Price check.

[tranceworld1216]

I'm looking for a winter beater, or rather not running my cougar as much in the michigan winters.

I found a 2000 sport 4x4 auto with 122k. Running bars, fog lights, towing pack, trailer hitch, cd/cass combo, matching tires (half tread), one owner carfax approved. Overall clean body and interior

Asking price 4500

Questions, comments, concerns, opinions, input gladly accepted.

 

[Carguy3J]

I'm looking for a winter beater, or rather not running my cougar as much in the michigan winters.

I found a 2000 sport 4x4 auto with 122k. Running bars, fog lights, towing pack, trailer hitch, cd/cass combo, matching tires (half tread), one owner carfax approved. Overall clean body and interior

Asking price 4500

Questions, comments, concerns, opinions, input gladly accepted.

I might say it's a little ( and I do mean a little) bit on the high side, but I haven't seen. You said it's one owner and very clean. This, and the relatively low mileage, for it's age, are worth a premium. If it has a lot of recent maintenance/new parts, and it really is super clean, then it might be worth it. It's hard to say without seeing/driving/touching/etc.... I just sold a '97 Sport for $2600, BUT it's 3 yrs older, had 154k on it, no cd, no tow package, and definitley not a 1 owner. I'm sure I could have gotten more also, but I was desperate for the cash and sold it to the first person.
So, yeah, if this 2000 is all there and eveything is right, then it's worth it.

 

[Joe Dirt]

$2600 isn't that far out of line on the '97. For the 2000, I'd say in Michigan if it didn't have any rust, $3500 is close. That $4500 price is high, but it should be- that's asking price. Barter price will be lower. There aren't many low/no rust Ex's in these parts anymore...

 

[Mbrooks420]

Unless it was in show room condition, and had all of the common problems already fixed (ball joints, blend door, trans fluid changed) it is too pricey. I've seen similar mileage 4 door v8's selling for around 3k. $4,500 would be high dealer price here. Where is this truck? Markets can vary quite a bit.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome

 

[tranceworld1216]

Lower western michigan.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! The book always inflates the price. Nobody pays what the book says, so see if he will come down in price.

 

[Carguy3J]

Welcome to this forum! The book always inflates the price. Nobody pays what the book says, so see if he will come down in price.

That's not entirely accurate. What book? If it's Galves Wholesale, dealers will pay that. It's what they use to know how to bid at auction.
As for Kelly Blue Book, again what are you looking at, and who is selling it?
No, you wouldn't expect to pay full retail price from a private seller, but I do find that the private party price, in good condition, is usually pretty accurate.

Of course, in some cases, "book" is too low. I hate when people show up to look at a car I'm selling, and proceed to tell me that they aren't going to pay anything even close to what I'm asking, because the almighty book says my $2,000 car is only "worth" $900. Good for you, go buy the junk you're shopping for from someone else.
The book is particularily inaccurate, and usually low, on older cars. What people tend to overlook is that the "good" condition price reflects a vehicle that is merely in reasonably good operating condition. In other words, stuff works. Now, when parts of the car do more than just work, then the price should go up. By this, I mean, new parts absolutely do add value beyond mere "good condition", as does things like having a current valid state inspection, in states where the sticker stays with the car, and doesn't require reinspection upon sale if it has a good sticker.

I know you guys think it great if we can buy dirt cheap explorers, but its not. As their value declines,to general public, they become less "worth" fixing. This means fewer people looking for major parts at the junkyard. When this happens, junkyards will view them as just scrap, and crush them quickly, instead of saving them/stripping them for parts. I saw this happen with the '92-'95 Taurus/Sable and then the '96 up. They became throwaway cars to the masses, depsite them being really good cars for what they were. 10 years ago they were the hot thing, as far as parts cars. Everybody saved them; a good 3.8L was worth it's weight in gold, as was a good tranny. Now, they are considered scrap, and it is hard to get little parts, because the shells/cars aren't kept around. Be careful what you wish for......

 

[Mbrooks420]

I don't think Explorers having an inflated price would keep them in the scrapyard. Most people buying scrapyard parts are doing so because they can't afford another, and are fixing theirs as cheap as possible. As for Explorers being in the yards, there will be thousands that never make it since 3 of the 4 most popular Cash for Clunker cars were Explorers.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Think of it this way. Lets say the book value if $3,000, then you replace the engine & transmission, and the total cost of the repair was $4,000. A few months later you see a newer vehicle that you are interested in buying, and decide to sell your vehicle that you just threw $4,000 into. The vehicle will not be worth $4,000 since it wasn't worth that price before you threw $4,000 into it.

 

[Carguy3J]

Think of it this way. Lets say the book value if $3,000, then you replace the engine & transmission, and the total cost of the repair was $4,000. A few months later you see a newer vehicle that you are interested in buying, and decide to sell your vehicle that you just threw $4,000 into. The vehicle will not be worth $4,000 since it wasn't worth that price before you threw $4,000 into it.

Actaually, that is a perfect illustration of my point. In that instance, the book is thrown out the window. Assuming the motor/trans were NEW or REMAN, not just a used replacement, then yes, the value of those new/reman parts can significantly raise the value of the vehicle, even beyond "book". Particualrily in the case of the motor/trans, as they are the "heart" of the vehicle, and replacing them has significantly increased the vehicles usable lif-span (assuming the rest of it is in good shape); assuming you have the receipts.

How can you not see the increased value of new parts?
If you buy a "good" truck for $xxxx, and everything works, and seems ok, but nothing has been recently replaced, why would it not makes sense that the same vehicle, with $x.. dollars worth of brand new brakes, and $x.. dollars of brand new something else, and a fresh tuneup,etc.... should be worth more? These are all things that you do not have to spend money on, that the other truck would require much sooner than the one with new parts. Not to mention the value of the time and labor to diagnose and make repairs. I sometimes spend a couple of weeks finding and fixing everything. That's worht something.
Sometimes, I will even replace brakes,belts, or hoses even if they don't really need it, so that I can say it has "new brakes" or something. It sounds better and makes people feel better about it.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Some guys dump thousands of dollars into modding. I don't know if they get it all back when they sell it unless they sell it to somebody that was planning on doing similar mods who knows the value of what everything is. Some car collectors spend a lot on restoring everything, and might pay more for a mint vehicle.

 

[Mbrooks420]

The new motor and tranny would SLIGHTLY raise the value. Without the new motor and tranny the value would be nil. The cost of labor, and diagnostics shouldn't effect the price. That'd be like expecting more because you put 3 sets of tires on the car.

 

[tranceworld1216]

Also areas to inspect on this truck. Ball joints was mentioned. Blend door? what was that? Mrbrooks said that.

 

[Mbrooks420]

The blend door is a faultily designed part of the heater box. They are a super common problem with Explorers, and it will make the heater and ac work on all the way hot, or all the way cold. It is a cheap part, but the heater box either needs cut open, or the majority of the dash needs to come out. To properly fix this is a big job. Also if it has the molded style running boards check carefully around for rust. if you see rust here, the entire rocker panel is likely gone underneath. They rot from the inside. I think the 2 doors running boards were the step bar style, though.