Tips for Selling Your Car Online

Dear Miss Mota,

What are some of the best sites to sell your car on, delivery options etc?

Anne in NM

Dear Anne,

Selling your car online really depends on your car and where you are. Some cars are more desirable in certain parts of the country, some are going to be in demand locally to you and some areas mean that the cars from there are highly desirable because of no salt on the roads, no hail damage, no flooding, etc.

Start with a free local service like Craigslist and then decide if you think that your car would be appreciated on a site with a national search capability like autotrader.com or cars.com. If you don’t want to deal with it yourself you could try a service like Mota.net that will put it on all of the sites and manage the sale for you.

As far as delivery, it is always up to the buyer to arrange for transportation unless you want to deliver it yourself to get out of town. Make sure that you take a lot of pictures before it is picked up by a transport company because you don't want to be responsible for any damage after it leaves your driveway.

Make sure that you price your car below KBB retail and closer to private party value. You can see successful completed sales in eBay (they will be green and not red in Completed) to get an idea of what comparable models sell for or an easier choice is to price your car quickly and for free by looking at successfully sold cars here. Try to look at ones with similar trim packages too because some Sport or EX versions are more desirable than base packages.

Good luck!
M

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How to Sell a Car That Has Been in an Accident

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

I have a 1999 BMW 323i, which was involved in an accident. The price of the car without the accident would have been around $7000. Now with the accident the price will be no more than $3000.

What are the proper steps to selling the it. I want to post it on Craigslist or any other site. But, besides that, what papers do I need and/or any other legal documents?

Joe in NY

Dear Joe,

It looks like you have done you research and have realistically priced your car closer to trade-in value than retail value. You can check the value of cars successfully sold online like you’re here for free.

To sell a car that has been in an accident it is essential that you are completely upfront about damage that can be seen and any potential unseen damage. To do that in a way that will make buyers feel most comfortable might be to have an inspection done ahead of time and on hand. www.inspectmyride.com is one of the companies who will come to your home or work and do just that.

As for the paperwork once you have found your buyer: You will need to provide the title to the buyer and sign it over to them once they have paid you. They will need to provide proof of financial responsibility in order to register the car in their name so you may want to accompany them to the DMV to make sure that they do that or you will be liable for the car until it is properly registered by them.

The NY DMV also likes to see a bill of sale which you can print from here.

Good luck!
M

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Mysterious Warning Light on Accord

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

My Honda Accord "O/D OFF" light is on. What does this mean?

The light just came on this morning, and it scared me. I've had this 1999 car for about 6 months and that light has never been on.

What does this light mean? Did I accidentally hit some sort of switch? Is the light being on a bad sign? How do I turn it off?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Btw, I know very little about cars, as this car is my very first car. So please be kind with your response.

Kathy, TX

Dear Flustered in Fort Worth,

Although I don't know exactly where it is on a '99 Accord, there is a Overdrive button somewhere on the shifter. It is probably on the side of the actual handle or down near the gear numbers.

O/D off is NOT a big problem at all- you just don't want to use it all of the time because it runs your engine a lot harder because you are always in a lower gear. It would be used if you were driving up a big hill, for example, and don't want it staying in the highest gear. It gives you more power in circumstances like that. It is meant to be used but most people don't understand what it does so they leave it alone.

That car will probably last you a long time so for your first car, you chose well. You just need to figure out what button you pushed and turn it on. Once you know where it is, experiment with it when you try to pass someone, merge onto the freeway or climb a hill and you will feel the difference in power.

Happy cruising!
M

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Fun at the LA Auto Show

The 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show is over for this year. Like so many LA events, it was beyond crowded and Black Friday was a busy day at Staple’s Center. Just finding parking was a feat in itself. After driving in circles trying to find a lot with open spaces that wasn’t in West Hollywood, I spied a valet lot while at an intersection where I couldn’t do a U-turn. I asked the traffic cop how to get to the valet and he proceeded to give me very complicated directions on how to get to the valley. Deciding that I really did want to go to the auto show, I turned left, closely followed by a young couple on a Hog-styled Honda. I went to do the right/right/right turn to head back to the valet and they pulled up behind a cargo van in the left lane. Closely. The cargo van, for no apparent reason decided to back into them and smashed the front end their bike. As I watched the young woman scream obscenities she was parroting from her boyfriend, I was reminded of why my Grandmother said that women should not cuss. It is most unattractive and looked silly.

