Trying to sell with no luck [Archive] (2024)

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clowrey289

11th September 2009, 10:06

I have a 99 Miata convertible, 96k, new timing chain looks great. I have had it listed on craigslist and free advertising papers for about a month, and have gotten 1 real bite. I listed it for $6495, and $6450/obo, which i am guessing is too high. Looking for feedback from you all so i can see what i need to do next. I bought the car 18 mos ago, used it as my "only" car, and now have moved on to some thing more "practical". A really nice car, running great and looking great, so whats my problem?

RFC

11th September 2009, 10:35

Unfortunately, you have described what is now a $5,000 car plus or minus a few hundred.

cam76034

11th September 2009, 10:38

How much did you pay for the timing chain job?

Greg 713

11th September 2009, 10:47

/\ /\ There always has to be someone.

Try real advertising such as AutoTrader and Cars.com. The free ads... well you get what you pay for.
You MUST have good pictures.
A $30 ad here might not be a bad way to advertise either. Lower number of lookers but everyone of the lookers is a Miata fan.
I think price is less of the problem than placement.
Good luck.

SR20DE_MAN

11th September 2009, 11:03

If you're dead set on selling it, get one of those AutoTrader ads that run forever. It's the "Deluxe" one that goes for $69. You're not going to get serious buyers with free ads.

gludlow

11th September 2009, 11:06

First, teasing aside, the Miata has a timing belt, not a chain. Also you should have replaced the water pump at the same time. The magical phrase people look for is "timing belt and water pump replaced at XXk mile."

The demand for and prices of 99s and 00s have plummeted this year. If the car is perfect (leather, no paint chips or scratches, perfect top etc) you could get $6,500 for it. A base model with some cosmetic issues would run closer to $5,000.

El Fez

11th September 2009, 11:11

What are other '99's going for in your local CL? I keep my eye on the local Miatas for sale and decent 99's-00's are advertised for between $5k and $6.5k but rode-hard models needing cosmetic work can easily be found for $4k-$5k. They seem to be in the hole compared to earlier NA's and later NB's right now for some reason. You didn't mention if your car had any options or not. Although I prefer the cloth interior for durability a leather option will raise the value a little bit if it isn't beat up. Also the '99-'00 seats are known to not be comfortable and the later NB seats are much better fitting.

good luck!

Houston CL Miata listings: http://houston.craigslist.org/search/?areaID=23&subAreaID=&query=miata&catAbbreviation=sss

Yep, pretty much what I've been seeing all year.

clowrey289

11th September 2009, 12:28

Wow that was a great response i really appreciate the info. Had a hunch the price was off. confusing a chain and a belt certainly shows the owner ignorance, not all that mechanically interested, just loved driving the car. So i will be lowering to blue book, readvertising on the cheap, and if that doesn t do it, invest in the other pay ads.
I do have to say, when doing the research of the competition for sale, it seemed that they were all listing above blue book, for whatever reason. doesnt mean they were selling for that........this car in really great shape but i think its condition is consistent with age/miles, so it is not factory perfect, just no specific flaws.
wish me luck:)

Dartboy

11th September 2009, 12:45

Prices really take a nosedive at 100K miles, a few more things that can hurt price- Are you still on the original shocks? How's the top? Make sure it's extra clean and fix any of the cheap little annoyances you've been putting up with. Most buyers don't want a fixer-upper. The short ownership span may seem like you're trying to unload a problem car too.

Kind of odd prices you picked, why not $6500?

Diamond Dave

11th September 2009, 13:00

So i will be lowering to blue book, readvertising on the cheap, and if that doesn t do it, invest in the other pay ads.

A) Blue book rarely is an accurate guide with discretionary cars like the Miata. Look at comp ads in your area.

B) Time is running out. Your buyer pool for a 2 seat convertible is greatest at the beginning of Summer. I'd put all your ammo into selling it now. Stop wasting time with free ads.

El Fez

11th September 2009, 13:19

When I sold my '99 years ago. I took out the rollbar and any aftermarket items I had, swapped in uncut int. panels, and cleaned EVERYTHING in, on and under the car. It was spotless and shined where it had no business doing so. I put ads on Autotrader, Cars.com but my buyers ended up finding the car on our local Miata club site. They drove down from New Orleans and picked it up.

An unmolested (or at least one that looks like one) car will get much more attention than a daily beater.

Greg 713

11th September 2009, 13:41

Kind of odd prices you picked, why not $6500?

Old sales ploy. $9.99 is better than $10.00. $6450 looks better than $6500.
Some search engines will by-pass $6500 if you limit is $6500 whereas $6495 will be included in your results.

synchromesh

11th September 2009, 13:44

In worst case, there is always eBay. Sure you'll pay a few fees but it will give your car a national audience. If you play the reserve and description games just right, you may be able to receive a satisfactory sum of money for it.

