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Used Car - Fix and Sell or ? (1 Viewer)

Keerock

Keerock

Footballguy
My kids have all had their turns in an awesome 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  She has been an absolute tank.  My recent college graduate is now working for an auto company and gets phenomenal lease deals, so I was planning to sell the Jeep when he gets his new lease in August. 

Obviously, the Jeep died yesterday... cracked radiator.  All in looking at $1K to repair.  KBB for the vehicle is <$3K.  I hate to piss away the potential for around 2 grand, but will it be worth my time, money and effort to clean it up, find a buyer and sell?  What other options to I have... salvage yard?

I've never sold a vehicle before... always traded in.  Anyone have any wisdom for me?

 
I sold one to an auction company (AAIA) one time and they gave me more than I expected. It was running, but badly. Needed an engine overhaul and it was going to cost more than it was worth to fix it, so I was happy to get whatever I could out of it. 

 
Keerock said:
My kids have all had their turns in an awesome 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  She has been an absolute tank.  My recent college graduate is now working for an auto company and gets phenomenal lease deals, so I was planning to sell the Jeep when he gets his new lease in August. 

Obviously, the Jeep died yesterday... cracked radiator.  All in looking at $1K to repair.  KBB for the vehicle is <$3K.  I hate to piss away the potential for around 2 grand, but will it be worth my time, money and effort to clean it up, find a buyer and sell?  What other options to I have... salvage yard?

I've never sold a vehicle before... always traded in.  Anyone have any wisdom for me?
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Have any local mechanics you trust?  Bring it there.  Ask them if they'd be interested in buying or know someone who does.  May not get full value on it, but it will be off your hands and you will not have to sink any more money into it.  I recently had my daughter do this, she was going to junk it after her engine blew, but someone gave her $500.00 (Old Hyundai Accent probably wasn't worth more than $2K if running).

If you want to sell it privately, you'll more than likely need to fix it and then list it and then get ready for the barrage of phone calls, visits of uninterested buyers.  Or you can list it as is, and watch it sit in your driveway for 6+ months.

 
you could donate it...just do research on the company before you do to make sure they are legit

I just donated my 1999 Prelude

eta - wrong year

 
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guru_007 said:
If you want to sell it privately, you'll more than likely need to fix it and then list it and then get ready for the barrage of phone calls, visits of uninterested buyers.  Or you can list it as is, and watch it sit in your driveway for 6+ months.
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SMH... this is what I'm afraid of.

 
guru_007 said:
Have any local mechanics you trust?  Bring it there.  Ask them if they'd be interested in buying or know someone who does.  May not get full value on it, but it will be off your hands and you will not have to sink any more money into it.  I recently had my daughter do this, she was going to junk it after her engine blew, but someone gave her $500.00 (Old Hyundai Accent probably wasn't worth more than $2K if running).

If you want to sell it privately, you'll more than likely need to fix it and then list it and then get ready for the barrage of phone calls, visits of uninterested buyers.  Or you can list it as is, and watch it sit in your driveway for 6+ months.
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:goodposting:

 
The last two used cars I got rid of, I took to Carmax to get a quote, which is good for a week.  Then list it on craigslist for a bit above their quote, and just mention that you're not going lower than list price, because you'll just sell to Carmax in a week anyhow.  I ended up taking the Carmax quote once, and sold my old explorer to a guy on Craigslist. 

 
If I'm any indication, you should continue to throw money into the heap and just keep telling yourself that after this one last repair it's going to run beautifully for years.  Yep, that's how I roll. 

 
Joe Summer said:
Why does it cost $1000 to replace a radiator?
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well, if you're gonna replace the radiator, you might as well do all the rubber (belts & hoses) as well as the water pump and thermostat. probably want to do a coolant system flush, and then pressure testing the cooling system. 

guessing parts are probably $400-$500 combined, and labor at $95/hour could push the total near $1000. 

 
:blackdot:   Looking to sell my daughters 2007 car right now.   It has been in our garage for a year.   Been using it as the dog car to shuttle our Labs around.

 
If it were me, I'd just dry off the serpentine belt with a hair dryer, then buy a $40 radiator off of eBay, then replace the radiator myself, then sell the car for $1500 and use the money as a down payment for a newer vehicle.

 
03 Grand Cherokee in Michigan, I have to believe it has a fair amount of rust on it.  The only way I'd even risk fixing it just to sell it would be if it were low miles, clean body and interior.  If it's not, dump it.  Either on craigslist as "mechanics special, as-is".. or for scrap.  U-pick-it salvage yards would probably pay somewhere around $250-$400 for it.

 
Me? Id fix it myself for around 200-300 in parts. Then id keep the car as a winter beater. Those things are basically unbreakable tanks.

 
playin4beer said:
03 Grand Cherokee in Michigan, I have to believe it has a fair amount of rust on it.  The only way I'd even risk fixing it just to sell it would be if it were low miles, clean body and interior.  If it's not, dump it.  Either on craigslist as "mechanics special, as-is".. or for scrap.  U-pick-it salvage yards would probably pay somewhere around $250-$400 for it.
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Actually pretty light on the rust.  160K miles, so not "low".