So the valet story is almost over- I promise- but I have to write down all of this because it is probably more interesting than anything I saw inside Staple’s Center. As I pulled into the valet lot, the attendant looked briefly at me then pointedly looked at my first edition 1999 Z3 Coupe, glanced over at the row of fancy-parked Lamborghinis, Mercedes and a sweet M5 and told me that I should have washed my car first. I paid $30 for the privilege of being told to wash my car! He took my keys and then hid it in the back of the lot so that no one would see my shame.

Once inside after paying 1/3rd of the valet cost to enter, the first car I saw was that Tesla that keeps getting trotted out for events. I guess that being 2 years behind in production led them to understand that lending the old showgirl to Yokohama tires was better than paying thousands for a booth. The interior was still the concept version with bits of exposed wires connecting the starter and I wondered if I plugged it into an onion if it would start.

On the main floor, the first thing that grabbed me was the Ford Flex. It let go of me pretty fast after staring at it for a bout 30 seconds so I decided to have a look at the Mazda RX-8 with its “freestyle” doors. Yes, that is correct. Suicide is officially a Very Bad Thing and will henceforth be referred to as Freestyle. It makes sense in the automotive world. A brave driver in a souped up tuner would never consider themselves to be suicidal but would probably like to think that the interpretive dance called drifting that is all the rage is Freestylin’. It’s just like Bob Fosse on wheels!

On to the concept cars, which were tiny, and will never be produced as seen at the show. Kia, VW and Chevy all made almost the exact same versions of the Mini and I wish that I could have put every one of them in my pocket and taken them home. I especially like the Chevy BEAT because the badge font made it look like it is called the BERT. VW did give me a little car to put in my pocket and take home. It is made of recycled plastic and it is a blue SUV and has a little hole on top to put, um, a pencil? A single pencil. Wow. It sort of seems like a waste of recycled plastic but maybe it will sell a lot of those Touregs for them. It was about this time that I overheard a kid tell his buddy that Ferrari is better than Lexus.

In the dungeon-like lower level, there were throngs of people looking at the auto accessories for sale and I even peeked at the big bubble that I could zip around my car to protect it from that shameful dust. I think that they will only work when you are starting in a clean zone and my parking space is a dust bowl so I moved on. The one vendor that I bet was bored out of his gourd was the guy selling something to help you get ice off of your windshield. Did no one tell him that the bus was stopping in Los Angeles, California?

In all it was an eye-glazing overload of people and cars and just further cemented in my mind that I am happy with my dirty little Z3 until I find that next little used car that doesn't mind being dusty and I can’t live without.

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Trading In- Why Pay More?

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

Why is it that you pay more for a vehicle when you trade something in than when buying it outright? That has NEVER made sense to me!
Misty, MO

Dear Skeptical in Springfield,

Any Motley Fool can tell you that Cash is King!

If you are buying your car outright, it means that you will be handing over the cool stuff that makes a car dealer weep with joy. Sure- they make money on financing and extra services but a simple easy cash transaction will do them just fine, thank you very much.

If you have a trade in and you think that you are paying too much, it is probably because you have an unrealistic expectation of what your old car is actually worth and so in order to keep their dear customer happy, they are letting you think that it is worth that much but actually rolling their loss into the price of the new car.

For example, if your car is worth $2,000 to them and they know they can sell it for $4,000 but you insist that you need $3,000 for your car, they will tack the extra grand on the new car.

It really is that simple and just being realistic about the value of your trade in or, even better, selling it yourself so you get higher than wholesale, can save you quite a chunk of change.

Frankly,

M

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Are Car Salesmen Trustworthy?

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

Can you really ever trust a used car salesman?
Paul, CA

Dear Funny in Fullerton,

This actually a fair question and before I upset any sales people out there, let me start by saying that there are very few who are rotten to the core and perched waiting to pounce on a hapless victim. Most sales people are just doing what they have been trained to do and believe it or not, it is not to practice deception.

What does happen most of the time is that, as in many similar industries, sales techniques are used that end up with a customer who feels a little duped or confused and in this consumer-savvy world, no one likes to feel that way.

