THE CAR IS SOLD!
[longer version]
Carvana ads had me interested in what appeared to be an interesting way to sell your car. They use a different online appraisal form, with categories being 100%, 75%, 50%, etc for rating different systems and the like. Kelley Blue Book used options like "small chip" "needs exhaust" and similar things, and allowed comments. So I could say the exhaust was ok and comment that it seemed louder some days. Carvana quoted me $8.5K to $9.5K when I marked most categories as 75%. KBB quoted $12.4K, which they sent to dealers in their network, who in turn contacted me all within 10 minutes of submitting my appraisal. One dealer was here in town and had an opening to see me today, which I did. I was told it would take about 20 minutes.
They test drove the car, put it up on a lift, and went over it pretty well. And we talked. And talked some more. Lots of small talk, of which I willing engaged, being both talkative and not wanting to annoy them by saying I'd really rather not be here! They found surface rust on a rocker arm and showed me and yup, it looked nasty. They, however, said it can be cleaned up and painted. And I had damage to the front bumper, under the grill, from scraping up against those parking blocks or against curbs if I pulled too close (the Impreza sedan sits low so it is easy to scrape the underside, at least for me!). That being the case, they were prepared to offer me $9.5K, which I took. Maybe I could have dickered, maybe I should have, but my wife and I talked beforehand and agreed: just sell the car. It served its purpose and I knew it needed work to get it in great shape again. And it was still more than I had anticipated getting, even if KBB quoted high. After 90 minutes, I was driven home with a check in hand and an empty garage bay I can now fill up with shave gear!!
- Eric
Put your message in a modem,
And throw it in the Cyber Sea
--Rush, "Virtuality"
Overloader of brushes, Overlander fanboy, Schickhead, and a GEM in the rough!