Any good tips for selling a used car?

[BlackVelvetElvis]

I'm selling a 2000 Ford Focus SE, immaculate, with only 1,200 miles on it.
I'm almost certain that all the recalls were taken care of (this make/model had plenty). Any good advice or methods to move it at a fair market value?
Oh yeah, the car has no insurance but the registration is valid. How do I handle the customer test drive?

[NMDemDist2]

1. don't have them come to your house

park the car next to the road somewhere (some places with hi visablity will "rent" you a space to put them in)

Have your phone number BIG then meet them there during daylite hours to see the car

also post it on the web, most areas now have "used car guides" for sales in mini marts etc. I have done a lot of car shopping on the web and is a great way to narrow it down before i go out to look.

[KissMyAsscroft]

2. Test drive it somewhere remote...

They are going to want to drive it...just drive it around the neighborhood.

Make sure it's clean, have all of the records, meet them somewhere like a parking lot where you can show them the car...take cash or a cashier's check or a money order only...


That's all I can think of right now.

[democracyindanger]

3. Invest

in a professional detailing job. I also paid for a prepurchase inspection myself, just in case. There were a few things that I paid to get fixed, others I didn't and informed the possible buyers of the things I didn't, telling them that I've already figured that into the selling price.

[democracyindanger]

6. And

make sure the test driver is insured.

[solinvictus]

4. Full gas tank

A full gas tank, preferably with 93 octane as the valves won't rattle, will help sell it. Armor-All the tires and weather stripping, detail the car, and you should be able to move it.

[Kadie]

5. A few people have told me that they have had good luck

advertising on Yahoo. You can put in the description and a photo. You can also have them respond to your email, and then you call them back.

[Career Prole]

7. New belts and hoses, if you can afford them.

The cheap kind. It's the newness they'll look for (and be comforted by) if they peek under the hood...and a recent oil change, because they may check to see if you're driving with dirty oil by checking the dipstick.

[fishnfla]

8. Use the word "creampuff" in a newspaper ad

brings in the serious bids


Disclaimer: this is a serious post and was not meant to offend any dairy products, any bakery items, or anyone of any kinky inclination or any races of any kind.

hey i think I just found a new sig line

[jburton]

9. Try yahoo first

One advantage here is being able to remove the ad ASAP if you sell the car or whatever.

BTW- Only 1,200 miles? That's like 25 miles per month.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

10. The person who bought and owned the car was bedridden

needless to say, she didn't get out much.
Thanks for all the advice, DU'ers. You guys always have good advice.

[arewethereyet]

11. don't take it to CARMAX, they cheated me shamelessly

had to sell my mother-in-law's car as she's now in assisted living and won't be driving.

I hand them the keys and the title. THey do their little dance and offer $950. Its old, 91, and not pretty but at 38K miles a worthy chop shop candidate. I agree.

Paperwork goes to Biznis office, oh there is a problem. Seems the title says it was at 77K when printed. So either its 1,038,000 or the odometer is no virgin, $300.

I have too much else to manage with her estate to argue over $650. But I am becoming pretty good at getting my way with other means. Had a contractor try and scew me. Got my money and he's about to lose his license. We'll see how this one turns out. I've got time and patience for this sort of thing.

The nerve of those bastards cheating my little old 77 year old wheelchairing granny ! The nerve.