What's my car worth?

I've just bought a "new" 240 wagon (via eBay) and my brother-in-law, who lives
in mid-Michigan (I'm in the Chicago area) wants to buy my old car. I don't
want to give it away, but I want to be fair on the price, or even slightly
unfair to me. I've checked Kelley, so I know what they think. But I want to
run it by you folks and get your opinions.

The car is a 1989 250 wagon. It has the usual power locks, steering, etc., but
not power windows or mirrors. The seats are vinyl (or whatever they are when
they're not cloth or leather) and in fairly good shape, though with some splits
in the well-worn driver's seat; no damage to the dashboard. The Volvo
stereo/cassette's been replaced with a really nfity stereo/CD player, though
the brand escapes me at the moment. (I think it's nifty because you just press
a little button and take off the front of it, which has its own little case so
you can pop it in the glove box while you're away from the car and it looks
like there's no stereo in the car to steal.) There are 138,000 miles on the
car. The body is in good, though not perfect shape. There's no rust anywhere
(I wash it like a demon all year long), but there's some damage in the area of
the right front parking light. I was backed into a parking space, in a lot,
and someone in the row in front of me obviously backed out and into that part
of my car and, naturally, took off without leaving a note. It did bend the
metal, though didn't break the paint, and the parking light cover is cracked.
I didn't get it fixed because it's not immediately noticable and didn't really
seem worth bothering with. Still, the damage is there. Beyond that, though,
there are a couple small dings, a little wear -- nothing you wouldn't expect in
the body of a 15 year old car. Overall in good shape. The car's been really
well maintained by a mechanic who specializes in these cars. Just this year
I've (voluntarily -- not forced by lack of performance) replaced a tie rod, and
put four new tires on the car. At the same time, the mechanics checked the
whole car for leaks, tightened a couple of things that needed tightening, and
steam cleaned the engine.

Anything I'm forgetting?

So -- given all that -- what do you think is a fair price for this car?

Thanks very much,

Patricia

 

I don't know - but Hubbard Woods Motors in Winnetka gives very good appraisals
for $40. They're on Green Bay Road right next to the Hubbard Woods Metra stop.

If you go there, ask for Tad -- he might even do it for free for a first time
customer.

 

Subject: Re: What's my car worth?

I was asking for the opinions of Volvo drivers here, based on their
experiences. If you didn't want to give an opinion, you could have just
skipped it. I wasn't asking because I was trying to cheap out of having an
appraisal done.

 

Umm ... I was giving you my opinion as a Volvo driver. Apparently you're
a little too touchy to understand that.

 

Subject: Re: What's my car worth?

Apparently I am, then, because it sounded to me like your opinion is that my
car is worth a $40 appraisal by someone else.

 

| >Subject: Re: What's my car worth?
| >From: "Bev A. Kupf"
| >Date: 6/26/2004 3:43 PM Central Daylight Time
| >Message-id: <>
| >
| >On 26 Jun 2004 20:43:08 GMT,
| > PButler111 () wrote:
| >> I was asking for the opinions of Volvo drivers here, based on their
| >> experiences. If you didn't want to give an opinion, you could have
just
| >> skipped it. I wasn't asking because I was trying to cheap out of
having an
| >> appraisal done.
| >
| >Umm ... I was giving you my opinion as a Volvo driver. Apparently you're
| >a little too touchy to understand that.
| >--
| >Bev A. Kupf
|
| Apparently I am, then, because it sounded to me like your opinion is that
my
| car is worth a $40 appraisal by someone else.

Nobody who isn't "familiar" with the market in your area can give you
anything remotely as accurate as an appraiser who DOES know the market in
your area. Volvo drivers tend to "inflate" their views of the "value" of
their cars - as do most people who favor the type/model of car that they
drive. If your really seek "fair" or actual market value as your price - use
an appraiser.

Bev gave you and exceptionally good answer - and the only really useful
answer you'll get from anyone. Forty bucks for an appraisal done by a pro is
dirt cheap - and, as stated, the best way to get that "fair" price you are
seeking....

Finally, you owe Bev an apology.....

FER

 

Try looking on Ebay. That should give you some idea of what they are
going for.

