Considering Selling

[Gwfl]

Although I really enjoy cruising the bird we don't cruise it that much (2K/yr...we both have to continue working so no time) and our other cars have taken the brunt of the wear and mileage. My SUV has 105 k on it and my wife's sedan has 88k and we are starting to have the little problems with them that come with that age. All this has led us to consider how to afford a new vehicle and to downsize from 3 to 2 cars. A big car payment doesn't sit well with us right now so we are starting to look at the bird a little cross-eyed and thinking it would be a good down payment on a new car (Audi A3 TDI). Dealer offered us 16.5k as a trade ...not even a consideration!!

I guess my question here is, should we decide to go this route, what would be the best venue to sell it privately, through...craigslist, auto trader, classifieds or TBN?

Thoughts and suggestions?

ps. 2005 Evening Black w/hardtop, partial sand interior, top and boot, 21.5k in great condition.

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Considering Selling

Why get rid of the Thunderbird? You'll just be giving away all the fun. Make it a daily driver for one of you & sell the other two to get the newer vehicle. Best of all worlds that way.

[islandtime]

Re: Considering Selling

Why get rid of the Thunderbird? You'll just be giving away all the fun. Make it a daily driver for one of you & sell the other two to get the newer vehicle. Best of all worlds that way.

Precisely what I was thinking. An Audi? Really? Keep the Bird!

[Latebird]

Re: Considering Selling

Sell the "Bird" it's only a car, and not that practical to begin with.
18-20K is fair.....go TBN or Ebay...private sale would be the best.

[Will]

Re: Considering Selling

An SUV? In FLAH-ridda? Like, give up the convert & keep the SUV in The Sunshine State? Okay.

[Jim Young]

Re: Considering Selling

see this for idea of value
http://www.carmax.com/enus/search-re...&AsY=2005-2005

also http://www.kbb.com/
Jim

[wcoates]

Re: Considering Selling

Don't sell craigslist short. I have recently parted out my Cadillac Allante. Got calls from all over the country from folks using my local ad with the following craigslist search tool.

http://www.my-craigs-finder.com/

[Ediron]

Re: Considering Selling

I went to carmax with the Merlot 2 months ago to feel them out . With 37K newer tires no H/T they came in at 13K I kept walking. If you buy from them you may get a better trade.

[Rondor]

Re: Considering Selling

I have sold on craigs list but you have to put up with a lot of B.S. to do it. I would use Auto trader or e bay. I too agree you should get rid of the others and keep the bird,

[Gwfl]

Re: Considering Selling

I really do enjoy the bird and actually prefer it with the hard top on...it gives a cozy cockpit-like feeling for me....a retreat from the sun down here. I've worked on the water for 30 years so SW FL sunshine almost everyday of the year doesn't really do it for me anymore. Wish we had more trees, hills and curvy roads like up north.

Still crunching the numbers which don't look good so I think I'm going to blow off the car sales people and wait for 2013 models to appear or maybe that next 2015 Thunderbird.

Gary

[nvabill]

Re: Considering Selling

Sounds like you really need to be firm on a fair price, I mean you have the '05 which is the last year and has low miles to boot!

[keithwand]

Re: Considering Selling

We have wondered about selling too only because it just sits in the garage.
It has been plugged in (battery tender) now for 3 weeks and has been driven about 200 miles in the last year. Still has only 3,179 miles.
Problem is we like seeing it in the garage.
Maybe we'll drive it more when we move from Orlando.

[EmpTNest]

Re: Considering Selling

TBN is the way to go. It provides a target rich marketing environment, with proper demographics, and well informed, serious buyers.

Autotrader offers quantity, TBN offers quality, in terms of exposure.

Best of luck.

[Rondor]

Re: Considering Selling

I just traded my '04 Expadition with 105K miles and love the new one but would prefer the Ecoboost engine, not available in Exp. Took 2 days to decide over truck but 04 Bird stays. Keep yours and you won't be sorry.
The new Exp is identicle to '04 but so many improvements and a better wrranty. Will likely be my last vehicle. ( not counting toy's ) You just never know, what may catch your eye thru your bi-focals.

[Leroy]

Re: Considering Selling

I would suggest Ebay. Post some good pictures of the car and if you car is covered under the Ford ESP, be sure to make it known in the listing. It's a real good selling point. You very seldom see a warranty offered with a car on Ebay. You can set your reserve at what you want for the car and after the auction if the reserve hasn't been met, you can sometimes make a deal with the highest bidder outside of Ebay. Might cost you $30.00.

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