Car Selling Prep is a Pain in the Arse!

"SubieNick" (subienick) 08/06/2014 at 20:33 • Filed to: None

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Brothers and Sisters... as if when the time comes to sell a car isn't bad enough, you have to spend your last time with your car cleaning it, massaging it, prepping it and balancing the options of what is worth fixing and what isn't. Well, I've been having a joy driving my new-to-me '13 Forester (stick) while my old '01 Outback sits in the yard getting cleaned up bits at a time ready for its photo-op to then be listed looking for a new home. Well, after I cleaned the air filter and I ran the car for the first time in a week and it was breathing better. I figured I'd then get it rolling for the first time in about 3 weeks. Well.... it didn't go well.

See, for a couple of years I've been chasing a noise in the front end. It was subtle but bugging the hell out of me. Ended up changing the axles on each side (one at a time) and that didn't do it. Non-related jobs had me changing all front suspension bits (struts, springs, seats, boots, mounts, etc... complete new units) as well as the sway bar bushes and end links this winter. The noise has persisted so I've been suspicious of a wheel bearing (driver front in particular). I was intending to sell it just like it was clearly marked 'AS IS'. Thing is, after going for a few km drive tonight the noise is to the point where it sounds like something is going to fail and people were turning their heads as I went by. The car will not sell like that for what I think I should get for it.

I am a firm believer in making sure the car is in the best reasonable condition when trying to sell it and this is my first time selling a car - it's my first car even tho I'm in my early 30s. It will help the buying experience and help me net the most I can back into my pocket if I do fix it. That said - painting my wiper arms is one thing and so is giving the Outback my normal deep clean so it looks clean as possible (it's an 01 - the body isn't exactly perfect but the interior is great!) but I'm at the point where I'm not sure if I should do the bearings only, bearings and hub together or say f*ck it and take a hit on the price and leave it to the new owner. Part of me feels bad about that and part of me thinks the $150 or so in parts and shipping would be cheaper to do the bearings/hubs than it would be to take the hit - minus a couple hours swearing in the driveway. Plus, I think I owe it to my poor old Outback.

Am I nuts or should I cut it loose on someone else and take the hit on my selling price? Any opinions on this would be a big help. This is the first I've looked to Oppo for anything, but being a long time lurker I've got to say this is the only place I'd look for this kind of advise. Not everyone 'gets it'.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > SubieNick 08/06/2014 at 20:50

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When I was selling my Astra(my first car), in the two months before I had to sell it, I understeered it into a wall of snow(winter problems), and had to replace the flex pipe. The front-end fix was $800 and the flex pipe was another $100. It was my belief that that the car should look as good as it was the day it was sold to me, and I refused to sell it otherwise. I ended up selling it for $7500 and it's in the care of a family friend who I know is doing their best to keep it in shape and good condition; even if it isn't their priority.

So I personally took a $900 hit on the sale of my own doing. But to me, it was well worth it to see her looking spiffy clean one last time. And I enjoyed that final wash&wax, and interior vacuuming.(This was what she looked like when I was done) :)

SubieNick > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 08/06/2014 at 21:01

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That looks very good indeed! You did a good job on that. My Outback is a little more rustic but it's seen some serious shit and made out very well on the other end all things considered. Aside from the bearing I will be doing (likely both sides) I still have to use the last of my headlamp defogging kit to spruce 'em up, a little bondo and paint on the rarely seen interior door frame (Canada makes cars rusty!) then my wash/wax + tire treatment and interior rub down. I've done the carpets and engine bay so far plus my last oil change. Sounds scary actually. I'd like to sell it inside the next month but it may not happen. I'm going to miss it for sure and that is likely playing a large part in my heel dragging.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > SubieNick 08/06/2014 at 21:08

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Ah, so you know what Michigan winter's are like, but much worse :P

I'd say spruce up whatever you can, detail as best as you can; mechanically, do what you can, but set yourself x amount of $$ your willing to put into the car before you sell it(gas doesn't count I don't think). When you reach x amount, you can cut your losses and just sell as is. This will be crucial because you don't want to put more or even half of what you want to sell it for into it before you sell it IMO.

GLWFS!

SubieNick > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 08/06/2014 at 21:22

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Winter - yeah, we know Winter on the Atlantic coast (New Brunswick).

Mechanically it's sound aside from this. There's an engine pulley that makes a bit of noise but that is nothing I'd be worried about for a while even if I had been keeping it I'm sure. It's a shame - I did the brakes all the way around (drilled rotors, ceramic pads and new park brake shoes) and the exhaust manifold last summer then this winter did the suspension stuff and clutch only to decide I wanted to get something newer out of the blue. Luckily everything has been DIY so I'm not in for shop labour one bit. The exhaust system is all 2.5 years old or newer (except the cat). For an 01 with 215,000KM (133,595 miles) on it it's not too shabby. Even hacked an aux jack into the stock head unit and put in 4 Pioneer speakers when 2 of the stock ones died 3 years ago. I'm going to ask for $3k in funny money but expect to take off about $500 in haggling. From what I've searched that seems fair.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > SubieNick 08/06/2014 at 22:41

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From that description, it sounds like it's a pretty decently good car for the price. I'd say that $3k +/- 500 is a sound plan.