Selling the Wagon: NPoCP

"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
08/05/2014 at 11:35 • Filed to: None

Yes, the time has come. I should be sad, but frankly, I'm not. Because if one aspect of my life has kept me poor these last three years, it was the wagon. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! the service record, just so you have an idea.

This is a repost from last night because I want some opinions on the price. I'm asking $3500 and expecting $3000. Then some punk emailed me this morning with many ROFLs and LMAOs offering me $1000. I didn't take him seriously, of course, but he still made me wonder quite a bit if I'm pricing it correctly.

The way I see it, this will make a great, quick project if you already have a $1200 shortblock in hand. And for $4200, you have a running WRX with decent miles and a rebuilt transmission. It seems like a decent deal to me.

But you're smarter than me. What do you think? Don't tell me what you'd pay for it. Tell me what you'd sell it for.

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DISCUSSION (32)

Brian Silvestro > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 11:40

"Here's the part where I offer it for $4000 because of all the new parts and such, and you offer me $3000 because what the crap, man, it's not even running, and we meet at the middle at $3500."

You're the man.

dinobot666 > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 11:43

A wagon with sedan front fenders and EDM/JDM sidemarkers. Cool. :D

3 grand for a slightly sketchy looking WRX wagon with a blown engine is going seem a bit high to just about anybody looking for a fun project vehicle. If you can get $2500 for it, I'd take it.

505Turbeaux > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 11:44

yeah I think the punk kid is right. $1500 is what you are going to get for it, probably less. $1200 shortblock with about 20 hours of work to r+r and swap parts from your current engine. It is a 12 year old car that doesn't run at the end of the day with shitty paint on it, sorry to say

EDIT: and I am not trying to be a dick about it, just sharing my own experiences selling project cars

Mattbob > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 11:48

You can't just skip over all the work involved in just tossing a new engine in there. It's not worth $3000 if it needs a new engine. I'm with 505, its probably worth $1200 to $1500.

*edit*

just read your ad. I would offer $900. It looks like it has been beaten up, and been cheaped out on with exhaust etc. It needs so much money dumped into it, it's not worth it. Probably needs full suspension overhaul on top of the engine.

erikgrad > 505Turbeaux
08/05/2014 at 11:52

Yep, what 505 said. If there are enough newer bits on it (looks like it), you can likely part it out for more.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > erikgrad
08/05/2014 at 11:54

I certainly would if it wasn't parked behind my apartment.

Chinchillacious > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 11:55

If you fit it with this shift knob, I may consider.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Mattbob
08/05/2014 at 11:57

$900? I know I asked your opinion, but really? The exhaust is fine. One of the struts is squeaking, but the rest are good. The springs are great. If it was running, I'd sell it for at least $5k.

erikgrad > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 11:59

Also, despite what we all have said, it only takes one misguided person to show up and give you $3000...

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > dinobot666
08/05/2014 at 11:59

So what gave you the impression of sketchiness?

miadaman? yes please > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 12:03

I'm inclined to agree with Mattbob, engine replacement will run you 2-4k with labour. Even if you say "ok but the buyer will be doing it themselves", noone ever goes into bargaining for a car with that mentality. I think 1200-1500 is pretty spot on considering the potential underlying cost, no ill will against you but if it's not running, then you don't have the leverage.

Mattbob > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 12:04

you might ask for that. But there is so much better that you can get for that kind of money. Also, gremlins caused by the ditch incident in your history are just a headache that I personally wouldn't sign up for. I've had too much bad experiences with cars that are just slightly tweaked.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Mattbob
08/05/2014 at 12:06

Hmm...I've had no residual issues with it since then, and that was over a year and a half ago.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > erikgrad
08/05/2014 at 12:08

I was misguided enough to buy it in the first place.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Chinchillacious
08/05/2014 at 12:08

I'm pretty sure I don't want to know what that is, but I am pretty desperate.