What most people fail to realize is that the car world is a game of emotions. (Ahhh- that new car smell! Wow- the speed! Yum- the luxury! ) Car salesmen just are a little more objective about it and come prepared with a toolbox full of sales techniques for every occasion.

The best defense is to be a smart buyer and do your research, write it down and refer to it often as they do their tap dance in front of you. There are so many resources now online that it would be foolish to not be educated about everything from what to look for, what to expect and what to demand. It is equally not a good idea to go into negotiations thinking that you know the industry and make assumptions about car values just because it occurred to you over your oatmeal that morning. Cars are a huge business with standards, laws, metrics and its own method of establishing values that isn’t exactly a science but does have a method behind its madness just as there is a reason that ketchup is above .50 cents but below $3.00.

So, can you trust a used car salesman? If you are the kind of buyer who wants to be told what you need and how you are going to do it, then yes, they are as trustworthy as the insurance agent, the doctor and the dishwasher repairman and you will get whatever they offer. If you work with any of them and make your needs clear and they will not work with you, then you just trot yourself down the street and find one who will.

Candidly,

M

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Upside Down in a Car

Dear Miss Mota,

What does it mean that I'm upside down on my car once I purchase it? What about on my trade in?
Susanne, CO

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Dear Baffled in Boulder,

Being upside down isn’t always a bad experience. Just think of it like you are hanging from your knees on the monkey bars for the first time. It is scary but just breathe, darling, we all go through it.

From the moment that you drive your freshly financed dream on wheels off the lot, you have started losing some money and are technically upside down. Your total negotiated price isn’t just what you agreed upon with the salesman because you also have 48+ months of interest to pay. You can always pay it off early if you have a sudden influx of cash but what the bank says your car is worth in payoff may not be the same as the going market rate for that car so be prepared. On the other hand, you could end up ahead if you chose a great car!

Upside down with a trade-in is different. If you are trading in a car and you still owe money on it, someone will have to pay the lender for the difference and as the dealer is taking the car, they will pay it but not out of the goodness of their heart! They will wrap what you owed into the price of your new car and if you are financing with the new one, you will still be paying for that old thing you thought that the dealer kindly took off your hands.

Just being aware can alleviate a lot of the hyperventilation when dealing with cars and doing your research regularly can give you the confidence to play chicken.

Truthfully,

M

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Dealership Drama-rama

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,
How many trips does the salesperson need to make to talk to his Manager before he can get down to the REAL basics of a fair price?
Betty, AZ

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Dear Frustrated in Phoenix,

Don’t you just love the theater? Where better to get to see the antics of struggling thespians, amateur and professional alike, on stage create an illusion before the eyes of an audience than in the great halls of the ….erm…local car lot.

The scene that you are asking about is the same one that is played out on a daily basis everywhere. We have all experienced it. The question is whether this is a tragedy or a comedy and the answer lies in how much you know about car salesmen.

When you sit down for the negotiation of a car price, the salesman will fiddle with prices on a sheet of paper and then sigh and moan a lot about how he just doesn’t know if his general manager will approve the offer. He will then say that he has to go ask (and even pretend to ally himself as if he is going to battle for you) and shuffle off to the Big Guy behind the glass.

Here is what you think is happening as your palms get sweaty: Car Salesman Mike is standing sweating below a big evil boss who will be downright angered that Mike has dared to approach him. Mike will be told after a stern lecture that there is no chance that the offer can possibly be accepted.

What is actually happening: Salesman Mike goes in to General Manager Andy, perches on the edge of his desk and they proceed to shoot the proverbial baloney and after a bit of time, Mike hangs his head, slumps his shoulders and trudges out to break it to you that your offer is just far too low.

Why are they doing this? They are wearing you down. Any taxing of your patience with a high ticket purchase like this is an emotional experience for any red blooded human being! They will also waste time and your energy by taking an excessive amount of time appraising your trade in car.

So what should you do? Insist on talking to the manager yourself if there is any doubt that your offer is not fair and if you have done your research ahead of time, you will know what the right price is. Similarly your trade in should be researched in advance too so that you know what a fair price is for your car. Or, even better yet, do your research and buy online at your own pace. Buying from virtual dealers now puts you in control of the situation.

Remember that the show will go on.

Dramatically,

M

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Current Mota Cars 11.20.07

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MSRP, Sticker Price and Real Costs

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

I just bought my first new car (my dream car!) from a dealer and there are some things that I guess I just didn’t ask in advance. I was wondering what the difference between sticker price and final out of pocket cost is? How do you estimate how much you will really pay? Now I am wondering if I really got a good deal?

