Decided to Sell Low Mileage 96... [Archive] (2024)

danyon150

8th April 2009, 15:14

I have decided to sell my 1996 Miata. Garage stored winters and not driven in rain. It is triple black with 24,XXX original miles. It has the PEP package so it has the Torsen LSD but no ABS. I am the second owner and know the first owner well. It has a Racing Beat dual exhaust, Jackson Racing sway bars (have the orginals), HD Duece, 94M wheels and KYB AGX shocks.

The car was backed into 2 years ago and the hood and front clip are new and rear fender repainted due to shopping cart 4 years ago. Paint is a solid 9 out-of 10. All maintainance was done by me so no records. I had painted the console black 3 years ago and has started to bubble around the edges. I will not be repairing or replacing that.

Since I am in Detroit, I have decided to purchase a new domestic car to support the big 3 as my job relies on people (big three workers) purchasing insurance from me. I am reluctant to sell since I had always said I would own this til I died.

So...give me a selling price. I'm thinking $7500 but let me know what you think.

I'll be listing on Miata.net when I am ready.

gludlow

8th April 2009, 15:19

Phew... tough one. If you hadn't painted the dash or installed the rollbar, I'd think $7,500 wouldn't take long to get. As-is, you'll need to find someone who wants a rollbar (personally, I like the Deuce :-) and doesn't mind a bubbling interior dash, or willing to replace it. Small market, but you may find it.

Since you're in no hurry, I'd recommend listing it for a little more than $7,500 so the person can negotiate, and see what level of interest you get. If no bites, you can always lower the price or keep it.

eddielasvegas

8th April 2009, 15:22

Good luck with the sale at that price in this economy in MI. OTOH, maybe the low mileage will help, but it seems to have issues not indicative of a 13 year old car with 24,000 miles.

Eddie

danyon150

8th April 2009, 15:26

Let me be clear, I painted the center console and radio surround gloss black and when finished it looked quite professional. The paint has started to bubble around the hazard flashers button and around the shifter. It is not flaking or peeling.

Overall condition of the car is a 9.

old Bill

8th April 2009, 16:54

glock

8th April 2009, 17:08

Billy Baldone

8th April 2009, 17:12

Iguana

8th April 2009, 17:29

So...give me a selling price. I'm thinking $7500 but let me know what you think.

Good luck with the sale at that price in this economy in MI...
Especially in Detroit where you would be competing with the selling price of a home.

Clicky (http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/03/median-home-price-in-detroit-7500/) :eek:

tom4416

8th April 2009, 17:31

Don

8th April 2009, 17:41

I agree - Replacing the console and the radio surround (that's all you painted . . . . right?) with good used parts would raise it's value some to most buyers, but the accident history, repaint, rollbar and such will make $7500 awfully hard (if not outright impossible) to achieve - As someone else said . . . . too many issues for a 24K car

Keep it and just drive your Detroit iron to work . . . . .

Don

GoodCheapFun

8th April 2009, 19:51

Unfortunately I think the negatives outweigh the low mileage. I would guess $4500.

-Eric

segundo

8th April 2009, 21:31

Unfortunately I think the negatives outweigh the low mileage. I would guess $4500.

I don't agree. I think it is still a less than 25000 mile car. The used Miata prices around the Houston area appear to be rebounding since their lows in Feb. From what I've seen around here, I think it's a $6500 car.

Gene-M

9th April 2009, 09:17

danyon150

9th April 2009, 10:13

Thanks guys. I may have overestimated the value a bit. In any case thanks for your opinion.

I am curious though...here in Detroit I see mass amounts of people turning in their leased foreign cars and purchasing domestic. Is this happening in other parts of the US? Or don't people care? Just wondering.

seangh

9th April 2009, 10:28

Thanks guys. I may have overestimated the value a bit. In any case thanks for your opinion.

I am curious though...here in Detroit I see mass amounts of people turning in their leased foreign cars and purchasing domestic. Is this happening in other parts of the US? Or don't people care? Just wondering.The buy American pressure is regional. I'm sure the peer pressure is strong to buy domestic in Michigan and Ohio and places where there are domestic factories. Here in the Bay Area, we have what used to be NUMMI in Fremont (Toyota GM venture back in the day) but they produce mostly Toyota trucks now - My '06 Tacoma came from there, and that made me feel good to be buying local as it were. Meanwhile, my neighbor bought a Ford Fusion last year, assembled in Mexico - So who cares more, me or my neighbor and what's the point really?

gludlow

9th April 2009, 10:59

Thanks guys. I may have overestimated the value a bit. In any case thanks for your opinion.

I am curious though...here in Detroit I see mass amounts of people turning in their leased foreign cars and purchasing domestic. Is this happening in other parts of the US? Or don't people care? Just wondering.

Wow... this is probably the wildest range of prices I've seen. Please keep us up-to-date if you sell, and what it went for. Lots of good economic news lately...

