Fix before sale or not to fix

"Jon-o" (Jon-o)
11/12/2014 at 11:28 • Filed to: None

Good morning oppo, I seek some wisdom regarding my beloved Tbird.

This year marks the 7th year I have owned this 1996 tbird. It was lovingly owned and maintained by my grandfather until I got my license. I've known this car since I was 5 years old. Our time together she has not skipped a beat from learning to drive, to university and even to the start of my career. She has every single option but the sun roof the air conditioner even still works perfectly.

However, this year and probably due to the fact I drive it downtown Toronto every day, I have replaced the front suspension, tie rods and one control arm. Yesterday as I was cleaning her for pictures to sell it a loud squeekeing from the other control arm I am assuming has started.

I expect the car to take a while to find the right buyer and having such a loud problem will probably make a sale more difficult.

Now mind you I have put about the value of the car into repairs this year, and going by my last repair I'm going to be out a couple hundred dollars at least again.

So I ask, should I bother fixing it then sell or should I sell as is? She's too special to sell for scrap too.

DISCUSSION (36)

Mosqvich > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 11:32

Your car is so clean, it might be worth fixing and jacking up the price OR selling it with the clear understanding your price was determined with the understanding the car needed some work.

I'm amazed at how beautiful the car is. Wow. It's too bad you're selling it. Someday you'll kick yourself and wonder why you did it.

JWLane83 > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 11:34

It's too clean to sell or scrap. If it's got sentimental value, it's paid for (no car payment!), and is pretty reliable, why get rid of it? It's likely to cost less per year, even with the occasional repair, than a few car payments on anything remotely new.

Textured Soy Protein > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 11:35

Kinja'd!!!

Are you a witch?

Firewrx234 > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 11:35

Graphite spray?

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 11:36

If I were you, I would hold onto it, as it seems to have sentimental value. If you're unwilling to scrap it, I think you'd have a hard time selling it, even with a good price. Not that you'd be asking too much, but that you would just feel guilty. Personally, I would fix the car, hold onto it, and when you have children, teach them about cars with this one. It looks like a good enough car, but the value to you is far more than the value of the car.

But, if you absolutely have to sell it, do the repairs first. A $200 repair could get you $600 more maybe, just because whoever you sell it to, may not know how to fix it, and have to throw down more money in labor to get it fixed.

davedave1111 > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 11:38

Why are you selling it at what must be the lowest point prices for those will reach? And why on earth are you selling it at all? You'll never get what it's worth to you, given what you know of the maintenance history, leave alone the sentimental attachment.

Jon-o > Mosqvich
11/12/2014 at 11:42

I'm going to miss her a lot. Sadly since I'm moving I can't justify shipping it across the country again. It's been shipped from Ontario to Alberta and then back to Ontario when I left for University. Sadly the car really isn't worth a lot of money, from a financial aspect keeping the car makes no sense.

My dad kept his 1985 Turbo coupe he owned since new until about a year ago. Almost nobody wanted it and he basically gave it away. These cars are really worth sentimental value unfortunately.

Jon-o > davedave1111
11/12/2014 at 11:46

I'm moving back out west unfortunately I can't really afford to bring it with me. It's already been shipped across the country twice. My dad held on to his 1985 Turbo coupe with a manual he owned since new until just a couple years ago hoping the value would go up but he could hardly even give it away. Considering it was one of just over 1500 built like that, mine is one of closer to 80,000 it's not as rare or special i doubt it'll ever be more than just an old car.

T5Killer > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 11:47

Fix it. Its such a clean car.

Jon-o > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
11/12/2014 at 11:51

It's hard to let it go. My dad kept his immaculate 1985 Tubo coupe for the same reason for too long. It just sat in the garage for years hoping i would want it some day. But now he has a Shelby cobra kit car and we have two 335i BMW's I find those cars to be a lot more interesting!

davedave1111 > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 11:51

I doubt it'll ever be worth a huge amount, but it's likely to go up at least a bit as the trash gets scrapped and people become willing to pay more for a decent one.

