# Should I get my car fixed before I sell it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766 "2003-05-22T07:44:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/1 "2003-05-22T07:44:04Z")
I’ve got a '78 Merc that I want to sell so I can buy a more affordable car (gas prices are killing me). The problem is that it’s got a recurring problem that the mechanics don’t seem able to fix (tho they’re happy enough to charge me for it). Every time they’ve fixed it so far it’s lasted a maximum of 6 months before it’s started again. It’s playing up at the moment. Is it better to get it fixed and sell it or just sell it as is? Which one will get me more money? ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/2 "2003-05-22T09:36:52Z")
Can you get a roadworthy certificate without getting it fixed? HOw much does it cost to fix the problem? If you can’t get a RWC, that’s going to affect the price surely? ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/3 "2003-05-22T10:31:00Z")
How much is a 78 Merc worth in Aussy? They use those for demo derby cars here. I have a 76 Impala that I should sell but I don’t want it to go to the demo derby so I’ll just keep it. The older cars are only worth a couple of hundred bucks here unless they are in near perfect condition. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/4 "2003-05-22T10:43:34Z")
It’s got a RWC, I presume, since it’s registered. It’s actually in pretty much perfect condition other than this stupid recurring problem (stalling, something to do with the spark plugs this time I think). 2 years ago it was worth 10 grand Aust, so about 5 grand US dollars. Like I said, I want to sell it cause I can’t afford gas – about 60 bucks to fill the tank and it lasts about a week with normal use. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/5 "2003-05-22T12:30:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silentgoldfish \* > **. . .2 years ago it was worth 10 grand Aust, so about 5 grand US dollars. . . .about 60 bucks to fill the tank . . .** Let’s look at the economics here. How much will you spend on a new car? More than AUS$10K I’m sure, if you want a car that’s worth more than your current car, which you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing this. Let’s say you spend $15K on a good used car. $5K will buy a lot of gas. Let’s say you get a car that costs $60 to fill the tank and it lasts 12 days instead of a week, a huge increase in fuel economy. You would save about $1300 a year, so it would take you almost 4 years to recoup your costs in gas savings. Is that what you expected? Will you keep the next car for 4 years? ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/6 "2003-05-22T12:37:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CookingWithGas \* > \*\*Let’s look at the economics here. How much will you spend on a new car? More than AUS$10K I’m sure, if you want a car that’s worth more than your current car, which you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing this. Let’s say you spend $15K on a good used car. \*\* Actually, I’m planning on trading down :). I’m hoping to get enough money from selling this car to pay for a much smaller and more economical one. Maybe one like my gf’s that costs 20 bucks a tank and goes just as far as mine! I’m actually looking at about $6000 for a new car. I got the merc in the first place cause my cousin (who’s pretty well off) sold it to me for far under cost (4 grand) since she decided that everyone needs a car for their 18th! ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/7 "2003-05-22T14:10:05Z")
Change the spark plugs yourself. Its easy Even if you don’t have tools,you’ll only need a 3/8 ratchet and a sparkplug socket. Pay particular attention as to which plug looks different than the rest.It’ll probably be oil fouled. Next time it stalls change that plug. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/8 "2003-05-22T14:21:45Z")
Oops You’ll also need a spark plug gaping tool usually called a feeler guage. There is usually a reference book that will tell you the plug gap where you buy the plugs. If you buy at an auto parts store just ask the counter person. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/9 "2003-05-22T23:38:49Z")
You have to have a RWC when you sell a car in Q. It’s got nothing to do with the rego. You just pay the rego but the RWC is where they go over it before transfer of ownership. But if it’s a spark plug problem, I doubt it’s going to be a big issue. You usually fail RWC because of rust, bald tyres and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/10 "2003-05-23T00:54:56Z")
If you change the plugs, remember to wipe a small amount of oil on the plug’s threads before screwing it in. This will prevent it from seizing in the block. Your spark plugs should all have a nice tan or mocha colored residue on them. As mentioned above, if one cylinder has lost compression, its plug will be brown, black or even oily. That’s the big problem to fix as a full rebuild will probably cost thousands of AU$s. I say sell the d@mn thing soon as you can and get it over with. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/11 "2003-05-23T00:58:39Z")
PS: Remember to line up the removed spark plugs in order of their location in the engine. This way you will be able to compare them and identify which cylinder (singular, it is hoped) is giving you the wrong drum. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/12 "2003-05-23T01:10:35Z")
I assume your Merc is a Mercedes not a Mercury. I’ve used Ultratune in the past for tuneups done at home, at a fixed price with a guarantee. I wouldn’t fool around, pay someone to get it running right (should be less than $200) and flog the Merc. With my present car I pay a fixed $190 for a tune and full service at a dealer. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/13 "2003-05-23T01:36:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > **I assume your Merc is a Mercedes not a Mercury.** :smack: I was reading along assuming it was a Mercury, myself. Judging from a few of the above responses from American posters, I don’t think I was the only one. That it’s a Mercedes (right?) may alter the math a bit. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/14 "2003-05-23T03:19:05Z")
And I was comparing it to a chevy:D :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-get-my-car-fixed-before-i-sell-it/176766/15 "2003-05-23T03:59:34Z")
Yeah, it’s a Mercedes, sorry. I hadn’t even thought of the Mercury connection! 🙂