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Hey guys,
Don't be alarmed, I'm just moving to the dark (RWD) side. I’ll be listing my 855t for sale very soon and would like some input on dealing with buyers. Mainly, I’m looking for suggestions on how to handle requests to “have a mechanic look at it.”
A legitimate request but a real PITA when you might have several interested parties over the course of a couple of weeks.
To begin with, it’s my opinion that unless a mechanic is familiar with 850’s in general and 850 turbos in particular they’re not likely to give an accurate assessment. For example, how many posts have we seen here describing how a mechanic suggests a turbo replacement when it’s the $2 return pipe seal? (Which I replaced last month BTW)
When I sold my 180,000 mile Nissan Sentra I didn’t care much about letting someone drive it around the block. I didn’t even wince when a woman started it up and instantly revved the snot out of it "to check the engine."
Not with my 855t, thank you very much. No one’s taking this car out of my sight unless I have cash in hand. After the experience with the lady above, no one is even starting it. I’ll do it. You abuse it you bought it. Am I being too rigid? There has always seemed to be this grey area of permission when the buyer, seller and car are standing in a circle on the driveway. Sort of a twighlight zone thing. Bottom line of course is that it's my car 'till I say it's your car, and I dictate what's ok for you to do with it until then. How to maintain this position without driving someone off is part of what I'm asking.
The car is near perfect (I’m replacing the right headlight wiper motor that doesn’t work and the drivers door’s red marker light is missing. Could be inside the door, I’ll look this weekend)
Reason for sale? My wife really wants into a 240 wagon and I’ve always liked the 240s myself. So we’re selling the Caravan and my 855t to get into a couple of 240s and have a substantial chunk of change left over. (Visions of sway bars, Konis, headers, camshaft, etc…) Mine will be the hot rodded sedan, hers the mommy wagon. She's also given me the go ahead to again own my dream bike, a late '80s BMW R100, this time an RS instead of the RT I had before.
How would you guys handle the prospective buyers? I don’t want to take it to a mechanic each time someone’s interested but I certainly don't want to give the impression I'm hiding something. Nothing to hide, the car is great!
Thanks,
--
Erwin in Memphis, '95 855t
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Well if you want to get anywhere near top dollar for your car, you'll have to cater to the buyer....this doesnt mean letting some punk kid drive the snot out of it either. Let them start the car, but before hand remind them its a turbo and not to immediately floor it to "check the engine". By all means accompany them for the drive. As for the mechanic, you'll have to be willing to go along with an inspection (it is a big chunk of change and any buyer, yourself included will want one)....unless of course you plan on offering a warrantee. So obviously you need to agree on a good local mechanic for it. If you are confident in the car, require you be given a copy of the report, and make sure you have an offer contingent on the outcome of the mechanical inspection....this will typically let you know how serious they are
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I always offer something to the owner if I want to take a prospective purchase to a mechanic. Such as an oil change, a copy of the report, NOT telling them about the report if it is bad, a tank of gas, etc.
A copy of the report might be useful to the second buyer who shows up - after all, you did not pick the mechanic. Eventually your car might have been checked out by a mechanic your prospective buyer trusts, or you might end up with a large number of good reports.
Be inventive, ask for something to pay for your trouble. Offer to deduct the expense from the purchase price if the buyer bites.
--
3 8s & 2 7s 725,000 miles total
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I get the message. Tone it down. I'll just have to make the effort not to behave like an overprotective parent. It is my baby though ;^)
--
Erwin in Memphis, '95 855t
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posted by
someone claiming to be volvomoh
on
Wed Dec 4 08:11 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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I've been on both sides.
Earlier this year, I bought a '96 855t after looking for quite some time.
Considered selling a Maxima, posted an ad, got calls, then backed out 'cause
the car has been too good. Trying to sell a '91 240 instead.
Regarding a mechanic check -
Each time I was serious about buying an 855, I took it to my indy mechanic.
