Selling cars privately & the most sentimental car you have owned?

[El Presidente]

I haven't got to the finish line yet, but I managed to sell two cars privately this week. God willing, both will be on their way with Happy owners by this time next week 

It's only been 15 days since they were first listed, It has been the longest 15 days of my life. 

Listing a car privately?  Does any other action bring out more grifters, charlatans, snake oilers, con artist, bottom feeding hustlers? 

I fully understand why people don't want the hassle! You need to have a thick skin and some serious cojones. You definately work for those extra few thousand dollars!

 

Anyway the 2023 Merc A45S and the  2018 I30N head out the door.  

The Merc was a beautiful car inside and out if a touch soulless. Think high end escort who speaks 4 languages with a penchant for both theatre and blow. 

 

The I30N is a riot of fun. Is there anything better than a six speed manual with driving dynamics designed by the gods. 

I miss that car already albeit we have replaced it as the second car with a new I20N that we picked up last week. It is just as brilliant and for the same reasons. 

 

I love charachter and personality in a car.

You don't have to be the fastest, you don't have to have the latest tech. You can shove your 32 colour option mood lighting up your arse. I will forgive your flaws ...you will forgive mine. You develop a bond. 

 

Q.   The most sentimental car you have owned? The one you bonded with the most? 

[MrBirdman]

I’m not sure I care enough about cars to get too sentimental - I mean I think they’re an absolute blast but after my early 20’s I just stopped caring what I drove. But I do have a soft spot for the first car I bought on my own, a 2010 BMW 335xi, back when they were still true driver’s cars. Perfect amount of power, enough to really go but not so much that you couldn’t use the full RPM range. Drove a Porsche Turbo S last year and that amount of power is utterly useless and honestly kinda frightening. I’d rather have a car I can push without risking my life or my license. 

The BMW is also the only car I’ve sold privately - in PA you owe a 6% tax on the full amount of private sales, which never made sense to me since you’re selling an asset you already paid tax on at a loss. However if you do a trade-in with a dealer it’s exempt, so unless they really try to stiff you that’s the better option (since it also cuts down the amount of sales tax you pay on the new car.)

[El Hoze]

I have a Shelby 427 continuation built in 2008 with a Ford FE side oiler that I really should sell but I have wanted this exact car since I was probably 10 years old and finally pulled the trigger four years ago. Never been so attached to a car. But prices have skyrocketed and my opportunity cost has gone up with higher interest rates and I just don’t drive it very often, this is a beast not the kind of thing you take to the grocery store…but I just can’t bring myself to have a truck come pick it up and haul it away. 

When I do sell I will go through a middleman, not just the hassle but people will pay up for a car underwritten by a reputable dealer. I feel like it is the right move on a net basis when you’re into the higher end stuff. 

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

The BMW is also the only car I’ve sold privately - in PA you owe a 6% tax on the full amount of private sales, which never made sense to me since you’re selling an asset you already paid tax on at a loss. However if you do a trade-in with a dealer it’s exempt, so unless they really try to stiff you that’s the better option (since it also cuts down the amount of sales tax you pay on the new car.)

.......I suspect you have a very powerful Motor Vehicle Industry lobby in PA 

[El Presidente]

1 hour ago, El Hoze said:

 

 

 

Drop dead gorgeous 

 

[El Presidente]

On 6/6/2025 at 7:48 AM, MrBirdman said:

 But I do have a soft spot for the first car I bought on my own, a 2010 BMW 335xi, back when they were still true driver’s cars.

 300-hp, 3.0-liter straight-six, six speed rear wheel biased manual. What's not to love? 

[riderpride]

Man I hate selling privately. I stopped doing it after one of my kids opened the door to a weirdo despite me insisting I'd get it.

My fave was a lightly used '03 F-150 short box regular cab with the offroad package (similar to below). It looked and performed great for my needs, but I bought it for my 25th bd after I payed off my school debt and had just put a down payment on my first property.  It was a symbol of success and the rewards of sacrifice while my peer group traveled and built up mountains of debt. 

I sold it to a family member as I was about to start a family and needed more interior space. He wrapped it around a pole doing donuts in about 6 months.

An honorable mention to my 2008.5 Grand Cherokee diesel for the torque, traction, and mileage and my '20 Ram that has about an acre of interior space and tows everything with confidence through the Rockies(with the exception of a multiple horse trailer which should be reserved for HD trucks).

Good luck Pres!

Cheers

[CigarCulture09]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:35 AM, El Presidente said:

I haven't got to the finish line yet, but I managed to sell two cars privately this week. God willing, both will be on their way with Happy owners by this time next week 

It's only been 15 days since they were first listed, It has been the longest 15 days of my life. 

Listing a car privately?  Does any other action bring out more grifters, charlatans, snake oilers, con artist, bottom feeding hustlers? 

I fully understand why people don't want the hassle! You need to have a thick skin and some serious cojones. You definately work for those extra few thousand dollars!

 

Anyway the 2023 Merc A45S and the  2018 I30N head out the door.  

The Merc was a beautiful car inside and out if a touch soulless. Think high end escort who speaks 4 languages with a penchant for both theatre and blow. 

The I30N is a riot of fun. Is there anything better than a six speed manual with driving dynamics designed by the gods. 