Susie G, Colorado Springs, CO

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Dear Confused,

Welcome to the table post negotiation and signing on many, many dotted lines. Don’t beat yourself up! You may have still done yourself proud without even realizing it!

MSRP: Called the Monroney or window sticker, this is required by law and indicates the manufacturers suggested price including the base price with factory warranty, standard equipment, transportation costs, engine specifications, estimated fuel economy and can only be removed by the purchaser. Sometimes erroneously referred to as Mostly Suckers Really Pay, it is not always the case that you shouldn’t pay full sticker price. There are exceptions!

In the case of recent “hot” cars such as the first released new Mini Cooper, demand will keep sticker price right on the money. Cars are emotional purchases and demand from drivers needing to have the latest and greatest can temporarily maintain MSRP as the going rate for many months. Waiting until a car isn’t as “hot” can save quite a chunk of change. A new, not “hot” car can generally be had for 7-22% below MSRP.

When financing, it is important that you never negotiate according to what you would like your monthly payments to be. In fact, don’t even mention that you will be financing until you negotiate to a price that you feel comfortable with based on research done prior to walking onto a car lot.

Your final out of pocket pain will be the final price plus sales tax, title transfer fees and the interest on your loan spread over the number of months that you chose. All of them are unavoidable and part of the process.

Don’t stress! Enjoy your new ride and keep in mind that research is always key!

Confidently,
M

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Selling My Car But It Isn't Buyers That Are Calling

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

I listed my car online and now my phone is ringing off the hook but it isn’t buyers! It is dealers asking me to trade my car in at their lot or people who say they can sell my car for me. Who are these people and should I trust them?

Carla N., Newark, NJ

Dear Nervous in New Jersey,

Ah, salesmen! Don’t you love them? They want your business even when you may not want their company! These guys are using ads online and in publications to get leads and generate business. Most are legitimate but you may not like their terms.

If it is a dealer calling you, they are not just trying to take your car off your hands; they are trying to sell you a car. If you are trying to sell your car yourself then you probably already know that you will get a higher price from a For Sale By Owner Listing than you would in trade-in value.

Sometimes the dealer is just trying to do consignment and will be expecting you to pay them a fee, often weekly, for the privilege of letting your car sit on their lot.

Similarly there are now third party services that will sell your car for you for a flat upfront fee or will expect a consignment fee based on a percentage of the final sale price.

An aggressive sales person may not be a bad idea if you are trying to sell your car especially if they are going to list your car for you online and help with the buyers. But, if you don’t want their calls, make sure that you ask them to not bug you again.

Next time you try to sell your car yourself you may want to use a temporary phone service like www.numbr.com that will assign a temporary phone number that will forward calls to your regular phone and allow you to screen callers before you decide to answer.


Confidently,

M

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Mice Are Getting in My Car!

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

I have a second car that is kept garaged most of the time. Unfortunately mice seem to be getting inside! What can I do? If I put mouse traps in there and I don’t check it often…..EEWWWWW!

Theresa M., Santa Rosa, CA

Dear Skittish in Santa Rosa,

Car manufacturers are now making cheese flavored wiring? Probably not but damage done to wiring by nibbles and the cardboard that is in the dashboards of most cars is an ideal knowing area for mice and can be very expensive to have repaired. They can get in through the air vents quite easily and wreak havoc on a stored car in relatively short time.

The only odor that would be worse than a dead mouse could possibly be one of the many tried cures: mothballs. Get that car out of storage and let it sit in the sun and you will regret ever trying that method!

The easiest and most effective is peppermint oil! Yep! The same oil that you used as a kid to make those fire-hot toothpicks. Commonly found with local grocers, peppermint oil on cotton balls are a great deterrent for mice. You could also put the oil and cotton balls in a small jar with holes poked in the lids and placed around the interior for a longer lasting method.

Mice detest the smell of peppermint oil so take advantage of that and pass the toothpicks!

Solemnly,

M

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Car Stereo in Anti-Theft Mode

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

My battery on my car died and now my radio will not work. I have been driving around without any music for days now and it is driving me batty! The screen is flashing a bunch of dashes and I know that I am supposed to have a code somewhere but can’t seem to find it anywhere. Should I just buy a new one?

