I’ve been suggested Carvana, and I may end up going that way if it is indeed the simplest route.
I’m driving an older car, it’s in many ways in very good condition, but the head gasket is starting to go. It hasn’t gotten bad yet (no coolant in the oil… yet) and could be fixed, but the cost to fix is about three times the value of the vehicle. It’s got relatively low mileage for it’s age and I’ve barely driven it anywhere during the time that I’ve owned it.
I don’t expect to get much for it, maybe a $400-$700 bucks, but I really don’t know the best way to go around it.
Like 15 years ago I would have just listed it with pertinent info on condition and photos on Craigslist. I’m not so sure Craigslist is so viable now.
Thanks for any help you can give me, Lemmy!
It pains me to say that, most Facebook marketplaces are hoppin. Just like CL, you gotta weed out beggars and possible scammers. I’ve known people throughout the states, at least midewest to west, to have luck with:
Find a busy or busy adjacent intersection, or wide roadside that you’ve seen cars park on safely. Near highway ramps is popular. Make sure it’s safe-ish, good lighting if in a busy area, not on a curve in dark rural areas. We have a wide dirt berm that attracted so many cars parked for sale that a tamale lady and honey guy set up. Out in the sticks, somewhere on the way “into/out of town” gets quite a few passerby and you might get a grocery or corner store to let you park it there.
Then: Brief info in paint maker on the windows (RUNNING NEEDS WORK- CALL SNOT 5558675309) big on one side and windshield then, on a back window or pass side a little more detail such as miles, head gasket is on its way out but there, etc. More serious lookers will prob be stopping to peek in windows and see if there is info like that.
You could also check with a junk yard to see what they’ll give you for it. I had a similar situation a few years back. They mostly wanted it for the catalytic converter, but I got a few hundred dollars for it. That will be, by far, the easiest way to go. The more convenient it is, the less money you’re going to get.
What make and model? If it’s a Honda or Toyota you will have better luck selling. Carvana probably won’t buy your car. Craigslist or FB might be your best options. Just be transparent about what needs to be fixed and highlight the positives like low mileage, any other preventative maintenance you may have done or will do (e.g. cheap things like new oil, air filters, belts and plugs if you have tools) Maybe you could even put a For Sale sign on it.
You might try some head gasket fix like seafoam, but that’ll be on your conscience for the next buyer.
Good luck!
List it on Craigslist or Autotrader and see what you can get. I doubt you will get any bites with such an expensive repair bill coming in the future. If no one is interested, then just take whatever instant offer Carvana will give you because you won’t do any better than that.
See if Carmax will make you an offer. If it’s not bad enough to be blowing blue smoke and the coolant is clean, you may by able to sneak it by an underpaid intake tech.
If you do use CL or FB marketplace, don’t offload it without a word of warning please. People are struggling right now and the ones buying $400 cars are doing so because they can’t afford anything else. Carvana and Carmax are giant corporations so no moral issues with offloading on them.
Oh no, it has to have a warning. It would be way messed up to sell it without them knowing the history and condition.
I honestly would feel bad even trying to sneak it past an underpaid tech.
I’d rather just get what I can from it for being honest. No one else needs to suffer so I can profit.
Thanks for the call out on that though, that stuff is important.
Doesn’t the car eventually make it to the consumer and then you are passing the hot potato onto the next guy with Carvana/CarMax?
Honestly I just assume that those two are where people dump cars, I would never buy a car from either of those without an independent checkup or a warranty.
Also, the initial screening is not the only inspection that carmax does, if the issue is as pronounced as OP implies it’ll probably get caught and sent to an as-is dealer auction where people know that crap cars are sent.
Facebook Marketplace is probably the most popular, although I personally don’t facebook. Craigslist is the next best choice.
FB marketplace is where 99% of the used private sale cars are now. It’s the only reason I have a fake FB account is for the market. OP list it there.
Might be worth posting over in !AskUSA@discuss.online as well. I unfortunately don’t have any advice myself
