Best way to sell my 2002 Grand Am (Manual)

[jrothe]

I have a 2002 Grand Am that had some issues with a timing belt slipping and will need a new engine. I'm the only owner of the vehicle, and loved it quite a bit. Candy red, manual transmission, its been a part of my life for 10 years.

I can't bring myself to have it towed away for next to nothing either to the junkyard or to Goodwill. However, I don't want to have to deal with it forever.

Does this group have any tips for me to sell my Grand Am for the best deal possible? I have it on Craigslist, and that experience is meeting my expectations. What else should I consider to sell the car for a reasonable price?

 

[Kevlar]

J, without more information, if the engine is shot and irreparable and you don't want to put any more into it then you're best off sticking with Craig's List and hope that someone will want it for either parts or a project car.

As far as value is concerned, I guess you could price it on KBB.com based on it's current condition (Fair, Good, Very Good, etc.) and subtract the cost to replace the engine. That's about the best price you can expect I'd say.

Good luck with it.

 

[jrothe]

Thanks Kevlar for the response.

I don't want to put a ton of money into it, but I also would like to have a proper expectation of what I could get out of it.

What parts on the 02 would be most valuable if I could remove them? Would bring in the most money?

It has 150K on it currently, kept up on maintenance...

 

[richardgriese]

Scrap cars (as a whole) go for ~$300-$500 (had a wrecked 1996 camry [light wreck but not worth fixing since it was so old] and I got $425). here in DFW. It depends on what you've got in it if you sell it as a whole to a scraper. There are many people who buy junk cars running or not; you'll have to look in your area.

The good part about them is: they come by and pick up the car and pay you cash on the spot so you don't have to wait. You could maybe part it out for more but that would be harder and longer to get money. I would just get your money and get out.

If you did part it, the cat is about $75 by itself. Then if the transmission works, another couple hundred. The engine itself could be parted piece by piece... again we are splitting hairs now. I would just junk out the whole car and get a different one.

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[jrothe]

Blue Book value, assuming on the lowest side of the value, puts the car at about $2K. In your opinion, how much stock do you put in the price?

A replacement engine for this car would run $500-$900 correct?

Should I be thinking in the terms that, if I find someone who wants to fix the car, that I could sell it under BB value, and still get $650-$750?

 

[richardgriese]

I have never been certain with KBB - someone else will have to clarify if that's what people are asking on average, if that's what's selling, or some computer algorithm created it.

At any rate, your car has a small market for private party - it's broken. You find these cars on craigslist listed as "mechanic special" and they go for ~$1000 or less depending on model. You can always try listing it on craigslist or such if you want that route.

As for the cost of an engine, junkyard can go from 250-600 (general numbers around here in DFW). But coming from the person purchasing it, he can't drive it so he cant check the other things for working order. This is why cars in this shape go for cheap: That's how/why I bought my Grand Am last year for $600-the engine was toast and I bought it from a cash car lot with an asking price of $1000.

Just my 2 cents but $600 is a cash car (POS/beater) but runs and drives. You'll play hell to find for more then that but someone somewhere would pay you $1000 for your car... just how long would you wait?