Define a "foreign" car; Toyota, Subaru, and many other "foreign" cars are manufactured right here in the US. I live near Peoria, IL (headquarters of Caterpillar, Inc and a strong UAW/union place) but I haven't seen a push. Of course, I'd say the % of Ford, GM etc cars is higher here than it was in Indianapolis. I've seen more Mustangs here than I thought possible!

Greg 713

9th April 2009, 14:31

The buy American pressure is regional..... My '06 Tacoma came from there, and that made me feel good to be buying local as it were. Meanwhile, my neighbor bought a Ford Fusion last year, assembled in Mexico - So who cares more, me or my neighbor and what's the point really?
Interesting question. I am from the other side of the state. We have been KILLED because the tool & die and the parts suppliers. However my two Subarus were assembled in the heart of Indiana soybean country. My brother-in-laws Mercury in Canada.

To the pricing question. I know this car will do better than $5000. I also know it won't bring $7500. In Detroit, in Memphis or in Dallas regardless of the low miles. The radio surround is $50ish and the center consol $100ish from a sponors used parts supply. Change them out and sell yours for 1/2 or 1/3 of what you paid for the used replacement. Get that thing looking as great as you can. Spring is coming and so are the tax refunds but your Miata needs no excuses and you "customization" is a negative. Not being critical, just stating a fact.

I would grab anything north of $6500 in a second.

Miteemiata

9th April 2009, 20:03

viss1

10th April 2009, 08:00

danyon150

28th April 2009, 14:56

I just sold the referenced Miata in 3 days for $6750. I thought it may be hard to sell because of economy but it went fast and at a price I was happy with.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Iguana

29th April 2009, 13:38

gludlow

29th April 2009, 14:05

I think it's a $6500 car.

I think Segundo wins the prize for best estimate :-) I wonder if you'd listed it higher and waited a little longer, if you could have broken $7k. As-is, I think you got a good price and the buyer got a good car. can't ask for more than that!

On a related note, my 92 sold very fast; so fast I never had the chance to list it in the classifieds here. Just a window sticker and a nice day, local couple bought it.

Greg 713

29th April 2009, 16:28

I think Segundo wins the prize for best estimate :-)
C'mon! What am I? Chopped liver? :-)

I would grab anything north of $6500 in a second.

danyon150, Did you sell as is or did you find replacement parts? And THANKS for the follow up. It is helpful for the next guy.

gludlow

29th April 2009, 18:22

C'mon! What am I? Chopped liver? :-)

Naw, but he beat you to the punch ;) Next time try the "$6,501" "The Price is Right" approach if you want to win the fabulous prize :D

Gene-M

29th April 2009, 20:37

danyon150

30th April 2009, 11:07

Yes, Gene, segundo and Greg were right on and ALL should be in the Showcase Showdown.

I am still getting calls on the car and yes, I think I could've gotten $7000 or more had I waited. I did not change or replace the painted dash or anything else for that matter. It was washed and waxed and I spend considerable time with my Porter Cable, Speed Glaze and NXT to get the car looking fantastic. So good in fact, that I had second and third thoughts of not selling. When the (now) owner came to see it, his eyes bugged out of his head and I am happy he bought it. He will take good care of it.

Here is the CL link:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/cto/1128860324.html

On a side note, my desire to purchase American ended when I saw the black 2009 Mazda 6 S Grand Touring I bought. I seem like a hypocrite, but am wholly satisfied with my purchase. What a superb car it is.

shade tree dan

6th May 2009, 01:33

"On a side note, my desire to purchase American ended when I saw the black 2009 Mazda 6 S Grand Touring I bought. I seem like a hypocrite, but am wholly satisfied with my purchase. What a superb car it is."

I think this is a better example of what is going on in the rest of the country and has been for quite some time. People want Detroit to survive but they would rather you own one than themselves. They know the odds of getting a good American car are worse than getting a good Japanese car any given day or model.

Whipsmack

6th May 2009, 02:39

6000-7000 seems very fair to me

4500-5000 is extremely cheap

Gene-M

6th May 2009, 09:47

Yes, Gene, segundo and Greg were right on and ALL should be in the Showcase Showdown.

THANK YOU! It would have been extremely unfair had I NOT been included in the Showcase Showdown, and that's why I needed to set the record straight. :D

danyon150

6th May 2009, 16:04

Thanks for all your help guys. One day I will own a Miata again, you can bet on that.

BTW, don't forget to have your pet spayed or neutered.

chickdr

7th May 2009, 11:00

Thanks for all your help guys. One day I will own a Miata again, you can bet on that.

BTW, don't forget to have your pet spayed or neutered.

The strange thing is it seems the reason you sold the Miata in the first place was to "buy american". You ended up with another Mazda which isn't near as fun as what you sold and likely cost you much more $$$. Why didn't you get an NC since you decided on mazda?

Gene-M

7th May 2009, 11:03