Don't know a whole lot about cars......Should I fix my car before I sell it??

Question

I have a 2003 Jetta, and its got quite a few things going on with it-----

*cracked windshield
*bump on the side
*needs engine temperature thing (got engine light check but i just have not fixed it)

Now..... should i fork up the money BEFORE I go and try to sell/trade it in, or should I just sell it for some money less so the other person can fix it themselves?

ALSO :) another thing. I would really really love to trade it in for a used Saab at a dealership BUT would'nt I get a better deal for my car if I sold it first and then used that money to buy the Saab? Or are most dealerships pretty fair when it comes to trade-in prices?

Lots of questions... aghhhh :) .... Thanks.

Answer 1

The cracked windscreen and engine issue are accidents waiting to happen: get it fixed. But most cars have a few bumps and scrapes, its no big thing, especially for a four year old car i.e. not brand new.

The choice between selling privately and trading-in is purely convenience. Generally selling privately will fetch a higher price but you may have to hold onto the car for a while before someone makes you the offer you want. If you trade in then the dealer will take it off your hands there and then.

It might be worth taking the VW down to the Saab dealer and ask what he/she will give you for it, then see how much Jettas like yours are being sold for in your local used-car classifieds. If there isn't much difference then just trade the car in.

Sorry if this seems a bit long winded. Good luck whatever you do.

Answer 2

I would leave the dent in the side, but fix the windshield and engine problem. The car may not pass inspection w/ a broken windshield, and check engine lights are usually indicative of problems that the prospective buyer will not want to deal w/.

Now, regarding the trade, you are correct. You will get the best deal by selling your car directly to a buyer, then using that cash to buy the new car. However, selling a car isn't that easy - you need to deal w/ people wanting test drives, the cost of advertising, and finally making sure all the paperwork is correct in transferring the title to the new owner. Its a hassle, but if you have the time, it might be worth it.

My advise, fix the windshield, thermostat, and then take it to the dealer for the trade in.

Answer 3

Never fix the problems before hand because you will more than likely lose more money doing so than just trading it in.
So dealerships are more generous than others, but in general, you will get less than if you sold the vehicle yourself. Problem with that is that your vehicle isn't in the best shape of its life. So it can prove difficult to find a buyer.
What I would recommend doing is going to that Saab dealer, negotiate the new car. If they ask for a trade in, tell them you will decide after the deal on the Saab is made. If you are too eager to unload the Jetta, they will rip you off. Good luck.

Answer 4

I would fix it up first. The windshield and thermostat are not real big jobs.That gives the appearance that the car has been taken good care of. Plus, people don't want to buy a car and then have the inconvenience of immediately having to fix things. As for the 'bump' on the side, it depends. If it's just a little dent I wouldn't worry about it.

And yes, you will get a better deal if you sell it yourself. In that price range, trading it into the dealer will probably rob you of one or two thousand dollars.

Good luck.

Answer 5

In general if you are going with a private sale you will need to fix those minor problems. If you want to get a "retail" price.
That is my experience, private sale buyers may just say no thanks if they see a bunch of repairs or engine lights on.
A private sale takes time, you have to advertise and carries risk of meeting strangers. There is a set process to follow, you can email if you want more details.

Go to a dealer and get a trade-in quote. I know they will give you the run-around as they want to over-complicate the transaction and put the car sale and trade on the same transaction. But be persistent, and go to a number of dealers, and make sure you directly tell them that you are visiting other dealers. If you have to call the sales manager, tell them you have to know what your trade is worth to do the math on buying another car.
DO NOT get into any negative equity situation, ie owe more than the value of your new car.
As for the word "fair". Not bashing dealers, but you are on your own. They will attempt to extract the most money from you as possible. You have to do your homework and shop around with at least four dealers.
DO NOT listen to sob stories about how by you are cheating them. Tell the sales rep up front you are not interested in hearing about that mess, and if does it, ask for another sales rep. If they don't like the deal they can say No, real simple.
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Answer 6

If you decide to repair your jetta... I would recomend fixing the windshield...avrg cost ...$150.00 up to 250.00 takes about an hour or 2 to get done..the bump on the side...? how bad of a bump ?...is it terribly visible ? how many miles does your jetta have and what model jetta is it ...gl....glx.. turbo ? automatic? leather or cloth sunroof ? 4 cylinder or 6 cilynder ? either way it should be worth at least 5 to 6 thousand... trading it at the dealership or around 8 thousand to 10 thousand private sale...to a neighbor..hope this helps

Answer 7

I would fix the check engine light and sell the car myself because you will get more moeny for it and you can reduce the price of the car for replacing the windshield if that is worked into the final deal and you will always get screwed when trading in cars.

Answer 8

I wouldnt put any money into it if your not going to keep it. First find out the blue book value of your car and find out how much it will cost to fix each of the things wrong with it and deduct the price from the cost of the vehicle. If you go to trade it in DO NOT tell the dealer if there is anything wrong with it. NO dealerships are not fair when it comes to trade in prices, find out the value of your car for trade in value and negotiate from there.

Answer 9

With a car like yours, a private sale is the best way to get the most for the car. All of these repairs are deal breakers for most buyers. Broken glass, body damage, and warning lights are each things that would prevent me from buying a car. I'd get them taken care of.