Levithan9

Hey guys....

Well, after three weeks of working on this car, every day after work and on the weekends, I finally got it all finished and ready to sell.

Just a little background on me: I've been an automotive technician for about 18 years. So, while this may seem like a lot of work, I actually enjoyed doing it after I got home from work.

Here is a list of all the things that I did to this car:

New timing belt, new water pump, new spark plugs, remove the upper intake, and replace the valve cover gaskets. While I had the upper intake off, a soaked it overnight in a tub of degreaser. I then pressure washed it the next day, and used an EGR snake to clean all of the passages. I replace the spark plugs while I was there, I cleaned the throttle body, replaced the power steering belt, and replace the power steering pump. I also replaced the ALT/AC belt, and detailed the engine bay. I also replaced passenger side strut mount and hardware.

I then removed the entire interior, including both seats, had the driver's seat bottom replaced with new leather, as it had tears on it. I steamed cleaned the entire interior trim, and used a carpet extractor to get all the stains out of the carpet. I then had to replace almost every light on the instrument cluster, and several of the interior buttons. I detailed every square inch of the inside of this car.

I removed all of the wheels and clean them, including the sticky tape that was left over from wheel balancing weights.

I then used a rotary polisher to remove all of the deep scratches that was in the clear coat. Next, I use my DA polisher to remove the swirls that the rotary polisher left on the clear coat when I was compounding. I then sealed the paint with NTX 2.0, then went over it with a glaze wax for that added "POP" to the paint.

I priced the vehicle at $3800, and put it out across the street from where I work, since they have a nice big parking lot, and a lot of potential customers drive by every day. I'm not expecting $3800, but I figured I would set it at that price and they work my way down. I'm actually looking for anywhere between 3200-$3500.

The only problem, is that the odometer reads 250,000 miles. I know that's a lot of miles, but this car runs so incredibly good, that I'm actually thinking of selling my Toyota Camry in keeping this car has my daily driver.

I got five calls on it the first day it was out, and the only questions I got were #1-whats the lowest price you'll take, and #2-how many miles are on it.

Nobody asked if they could take it for a test drive, nobody asked about how clean the interior looked, and nobody asked how the engine ran. I told several of the people that I was not going to negotiate the price of the car until they had test driven it and if they liked the way drove, and the way it handled. But I also made it clear that I was flexible on the pricing of the car.

Here is a link to a craigslist ad that I made the car

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4397002967.html

Do you guys think that I'm asking too much to begin with, or should lower my price to $3500 and start from there?

I have done a lot of work to this car and I have made it as maintenance free as I possibly can. I am even willing to pay half for the inspection sticker sence by the end of next month it is going to be expired.

Tell me what you guys think. Is it too high, or do I have priced just right and should just wait for " that one person" to show up?

Thanks in advance....

hamburglar490

I think that's a very fair price, just gonna have to wait for the right buyer

Skirmich

With all the records of those maintenance specially timing belt I think your asking too little.. But then again I know how much money and work that involves and I also know 250K on these engines are nothing..


Since your aiming to the un-educated owner your going to have a HARD TIME selling those 250K at 3500 bucks sadly...
I would strongly suggest you that you keep the car since you will probably lose a lot of money by selling it.


I mean are you seriously thinking this over a Camry?? SERIOUSLY? You can shit over Camry´s all day performance and look wise...
Everyone got a damn Camry these days.

3.2TLc

It appears as though ya have done a good job restoring the loser kid's $300 basket case.

The car is worth more to you than anybody else, sell the Camry and run the TL into the ground and don't look back while ya enjoy the luxurious ride.

Levithan9

Every time I drive this car somewhere to drop it off and put the FOR SALE sign on it, I always get out with a smile on my face. I love the acceleration, the power, and the way it just....how do i describe this....the way it JUST DRIVES !!

I came home yesterday with the car since it was parked across the street from where i work all week, and i didn't want to leave it over the weekend incase someone called on it.

When I walked thru the door, my wife saw me smiling and said, "You drove the Acura home, huh?" "Yeah", i said. "I feel like a 14 year old who just felt up his first set of titties!!"

I have until 4-29-2014 to sell the car. Thats when the previous owner dated the title, because I thought I was going to put an engine in it, and wanted a little wiggle room before i HAD to title it. If i don't sell it by then, then i'm going to keep it and get the Toyota Camry ready for sale.

3.2TLc

........ Yeah, enjoy all your labor and sell the boring Camry.

