If you are selling a car,

"XJDano" (xjdano)
09/22/2016 at 17:14 • Filed to: None

Would you make sure the gas tank is full for the buyer?

Sam is helping pump gas.

DISCUSSION (23)

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:17

If you’re asking (generally) for people to do it, I agree.

If you’re asking specifically what the members of Oppo would do, I would.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:20

I would make sure there’s at least half a tank.

Mercedes Streeter > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:20

Depends...if the car I’m selling is a crapbox that’s far past its prime, they’ll get whatever’s left in the tank.

If it’s in halfway decent condition, sure! Complimentary full tank!

XJDano > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
09/22/2016 at 17:21

Personal question to start discussions. The last couple cars I don’t think we’re full. I would make sure the tank is full.

LongbowMkII > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:22

I filled up the nova today. Naturally the buyer went radio silent.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:23

Yeah, I would too. It’s just a considerate thing to do, and there’s no reason not to.

MonkeePuzzle > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:24

if they aren’t a douche I might mention it on the test drive and fill it up for them

KeedyT > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:27

For a private buyer absolutely, for a dealer trade in I’d go in w/ the light blaring.

CobraJoe > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:31

No, I don’t even look.

Honestly, I don’t care if the car I buy has an empty tank or not either, as long as it’ll get me to the gas station.

The $30-50 it takes to fill up the tank the first time is only one small drop in the bucket of all the money you will spend on that car during your ownership.

While I think it would be a nice courtesy to fill the tank, I would much rather be given the courtesy of being told the truth about the car I’m buying and what it’s actual problems are. Oh, and even better, don’t try to renegotiate the sale AFTER it’s done and the papers are signed.

Just sold my project car to a highschooler, and he keeps offering me parts to his old car (which I accepted as partial trade) in place of the full payment that was in the bill of sale. (I kept my old title until he payes it all, but I’m not sure I want to do that kind of deal again). GD did that make me royally insulted the first time he tried to weasel out of the payment.

My bird IS the word > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:31

Half a tank at least. Not empty anyhow.

XJDano > CobraJoe
09/22/2016 at 17:48

So instead of giving you all the parts for the car he hoarded some hoping you’d trade as payment? That’s pretty low. I don’t think I would have gone for that approach. Although I have already been burned on a $400 transaction like that for tires. The guy lost his job, when I suggested making payments he was on board until he just quit contacting me. Which was alright because he was the kind of person who would never shut the fuck up. So it cost me $200 for him not to talk to me again. I came out ahead.

XJDano > KeedyT
09/22/2016 at 17:50

I’m on board with this. You are getting ripped off on the trade in most likely.

Takuro Spirit > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:53

If I was selling a nice car, yah. All I sell is my shitty beaters so FUCK EM.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:54

Unless it’s a $500 beater with a 20 gallon fuel tank and fuel costs $4 a gallon, then the fuel in the tank is 16% of the value of the car.

XJDano > Takuro Spirit
09/22/2016 at 17:58

The metro will be the first car I sell in about 15 years. Most of my cars die when I am done with them. I also mainly only buy beaters.

Future next gen S2000 owner > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 17:59

I drive my cars up until the day I sell them. If it has a full tank, good for them. If not, they could ask and I probably would but I’m not filling it just out of good will. It’s not that I’m against it or anything. I just wouldn’t expect it. A tank of gas isn’t that much to fill up.

Urambo Tauro > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/22/2016 at 18:01

Half tank is a good middle ground.

A quarter or less, and you’re being cheap. Especially if the light is on.

Three-quarters or more, and you’re going above and beyond. Good way to get a five-star rating.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 18:20

It depends upon the car and the buyer. When I sold my Legend coupe, NB miata and E39 to really nice folks each time, I filled up the tank before we met up to exchange money for paperwork. If I’m selling a car I liked to someone who was pleasant to deal with, I’ll throw ‘em a bone.

notsomethingstructural > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 18:43

Absolutely not. Not a chance unless the car was like $8-10k or more. I deal with people who “need one more paycheck” and “the ATM wouldn’t let me withdraw enough for the full amount” and other bullshit-ass excuses all the time, not to mention horrendous lowballs and “wuld u take $xxx” and shit. If I’m selling a car I’ll put $5 in it when the light comes on and that’s it. You want a full tank of gas? Pay my asking price and don’t waste my time.

duurtlang > XJDano
09/22/2016 at 19:00

Depends, although I would never sell a car that’s so low on fuel the light is on. Consider our local $6 a gallon US price of gasoline and the price of a beater (€500). You don’t fill a car like that up out of courtesy.

Alex Zapata > XJDano
09/23/2016 at 09:13

The Mini left with a full tank of gas, the Speed was bought by a reseller at near-dealer price so fuck him and the Golf was stolen with 1/8 tank, fuck them too.

The rest I don’t remember; I think the 4Runner left with a full tank because the new owner sent a choffeur to drive it like 1000kms to him, so we filled it up, we also sent it for a full detail and servicing before selling it, the tires had less than 2000kms on them.

CobraJoe > XJDano
09/23/2016 at 10:02

I don’t think it was planned, the parts were stored somewhere else, and I did ask if had any parts for the car that he would throw in (all project cars have some parts leftover or not yet installed). He said he had the original header, 18in wheels (one with a crack), and the original brake rotors. I thought maybe I’d reinstall the header and sell the nice one, or maybe the same with the rotors, but otherwise they’re barely worth their weight in scrap. Anyways, the kid was switching jobs and didn’t have a lot of cash on hand, I agreed to let him make the $600 cash on top of the trade as 2 payments of $300 while I held on to the title. It was a hell of a deal for him, he traded me a ‘94 Integra with a rusted out floor and 240k miles for my ‘88 Thunderbird that was under 100k miles and rust free. 2 weeks later, he texts me that he has the parts, and would I accept it if he payed me $60 and the parts now for the title and he would pay me the other $100 after. Short answer was no, and the longer answer was no several times until I finally offered to trade back.

I’m still waiting on that payment, but he can’t put plates on the car until he pays me, so I’m being patient. I’m so damn glad I kept the title.

Sorry for the longish rant, I was more than a bit insulted when he offered his scrap parts instead of payment.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > XJDano
09/23/2016 at 11:42

I’m a half a tank type seller. This way is fair for both parties involved.

For a dealer trade whatever is left in the tank is what you get. if it’s 3/4 it’s 3/4, if it’s empty well that’s just too bad.