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!
For reference, your car is probably worth about $400 in scrap metal alone. As in, if you drive it to the junkyard, they’ll pay you $400 for it.
Running (needs significant work) is probably worth $1k, but that really depends.
The biggest limit will be your time and patience. Carvana and the like will cut you the smallest check, but they will do so today after a simple inspection.
The next highest will be private sales with a short timeframe. The longer you are willing to wait, the higher your final sale price will likely be. Also, don’t be afraid to post it on multiple forums. Craigslist has dwindled in popularity, but it’s still a very viable listing.
If you have a friendly personal mechanic, you may be able to enlist their help. Sometimes they maintain a project car for their downtimes, often from a customer that couldn’t pay. They can tell you how much the car is really worth, or work out a discounted rate for slow repairs. Or they cut you in on the profits when they repair and sell it. But this only works with friendly personal mechanics, or shade tree mechanics.