Shawn S

I’m considering a couple of “automotive scenarios” for the near future and one of them involves selling the CLS.

The original plan is/was to keep the CL as a second vehicle when I buy a summer toy next year.
But part of me thinks I should go with something cheaper.
If I did it NOW I wouldn’t have to worry about using it for the winter.
Maybe get an older 4x4 truck or an AWD car like a Subaru to thrash around.

I know everyone always says to rip all the mods off, but I really don’t want to do that.
Just curious of your opinions.
The car just passed 33,000 miles and the AcuraCare plan is good until 75,000 or 2009.

spdy0001

Dibs on the rims

I hate to say it because im in the same boat as you, but I don't think we could get more than 18K.

But seriously if you try to sell your rims keep me in mind

drock03

That is a sick looking ride!

Minch00

Well, the gold kit knocks at least 2% off the resale value, so that's money gone right there

Fabvsix

Shawn,
Old timer here......Keep that car ! You have invested too much to let it for it current value ! park it, store it, forget about it. Buy a junker like I did (a 1999 Honda CRV 5 speed awd manual) In several years, when you bring her out, she be flawless and a memorable car ! That car still catches my attention when I see one on the road !

Smitty

how can you be in the same boat but what to buy rims?... are they for something other than your CL-S?

and

it is funny you say 18K, because last month the dealership offered me $18,500.00 for my car returned to stock... needless to say, but I told them to go pound salt up their ass.

Shawn, I have been thinking about Holding onto the CL-S and picking up a 2006 Toyota Tacoma so I can tow all my toys (ATV, Waverunner, Bike, etc)

Nothing out there really catches my eye like the CL-S did...

spdy0001

Im in the same boat, because I also would get raped on the trade in. I only have 23K miles on mine, but it has lost 10K in value

However I don't plan on getting rid of the CLS until it doesnt drive anymore. Last year I bought a beater explorer which is gonna make my CLS last that much longer

Lord Helmet

Keep the CL and purchase rolling toilet as needed.

GreenMonster

Shawn, I saw this thread at work, and figured I'd think about it, but with the mods you have, it's going to be tough to just throw a price out there. If I had too, I'd say somewhere in the low 20's...

Yeah, 18.5K for you car might be a little low (because of your low mileage and the condition of your car), but I don't think they are too far off...

I've driven my car thru 3 winters, and with 38K on it, I would probably be ok with 18K (or maybe even 17) for a trade in (depending on the other end of the deal, mrsp vs. invoice on the new car). Of course, there's nothing in the around 30K price range that really interests me either... I've always thought that after 5 years or 60K miles, I'd be ok with getting 15K (half of what I paid) for my 6spd, but I'm still stock.

I think you should keep the car as a winter beater Shawn For the price your going to get for it, it might be wiser to just keep it... If you buy something else to compliment a toy, you'll probably want something 1/2 way decent, and that's not going to be cheap.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

After trying for a year to sell mine with the mods. The mods make no different in price, & is harder to sell. Sold it to a member here. I'd say no more then 19K till January. After that drop it another 1K.
Bad factors are:

Stick are hard to sell
Mods scare people
The CLS was not a popular car
Used car market is so flooded
It's been through harsh PA winters
Resale value in general suck these days

Chief F1 Fan

God your car is beautiful Shawn--sorry, that's all I gots.

Chief F1 Fan

Got this from kbb.com:

Private Party Value Search Local Listings | List This Car for Sale $21,040
Private Party Value is what a buyer can expect to pay when buying a used car from a private party. The Private Party Value assumes the vehicle is sold "As Is" and carries no warranty (other than the continuing factory warranty). The final sale price may vary depending on the vehicle's actual condition and local market conditions. This value may also be used to derive Fair Market Value for insurance and vehicle donation purposes.


This of course excludes your mods which I have no idea how much they are collectively worth. Y'know Shawn, off the cuff, I'd consider buying this car and ditching the POS auto I have. Just a thought for now . . . . .

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

Is the car paid off? I'm assuming so. I'm sure you could get $22k for it through a private sale.

FWIW I purchased my 6-speed with the S/C'er headers, springs, konis, sways, etc, etc for $20k but the original offer price was $22k. Your car is clean and it has navigation and it's a 6-speed. Since you aren't in a hurry to sell it list it at $23,000 as-is and see what happens. You don't NEED the money nor are you in a hurry to sell so don't settle for less than what you're expecting.

On trade-in you'll get taken to the cleaners. Expect no more than $18k.

Rock2534

It does look good, i've seen it in person. If i could get rid of mine I wouldn't mind buying it, i would like to have a 6er.

Shawn S

I know what you guys mean about keeping the car, but I’m just afraid about what will become of it.
Right now I clean and shine the thing all the time and it looks great most days.
When I get another car, the CLS will become 2nd fiddle and it won’t get all that attention.
If I only use it for bad weather and winter duty, it will be dirty most of the time.
Being a dark color with chrome rims, it needs to be clean to look good.

I’ll probably end up just keeping it for a few more years.
I was just looking for some feedback or if there was anyone interested.
I may still post it in the For Sale section with a firm price if someone is interested.
Even if I did take most of the mods off and sell them separately, I’d still be looking for a decent price because of the condition of the car and the extended warranty.