Keep in mind that the season is almost over and that means that after another 2 months it will have to sit in the garage until next summer so some people are simply reluctant to buy. If you have the space and time you may want to hold out until then.

tom4416

11th September 2009, 14:21

My greatest areas of success in selling Miatas has been:

1. Classifieds here on the specialty cars
2. Ebay for the "normal" Miatas
3. Word of mouth
4. CL
5. Autotrader. All I ever get with them are these ignorant "we'll sell your car for you" calls. With the 30+ cars of all varieties that I've sold since Al Gore invented the Internet, not one has ever been on Autotrader and I've probably listed ten of them on there.

Has anyone else noticed that CL now makes you register with legitimate information to participate in selling? Hopefully it will improve things a bit there.

RADOne

11th September 2009, 14:23

Old sales ploy. $9.99 is better than $10.00. $6450 looks better than $6500.
Some search engines will by-pass $6500 if you limit is $6500 whereas $6495 will be included in your results.

That was back when they thought citizens were stupid. We don't buy that now. :D I've never purchased anything from a private seller doing the penny or dollar less crap. Maybe there's a few ignoring your add for that reason? It sounds too much like a car dealers game.

clowrey289

11th September 2009, 16:02

your point is well taken, although i think if the market was hotter, and the price was attractive, most would overlook the dealer feel of that kind of price "style". so far no one on this site has suggested tacking up flyers, which is something a few friends have recommended.

koa

11th September 2009, 16:29

You do have some competition:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/1368160037.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/1361440214.html

http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/1364091378.html

IKIGAI

15th September 2009, 19:40

Actually there is something to it, it worked for me just last month. I had my '95 M3 listed on CL and the local BMW club site at $10,500 (priced fair too, verified by more than a few club members). Not one legitimate bite in almost two months. So I took out the calculator, multipled $10,500 by 95% and relisted the car at $9,975. Bingo. Three live calls the next day, and sold the car for $9,975 that weekend to the first guy who looked at it.

It makes me shake my head too, but I think it has less to do with "stupidity" and more to do with psychology. No I didn't sell the car to you, but I did sell it to the first guy who (finally) called ;).

mboyd

17th September 2009, 14:19

You do have some competition:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/1368160037.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/1361440214.html

http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/1364091378.html

He is right. As a person who frequents craigslist, you have a ton of competition. Especially in Virginia. Maybe you could wait until summer is around the corner. Plus I'm sure you wouldn't mind having it around for just a LITTLE longer :).

modernbeat

17th September 2009, 14:28

I've been advertising a base '99 base model in the Texas area (Houston, Dallas, Austin) for about a month at $4500 with no real bites.

During the same time I sold a ragged '91 with an equally ragged hardtop for $2700 within a week.

sloopercat

17th September 2009, 14:55

Cars of that age/price also fall into a black hole for a lot of buyers. Too old to finance and too expensive to pay cash. It limits the buyer pool.

clowrey289

18th September 2009, 16:09

As much as i would love to have it hang around longer, i just dont want to have two cars to deal with. soo....lowered the price and have had a few bites. $4950 (yea, the psychology thing) and i feel a sale coming soon. i think if it was red, it would already be sold.

offtotheright

18th September 2009, 16:21

I agree that good pics is a great idea. Take a pic of the spedo as well to verify the mileage. Good luck!

koa

18th September 2009, 16:38

If that's your blue one with the auto trans you might want to post a better picture that's sharper and include some interior shots, maybe one with the top down. Make sure your car is as clean and shiny as it can be before you take the pictures. Also maybe run a carfax yourself and post that it has favorable outcome, and you'll send the results to interested buyers.

Nuieve

18th September 2009, 20:44

Selling Miatas was a major PITA for me... I tried to sell 3 Miatas in the last year. Failed to sell my first one (way below BB, excellent condition 91 with hardtop)... Only got one tire kicker... I got lucky that someone crashed into me and insurance paid over a grand over what I tried to sell it for (and I kept my hardtop! which I later sold for 800)...

The other one I sold for $400 more than I bought it for 2 months later (02 LS auto) to some international student (still lost $200-300 on taxes and tuneup/alignment). I got really lucky, because I got NO calls or emails in over a month I had listed (2k below BB, excellent condition, tons of large pics). And when I bought it I thought I got a spectacular deal and that I would able to easily move it with some profit if I had to... Wrong!

I tried to sell my third (current) 91, for 2000 which is unheard of in this neck of woods (it needed paintjob but was otherwise in perfect mechanical condition)... no success either. Since then it got a paintjob, and I will try to sell it again later when I get another car for DD duties (it's my only car now). I'm not holding my breath though.

Miatas is a bad investment unless you live in a densely populated area, somewhere south. In an average northern city like mine I see Miata ads lingering for months... There are some decent Miatas that been for sale since last summer... Think twice if you plan to buy one just for a few months. Be ready to take a big hit or drive it until wheels fall off.

IKIGAI

18th September 2009, 22:46

Be ready to ... drive it until (the) wheels fall off.

Good advice :D