on the low side. I think the price is right. And if you are firm i have no problem being told that.....

Carrera's values tend to be pulled down by the low end of their market. Meaning the cars that sell for $13 to 16,000 pull down all the other cars being sold regardless mileage and condition. You would never see a high end seller (truspeed, holt, victory etc..) list a nice 86 carrera for under $26,000. Low mileage cars are not that easy to find. I would love to see all the bargin basement under 100,000 mile g50 coupes.

+1

[s_morrison57]

I think the price is on the high side for an 86, if it was an 87 with the G-50 then it might be possible. When I look at cars like this I want to see a history of repairs and I don't remember you mentioning anything about the history of the car other than the work you have done. I always ask the seller what he does for a living to judge if he can afford the repairs and maintence when it needs to be done. Most people who work at Wendy's don't drive these kinda cars.
I hate selling stuff, everybody is an expert and everybody wants a deal, just like every seller values his item, usually, for more than its worth, its a fact and its human nature to do this, thats why saying firm will usually get no shows/no calls. Just my opinion.
I like it though, why are you selling it?
Finn

[Christien]

Most of the work done was by the previous owner, the stuff that's listed in the ad. That's all the history I have - there's nothing from previous owners, except the very basic info the carfax gives. The only thing I've done are fixing 4th gear and the sunroof cables, and recharging the a/c. It hasn't needed anything else and I don't suspect it will for a long time.

I'm selling it because it's time for something new. I buy cars, drive them for a year or 2 then sell them. First a boxster, then a 944, then this. The 72 is my permanent car. Next up will probably be a non-Porsche, just for something different, but I'm not sure what yet.

[biosurfer1]

One more thing I might change is the cruise control cable. I don't know how expensive it is to fix, but I always wonder about owners that don't fix the little things before selling. If it were something serious that needed to be fixed, so be it, but I don't think the cruise control cable is too expensive and its one less thing to have to explain.

[Christien]

It's not cheap - $250 for the cable, and the correct year is NLA.

[73.5TinPA]

It is an attractive car at a reasonable asking price.
It is a good idea to always add some flexibility in your pricing.

That said, the one thing that disturbs me is all that shade on the full car photos.
I see that the license tag is off. However, if you could take some photos in early morning or afternoon sun without shadows, it would represent your vehicle for sale much better.

You would do well to be patient- cars this nice will sell soon enough.