 
Joe Summer said:
If it were me, I'd just dry off the serpentine belt with a hair dryer, then buy a $40 radiator off of eBay, then replace the radiator myself, then sell the car for $1500 and use the money as a down payment for a newer vehicle.
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Don't need another vehicle, FWIW...  And I don't "fix" cars.

 
The tricky part is if the radiator was cracked, it probably overheated.. Unless you're prepared to gamble on if the engine didn't get damaged, again, dump it..

 
If you had a buddy that was a mechanic or you were mechanically inclined and could fix it yourself, I'd recommend trying to fix it.

No way in hell I'm paying a regular shop, regular labor rates to "maybe" fix a 15 year old vehicle..unless it had some major sentimental value...

 
playin4beer said:
If you had a buddy that was a mechanic or you were mechanically inclined and could fix it yourself, I'd recommend trying to fix it.

No way in hell I'm paying a regular shop, regular labor rates to "maybe" fix a 15 year old vehicle..unless it had some major sentimental value...
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First time I got laid was in a car like... story for another time. (name that movie)

 
Keerock said:
Any way for the mechanic to tell before replacement if the engine is OK?
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How long was it driven when it overheated?  Did the temp light come on? Was it shut down right away??  No way of really telling without doing compression tests, etc and the radiator would have to be fixed so they could run it.  I'm still blown away that it cost $1000 for a radiator and belt..a brand new aftermarket radiator is $65 my cost.. a belt is about $35

 
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playin4beer said:
How long was it driven when it overheated?  Did the temp light come on? Was it shut down right away??  No way of really telling without doing compression tests, etc and it has the radiator would have to be fixed so they could run it.  I'm still blown away that it cost $1000 for a radiator and belt..a brand new aftermarket radiator is $65 my cost.. a belt is about $35
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Was parked when it overheated.

WTMF... why is everyone so high on replacement costs if that's the case?  I hate mechanics.  Will you come over and fix it for me?  There's beer in it for ya ;)  

 
Keerock said:
Was parked when it overheated.

WTMF... why is everyone so high on replacement costs if that's the case?  I hate mechanics.  Will you come over and fix it for me?  There's beer in it for ya ;)  
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I WILL be in Canton this weekend for a softball tournament.. lol

 
Keerock said:

Any way for the mechanic to tell before replacement if the engine is OK?
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You could check the oil for signs of coolant infiltration (it will have a cloudy look). But if the engine was shut off immediately after the radiator cracked, then you won't be able to tell without running compression tests or starting the engine.

Seriously, though, you can change the radiator yourself.

 
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Joe Summer said:
Keerock said:

Any way for the mechanic to tell before replacement if the engine is OK?
Click to expand...
You could check the oil for signs of coolant infiltration (it will have a cloudy look). But if the engine was shut off immediately after the radiator cracked, then you won't be able to tell without running compression tests or starting the engine.

Seriously, though, you can change the radiator yourself.
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"The replacement was not at all easy, but manageable."

 
playin4beer said:
How long was it driven when it overheated?  Did the temp light come on? Was it shut down right away??  No way of really telling without doing compression tests, etc and the radiator would have to be fixed so they could run it.  I'm still blown away that it cost $1000 for a radiator and belt..a brand new aftermarket radiator is $65 my cost.. a belt is about $35
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if the people who quoted him $1000 were sourcing OEM, that'd make a pretty big difference in parts pricing. 

 
Quint said:
if the people who quoted him $1000 were sourcing OEM, that'd make a pretty big difference in parts pricing. 
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True.. but hardly any shop except a dealership is going to quote OEM unless asked.. and a new OEM radiator is $263, list price $377.. so that does get a little closer to $1,000...

 
http://cars.iaai.com/

That's the outfit I used.  You can get a quote on what they'll pay you for it. And if you agree, they will come get it from your house, bring you a check, and all the necessary paperwork. Easiest car transaction I ever had. 

 
playin4beer said:
True.. but hardly any shop except a dealership is going to quote OEM unless asked.. and a new OEM radiator is $263, list price $377.. so that does get a little closer to $1,000...
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agreed. just not sure what exactly the shop quoted from the OP: just a radiator and belts? or was it H2O pump, t.stat, hoses, timing chain (while the front cover is off?), tensioners, various gaskets, etc.? 

factor in labor rates differing by geography, and $1k doesn't seem that far out of line. 

 
Quint said:
agreed. just not sure what exactly the shop quoted from the OP: just a radiator and belts? or was it H2O pump, t.stat, hoses, timing chain (while the front cover is off?), tensioners, various gaskets, etc.? 

factor in labor rates differing by geography, and $1k doesn't seem that far out of line. 
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Just radiator, belts and "fluids".  Got quoted from dealer and 2 other independent shops.  All within $100 of each other.

 
Keerock said:
Just radiator, belts and "fluids".  Got quoted from dealer and 2 other independent shops.  All within $100 of each other.
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eeesh. if that's all they're doing, then i'd agree it's too much. 

wonder how much time they're allotting for labor? i tried to find the Mitchell Book times for radiator R&R but came up empty. 

 
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