A value/sale price question of a different sort
 

Alll this talk about our cars values got me to thinking. I'm not in the mindset to sell my car just yet, but when I do at some point in the future I honestly think that I would sell my car at perhaps less than the crazy prices they are commanding now if I knew it was going to an enthusiast vs someone who wants to make an investment of a classic car.

Anybody else of this mindset?. I know of one instance where a ferrari owner sold his car below market value to someone who otherwise not afford one but knew his car was going to someone who would value it and enjoy it for reasons other than just $$$$.

You can hear the crickets Jim....:rolleyes:

I guess the real question is why you are selling. If it is financial reasons then you just want as much as you can get or how quickly can it get sold. I think most of us our porsche is a luxury and not considered a simple 4 wheeled bank account. I also wonder if you would not sell the car even for a premium if you knew the new owner was not an enthusiast but a flipper or just has little knowledge of Porsches.

I guess a lot of people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

I wouldn't say you're alone in this. I've recently had a discussion with someone who expressed interest in my car, and I can tell you that I'm far more amenable to negotiating on price with him / an enthusiast than I am with a broker/flipper.

Of course you feel this way, it's normal to want your baby to go to a good home.

People want their belongings to be appreciated the way they appreciated them. It serves as an endorsement of their own feelings.

If you ever really want to buy a car, the first thing you do is ooh and ahh over it to the owner. This starts everybody's juices flowing, and gives you a common ground. Then it's just a matter of price.

never made any money on a car; always trying to minimize the cost.......... so all my cars go to good homes.....

I kinda did this when I sold my 930. The person that really wanted the car had limited funds, but was like me and had always wanted a Turbo and finally had enough savings to afford one. I had accumulated a vast asst. of spare parts for the car. New Bilsteins for all four corners, new brake rotors and 3 or 4 sets of different pads all the way round, brand new Carrera chain tensioner kit, never put on, all new seals for the entire car in case I ever wanted to update the paint, new smile rubber, new foglight and headlight lenses, cases of oil filters, you name it, I had it. When I updated the exhaust to full B&B stainless I kept the original. The intercooler was updated but I kept the original. You get the picture.

Long story short. He didn't have the funds for all the parts, but I knew he really wanted them and would certainly get them on the car at some point. I had always wanted them on, but never had the time or inclination to get it done. Had too much fun just enjoying the car. I originally quoted him $5k for the parts, but in the end just gave them all to him with the car. I'll remember the smile on his face forever, and I certainly enjoy the memory.

Enthusiasts who would value and enjoy your car and enthusiasts who can afford to pay market value are not mutually exclusive.

The only times I would give a buyer a generous break on pricing would be if it were a family member or a personal friend. Everyone else should be prepared to pay what the market wants for these luxury toys.

Think of the flip side. If the buyer can barely afford to pay for the car, how well will it be cared for when it comes time to maintain/service your car? Would you rather your pride and joy be cared for by someone with deep or shallow pockets? Intangibles aside, there are real monetary costs to keep these cars running well and looking good and you don't want to be selling it to someone who, at the first sign of trouble, will need to sell the car because s/he cannot afford to service it properly. If that happens, your good deed just became un-done.

I believe Jim speaks to the spirit of stewardship. Some things can bring great joy to whomever is in their possession but everything will eventually be passed to another owner. There is a responsibility to the future in possessing such a thing as well as an enjoyment for today. I hope to pass an understanding of this to my kids. To be able to do that as well as a 911 would be remarkably satisfying to me. I hope that the stars align some day!!

Don't do it. I sold my 86 930 to a friend 2 years ago for $26.5K. My car had a fresh rebuild and a bunch of mods on her. It was in nice driver condition and he was stretching his budget to buy the car. He said he was going to keep the car forever, so I threw in a set of Fuchs 7s and 9.5 TruDesigns. He redid the interior and then got the P car bug. I helped him with a 993 and he still had the 930. About 6 months ago, someone he knew wanted the turbo and offered him $50k and he took it. I have no regrets about it, but even if you sell it to an enthusiast who says they will keep the car, money talks.