selling my explorer

[rathrbcruisin]

I've posted my explorer on craigslist and had a few people look at it. Yeah, i'm asking top dollar of 2900.00 but it's got 500.00 worth of brand new tires, a new battery this year, last year i put new shocks, inner and outer tie rod ends, exhaust manifold and a number of other things. one guy offered me 2000.00 and another offered 2300. Kelly blue book has this listed at 2650 in good condition. I think mine is in better than good, but maybe not excellent because of some rust forming on the rockers. so, is that all this is worth 2300? it runs great and is really clean. they all said what good shape this is in and it rides really good. is it just a case of everyone wants something like new for cheap? here's my ad on craigslist. https://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/d/1998-ford-explorer-eddie-bauer/6331227051.html

 

[Rhett]

I wouldn't budge down a penny, even if you have to sit on it awhile. Your truck looks very nice.

 

[koda2000]

Where I live (GA) I'd say $2300 would be top dollar for a '98. Condition is everything and yours (other than the rust you mention) looks like a clean example. Where I live AWD does not bring a premium. Prices do vary by location, but you'd be very lucky to get $2300 for it in GA. Gen II Explorers (in average condition) are currently typically selling in the $1500-$1700 range. Some for a bit more, some for less.

For example, I bought a decent 2000, well equipped, 5.0L XLT 3 years ago. Nothing wrong with it and It had 4 new tires, a new battery and I only gave $1500. I also bought a very nice, well equipped Mountaineer 5.0L about 4.5 years ago with 4 new Michelin LTX tires and only paid $2150 for it if IIRC.

 

[rathrbcruisin]

I just went through craigslist and did a broader search of surrounding areas. I think i'm at the right price as they go anywhere from 1500 with rusted wheel fenders and rockers, up to 3500 for something that has low miles and looks amazing. I'd come down to 2700 i think, but c'mon dropping 900 bucks off the asking price, no way. oh well. I don't have to sell it but just thought i'd see if it would move and buy another car.

 

[boominXplorer]

Where I live (GA) I'd say $2300 would be top dollar for a '98. Condition is everything and yours (other than the rust you mention) looks like a clean example. Where I live AWD does not bring a premium. Prices do vary by location, but you'd be very lucky to get $2300 for it in GA. Gen II Explorers (in average condition) are currently typically selling in the $1500-$1700 range. Some for a bit more, some for less.

For example, I bought a decent 2000, well equipped, 5.0L XLT 3 years ago. Nothing wrong with it and It had 4 new tires, a new battery and I only gave $1500. I also bought a very nice, well equipped Mountaineer 5.0L about 4.5 years ago with 4 new Michelin LTX tires and only paid $2150 for it if IIRC.

This is true for GA and southern states bit up north is different. A 4x4 truck is worth at least $2k in running driving condition even if it's a 1982 f150 up north. Everything up north is either rusted out or beat to death after 15 years so blue book only applies to a certain point. It's all about supply and demand.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

That's a CLEAN 98, my 01 Eddie Bauer is that clean, it's undergoing a 5.0 swap to have ideally that grade of 5.0 2nd Gen that then I'll never sell, for various reasons.

 

[J_C]

Often on craigslist your first bites will be people (or small time dealers) looking to pick up vehicles cheap and flip them for a profit.

If you want $2900 for it then state "Firm", or list it a bit higher like $3100 with "OBO". That should weed out some people who'd offer under $2500 so you waste less time on them.

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto, selling to a large viewing base often requires adjusting the pricing, to "find" the right buyer. Selling a house is well known, you set a price and know that people are narrowing their searches by price ranges. If you set it where you want it go at, some people will never see it because they are reaching for higher cost houses, and expecting to end up at where you are asking. Others will not find it because they don't expect to spend what you ask, so they are looking at lower asking prices.

