# How to sell a really old car **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 29, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466 "2016-04-29T23:09:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HeXen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@HeXen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeXen)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/21 "2016-05-01T03:28:20Z")
Here is how you phrase your ad. Divorce sale, must go so the ex doesn’t get it! _Rare antique collectors item_ Excellent condition. Stop driving those plastic cars that crinkle like a pop can if it rains too hard and step up into a real car that can plow a deer down and keep right on going. Hurry, time is limited and the ex will get it in the divorce settlement if you don’t act now! ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2016, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/22 "2016-05-01T04:01:53Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > IIRC, those first gen (is it the first gen?) Third generation. The Integra platform had four generations over 21 years, starting in 1985. I agree with **Airman Doors**. I bet you could put in on Craigslist and (depending on trim and transmission) have at least $1500 cash in hand within days. Despite its age, this is not a worthless vehicle. Honda only made those bug-eye (split pair headlight) versions for two years (94-95) because the look wasn’t popular, but a lot of people like them. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/23 "2016-05-02T02:13:50Z")
Craigslist it, ask for $1300 and expect to get about $900 to $1000 for it. I saw one for sale near me a few weeks ago for $2200. (94 or 95 based on the headlights). ---
**Author:** ![SpyOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SpyOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpyOne)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/24 "2016-05-02T03:08:04Z")
I know all to well the feeling that someone out there wants this thing that I have no further use for, but I don’t know how to reach them. Craigslist is a good start. [Autotrader.com](http://Autotrader.com) is another good option, specificly their related site “Old Car Trader”. One idea I’m glad to share: give it to a church. Odds are some member of the congregation is in a place where they need a car and don’t have $1,000. Just give the car to the church to give to someone who needs it. I wish I had thought of that myself, but I got the idea from my mother: her father had bought a car when he retired that he expected would last him the rest of his life. 20 years later, he bought a new car. His old car was well cared for, but rusty from being parked under trees. the engine was worth more than the car was, but the idea of selling a car in such good shape for “junk” rubbed the wrong way. So she gave it to a church. > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Shopping around, 15 year old cars can be had for 1k or so. So a 22 year old car isn’t going to be worth much. However I’ve noticed that depreciation drops off rapidly after the car is 12-13 years old. It pretty much flatlines. Shopping around, 20 year old _Acura Integras_ go for $2,000 to $6,000. Make and model make a huge difference in price. > [@](#): > > Who collects 1994 cars? Acuras are very popular with people who want to build a hot rod. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/25 "2016-05-02T03:53:16Z")
Kelley’s appraises it at $1200 in fair condition, which is what it probably is because of the body damage, even though the retrofitted AC means I could ask for more, but I want to get rid of it quickly. If someone notices it isn’t being driven, someone my try to steal it. I think I’ll post on auto sites and ask for $1000 OBO with the goal of getting $750-800 in a week. With my husband following me in the new car, I feel safe driving it as far as Louisville or Ft. Wayne, and I will negotiate a delivery charge. Or someone can just come get it from wherever. $800 would cover our rent and utilities for a month. Someone who wants to can pull off the bad body parts and replace them, put heavy duty shocks on it, and a body kit and repaint it. I wish them luck. It probably has another 100,000 miles left on the engine, and we did all the routine maintenance, so we did the timing belt at 90,000, and the clutch is only three years old. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/26 "2016-05-02T04:36:48Z")
CarMax will always buy it, and they have given me surprisingly good prices on old cars in the past. If you’re between Louisville and Ft. Wayne, there’s one in Indianapolis. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/27 "2016-05-02T05:56:15Z")
I see 20 year-old Saturns being sold at used car lots and online for 3-4 grand. I would think your car, especially since it has very low mileage, would sell for something decent. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/28 "2016-05-02T06:00:56Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > My personal policy is that if I have something that is of little market value but is still useful, I give it to someone who will appreciate it. I’ve given away several cars, and lots of other stuff. I like this idea. I’ve been kinda pissed a couple times when I found out what some friends got for their trade-ins when I had pretty crappy cars. I’m talking about relatively new cars for 800 bucks I would have gladly given a grand for on the spot. I probably always know someone who could use a car, but I’m one of the minority here without personal servants and I don’t worry too much about harming someone by giving them something that isn’t the latest model. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/29 "2016-05-02T13:02:44Z")