Yikes

I think the price is fair, but as stated above to the average joe that only has ~$4,000 to spend 250,000 miles is going to scare them off. Especially with that budget because they're going to do the research before putting their interest on anything. Almost everyone knows about the transmission woes these days.

I say get rid of your Camry and keep this.

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

Don't lower the price, someone will buy it. If you're expecting to sell a car for asking price, it's gonna take more than 2 days.

Also, your CL says it's got all the options, but it doesn't have the navi.

Skirmich

^ Does it have On-Star too?

Levithan9

It ha NO NAVI, and NO On-Star...

So your correct...it dosn't have all the options.

But, if they want NAVI, i'll thown in my 3 year old Tom Tom for free.

acutee

If you believe the car has no issue and drives good, that is a fair price. I have seen a few cars that is just over 100k, but run poorly. for average buyers, they got scared with high mileage, but for technical buyers, it is a fair deal for a good condition car. I am sure you will get buyer for that price range.

Chevelle66

If you were in state, I would buy it, I really want a type-s with black interior

3.2TLc

^^^ Ha, ha .....Ya may have a deal, the guy may drive it to your door !!!

johnep

I agree with most. Your gonna have a hard time selling it with 250K. Most folks will think it should be worth 1/2 the price since it's half worn out. Good luck sure looks like a clean car!

Tosh

Life's too short to drive a Camry.

And look at it from any prospective buyer's point of view: 250k, and still the owner has put ALL that work into it? Suspicious...?

PS. This line from your ad makes no sense:
"I wouldn't sell my mom a car that needed a bunch of repairs, so why should you be any different? "

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

You'd have an easier time selling the Camry.

Levithan9

I say that because I have taken the time and the money to ensure that who-evey buys that car, buys it as trouble free as i can possibly make it. I'm asking for a good chunk of change from a complete stranger, but since i'm a auto technician as well, and they will come to the shop i work at to look and test drive the car, I also have a reputation to uphold both for myself, and my employer.

If you wern't following my earlier posts, then i'll infor you that I got the car for $300. Broken timing belt. The owner didn't want to drop another dime on the car. And because of all the other issues that he ignored, I had to fix them.

The engine and transmission was well taken car of...but the little things needed attention. About 20 lights were out on the dash buttons and instrument cluster. Because i did this in my spare time, I took the time to replace each and every burnt out bulb. In a shop setting, that would have cost you dearly. In my garage with no time constraints, it got done in a little over a week.

I look at it like this....if i find a buyer, then good. If not, then i'll keep the car. But i won't drive no POS when it's in my power to fix all thats wrong with it. If I sold you a car, you can rest damn well and good that everything that needed attention...got the attention it needed.

Levithan9

Where do you live? You give me $3200, pay 1/2 for the gas up there...and i'll drive this sum'bitch to your garage !!

And i'm not kidding !!

Seabright

A well maintained older car is always worth more to the original owner, as they know all the repairs and issues. Thinking like a buyer, at 250k there could well be other repairs in the future. So the asking price may seem high.

Skirmich

Seems someone like a Camry too much

Tosh

"I wouldn't sell my mom a car that needed a bunch of repairs, so why should you be any different?"

Let's break it down: The way it's phrased accuses me (the reader of the ad) of selling my mother a car that needs a bunch of repairs. But that's not what you actually mean, and I know that.

I say leave the ad as factual as possible, without any over-enthusiastic or quirky phrases involving someone's mother!

Chevelle66

lol if I wanted it that bad I'd go get it myself, and I'm not to keen on giving someone on the internetz thousands of dollars lol.
I mean, I would buy it, but just not worth the hassle getting it into Cali. But thanks though

3.2TLc

Hey man, the dude's willing to drive it to ya for the price of half of his gas expense.
So, simply figure the miles and divide the total miles by 25mpg....then split that total amount in half.

Once the car is in your driveway, have it inspected and then give him the cash upon delivery of a satisfactory approved deal. If things fail, either negotiate or show him the local tourist attractions.

Ya know that he wouldn't rip off his Grandma, so ya should be ok ???

Skirmich

^^ hahahahahahaha

James Thomas

^^^^^^lol

03blackbeast

I payed $4500 for my 03 TLP with 221K on it. Didn't bat an eye. It had all maintenance records and an extensive detail to interior and exterior. 50K miles later I finally replaced original tranny. Couldn't be happier! If I had the opportunity now to do it again I'd buy your car in a second. That's a fantastic price for a Type-S just be patient! You'll find a true enthusiast someday.