You want to research and identify what price ranges work best for your area, and see how it goes. Often you will end up moving the asking price up, or down, to get a bite from buyers who have too narrow of price searches, and miss your first pricing. GLWTS,

 

[lobo411]

I wonder if it's unwise to list all the front suspension work. Yes, I know...as long as it was done correctly, it's actually a good thing to have had all that stuff out of the way. But I'm thinking...as a layman with no Explorer experience looking at this, I might be thinking "wow...the whole front suspension has been rebuilt...it must have been in an accident or the guy drove it like a maniac."

Plus OP, you don't even mention in your ad that it has $500 worth of new tires! Put that in the ad post haste, IMO. And if they're decent tires...mention that. "Just installed $500 worth of Michelin Defender LTX."

 

[koda2000]

Tactics that I've used to sell vehicles for full asking price on CL is to take the time to wash the vehicle, clean the inside and windows. I'm not talking about a major detailing either, just a cleaning. Then I post plenty of high quality photos. It amazes me how many people post one or two photos of a filthy vehicle filled with trash and expect to sell it. I also list all the optional equipment on the vehicle, how many miles it has on it and that I have clean title in hand. Then I provide a list of all the good things (new tires, new battery, new brakes, new radiator, new belts, etc) about the vehicle and then a list of all the not so good things (radio display out, rear wiper not working, driver's door lock actuator out, paint on roof fading, etc). I also prefer to list my prices as "firm" as it just seems like a waste of time to set the price $200 higher than what I actually want and to have to negotiate.

I find listing as much information as possible cuts down on the number of phone calls/emails, asking questions and lets people know exactly what they're looking at, which ultimately saves them time and me time. If I get messages like "I want to buy your car, can come with cash in hand w/in a hour" I usually ignore these buyers, because I suspect they're flippers who will just low-ball me. On the other hand if I feel I'm dealing with a person who is genuinely interested in the vehicle, but maybe can't come to see it until Saturday afternoon, I may tell them I'll hold it until then and give them right of first refusal.

I never allow prospective buyers to come to my home, I meet them in a public place and I come pack'in, because these days you never know.

Below is an excellent example of how not to advertise your 2000 Explorer for sale... WTF? Seven photos of an 80's Chevy donk.
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/d/2000-explorer-xls/6334575604.html

 

[Indispensable Explorer]

But I'm thinking...as a layman with no Explorer experience looking at this, I might be thinking "wow...the whole front suspension has been rebuilt...it must have been in an accident or the guy drove it like a maniac."

I agree, when I see a vehicle on craigslist with a bunch of new parts I get suspicious.

I would consider asking some more than what you actually want to sell the vehicle for because people like the to get the vehicle for under the asking price. For the condition of the vehicle I would say the price is fair. Explorers in nice condition are difficult to find.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

I paid 2,800 for my "Pretty Okay" 1998 Sport, and of course, its timing chain is currently killing itself. One hundred dollars more and I could have gotten something like that.... Man, Life sure ain't fair

 

[J_C]

^ Timing (and location) is everything for a used car sale. You can't kick yourself for getting the best deal you could at the time... BUT, the more patient you are, and the more legwork you do, the better the value. Then again, we're talking sub-$1000 differences, sometimes it is easier to just not gamble and put aside the money then you're not subject to luck, except bad luck, always beware of an owner that might be trying to hide something.

 

[kev59602]

I've posted my explorer on craigslist and had a few people look at it. Yeah, i'm asking top dollar of 2900.00 but it's got 500.00 worth of brand new tires, a new battery this year, last year i put new shocks, inner and outer tie rod ends, exhaust manifold and a number of other things. one guy offered me 2000.00 and another offered 2300. Kelly blue book has this listed at 2650 in good condition. I think mine is in better than good, but maybe not excellent because of some rust forming on the rockers. so, is that all this is worth 2300? it runs great and is really clean. they all said what good shape this is in and it rides really good. is it just a case of everyone wants something like new for cheap? here's my ad on craigslist. https://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/d/1998-ford-explorer-eddie-bauer/6331227051.html

For what its worth, I just sold a 1996 XLT in good condition, only had 100,000 miles on it w/ the 4.0L. ( a few dings and minor interior cosmetic issues with tires that were three years old) for $2,300 in Montana, so I don't think you're being too unreasonable.