Has anyone ever sold their car?

[soleft]

I have to sell my car and I'm looking for helpful hints. I was thinking of trying autoweb, and maybe a local paper in NJ.

The car is a 2001 model and it runs great, only 31K mileage, but the interior is kind of messed up, mostly stains (why did I get the light interior???). Should I bother spending money to get it detailed or sell as is?

Would I get totally ripped off selling to a dealer, do people even do that?

[ET Awful]

1. You won't get JACK by selling it to a dealer.

I'd run ads in Auto-Trader and your local paper.

If you can get a decent detail done on it for a decent price ($150 or less around here), I'd do so, a car that looks new will sell for MUCH more than a car that doesn't. I can honestly say that I've had a car appraised while it was dirty, paid $100 for a half-assed detail job, and 2 days later had it appraised for $600 more than the first appraisal.

Really you don't even need a full detail, just get a complete upholstery shampoo and that should do the trick. Everything else you could clean yourself in an hour or two.

You would definitely get more money for it if it's as immaculate as possible when people look at it though.

[trof]

2. Miz t. has.

Several of our old cars. You usually get more than if you trade it in. I'd really try and get the inside cleaned up. There are some amazing stain removers on the market now.

She just runs a classified ad in the local paper.

[corarose]

3. Do not take it into a car dealer

They will rip you off big time.

Clean it up yourself and replace the floor mats if you have to. Spend a small amount because it is worth it.
Look under the hood and make sure your car is very clean and wash & wax it.

You will get more bucks this way.

I had to sell my Toyota Supra one time and it ripped my heart out but I needed the money.
I am a poor person now and I would love to have another car but you need to get the most money you can out of your car. A Dealer has to make money off of your car and they will not give you what it is worth.

[Kolesar]

4. Detail it

Clean under the hood. Coat the wires and hoses with Armor All. Clean the steering wheel crevices with a toothbrush. Get those stains off. It might be worth your money to have someone detail it for a few hundred bucks, then you can get on with selling it.

I would be most worried about people coming to my house. Have someone with you when people show up to look at the car.

There are books about how to sell your car. Check the library.