If I sold it and got a replacement winter vehicle for about 10-12 grand I have more money for the other car.

Shawn S

YUP…. Paid in full as of last year.
I'd never trade it.

KXM

Maybe there is a big disparity with regional pricing! My CLS 6 spd
has the following posted average pricing from Edmonds & Kelly,
etc: Retail price: $26,495 and $22,900 private party, not including
the wood steering wheel, wheels & tires package, after market
stereo, etc that I have.
Yes, dealers in SoCal are asking really high prices that are hard to belive so
why are some of you guys suggesting low ball pricing under $20k for
this guys car? The dealers do not live on Mars, they do know their markets
(even though some are assholes) and do price cars to sell, not to sit on the
lots and be washed everyday! Sure, they leave room for dickering, but not
$3k or more.

Also, why is my sons stock 2005 Scion (now for sale) now going for $1,000+
or more than he paid for it? The explanation we got from a friend high up in
a local Mazda dealership is that the Scion gets 36 miles per gallon & with gas
at $3/gallon here, that is factor #1. Also, Scion xB's are extremely popular
out here for factor #2.

For certain, everyone wants to buy low and sell high, but still and all,
the market determines the price, and out here the price for a super clean,
no rust well equipped CLS (not moded) is in the mid $20's, not the high teens as is being suggested.

mclarenf3387

Why are saying what the going market is. KBB and all that doesn't mean crap, its what people are willing to pay and what others are going for. And a dealer would list that car for 23K maybe 24K but they would have to be willing to go down some as the last 03s were leaving the lots at 27K brand new,

It sucks, but there is not a huge market for a discontinued coupe with FWD and tranny issues. And for those of you with stick, its worse unless you find someone who knows the rarity of the car.

F900

Black Book Auction Quotes from your state, of couse assuming the car is stock.

Just to note if they use the black book to appraise your car, they might deduct $900 with not been a Auto tranny, (yeah i know)

On a stock 03 CLS/NAVI 33K....

VIN: 19UYA4173
UVC: 2003020046
VIN + UVC: 19UYA4173046
MSRP: $32,700
Loan Value: $18,590
Model#: YA4173JNW
Price Incl: AT AC CD
Mileage Cat: B

Weight: 3,470
Wheelbase: 106.9
Taxable HP: 32.5
Tire Size: 215/50R17

Black Book Retail as of 09/12/05
Extra Clean Clean Average Rough
Base $22,975 $22,200 $20,450 $18,000
Options $0 $0 $0 $0
Mileage ($850) ($500) $0 $0
Total $22,125 $21,700 $20,450 $18,000

Black Book Trade-In as of 09/12/05
Clean Average Rough
Base $19,280 $18,120 $14,560
Options $0 $0 $0
Mileage ($500) $0 $0
Total $18,780 $18,120 $14,560



IMO the only people who are going to appreciate your car for what it is, is people around here who know you take care of your car... As i assume you know Car dealers don't give a fuck.

Whatever i do, i'm probably just going to try and keep my CLS, it just dont make financial sence to be offered just a low offer. I'm just about to spend on a 60K inspection and just bought new tires, the best part of $1500, do i get it back if i trade my car in ...nope.

Nice car, good luck

Shawn S

YES...Finding the right buyer is the biggest challenge.
When I sold my 91 Legend, the dealer said nobody would want a stick shift luxury coupe.
They low-balled me at 7,500 dollars on a trade.
I sold it privately to someone who had been searching MONTHS for a stick Legend Coupe and I got 11,500 for it.

GreenMonster

I just did a kbb lookup on my 03 6spd w/ 38K miles... Zip => 02777, condition Excellent (even tho it's not).

23,150 retail, 19,845 private sale, 16,650 trade in. These numbers seem to correlate with the black book numbers F900 posted.

Either you have very low mileage, or there is a big regional difference....

ShawnS, I think MrSteve has the best answer. List it at 23K and see if anyone bites... You'll definitely get some low ball offers, but if you hold out to find the right buyer, you should get a decent price. If I didn't already have a CL 6spd, I'd be the type of buyer who would be interested in your car (love the rims).

Shawn S

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...43#post4404743

goredcar

Shawn... your car looks great. If I would have seen this thread a few months ago, I would have bought it. I had a 5AT, which of course let me down with a bad tranny, so i switched recently to a CLS 6. The 6 speeds are a rare car, so that is in your favour. I had a hard time finding one, and was even willing to go to NY for one that I was interested in. I settled for one locally with high mileage (55K), but love the car.

Resale value is strictly a matter of the market, and if you find the right buyer you will get a decent price, however, I would recommend you pulling off your mods as the buyer will likely not be willing to pay for them. I had headers, exhaust, pulleys and intake on mine... and luckily it all fit the 6 speed. I took a beating on selling the 5AT.

I had an Accord coupe before and lost 2K over 2 years. With the CLS I lost 10K over the same time period. High end cars simply have a smaller audience.

I wish you all the best with your decision.

And I love your wheels!

GreenMonster

Well written ad Shawn, and I like who you backed up you asking price with the price guide prices and cost of mods

Hopefully someone steps up and buys what look to be an excellent deal...

If I didn't already have a 6spd, I'd definitely consider buying it...