|
|
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Anyone here make a living fixing/selling cars?
This is something I've been pondering for a while, so I was just wondering if any of my fellow listers here are doing this. Do you make all or part of your income from salvaging and selling cars? I see good deals on interesting cars all the time that just need a litting wrenching and TLC. I know I could make some money on them if I buy the car and parts carefully. But am I nuts to consider this? Do you wanna talk me out of this or talk sense into me? Or offer advice?
__________________
'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
I work at a Salvage Yard, what do you want to know?
I tell you, if I had a grand or two to buy cars that come across the scales being scrapped (for $2.50 per hundred pounds) I could make a killing in specialty stuff, euro cars, few popular imports, etc, etc. I can buy about any car from work for $300 or less. Shame I stay broke fixing all the cars I do own..
__________________
One more Radar Lover gone... 1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ 1994 E320 195K |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Check your state laws
Check your local/state laws concerning selling cars. In SC you can sell up to 5 cars per year without a dealers license. Of course you have to get caught before the law can be enforced....
__________________
1984 300D Turbo Sedan (Hilda) 272,115 miles..... Anthracite Gray/Palamino Leather, I am 3rd owner 2001 Dodge Stratus (Silver) (wifes) 55814 miles... 1982 280TE Wagon Astral Silver Metallic/ Anthracite Velour 260,512 miles (Eva) 1969 230 Sedan Olive Green/Black MBTex 4 Speed Manual 84,213 miles ???? Haus Frau 2004 Boreem Ninja Pocket Bike Highly Modified 49cc (Ling Ling) Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Anyone here make a living fixing/selling cars?
I haven't tried it yet but two ideas for you .. Offer an e-bay selling service in your local area for folks who want to get rid of a used car but want more than a dealer is willing to offer on trade-in You'd need to invest in a digital camera and some local advertising and know how to set-up E-bay auctions .. The other idea would be to secure a used car dealers license in your state so that you could attend dealer only auto auctions in your area .. These are usually held weekly .. You'd need enough capital to purchase/fix however many vehicles you could sell in a week's time .. Sell them on e-bay and roll your cash at the next auction .. Saw a write up on a retired man from Tenn in his 60's doing this specializing in used Volvos .. Sold 25 cars his first year .. claimed to be making $1000 - $2000 per deal .. Triff .. |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Once in a great while an oppertunity comes along. Like the lucky member who just bought a 1995 300SD for $4,700+$2k for a used engine. He will probably make $5k on that one if he plays his cards right.
However owning a dealership is the only way I would be interested in making money off cars.
__________________
1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
If you wanted to make some extra cash on the side I could see doing this. At least to see if it is something viable. But as said previously don't quit your day job!
__________________
Bill Reimels Now down to one: 1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery) |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
I knew of somebody who did just that. He knew cars and what they were worth and made a good living at it.
|
#9
|
||||
|
||||
I wouldn't say I 've been making a "living" but fixing up stick shift 240Ds has been a great "retirement" hobby. I have sold 4 or 5 to friends and neighbors in the past 2 years or so. Thing is, selling a car in the community where you live is allot different than selling on ebay, you sell a "dog" to a neighbor your gona live with it . I always do my best to make sure things are squared away and sell at a "fair" price. Right now I'm putting an engine in a real nice maroon Ca, 240 that several people around here would like to buy. I really get off on seeing the paint job under all the oxidization, or bringing the locking system back to life. Its been a great way to upgrade my own fleet too. I do know that if I was to keep track of my time, it wouldn't look like such a hot biz, so I wouldnt want to quit my job (if I had one) to sell cars in the community.
__________________
1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
look at it as a hobby. As long as you buy the right car at the right price, you can make money. For the most part, it's being able to recognize an opportunity when you see it, and having the cash on hand to pursue the opportunity.
__________________
1987 300TDT 1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap 1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5 |
#11
|
||||
|
||||
Money can be made doing this I have done it, but unfortunately I get an emotional attachment to EVERYTHING I buy and find it hard to sell them, hence I have 16 vehicles, not including a 25' SeaRay Boat, and a 31' Starfire Motorhome.
__________________
Mercedes Fleet: 2004 CL600 Designo Espresso SPORT 2004 S600 Designo Espresso SPORT/Lorinser Pkg. 1999 S320 1988 300TE 1972 280SEL 4.5 Diesel Fleet: 2014 GL350 Blutec 1987 300SDL Blk/Blk 4 place seating #18 head 1987 300SDL Smk Slv/Burgangy #17 head 1986 300SDL Blk Pearl/Palomino #14 head w/ 280K 1984 Lincoln Mark VII Fact BMW Turbo Diesel |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Bill Reimels Now down to one: 1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery) |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
I think that in the right circumstances it might be worth it. Buy a car, fix and sell. I would NOT want to work on other people's cars. I take my hat off to any competent mechanic who does this. I will never have that sort of patience.
__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue" "Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement." listen, look, .........and duck. |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
My "addiction" started out innocent enough when I began looking for a "parts" car with nice blue seats for the 240D I just bought. Found the car with great seats and toasted eng, now I need a "parts " car with a good eng, I also find some nice goodies for my "keepers", passenger side mirror, chrome air intakes ...ect AND have been able to get a nice car together, you need a spare, right? finally I come to my senses and realize insurance is killing us ,so I sell one but because I need a pallameno interior I hook up the tow dolly and drag another home.
__________________
1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Hey,
My father has been working on cars since he was 17 (Is now mid 40's). He worked out of our garage for some time and it works out fairly well but unless you REALLY love wrenching, its can get overwhelming. I was instructed to never become a mechanic even though I have all of his knowledge and a lot of his skill from playing in the garage and working on cars with him. If its your hobby, its can be a bad move to turn it into your source of income if things get boring/old/nasty. I believe the general thought is, its hard to get ahead turning a wrench but you can usually sustain a decent living. And if you have enough knowledge, a lot of places would hire you if you got in a bunch...dad comes and goes at his job as they need him and/or if he needs some extra dough. You'd think our house was still a buisness though with anywhere from 7-8 cars at any given time parked in the driveway and on the street. I work on everyone elses cars though, but only out of favors or friendship...not to make cash.. That in my eyes, keeps it a hobby... |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|