Taff...........

www.sounds-pa.com | www.thecomputerworkshop.com

 

Subject: Re: What's my car worth?

Apparently you and Bev both misunderstood what I was asking. I've already
given my brother-in-law a price on the car. I know what I'm charging him. I
don't need a professional appraisal. If I did, that's what I would have gone
for instead of asking Volvo owners for their opinions. But that is, in fact
what I want -- unprofessional opinions from people who own Volvo and drive
Volvos and undoubtedly have bought and sold them. That's what I'm asking for.
I'm sorry you misunderstood. (And I don't owe Bev a damn thing.)

 

Subject: Re: What's my car worth?

Please don't anyone else give me an answer like this.

 

You seem a most unpleasant person. Goodbye.

Taff...........



www.sounds-pa.com | www.thecomputerworkshop.com

 

This seems a little at odds with what you wrote earlier ...

However, if had already decided on a price at the time you wrote this, then
you felt that it worth expending the time of others playing guessing games
for you. How delightfully mature and considerate.

 

Subject: Re: What's my car worth?

You're really being an ass about this. No one was playing any games, and
certainly no one forced you to waste your time on anything. If the people on
this group came back with an overwhelming opinion that the car was worth more
than I asked, then fine. If they'd come back with an overwhelming opinion that
it was worth less than I asked, I could adjust the price accordingly. So far
no one's responded with any opinion at all, so it's hardly been a waste of
anyone's time, except maybe mine.

 

You know, that's just a rude response to a suggestion made in good
faith. Without seeing the car, no one in this newsgroup can give you
a reliable suggestion. Use your common sense. I'd say it's worth
$750, but what the hell do I know? I haven't seen it!

 

Apparently you misunderstood that you're being a jerk.

Neither do we owe you a damned thing either.

Plonk!

 

Subject: Re: What's my car worth?

If you assume the response was made in good faith, which I don't. It sounded
like a smartass remark to me, and I responded accordingly.

What information about the car do you feel you're still missing?

 

| >Subject: Re: What's my car worth?
| >From: "Proconsul"
| >Date: 6/26/2004 7:33 PM Central Daylight Time
| >Message-id: <mBoDc.1509$151.419@fed1read02>
| >
| >
| >| >| >Subject: Re: What's my car worth?
| >| >From: "Bev A. Kupf"
| >| >Date: 6/26/2004 3:43 PM Central Daylight Time
| >| >Message-id: <>
| >| >
| >| >On 26 Jun 2004 20:43:08 GMT,
| >| > PButler111 () wrote:
| >| >> I was asking for the opinions of Volvo drivers here, based on their
| >| >> experiences. If you didn't want to give an opinion, you could have
| >just
| >| >> skipped it. I wasn't asking because I was trying to cheap out of
| >having an
| >| >> appraisal done.
| >| >
| >| >Umm ... I was giving you my opinion as a Volvo driver. Apparently
you're
| >| >a little too touchy to understand that.
| >| >--
| >| >Bev A. Kupf
| >|
| >| Apparently I am, then, because it sounded to me like your opinion is
that
| >my
| >| car is worth a $40 appraisal by someone else.
| >
| >Nobody who isn't "familiar" with the market in your area can give you
| >anything remotely as accurate as an appraiser who DOES know the market in
| >your area. Volvo drivers tend to "inflate" their views of the "value" of
| >their cars - as do most people who favor the type/model of car that they
| >drive. If your really seek "fair" or actual market value as your price -
use
| >an appraiser.
| >
| >Bev gave you and exceptionally good answer - and the only really useful
| >answer you'll get from anyone. Forty bucks for an appraisal done by a pro
is
| >dirt cheap - and, as stated, the best way to get that "fair" price you
are
| >seeking....
| >
| >Finally, you owe Bev an apology.....
| >
| >FER
|
| Apparently you and Bev both misunderstood what I was asking. I've already
| given my brother-in-law a price on the car. I know what I'm charging him.
I
| don't need a professional appraisal. If I did, that's what I would have
gone
| for instead of asking Volvo owners for their opinions. But that is, in
fact
| what I want -- unprofessional opinions from people who own Volvo and drive
| Volvos and undoubtedly have bought and sold them. That's what I'm asking
for.
| I'm sorry you misunderstood. (And I don't owe Bev a damn thing.)

