Need some Oppopinions; should I trade?

"Zibodiz" (zibodiz1)
09/02/2014 at 13:55 • Filed to: oppopinions, car buying

First, a little backstory:

I had a '93 GMC Suburban. I bought it about 4 years ago, and drove it maybe 3k miles before the transmission went out at 119k. It was more work than I cared to get into, so I tried to sell it. Nobody wanted to pay cash. Someone offered payments, and I accepted, but wound up having to hire a wrecker to repo it for me after they stopped making payments. So then I listed it for sale again, and finally found someone willing to take it — but only as a straight-across trade for his '98 GMC Jimmy. It runs and drives well, but it needs a new muffler (cut off at the Cat, with a flex-pipe to a cherry bomb — sounds like a hot rod, and throws a CEL since it's missing an o2 sensor). Since I'd been trying to sell that suburban for over a year, a finally gave in and took the trade. I figured the Jimmy would be easier to sell.

Boy was I wrong. I'm asking $1200 now,

and I still can't get anyone to bite. It books at $2400-2800. I've finally found someone who claims to want it, but he wants to trade yet again. This time it's for a '91 Pontiac Firebird in good mechanical condition. Straight body, no rust, 101k miles, 3.1L V6. It's got T-tops and an automatic. The bad news is that the paint is fading pretty badly, the interior is 'rough' (I haven't seen it yet, but that's what he told me), and "the key needs to be reprogrammed"; I understand that he's bypassing the key with a resistor (anyone know what he's talking about?), but that it needs a new smart key. (did they even have those in '91? Where would I get one made, now that Pontiac is no more?)

So the question is this: Should I do it? I have no need for a pony car, so I would just take it to flip it. Is this a good trade, or am I just going to wind up with another car I can't sell?

I wanted to get $1600 out of the Suburban originally. Right now, I'm in the hole. Is this going to sink me further in the hole, or might it actually be easier to sell for $1500 than the Jimmy has been?

BTW, we have no emissions or road safety inspections here, so that doesn't come into play.

DISCUSSION (14)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Zibodiz
09/02/2014 at 14:04

You can't get someone to buy that Jimmy?!

Shit, I'd scoop that up in a heartbeat for $1200.

505Turbeaux > Zibodiz
09/02/2014 at 14:06

sort of junk in, junk out. I think the firechicken is the most interesting of the lot. Those Jimmys are a dime a dozen. I had a tahoe I took on partial trade once and had the same issue. Gave him $1400 value for it and sold it for maybe 1450. Didnt win, more idiots came out to look than was worth my time.

ACESandEIGHTS > Zibodiz
09/02/2014 at 14:11

Is it a clean title? Don't want to get roped into a title that has a lienholder on the back of it. Or a "oh yeah, bro, you just need to apply for a salvage title" or any other such BS.

If it's clean and driveable and can be registered and insured etc. then why not? As far as smart keys... I'll be honest I didn't know there were even car remotes, transponders, etc. in 1991 so I'd be sure you're comfortable and understanding with whatever's going on there beforehand.

It's a tough situation obviously. If that Jimmy is immobile then I'd consider it. If the Jimmy is driveable I wouldn't do it. Keep that thing on Craigslist and keep driving it every week or so until someone in Casper/Cheyenne/Ft Collins/Denver/wherever comes to claim it and you get your $1200.

ACESandEIGHTS > Zibodiz
09/02/2014 at 14:12

PS: The Jimmy is going to be an easier sell than the Firebird, IMO.

As Du Volant > Zibodiz
09/02/2014 at 14:13

Keep the Jimmy. The SUV market typically starts to warm up in October as people get snow on their minds. If you still have it by then it should sell.

On the flipside this is also when the sports car market starts to suffer, BAD. Keep trying to sell the Jimmy- and put NO TRADES on your ad.

Ducky > Zibodiz
09/02/2014 at 14:19

If you're looking to sell a boat anchor, get that Firebird tomorrow. Otherwise hold on to the Jimmy.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Zibodiz
09/02/2014 at 14:21

Ooh, I'll just say that I have an guilty desire to own a mid 80s to early 90s Firebird. Be nice if it was a Trans Am.

Nibbles > Zibodiz
09/02/2014 at 14:23

The transponder is GM VATS . Fairly easy to do away with entirely.

Takuro Spirit > Zibodiz
09/02/2014 at 14:27

Closer to winter time you'll sell the Jimmy. Just gotta wait. Clean it up real good and fix the little things that you can without spending too much. Maybe you'll even get a better trade offer than a V6 Firebird.

Zibodiz > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
09/02/2014 at 14:29

That is exactly the reason I'm so tempted by this. I guess that growing up watching Night Rider has put a soft spot on my heart for them, and this one is even the right color. But alas, it wouldn't be for me to keep, it would just be to sell, so that really shouldn't add into the mix. I already have 3 cars and don't need a 4th.

Zibodiz > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/02/2014 at 14:30

Yeah, I really thought it'd be easier to sell. The paint is even good.

Zibodiz > Nibbles
09/02/2014 at 14:31

Awesome, that explains it perfectly.

Zibodiz > ACESandEIGHTS
09/02/2014 at 14:50

Yeah, we both have clean titles. The big value to the Pontiac that I can see is that when soemoen asks "is there anything wrong with it?" (always the first question), I can say "No" instead of "It just needs a new muffler". I mean, a muffler isn't a big deal in my mind, but for most people who call me, that's apparently an insurmountable repair. I'd just fix it myself, but I hate to put good money after bad.

Dsscats > Zibodiz
09/02/2014 at 16:00

Get it from a pick a part for $50. Don't trade for something that needs work