ADVICE NEEDED: Selling an automobile

[kokane_muthashed]

Shortly, in a month or so, I plan on selling a 2000 Ford Ranger I have. I'm looking for advice from SJers who have had to deal with selling a car or truck. Or even if you've bought a used car from someone.

It's a good truck; runs fine, no engine troubles. In great shape save for a few scratches here and there. The bed is toast from hauling stuff, but a bed liner will fix that nicely.

It has almost 70,000 miles on it, which I consider low seeing how it's 8 years old. Tires still have 30,000 miles left on them. I replaced the battery last winter. Brake pads need replacing and I plan on doing that before selling it.

I don't know whether I should park it with a sign on it or drive it around with a sign on it. Currently, it sits and collects dust for the most part.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated......

 

[fishwrapper]

http://www.autotrader.com/

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Park it in front of a high school with a for sale sign on it?

 

[qtlaw]

craigslist.

Sold 4 cars that way. Be realistic about the market price, not the value to you, then cut a little more. Look to kbb.com (kelley's blue book, adds in autotrader.com, newspaper adds, other craigslist listings). Entertain only serious buyers. Then sell.

If you put a too high price, it will just sit.

 

[Madhavok]

Did you already purchase a new vehicle, do you plan on doing so if not already?

 

[Inky_Wretch]

How about a classified ad in your local newspaper?

 

[kokane_muthashed]

Did you already purchase a new vehicle, do you plan on doing so if not already?

I have another car.

 

[Madhavok]

Ah lucky you.

 

[JayFarrar]

How about a classified ad in your local newspaper?

Wouldn't that be odd?
Anyway, drop a classified ad in The Paper. Let co-workers know, especially the ones with teenagers. They might be looking for a ride for them. You might also hit people that don't own a truck but but do lots of home projects. Like maybe somebody that has a jeep, but it always running down to Home Depot because his wife wants something down around the house.
I digress.
You'd be surprised how much response you'll get from a classified ad.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

How about a classified ad in your local newspaper?

Wouldn't that be odd?
Anyway, drop a classified ad in The Paper. Let co-workers know, especially the ones with teenagers. They might be looking for a ride for them. You might also hit people that don't own a truck but but do lots of home projects. Like maybe somebody that has a jeep, but it always running down to Home Depot because his wife wants something down around the house.
I digress.
You'd be surprised how much response you'll get from a classified ad.

I will punch you. And Jeep is capped.

 

[trifectarich]

How about a classified ad in your local newspaper?

He wants to sell it, not keep it around as a giant plant holder.

 

[dixiehack]

If you put a classified in the paper, send calls to a number that you won't mind having ring at 6 a.m. Subscribers keep way different hours than you likely do.

 

[kokane_muthashed]

If you put a classified in the paper, send calls to a number that you won't mind having ring at 6 a.m. Subscribers keep way different hours than you likely do.

The classified ad thing is a no-brainer, seeing as work at The Paper and it's free. But, as dixie brings up, I don't want my cell blowing up at 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., anytime before noon really....

 

[KevinmH9]

Your best bet is to use craigslist or autotrader.com, you'll get plenty of hits that way. Be wary of craglists, though. My brother posted a motorcycle he was selling and go more than enough spam responses.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Thing is, most newspaper employees - can't speak for KM, obviously - get a free ad from time to time. Drop an ad there. I sold a car like that almost 10 years ago ... yes, back in the Stone Age. (No jokes usually reserved for poor S-P necessary).

Got three calls that same day. One of them tried to haggle me down on the phone ... didn't bite because I knew the market, set a price and stuck to it.

Look up the value on Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com). If you want to sell quickly, go under that figure. You should be able to entice someone, depending on the region in which you live. Good luck.

 

[kokane_muthashed]

Appreciate the advice, Sam. If I do use the free ad, I'm hoping to sell it quickly.

I went to the Kelley site a week or so ago. Already having a price in my head before looking, I was surprised that I was in the ballpark. I'm willing to take a couple hundred to $500 less than what the asking price will be, but I do have a rock-bottom price that I refuse to go under. What I'm asking for is about $600 less than Kelley says.

Looking at autotrader and eBay I'm shocked at what some people are asking for a the same model - most with more than 100,000 miles. That's gonna be one my selling points - low miles, not driven a lot.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Appreciate the advice, Sam. If I do use the free ad, I'm hoping to sell it quickly.

I went to the Kelley site a week or so ago. Already having a price in my head before looking, I was surprised that I was in the ballpark. I'm willing to take a couple hundred to $500 less than what the asking price will be, but I do have a rock-bottom price that I refuse to go under. What I'm asking for is about $600 less than Kelley says.

Looking at autotrader and eBay I'm shocked at what some people are asking for a the same model - most with more than 100,000 miles. That's gonna be one my selling points - low miles, not driven a lot.

If you're doing all the above - and have the maintenance record on that truck in the glove compartment or somewhere accessible for those who might want that verification - you should be set. Your mindset is very sound ... this shouldn't be too tricky.

Thing is, if you think that allowing them a couple hundred will push the deal home, then do it. No point in gumming up the works ... unless you already have strong feelers at the price you've set. Then don't back down ... you KNOW the market will bear your asking price.

 

[txsportsscribe]

do not, repeat, do not sell to a co-worker or a friend.

 

[kokane_muthashed]

do not, repeat, do not sell to a co-worker or a friend.

Or family member. Especially not a family member.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

I recently had a really bad experience selling a car myself (short version: the guy took it to a mechanic after buying it, instead of before, and tried to get me to take the car back because there was stuff wrong with it that I didn't know about). A few things:

1) Make sure to print out a bill of sale, available various places online, and be certain it spells out that the vehicle is being sold "as is," which is important protection for you. Both of you should sign it, and you hang onto it.

2) Check to see whether your state requires an odometer disclosure form.

3) File the title change -- you should be able to do it online -- as soon as the buyer drives away. That protects you in case the buyer wrecks it/abandons it/gets 100 parking tickets.

Luckily I had done my homework and did these things, otherwise it could have meant huge trouble for me.