If you knew all that, why bother to ask anyone anything, after all, your
mind was already made up.....

Taff was right - you are a thoroughly unpleasant person.....and none of US
owes YOU a damned thing....!

PC

 

| >Subject: Re: What's my car worth?
| >From: "Bev A. Kupf"
| >Date: 6/26/2004 10:43 PM Central Daylight Time
| >Message-id: <>
| >
| >On 27 Jun 2004 02:36:38 GMT,
| > PButler111 () wrote:
| >> Apparently you and Bev both misunderstood what I was asking. I've
already
| >> given my brother-in-law a price on the car. I know what I'm charging
him.
| >
| >This seems a little at odds with what you wrote earlier ...
| >
| >> I've just bought a "new" 240 wagon (via eBay) and my brother-in-law,
who
| >lives
| >> in mid-Michigan (I'm in the Chicago area) wants to buy my old car. I
don't
| >
| >> want to give it away, but I want to be fair on the price, or even
slightly
| >> unfair to me. I've checked Kelley, so I know what they think. But I
want
| >to
| >> run it by you folks and get your opinions.
| >
| >However, if had already decided on a price at the time you wrote this,
then
| >you felt that it worth expending the time of others playing guessing
games
| >for you. How delightfully mature and considerate.
| >
| >--
| >Bev A. Kupf
|
| You're really being an ass about this. No one was playing any games, and
| certainly no one forced you to waste your time on anything. If the people
on
| this group came back with an overwhelming opinion that the car was worth
more
| than I asked, then fine. If they'd come back with an overwhelming opinion
that
| it was worth less than I asked, I could adjust the price accordingly. So
far
| no one's responded with any opinion at all, so it's hardly been a waste of
| anyone's time, except maybe mine.

You didn't' ASK your question that way.....you didn't say you'd already
quoted a price.....you don't deserve an opinion beyond the excellent advice
you were given - and which you chose to trash. A polite "thank you" would
have made you look more like someone worth wasting bandwidth over. You
didn't do that, and you're not worth wasting any more bandwidth over.

Frankly, I hope you aren't screwing your relative over.....but he should
remember "Caveat Emptor".....

Thread ended.....

PC

 

(PButler111) opined in

Well...

From the ground up, there's a lot of missing info. How are the tires?
How's the paint? How's the mechanical reliability? How is the a/c
working? Are there any leaks? Have all maintenence records been kept
up to date? And so many more...

Yes, you asked for an opinion as to the value, you were told that
without seeing it, no one could give you a good opinion. Without
knowing your market, we can't give an opinion. Without a good pre-sale
mechanical evaluation, no one should even try. Bev gave a very good
piece of advice that I am sure many would not have even thought of, take
it to someone for a professional evaluation of the resale value, then
you can decide if the deal you gave your brother-in-law was good or not.

You did present this as if you had not decided how much to sell the car
for. Now we find out you just wanted to know if you got ripped off or,
just maybe, you were making an enemy of a family member. You should
have presentred this as, "Hey. I just offered to sell my old ride for
$9999. It's got 400,000 miles on it butr runs like a dream (okj more
like a nightmare). The paint is peeling everywhere, but it does have
the added benefit of not being able to see the bug splatter very well.
And you don't even need to open the doors to grab something off the
road, just reach through the floorboards! So, is that a deal or am I
getting sctewed?" There would have been more info and a more accurate
idea of what you were doing. Instead, you just asked for price
opinions, making sound like you weren't sure and wanted a price before
you made an offer.

 

Then you're being way overly sensitive. Bev is a solid regular
contributor to this newsgroup and gave you the best advice you're
going to get, right down to possibly getting the appraisal done for
free by even giving you the name of the peson to talk to, fer Pete's
sake.

Seeing it. Driving it. Kicking the tires. Listening to the engine
and the transmission, feeling the brakes and the steering. Can't do
those things over the Internet. None of us are clairvoyant.

 

If you knew all that, why bother to ask anyone anything, after all, your

My mind obviously wasn't made up, or I wouldn't have asked, and nobody ever
said you owed me anything.