Mattbob > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 12:10

it's just my opinion man. I hope you get what you are asking, but I doubt it.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Mattbob
08/05/2014 at 12:13

Your opinion is certainly valued. Maybe I just need to change my presentation.

Chinchillacious > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 12:17

Seriously, what is it!?

shop-teacher > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 12:29

You've gotta look at it from a buyer's perspective. It's a car with bad paint, a ratty interior, that doesn't run, and has suspension problems. I'm seeing $1200 at best to a person who's willing to take a risk. Whoever buys it is going to have to put at least $2000 (you know in your heart, that other problems will be found when whoever is swapping that short block), plus a LOT of work just to get it back on the road. And for their efforts, they still have a car with bad paint, a busted bumper, and a ratty interior.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > shop-teacher
08/05/2014 at 13:37

Ratty? The front seats are a little worn, but the rest of the interior is nearly perfect. Interesting that you got that impression.

I'm not sure what other problems there are to find. I've already replaced everything else.

dinobot666 > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 13:53

That's just how I saw the car from the pictures and the ad. I wasn't trying to be mean or anything. Good luck with sale.

shop-teacher > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 13:55

Ratty is the impression I got. Not trying to bust your balls or anything.

You may believe that there's nothing else that could be wrong, and you could very well be right, but that's not what a buyer is seeing.

You're in a tough spot, I wish I could offer you an idea for a solution. All I can do is sincerely wish you good luck.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > dinobot666
08/05/2014 at 14:26

No, I get that. I just wanted to adjust my ad to filter out the sketchiness. :)

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > shop-teacher
08/05/2014 at 14:28

Right, I didn't think you were. Maybe I just need more pictures of the interior? I just want to adjust my ad so people don't get the impression of rattiness.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 15:01

I looked for cars like yours in my area (New England) out of curiosity. I found one running 02 WRX for $2900, and a bunch for between $3k and $4k. Now most of them had problems, but none had the problem of "no engine". Keep in mind cars are generally more expensive in Southern New England than they are in Kansas City.

I knew someone via NASIOC who tried to sell an 01 2.5RS coupe with no engine (a more desirable car than yours, and in better condition), and no-saled at $2k. I think you can expect between $1-1.5k, and $1k is probably a decent deal for you if the buyer pays for transport.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Aaron M - MasoFiST
08/05/2014 at 15:05

Dang. The market is completely different than it was when I bought mine.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 15:13

You can still get $5k for a bugeye, if it's bone stock (or you're a dealer who likes gullible people). $7-8k for a blobeye, and $10-12k for a Hawkeye. The dealer offered me $13,500 for my 07 wagon when I was getting my 120,000 mile service. Of course, when I told them about the modifications, the offer was immediately withdrawn. My car *might* be worth 8k, especially now that it's on its second turbo.

The minute these cars aren't original, they're worth jack. You can buy an 11 or 12 with similar mods and a lot fewer miles, so why wouldn't you?

shop-teacher > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 15:17

Yeah, more pictures, perhaps better lighting would help. Interiors are hard to take good pictures of. Maybe clean the front seats? I know you don't want to put anymore money into the car (understandable). but a bit of elbow grease may help your cause.

Jason Spears > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 15:18

You should see if Tavarisch will take it and write a post about the flip.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > shop-teacher
08/05/2014 at 15:23

Yeah, that Alcantara is a pain. It's either worn off or it's rumpled. I'll get some more shots of the interior focusing on the center stack and dash and such.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Aaron M - MasoFiST
08/05/2014 at 15:25

Hmm...aside from the exhaust, the paint, and the K&N filter, mine is all stock. Well, no, we put STi struts on there, but they're just KYBs. I guess the paint is really subtracting from it.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
08/05/2014 at 15:30

In your particular case, the non-original (or absent) engine is more of the issue. A car with no mods on its second engine has just as much diminished value as a lowered one with a 16G. With no engine at all, it's still lost a lot of resale value (the only possible exception is an engine replaced by Subaru under warranty).

To be fair, that paint job is probably severely dinging you too, especially if the original paint code isn't white.