But you're right in that others won't value it as much as you do, because only you trust the history. Which is why it's worth shipping it, or driving it, or something. It's worth putting in the money now for all the cash and heartache it'll save you in the future.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 11:52

If it were ratty, I'd say "steal the rear suspension and some other stuff and make a project car". However, it's just too nice. I'd say fix first, sell if you gotta.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 11:52

It's a shame. That car looks really well-kept. It's too bad you can't take it with you, but alas, such is life.

Jon-o > davedave1111
11/12/2014 at 11:59

You're right I am really struggling with this. My parents back home have a 3 car garage with a lift. I'll be driving a new fusion for a while which i could park outside and keep this indoors. Maybe I should convince them to ship it back one more time to keep it safe.

davedave1111 > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 12:00

It's practically a family heirloom. Of course you should persuade them :)

 > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 12:22

Is it 4.6 or 3.8?

shop-teacher > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 12:23

If you don't fix it, you're likely to get a lot less than the cost of the repair in the sale, than if you had fixed it.

Jon-o >
11/12/2014 at 12:32

it's the 4.6. I have the fuel bills to back it up haha

 > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 12:37

How much?

Jon-o >
11/12/2014 at 12:39

I'm going to try to get about $2,500 for her.

Has about 161,000 kms

FocusedMark > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 12:40

What's the cost to ship it back?

Jon-o > FocusedMark
11/12/2014 at 12:41

the last time was around $700 I believe so it's a big chunk for the value of the car.

 > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 12:42

How many km? Any rust?

Jon-o >
11/12/2014 at 12:44

just over 161,000. A little bit of rust under the doors and rear wheel wells. But it's been rust protected annually.

Jon-o >
11/12/2014 at 12:45

Kinja'd!!!

This is the bad

Alfalfa > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 12:47

I wouldn't. I loved my 96 T-bird, they're somewhat rare, and yours looks nice. If you have another car and don't need the cash, keep it for a Sunday driver.

Is it a 6 or 8 cylinder?

Jon-o > Alfalfa
11/12/2014 at 12:49

She's a v8 its tempting to keep it really is.

Jon-o > Textured Soy Protein
11/12/2014 at 12:52

lol it's my girlfriends moms driveway

Alfalfa > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 12:55

Nice. Mine was an 8 was well. The front end steering/suspension seems to be a common problem, I replaced a control arm on mine, then sold it a few months later because I didn't have time or money to fix the entire setup. Once you get over that problem, their likely won't be much else to do.

Textured Soy Protein > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 12:56

Is she a witch?

Jon-o > Alfalfa
11/12/2014 at 13:10

Yeah it's true I assume the weight of that engine is causing these headaches. Hopefully it'll last 10 more years without much issue

Jon-o > JWLane83
11/12/2014 at 13:30

That's exactly why I've kept it. My parents bought me a 2010 Fusion to drive when i get back home. Compared to this i've affectionately named the Fusion "the toaster". It's nothing special but it's much newer and far safer. It's a shame really.

Alfalfa > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 13:31

I would think more than ten years, between improved aftermarket parts and the fact that they seem to die at around 15 years as it is. I regret selling my Bird to this day. I should have just held onto it until I had funds to fix her.

Jon-o > Alfalfa
11/12/2014 at 13:35

Want another one? lol I have everything from the key tags at the dealership to the window sticker and everything since then. She needs her history to continue!

Alfalfa > Jon-o
11/12/2014 at 13:38

Haha it's tempting, but I'm looking to expand my portfolio with something Swedish at the moment.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-may-be-rescu…

Jon-o > Alfalfa
11/12/2014 at 13:43

Can't blame you. It's nice to go out and try something different. Life is too short to drive the same thing over and over again.

I'm going to post it on kijiji and shop it around to mechanics and people like that because whenever it comes in they always get so excited to see how mechanically sound (excluding the squeak) it is.