Where is the best place to sell your Benz??

[CJ]

I unfortunately have to sell my Benz and get much larger car. I have my car for sale on EXCITE.COM, YAHOO.COM, AUTOTRADER.COM and The Washington Post. Do you have any suggestions of where I could sell it, maybe even to someone that is not going to put my work into vain. I have taken a great deal of time to make sure the car is always running 110% and is clean as a whistle. I would hate to sell my car to someone that is going to trash it.
Thanks.

Ari,

I looked at your ad in Excite, just to see what you were asking. Your asking price is $14k+ and blue book retail, from the link you have included, is $11k+.

I've met you and seen the car, so first let me say I think you're a pretty good guy with a really nice car. That's not just payback for giving me a bumper cover either.

Now, I have to tell you, IMHO, if you really want $2-3k over retail, you're going to have to have some serious patience. I picked up a pristine Volvo 765 Turbo in Tennessee from a guy in a similar situation as yours. He wanted dealer money (blue book) because the car was that clean. After extensive negotiations, we agreed to something between trade-in and retail. I hope you get your price, but as a buyer, I'm not going to offer any private party what amounts to dealer money for a used car, there's just too many of them out there. KBB Retail is for a car that the dealer has vetted and is willing to stand behind for a year or two with a warranty. No matter how nice your car is (and I will verify for the list that it is a very clean 300D), there is a risk to the buyer for taking a private party car that is not there with a dealer purchase. That risk has a value to most people and they're not going to give you more money than the dealer would get unless you've got something very exclusive.

Now comes the debate about how exclusive the 2.5 turbo diesel is and what that's worth. Unfortunatley, only serious mb dieselheads know that engine is worth more than the others, so again, you're at a disadvantage.

Good luck, I do hope you can get your price. I just wanted to give you my opinion on why you might not be hearing the phone ring as often as you would expect. Be patient. mike

[ctaylor738]

Sounds like a nice car.

I would try The Star (MB Club national magazine). I have also had good luck with the Richmond Times-Dispatch since there are fewer high-end cars on the market there.

Chuck

[420SEL]

I agree with both TXBill and Mike. Another idea is to get out and network a little. If you want a good price you have to be patient and you have to work a little. Put a nice looking for sale sign on the car and take it around to a few good car club events (MBCA, European or performace car clubs). Often you'll find people there who will appreciate the car as much as you do and who will be willing to pay you what it is worth. Have you read "The Millionare Next Door"? There is some good advice there. It tell about this one couple who saved tonnes of money on cars by buying good cars from people who were in a hurry to sell, and they could tell who was. I would suggest that if you want both a bigger car and to get a good price for the one you have now to get a loan and buy the new one and be patient selling the old one. One you do sell it use the proceeds to pay off the loan. I bought my car after 6 months of patient searching. I could have bought several a lot sooner but I would have paid more for them. I finally found a guy who had a car I wanted and was in a hurry to sell (needed the money for something). I got the car for considerably less than it was worth. I think you'll get results worth your time taking the car to car club events. Most of the time people there are really into their cars and they may know someone looking for a car like yours.

Good luck

[Dr. Julio Fuentes]

CJ- I must concur with Mike on this one... any pristine condition this car might have would be financially offset by the high mileage, and certainly wouldn't justify such a high markup over the already inflated "dealer lot" price. I too looked at your car with interest, as I am trying to convince a medical associate of mine to purchase a Mercedes Diesel, particularly the 124 body series. He currently owns a Volvo Turbo Diesel, so he is well aware and appreciative of the longevity and durablity of the TD motor. There are people out there that know and appreciate these cars, but someone's going to have to REALLY want this one to pay that much.

Just some friendly observations, hope it helps! : )

Dr. Julio Fuentes, BS MD PhD

CJ,
I agree with all of the above posters. One thing that was
left out is that the way the economy is doing. During
the heyday of the stock market your car would be sold
by now. People are looking for bargins now, this is
evident of the glut of new cars on the market. They
are less willing to buy high ticket items. BTW,
there is a car similar to yours in the Seattle Times:

1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D
Price: $13,900
Mileage: 124,000

1991 300D - 2.5. $13,900. Turbo Dsl, 124k, Nice!
(206) 910-2111

It has languished in the ads for some time.

I feel that if you want to sell it at this time you may
have to come down 2K; no matter how pristine it is.

Gary

[Jack500]

I previously owned a 1991 300D 2.5 with 158,000 miles. Last summer the car was involved in an accident and the insurance co. declared it a total. I spent about 5 weeks before settling with them; using the time to find what similar vehicles were selling for and also thinking about finding an exact replacement or even possibly having it repaired. My car was also well cared for but I gradually came to the realization that I could never sell it (before being wrecked)for what it was personally worth to me. I settled for $12,500 realizing that I would have been lucky to get that price if I had tried to sell the car. With cash in hand I considered a similar replacement but concluded why should I buy someone elses high mileage vehicle? I found a pristine 1995 E320 with 70,000 miles and all dealer records. The headgasket had been replaced and the car still had 30 mos. or 32,000 miles left on a transferable extended warranty. For $4,400 more I was able to upgrade by 4 years and have a car with one-half the mileage plus warranty. Bottomline, there are a lot of well cared for Mercedes to choose from. Consider yourself lucky if you find a buyer at $11,500 or $12,000.

Jack

[CJ]

Thanks for the input. I know that I am asking more than KBB book, but I feel that the right buyer will come along sooner or later. The car itself is rare and I feel that KBB sets the market, as strictly up to supply/demand. I have had many people call and a few people made offers as high as $13,000, but I am determined and I turned them down. I am looking to get $14,500 and will wait, I am not in a hurry. I have my new car already. You probably think it is crazy, but I seriously have every single record for the car, from the window sticker to the paper recipts for each time the car's book was stamped. The car has been garaged from day one and as Mike Yox can testify, it is a 10 on a scale of 1 - 10. I am patient and will just keep driving her until my buyer comes in.
Keep up the good work everyone.

[CJ]

Thanks for the info. I will just wait and be patient.