I would've walked away if the seller refused the mechanic check. You might be
interested in what my mechanic did, though. My mechanic gave me a printout, free of charge (!), of what he thought should be fixed, so I could take it back to the seller. Some dealers let me drive alone to the mechanic. One seller insisted he drive
it to the mechanic himself.
Perhaps you can find a mechanic that'll do a pre-purchase inspection. Many dealers do it for a fee. Do it once and show it to the potential buyer. Trick is finding a reputable shop/mechanic both sides are comfortable with. Is that a reasonable compromise? I would've been ok with it, if the seller had a report from a shop I could trust (tricky part). It'd be a real PITA to do it each time, tho.
One more option - do the reverse of what I did on the purchase. I found a car at a dealer that I liked. Test drove it and a few things were questionable. Told them I'd take it to the mechanic, and if they fix all the findings, I'd buy it. We had agreed on the price beforehand, and everything worked out fine. This way, you can weed out those that are not serious.
About test drive -
Buyers will want to test drive it. I don't know of anyone that'd buy a used car without driving it him/herself. Tell them not to abuse the car, and sit next to them during the testdrive, always. I wouldn't let my car out of sight for one second, either. (I did it for a real clunker a long time ago, though).
Hope it helps!
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posted by
someone claiming to be volvomoh
on
Wed Dec 4 08:16 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Just to clarify - I made sure they understood that, if my mechanic found any serious issue with safety-related items, engine, or tranny, e.g., bent frame, etc, I could walk away.
It sounds your car is in a very good condition, so shouldn't be a problem...?
6 months ago, I would've flown down to buy your car... timing is everything, isn't it? :)
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Sure is! There's a Volvo indy I took the car to before I bought it for an evaluation. No charge. He turned up a few things I knew about but thanks to this board I was able to fix cheaply and quickly. Upper motor mount being one.
I might use him again and have his printout available for a buyer. Of course they're welcome to drive it, I'm going with them of course. I have most receipts for maintenance I've done this year. Filters, plugs, 02 sensor, etc.
Thanks for the input. Apparrantly I came across as being very rigid in my first message. I just don't want my car abused or anything misdiagnosed by someone not qualified to make those judgements.
BTW, you would have driven away very happy!
--
Erwin in Memphis, '95 855t
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I'd probably tone it down a bit with the potential buyers, Erwin. If I went to look at a car and the owner didn't let me start it, or expressed any reservations about my taking it to a mechanic, I wouldn't even think twice about buying the car. I'm sure you wouldn't either if you were looking for a car.
I could be biased, though, cause I just bought an 850 and the dealer let me keep it over the weekend and beyond--I had the chance to drive it 120 miles back n' forth between Denver and Colorado Springs, drive it up the hills outside of Denver, etc. I'm not saying that a private seller should do anything even remotely like that. But if you appear overly protective it will be sure to put the potential buyer off big time.
Good luck!
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Thanks,
That's not the attitude I want to project. My only real concern is the hassle of taking it to a mechanic each time a buyer asks. I suppose I could have it checked myself and have the report available for the buyers. I do have the cars complete service history printed out. I bought it in January and it was a local car, owned by the daughter (an attorney) of the dealer's sales manager. It's been serviced by the dealership exclusively. As soon as I receive the headlight wiper motor I'll list it.
--
Erwin in Memphis, '95 855t
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posted by
someone claiming to be Gary
on
Tue Dec 3 17:25 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Well, IMHO unless you're able to fix everything that fails on a now old 240 yourself, you won't be overjoyed with it either. Old Volvos are great for Volvo mechanics but can be a bummer for those who own them and need to pay for every repair and all old Volvos need something, some more than others.
As for selling an 850 or anything else, tell them NOTHING. "It's been a great car but".....make up something believeable BUT never the total truth. Do NOT tell them to come here first or tell them anything about opinions like "only factory trained Volvo techs can fix it" (even if so).
You want to sell so to the new buyer, it's buyer beware. Don't tell them too much or you'll never sell it for a decent price. My opinion of coarse.
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