Selling a 96 Accord...? Your opinion?

I owe $4k on a Honda Accord LX that is very clean inside and just got new
brakes, battery and tires. I am pretty positive I can get $6-7K for it,
but there is one factor...i messed up the front bumper when I got too
close to a pole in a parking area and snagged it, so it has about $500-800
worth of work to be done to get the car back into perfect shape. Can I sell
it as it without the repairs to save the money...or should I just shell out
the money and sell it then? I just spent over $1000 on the brakes, tires,
etc and am so broke I don't know what to do. I bought a newer car a few
weeks ago and didn't trade it in because I know I can sell it for more
myself and Hondas are popular in AZ. Whats your advice?

 

It's probably better to fix it, then sell it. Whomever is interested
is going to say "hey, it's messed up, I'm not giving you any more than
X dollars for it".

 

On 28 Jul 2004 11:29:25 -0700, (Im anonymous) wrote:

||> I owe $4k on a Honda Accord LX that is very clean inside and just got new
||> brakes, battery and tires. I am pretty positive I can get $6-7K for it,
||> but there is one factor...i messed up the front bumper when I got too
||> close to a pole in a parking area and snagged it, so it has about $500-800
||> worth of work to be done to get the car back into perfect shape. Can I sell
||> it as it without the repairs to save the money...or should I just shell out
||> the money and sell it then? I just spent over $1000 on the brakes, tires,
||> etc and am so broke I don't know what to do. I bought a newer car a few
||> weeks ago and didn't trade it in because I know I can sell it for more
||> myself and Hondas are popular in AZ. Whats your advice?

Check the wrecking yards for a front bumper already painted the right color. You
might get out for $100 and an afternoon of work, then get the full price.

Texas Parts Guy

 

I'll try to contain my wonder about owing this much on an 8 year old car -
but I'd say it depends on how fast you need to move it. If you know what
the retail repair costs are, you can state that up front, and adjust your
price accordingly, and not need to mess with getting it done. You might
find a buyer within the lower price range who'd be willing to take the
discount, and not fix, or not fix immediately - who might not buy at your
higher "repaired" price. Of course if it doesn't sell, you can get it
fixed, but if a minor cosmetic issue which is adjusted for in your price
keeps you from selling the car - perhaps you mispriced it in the first
place.

I just sold a dog-chewed Civic very quickly by disclosing it up front - and
posting photos - and pricing it right. It might have cost around $400 for a
new bumper cover, but I don't think I could have recovered the $400 if I'd
fixed it.
(http://home.nc.rr.com/fholt/civic.html)

 

sell as is for $5500.

 

Thanks all...I am gonna list it for $5500 for now and wait til I can get it
fixed up and then if I do, I'll up the price. thanks for all your help...