FS: 2001 Solara SE w/ 5 SPD (pictures)

[bmoffitt]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to sell my '01 Solara. Besides wanting to know if anyone is interested, I'd also like to know what others would sell this for if you were going to sell it yourself. I appreciate any responses you could give me!

Miles: 91900
Transmission: 5 spd. manual (pretty rare)
Ext. Color: Silver
Int. Color: Charcoal
Int. Type: Cloth
Power moonroof
16 in. alloy wheels
Premium JBL Stereo
Keyless entry

I bought new tires a year ago. I've changed the oil every 3000 miles. I recently changed the spark plugs and wires, and also had the rotors turned.

I've never had any problems with the car during the two years that I've owned it. Let me know if there is any other info I can provide.

I am asking $8000, but am willing to negotiate. You can reply or PM me if interested or to ask for more details! Also, the car is located in Kansas City, MO.

[MCOjerry]

Although it's hard to tell, because the pics are kinda smal, looks like a well kept car. Did you look it up on KBB.com yet? That would help you know what it's worth.

EDIT: I looked it up on KBB.com You didn't give a lot of info, but based on what you said and saying it was in "good" condition, for a private party sale, says it's worth $6890. If it's in "excellent" condition, which most cars aren't, it would be worth $7525. KBB says that the normal miles for your year is 72000, which is probably dragging the value down.

Hope that helps.

[bmoffitt]

If you click on the pictures, they'll open a link in a new window with the full-size version of the picture. The weather hasn't been very kind lately, so I did what I could to clean the car up and not get it too dirty on the way back from the car wash

I have looked up the value of the vehicle on KBB. I kind of wondered if I couldn't get more if I posted the car on eBay, since it is a 5 speed, I thought if it found the right buyer, it might bring more money.

It seems to me that all of the postings I've seen locally (cars.com / autotrader.com) have priced similar cars quite a bit above KBB. My plan was to price it somewhere between blue book and what others have been asking. What do you think?

[MCOjerry]

Well, that's the key...finding the right buyer. I'm certainly no expert, but anyone looking for a car to just have a car isn't going to want to pay more than KBB.

Now, if you could find that one person who really wanted your model w/manual...perhaps.

It won't be easy to find that person.

[Texas Tornado]

Sold my 2000 SE in Jul 2006, was immaculate got $9,100 for it.

[dominoSLEV6]

I say 7 even and you have a sell. Anything more you could get but you have to work with with people... then again you do have cloth and I didn't really take that into account.

Think of it this way... did you egt ripped when you bought it?

If not, then don't stress TOO hard over the sale, you won't be losing much ona car you got to drive for a while at a great price.

If yes, then you're going to have to decided how important it is to recover as much $ as possible to determine how much you really have t put into selling the car.

Do yourself a favor and spend the 20 bucks or so on the materials needed to really clean the car up. And the enine bay as wel. The engine doesn't have to be spotless, the rest of the car try your best. A car with about 5 hours of cleaning put into it is presentable to the nth degree moreso when the care is actually shown, and helps give the buyer the feeling that they want the car the first time they sit in it.

Also about this:

Well, that's the key...finding the right buyer. I'm certainly no expert, but anyone looking for a car to just have a car isn't going to want to pay more than KBB.

Now, if you could find that one person who really wanted your model w/manual...perhaps.

It won't be easy to find that person.

He's right. I happened to be that person when I bought my car. It retailed private party of $7,2xx when I got it, and I paid $8,199. Then again it was the only in that year I'd ever seen and to this day one of 3 black on black leather V6 5spd Solaras w/ full upgrade package (ie 16" w/ full spare/ keyless entry, premium sound) from any year I've seen, EVER! And I knew I wanted to spray it and ruin some people's days, which I did exactly that. Now to try and sell it I'll lose around 2 grand on the car which is why I'm trying to keep it as a daily. But remember that when you're selling yours. Chances are though not many people are like me willing ot pay 1k over KBB and fly a few hundred miles to get it.

-chris

[Fletch]

Unfortunately, there is not a very big market for the 5MT Solara. The type of guy who wants a 5MT, probably wants it to already have a S/C installed, but doesn't want to pay any extra for the S/C.

[woa_its_j3ff]

Unfortunately, there is not a very big market for the 5MT Solara. The type of guy who wants a 5MT, probably wants it to already have a S/C installed, but doesn't want to pay any extra for the S/C.

yep im that kind of guy. i wish mine was a 5spd.

[toy4x4boy]

I traded in my 99 V6 5-speed loaded with JBL, leather, and moonroof for $7,000, it had 84k miles, in Sept 2006. That was well above KBB value and above Edmunds TMV pricing.

[MCOjerry]

I traded in my 99 V6 5-speed loaded with JBL, leather, and moonroof for $7,000, it had 84k miles, in Sept 2006. That was well above KBB value and above Edmunds TMV pricing.

They may have worked any extra into the other part of your deal...dealers are famous for that when trading...makes you think you are getting more for your car that it's worth.

[bmoffitt]

Thanks everyone for your responses! I'll definitely take everything into account.

I am curious how far to go as when it comes to cleaning it up. I think there is a point where you can put more into it then you can get out. I agree that spending five hours cleaning it up is well worth it. However, this car will need a timing belt in the near future, and that is probably worth something to the buyer. If I got the timing belt replaced, I don't think I would reclaim that cost on the sale.

Also, there's a scratch on the back bumper that was on the car when I got it. They tried to touch it up, but it's still visible. I don't know if it would require re-painting the bumper or not, but I'm wondering if that would be worthwhile. My guess is that it wouldn't, and that someone would rather I keep the price low and choose to fix it themselves.

What is everyone's thoughts on these two comments?

[MCOjerry]

Don't do repairs. You won't get your money back from it.

Why don't you take the car to a used car lot or a dealer and just see how much they will give you?

[Fletch]

Don't do the timing belt or fix the scratch. I know it's winter, but a coat of wax would not hurt for the sale.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

bmoffitt - your location is also key! I'm off different opinion than some of the people above me. There are buyers who want to know you took care of your car. You may not recover your money (from timing belt/repaint), but you may have a quicker sale. To me a quicker sale is worth spending the money - ie. if you want to sell it quickly. If you don't care about a quick sale..then follow the people above me!!