Contemplating selling 3165, but this time i'm serious

[DMC3165]

Hello all, it's been a while. A lot has happened for me but I won't bore you guys with details. I am considering giving up 3165 and I'd like some feedback. I have been using the car daily for a Few months again and I've noticed she's starting to show her age (just under 62,000 miles). While not a mess or anything I found 2 small cracks in the front section of the frame and a few rust spots in the back. I just had the frame welded and I'm in the process of repairing the spots in the back. Because I use 3165 so much I'm thinking it might be time to part ways while it still is worth something. I regularly drive it a few times a week but as things would have it My wife recently blew the engine in her Land Rover, without the warranty I'm slowly piecing it back together. In the interim she uses my altima and I use the DeLo daily.

There is another part of this. My wife is in poor health and has been for a few years now. She suffers from Lupus and carcinoid syndrome. She's a car buff much like me but has no affection for the iDelorean, aside from ours because of the long history we have with this car. One of my goals was to get her something nice that she would like (like a 2002-03 Trans Am or a late model corvette). So being that this forum is good for a dose of honesty I'm looking for some feedback. Not really sure what I'm Going to do just yet but always open to ideas. Happy Easter/Passover!

[Delorean02378]

If you do decide to sell, make sure to include any service history that Rob has done on your car. That's worth something and should increase the sale price.

[DMC3165]

Did some shopping around today. Found a couple of nice cars. But everyone I spoke to offered me between 5-7K for my car. One guy said we're not interested in buying a car like that. I was shocked! I thought I'd do much better then that. I guess they are all using a specific reference point for a price. But tottally rediculious numbers. I mean my car has some milage but super clean and in real good shape. With numbers that low I will more then likely just keep it. I guess that's why the guys asking 30K on E-bay still have the same cars for sale 9 months later.

[Dangermouse]

I would have thought you would do better selling the D privately, $ wise anyway.

But I guess you don't want to be without a car in between selling the D and buying another.

[Michael]

You are not going to get ANY money for a D from a car dealership...even by trading. I'm surprised you even offered it to them. Most all dealerships deal in late model cars, and collector cars scare them. They scare them because they just don't know what to look for and without that little computer or black book they have no idea what figure to put on it, so when forced, they make sure there is PLENTY of room for error. You may get lucky and find a salesman or manager that wants it for himself, bit even then unless they can steal it they will not be interested.

Do yourself a favor and do not trade with a car dealership...those cars are there for people who cannot afford to write a check for one and they are priced as such. They know almost all of their customers will finance, because they do not have the money to buy outright, so they can charge a little more, and of course there is always a point or 2 from the finance charge the dealer gets as well so its a win win for them.

If you are going to sell, then sell it outright privately, then with that big wad of cash in the bank, buy your next car privately....you would be surprised at some of the junk I see on nice car lots, and carfax doesn't mean $#IT.

[pezzonovante88]

I sell cars at at a BMW/MINI store. It is very unlikely you will get a reasonable offer for your D at a dealership (unless its a specialty classic/exotic dealership). They don't want to get involved in those types of cars, plus they'll offer you what they deem to be the wholesale value. Private sale only, I'd say.

[DMC3165]

I really thought I'd do better then I did. I hate selling privately. Mainly because I hate tire kickers and shitheads with no money that get google eyed over a Delorean. I was trying to sell 774 in 2001 for $8500 bucks and got more idiots trying to finagke some dumb deal or private finance. In the end I traded it to a dealer for 7 grand mainly because it had as rotten frame and a knocking engine.I've gone through this when I sold my 65 Mack my 62 Brockway and my 92 trans a m. Every other car I had I traded in mainly because I couldn't put up with idiots. Maybe this is a sign I should just keep it.

[pezzonovante88]

I really thought I'd do better then I did. I hate selling privately. Mainly because I hate tire kickers and shitheads with no money that get google eyed over a Delorean.

I hate selling (and buying) privately, too, but funnily enough I decided to sell my BMW yesterday and sold it today in less than 24 hours. Straight, easy deal. But anyway, maybe someone on the forum would be interested in your car....

[Mike C.]

First, best wishes for you and your wife. I think you are doing a good thing by getting a car she will enjoy as well. I can't knock 02 WS6 Trans Am's. They are FUN cars that you can start to get at a decent price.

If you want to sell fast, get in contact with a DMC location. They buy D's, and I guarantee you will get more than 2k for your car as long as she has a clean title.

I sold 16336 to Tony at DMCFL. Zero hassle, dropped the car off with title, had a check the following week. They asked what i wanted for the car, evaluated it, Done deal. I was not aggressive on what I wanted for the car and was treated wonderfully. I was done with the car, and it was just sitting outside, plus it was close to my move, so it just made sense. Just be realistic on what you want versus what your car is worth.

I would definitely get in contact with a vendor to see if maybe one of them would be interested.

Best of luck to you, and I hope it sells quick!!

-Mike

[DMC3165]

I spoke to the guys at DMC FL a few months back. We had 2 conversations about my car. Without actually coming up with hard numbers, the impression I got was they would give me something in the 7-10K price range because of my mileage. I decided not to pursue it for the same reasons I ran into yesterday. The numbers are astonishingly low. Being realistic I might let it go for 16500 as an absolute bottom basement price. But even that seems low to me and I'm not really looking for cash as much as I'd rather make a deal for a car.

In all honesty. I'm leaning towards just keeping it and running it as I've been for the last few months. I do have a fear of damaging something and devaluing it further. But with the numbers I've got recently. It doesn't really matter anyway.

[Ron]

In all honesty. I'm leaning towards just keeping it and running it as I've been for the last few months.
Glad to see you are coming to your senses :wink:

Seriously, I just wanted to join in on the best wishes!
Hang in there...

[DeLorean03]

I respect what you're trying to do for your wife and thinking of her first. That is a very admirable thing to do, and you have earned some respect from a number of us here.

DeLoreans - to me - are the ultimate "appreciate and respect" car but they aren't demanding any top dollar. Everyone oogles and fondles them with their eyes, but when it comes down to money exchanging hands, they never seem to get over $30k, even with the movies nearing the 30 year mark and the unfortunate passing of John in 2005 - they never "took off" so to speak.

I agree with what everyone else is saying - go private or just hang onto the car.