I miss that car already albeit we have replaced it as the second car with a new I20N that we picked up last week. It is just as brilliant and for the same reasons. 

 

I love charachter and personality in a car.

You don't have to be the fastest, you don't have to have the latest tech. You can shove your 32 colour option mood lighting up your arse. I will forgive your flaws ...you will forgive mine. You develop a bond. 

 

Q.   The most sentimental car you have owned? The one you bonded with the most? 

Beautiful Merc! After the new I20N what are you considering for your second car? Both look amazing. 

[El Presidente]

7 minutes ago, CigarCulture09 said:

Beautiful Merc! After the new I20N what are you considering for your second car? Both look amazing. 

Pick it up end of month. Alfa Stelvio Quadrifoglio Montreal Verde. 

Flawed. Wicked. We should get on well. 

[MrBirdman]

1 hour ago, El Presidente said:

.......I suspect you have a very powerful Motor Vehicle Industry lobby in PA 

Pretty much any lobby with money to throw around will do well in a state with no restrictions on gifts to legislators 😉. 

[BrightonCorgi]

23 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Pick it up end of month. Alfa Stelvio Quadrifoglio Montreal Verde. 

Flawed. Wicked. We should get on well. 

Great car, that is a beast of an engine. Many "sports cars" cannot hang with that. Montreal Verde an amazing color too. Well done.

[CigarCulture09]

23 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Pick it up end of month. Alfa Stelvio Quadrifoglio Montreal Verde. 

Flawed. Wicked. We should get on well. 

Yes indeed. Beautiful vehicle. I absolutely love the colour. 

[Montezüma]

6 hours ago, El Presidente said:

The Merc was a beautiful car inside and out if a touch soulless. Think high end escort who speaks 4 languages with a penchant for both theatre and blow. 

Not sure if I'll ever find love again 😭

[Fuzz]

Currently selling Hunter's Volvo XC60 since he's no longer around. Been up for about a month now, only one nibble. I'm not fussed about selling it quick as that would be another of Hunter's things that are gone.

My favourite car I had would have to be the Alfa Romeo 156. That car was fun to drive around, looked great (went for the Selespeed wheels instead of the standard Alfa cookie cutter wheels), and despite the asthmatic AC which caused me to get heatstroke in the car once, I absolutely loved it.

Really wish Alfa would make another GTV.

[Rhod]

The one I hated to have to sell. Sold it because we were moving from Florida to WV and it had no top or working heater for that matter. And I had no where to store it. Really do miss it. 1983 Jeep Scrambler CJ-8. Also, it's the only vehicle I have ever sold for more than I paid for it.  

[Rhinoww]

I have a 2010 Lexus RX350 sitting in the driveway. Was a great car for us and then our kids. The dealership told me they were doing me a favor at $6k. So I kept it. 

When I have a hot minute I’ll post if for a week privately while working through carvana and carmax offers which will at a minimum be a few grand more. Selling cars are such a pain. Guys like me show up to look 😂

[MrBirdman]

On 6/5/2025 at 6:56 PM, El Hoze said:

I have a Shelby 427 continuation built in 2008 with a Ford FE side oiler that I really should sell but I have wanted this exact car since I was probably 10 years old and finally pulled the trigger four years ago. Never been so attached to a car. But prices have skyrocketed and my opportunity cost has gone up with higher interest rates and I just don’t drive it very often, this is a beast not the kind of thing you take to the grocery store…but I just can’t bring myself to have a truck come pick it up and haul it away. 

When I do sell I will go through a middleman, not just the hassle but people will pay up for a car underwritten by a reputable dealer. I feel like it is the right move on a net basis when you’re into the higher end stuff. 

I would love to know your paint car regime if you do it yourself - that’s got a deep, lustrous finish to it. I waxed cars for money in college - it’s almost an alchemy getting it right. 

[El Presidente]

On 6/7/2025 at 12:47 PM, MrBirdman said:

I would love to know your paint car regime if you do it yourself - that’s got a deep, lustrous finish to it. I waxed cars for money in college - it’s almost an alchemy getting it right. 

Brett, I will likely PPF the front and mirrrors + put a hard ceramic coat on the rest. Cleaned weekly. Not necessarily by myself 

 

[El Hoze]

17 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

I would love to know your paint car regime if you do it yourself - that’s got a deep, lustrous finish to it. I waxed cars for money in college - it’s almost an alchemy getting it right. 

Thank you! Yeah the paint job and fit and finish on it is really something. I still smile looking at it. The last time the car was waxed and detailed was a guy who is super good, he prepares cars for car shows, etc. If you know what you’re doing you can get the paint and chrome on the car to look incredible. I baby it so much that I have rarely needed do much to clean it…under my watch it has not even seen wet pavement! I am OCD, I don’t even let a speck of dust get on it (part of the reason my wife will cry tears of joy when I finally sell it). 

[Fuzz]

Well, looks like Hunter's car has been sold. Guy rocked up today and has paid a deposit to take it off market.

[Fugu]

On 6/6/2025 at 2:26 AM, El Presidente said:

Flawed. Wicked. We should get on well. 

Hmm, as an official tree-hugger I can’t publicly ‘like’ your post …. but, psst…just between you and me: man, what a mighty fine looking, well-equipped SUV that is!

(and out the window goes the elderly-parent-friendliness that you once demanded ?!!… 😂)