Hey guys, well it seems I might be getting a new car in the very near future (most likely 350z) i have been saving up for a while and I think i have a decent down payment. I was wondering what you guys think the best bet it is when it comes to the 2gnt.
The car has 164,000 miles, it's had a few overheating issues before but after recently replacing the radiator and water temp sensor it's running like a dream again. There's no major mods to it, just an AEM cold air/GST muffler and AFX pulley. the Timing belt has been changed both at 60K and 120K along with the water pump, oil every 5K miles. Original clutch (i know..long time), tranny, engine etc..
I thought about the options I have....
If i trade it in, I'll probably get 2K. I figure if I sell it privately I might be able to get maybe a grand more who knows.
I am tempted to sell it privately because the car is in great shape and i rather have someone buy it than a dealer take it and sell it off at some auction or trash it (yes I'm attached...).
However I realize that someone looking for a car isnt going to buy one with 164K miles...hell i wouldn't...so sometimes I think I'm probably better off trading it in and taking the 2K or so form the dealer to offset some of the new car cost.
Of course the best case scenario would be for me to keep it as a second car..although I would love to do this I am not sure i can financially afford it. Paying insurance for 2 cars, plus car payment for Z plus mortgage and all my bills (I'm single so no dual income here..) is pretty much out of my league
Those of you that have recently gotten new cars, what have you done and what do you think is the best bet?
I am not looking to do this tomorrow....but I am thinking within the next couple of months..are my numbers off? will i get more/less than 2K at the dealerr and 3K privately?
The car is a black 98 RS with power windows/locks/moonroof, MT, GS alloy rims...pretty stock/clean looking.

Looks really good. Sorry not sure how much the Eclipse's are going for now. Where are you located exactly?

I would say you should still be able to get around $3000 for your car even with the higher miles. How's the rust situation? If the body is good, $3000 should be an easy catch I would think.

Originally posted by Louis
Of course the best case scenario would be for me to keep it as a second car..although I would love to do this I am not sure i can financially afford it. Paying insurance for 2 cars, plus car payment for Z plus mortgage and all my bills is pretty much out of my league

I'd say check with your insurance company, depending on your coverage and if you're willing to alter it, you may come out paying just about the same. My insurance now for two cars is what it was for a few years after an accident just for my eclipse. When I got the Evo, I removed collision and collateral from the eclipse and am now payin ~1200 for both instead of the ~800 for just the eclipse full coverage. I know my insurance would be much higher if the car was insured under me as the primary driver but right now I am the primary of the Eclipse in the family's policy still. Of course there are so many factors here the only way to really know is call up your company.

Originally posted by Louis
I am not looking to do this tomorrow....but I am thinking within the next couple of months..are my numbers off? will i get more/less than 2K at the dealerr and 3K privately?

I think you can get more privately than from a dealer, the only problem is it may take a few months to sell whereas you'll get the trade in value right away. I'd say when you're just about ready, throw a FS sign up in it and see if you get any interest in a month or two. If no interest then trade it in, at worst you've waited an extra month or two to buy the Z which just means you could save two months worth of payments to put down on the car in addition to what you were already planning on putting down.

I actually got an offer from a friend of mine as soon as i mentioned that i was thinking of selling it. Since I mentioned that i would probably get 2k trade in and maybe 3k privately, he said he'll give me the 3k for it.....does this sound like a fair deal?

DOO ITTTT! I bought my piece o' junk for $2500 with 150k has a salvage tittle, and was NOWHERE near what its condition is today. You seem to have taken care of your car, your buddie would be a fool not to try to take it off your hands.

Yeah go privately, I'm almost sure you'd be lucky to get 2k from a dealer. you'd have to talk them into it. Wit my eclipse, which was in great condition when I was thinking about selling it, a couple dealers would only go 1.5k for a 86k mile car. Though mine is a 96..

Yeah my friend is a total clean-car nut and knows how much I take care of my car and in what shape it is. He says he's actually been looking for an extra car and all the used car dealerships he's been to, at the prince range he's looking for, the cars have all had issues.
It's still not a sure thing of course until it's all said and done...but yeah i guess if this doesn't pan out I'll try putting a FS thread here and/or sell it privately locally.
My gf was actually surprised I was planning on selling it for 3000..she says she would not give 200 bucks for my car due to the 164,000 miles, regardless of condition....blasphemy!!!
Dealer wont give me crap...

I'd buy your car in a heart beat if I had the money.

Originally posted by saikou
I'd buy your car in a heart beat if I had the money.

go private, dealers wont give you shit, then theyll charge the next person 2x over what they paid you