Julieta I., Seattle, WA

Dear Soundless in Seattle,

It must be so difficult having to endure all of that silence! When your battery went dead, your car’s stereo was unable to get any power so it enabled it’s own anti-theft mode. Pretty clever, huh?

Well, it is only clever if you can find the security code which should be printed on the stereo manual in your glove box. It will be a 3-5 digit code and you will need to either enter it by pushing the pre-tune buttons or scrolling with the tuner knob or toggle. If you do not get it entered correctly within the first couple of tries, the stereo may lock you out for 30 minutes to an hour until you can try again. In some brands of stereos you may have to leave the car running and the stereo on for the entire period that you are locked out before your next attempt.

If you cannot find your original code you could just head to the nearest dealership (provided that it is the stereo that was installed by the car manufacturer) and ask if they can print the number out for you to do it yourself. Some dealers may want to see your registration and ID so be prepared to show them. If they insist that they need to have a technician fix it the cost will be around $40.

If it is not a factory stereo then a qualified sound shop might be able to help you with a little persuasion.

Once you have the code make sure that you stow a copy in the glove box so that if it should happen again, you will not have to listen to yourself hum!

Audibly,

M

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Spilled Milk in the Car

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

Help! An entire gallon of milk exploded on the way home from the grocery store and is all over the carpet in the back of my mini van! It is starting to really smell and we were going to sell this and get a new van. What can I do?

Judy C., San Ramon, CA

Dear Sad in San Ramon,

You must be one of those mini van drivers I see cornering on 2 wheels! Don’t despair though. You can be back on the racetrack road and odor free in no time.

The first thing that you should do when you discover spilled milk is get to a car wash and grab the high powered vacuum. Suck up as much moisture as possible. Do not add any water to the mix because that will cause the milk to penetrate further into the fibers (especially on upholstery) and you will have an even more difficult time escaping the stench.

Once you are confident that you have gotten as much moisture out as possible, head to the pet supply store and buy a protein-based enzyme cleaner. Follow the directions and if necessary, repeat the process a couple of times.

Your buyer should be able to breath freely in the mini van during the summer months. If there is any chance that it still might smell even a little, you should be honest with the buyer. Also, for your next mini van you may want to consider getting a cargo net to hold your grocery bags upright or at the very least, use an old (ahem) milk crate.

Better days,

M

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Buying Online and the "As Is" Rule

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

This past spring I bought a car from an individual online. He is in Texas and I am in North Dakota. I asked a lot questions before agreeing to buy it. It seemed like a good deal on a used 1999 Volvo with pretty low mileage.

I flew to Texas and checked the car over myself to make sure that it was as he had described it, liked what I saw and drove it home. When it got cold enough to turn on my heater I discovered that it didn’t work. The mechanic is now telling me that the heater core needs to be replaced at a pretty big expense! I called the guy in Texas and he won’t call me back! What should I do?

Mark R., Fargo, ND

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Dear Freezing in Fargo,

I have been to Texas in both late spring and summer and can understand why you wouldn’t have given the heater a test drive on a swampy 100 degree day! Unfortunately you will probably have to pony up for the replacement heater core because the bill of sale would have stated that the car was bought “as is”. Even if you had thought to test the heater it might have worked because he could have used a dose of radiator stop leak additive to temporarily cover up any issues.

This is a great example of why paying for a local mechanic to a car to do an inspection is such a solid idea. Is there a silver lining? Because you bought a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) and not a dealer you probably got a good deal so the extra expense of replacing the heater core will probably still keep you ahead in savings.

Warmly,

M

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Selling a Leased Car

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

My lease on my car is not up yet and I would like to sell this car and pay off the lease. It has really low mileage so I think that I can get a good price for it but how will the buyer get the title?

Bruce N, Los Angeles, CA

Dear Leasing in LA,

The first step to losing your lease is going to be for you to call the leasing company/dealer and find out what the pay off is on the car. You want to be prepared when you sell the car that you could be upside down, or in other words, owe more on the car than the price you may get for it.

Once your buyer has decided to become the new owner, it is probably best to both go to the leasing company to complete the transaction. If they do not live locally the dealer that holds the title can take care of the transfer without both of you needing to be there by sending paperwork by FedEx. The buyer can pay the company directly and you can pay the difference if you did unfortunately end upside down in what you owe.