Am I the only one thinking keep it? Drop your money into a safe investment and your new car will be waiting if / when this one dies. It’s not like a 94 integra is a rattling death trap…its still a good car ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/30 "2016-05-02T13:18:52Z")
^^^^^ Try reading the OP. She’ll sell it, and it’ll go to a good home. Especially now that we know it is a 5-MT with a new(ish) clutch and new timing belr, this car should live on for 100,000+ miles. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/31 "2016-05-02T13:29:31Z")
Honda ricer here. Tell me more about the car and I can give you more advice. If it’s a run-of-the-mill LS/GS coupe/sedan with a sunroof and a beige cloth interior, it’s just a car. Throw it up on craigslist and someone will give you at least $1500 for it, it’s basic transportation with a reliable engine. You might sell it to a high school kid who thinks that Integras are fast, but he’s not going to have much money. It’s not anything sought after by the tuner crowd, LS Integras are a dime a dozen unless they have something special going for them, like: - No rust (but they almost all have rust, yours included it sounds like - No sunroof (RS models were made 94-97 and are sought after by people looking to make race cars out of them - VTEC (GS-R models are basically worth the price of the drivetrain alone, as they can be swapped into just about anything) - Clean leather interior (leather was an option, if the seats have aged remarkably well they can be worth parting out) ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/32 "2016-05-02T16:44:54Z")
Just this past weekend, I sold a 1997 Olds LS with 142,000 miles on it, rust free, and in good working order, for $1200 to a neighborhood high schooler for his first car. Mom and Dad liked it because it was solid and safe. The buyer liked it because he is tall and it has plenty of head and leg groom. It’s only real drawback was cracked upholstery. But I had fitted it out with seat covers a few years ago, and he was good with those. I would think you could get at least 1000, possibly more, for your car. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/33 "2016-05-02T17:54:21Z")
I agree with the posters that said to sell it on Craigslist. Acura Integras have a huge following among the import tuner crowd. I would ask $1500.00 for it and see if you get any bites. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/34 "2016-05-02T19:31:21Z")
I HATE interacting with strangers/killers of the Craigslist variety, so I’ve always donated my really old cars. National Public Radio (NPR) has a car donation program (at least in metro areas) for which you get a nice tax credit. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/35 "2016-05-02T19:41:07Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Honda ricer here. Tell me more about the car and I can give you more advice. Would you mind doing my Integra while we wait for the OP to come back? I have a '97 GS-R coupe, VTEC, 76k miles. (Yes, really 76k, not a typo - it mostly sat a number of years while I was working out-of-state.) It has a sunroof and cloth interior. Very little body rust – just a little in some places around the edges of the fenders. It runs well, but is a bit loud – something going on with the exhaust system. It burns a lot of oil, but has yet to fail an emissions test. Several mechanics over the years have advised me not to trade it in, that it would be worth a lot more in a private sale. Like the OP, I’ve gotten a number of unsolicited offers to buy it, but until recently, I haven’t been interested in selling, so I never explored a price with any of the offerers. I like the car, but I’m starting to think about getting something newer. I just had to replace the distributor, and the increasing amount of oil it’s burning, the exhaust problems, and some other things make me worry that I might be looking at some significant maintenance costs in the near future. Knowing all that, if I manage to find the right enthusiast, any idea what a fair price might be? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/36 "2016-05-02T20:39:50Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > Knowing all that, if I manage to find the right enthusiast, any idea what a fair price might be? Average I’d say $3500 depending on the condition. If it’s in halfway decent shape the parts alone are worth $2000, so that’s your floor. If the interior is really nice, I’d say as high as $5000. Keep in mind that you may have to list it for a while. I saw a beautiful GS-R for sale last weekend, it looked completely flawless. He was asking $12k. I wished him the best of luck, I imagine he’ll still have it for years to come. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/37 "2016-05-02T22:06:35Z")
Thanks, **steronz**. Nice to have an opinion from someone from the enthusiast community. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466/38 "2016-05-02T22:42:34Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > Knowing all that, if I manage to find the right enthusiast, any idea what a fair price might be? **steronz** ’s assessment looks good to me. I’m chiming in here to say you can use the Kelley Blue Book site, [kbb.com](http://kbb.com), to walk through their site and get an estimated value for private party sale and trade-in value. Another factor affecting value is the seller’s location. A car selling in San Francisco CA costs more (is worth more) than if selling that same car in Lawton OK, for example. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sell-a-really-old-car/753466.md?page=1)