For a fee, the dealership company can then do the taxes, title transfer and registration which will release of any liabilities and set you free!

Finally, during the advertisement of the car, it is a good idea to be upfront with the buyer about the state of the title so that they will not be surprised at the end of the sale. You expect honesty from people so they should be able to expect that from you. It means both sides win!

Best of luck,

M

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Buying For Sale By Owner Cars

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

I need a car and I see used ones in classified ads that look affordable. I can ask but it doesn’t mean the owner will tell me the truth! How do I know if the car has ever been in an accident? And if so, how can a person tell?

Paul D., Ontario, CA

Dear Curious in California,

Education! Education! Education, eh! (Oh wait! You must be in Ontario, California! If you are Canadian, see the bottom of the answer.)

There are a couple of key ways to find out if a car has ever been in an accident and doing both is a good investment for your peace of mind and safety.

When looking at used cars and buying from an individual seller it is always a good idea to get a third party report such as Experian AutoCheck. By analyzing the Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, these reports can reveal the number of owners, potential odometer roll back, salvage title, collision history and even if it was registered as a taxi or rental car.

Additionally, getting a third party inspection performed by a service such as http://www.inspectmyride.com/ or a mechanic that you trust can reveal a lot about a vehicle. Qualified mechanics and inspectors can tell you if the frame is straight and whether the car has had any bodywork done on it as well as verify that it is in good running shape.

Without these to protect you it is possible that you could end up with a lemon so Buyer Beware and get these important checks done!

BTW- If you were in Ontario, Canada you should use Carfax for any VIN reports.

Prudently,

M

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Are VIN Numbers in Danger of Being Stolen?

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

My mother emailed me and told me that I need to cover the VIN number in my car window because if I don’t, thieves will steal my car! How can they steal my car just by being able to see the little tag that every car has inside?

Laura C., Bakersfield, CA

Dear Bewildered in Bakersfield,

Don’t you just love those Fwd: Fwd: Fwd: emails that our mothers all seem to think we just have to have? As with any of these, approaching it with a bit of skepticism is always a good first move.

The 17 digit VIN could, in theory, be used by a thief if they copied the VIN, created fake registration and identification for themselves, went into a dealership and had them create a new key. That is not as simple as it sounds! There have only been a few cases of this ever happening and they were stealing the VINs from used car lots where the cars would be sitting still for some time.

Covering you VIN may not only be a futile exercise but also illegal. Several states have laws regarding the VIN being visible at all times and never obscured. Also, that little plate is not the only place where you can find your VIN. Manufacturers now put it many places including on the engine and inside door panel to dissuade thieves from being able to hide the identity of stolen cars.

My suggestion is that you ask your mother to stop forwarding you these urban legends and feel confident that your car will not end up in a chop house.

Sincerely,

M

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What is a Fair Price for a Used Car

Dear Miss Mota Mouth,

One of my clients has an used BMW X5 that he would like to sell. It has been immaculately maintained and has pretty low mileage I would love to have it but he said that the Kelly Blue Book on it is $17,000 and he wants another $3,000 because he added stuff like the stereo, tinting, larger wheels and more. I just want a safe car to drive my kids in and don’t know if it is worth spending the extra for the add-ons.

Jenni K, Ocala, FL

Dear Frugal in Florida,

Jus by virtue of the fact that you called premium customizations “stuff”, this may not be the X5 for you unless he seriously lowers his price and realizes that what he found necessary is not going to be the case with most buyers.

Keep in mind that if his ego is as big as his need to have a souped up SUV then the Kelly Blue Book price that he is referring to could be the retail and not private party. Retail is usually significantly higher than both private party (with trade-in value trailing in third place). You should check the KBB yourself and remember that Excellent condition means absolutely mint which most cars are not. Psst- You don’t need to tell him this but I doubt that his is either.

You should also check current and recently completed private party auctions on eBay to get an idea of a realistic price. Just do your research and then try not to be emotional about this particular car.

Once you have decided what you think is a fair price you might try making an offer or, if he is a client that you do not want to offend, consider letting him try to sell it himself at his unrealistic price. After a while when he doesn’t get any nibbles you can swoop from behind, offer to pay your researched price and learn how to work all of that extra “stuff”.

Lavishly,

M

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