[s-cars] Re: 1994 Black S4 for sale...bad clutch

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

Chris:
Excellent post!  As one who regulary sees this type of situation (shop owner), the only way you can convince me that "all it needs is a clutch" is to DO the clutch.  A car that doesn't blow cold air has no a/c, a car that you can't put in first and drive away has "transmission" issues.   Could be a clutch, could be more.  Remember too, that the flywheel out of spec adds 800 to the cost.  Don't know until you pay to do it.

The real question is whether this is a 'save' or trade up.  I suspect this is a trade up (or the post wouldn't be here), in which case, my advice to all my customers is to not put a friggin penny into the 'old' car.  If you do anything, discount for the 'what it needs'.  A car that has to be pushed and/or towed to sell, requires that one take a hard look at ANY amount of money to rid one of the hassle.   These lists pay more for a car than what they are worth, but *investing* in that risk as a seller, isn't the reality of how wholesale (/broken) car deals work.

If you look at an S car in terms of ACV (actual cash value) or Black Book value, it shows what a car should receive at auction in the condition it's in right now (keys and title, take your sunglasses).  ACV on a 110k S car with trans issues?  A couple grand?  To figure out exactly, take BB value minus <all> repairs.   ACV on the car in 'fair' condition is maybe 5k tops (I looked it up).  'Fair' condition is minor mechanical or body repairs expected.  'Poor' condition is major mechanical repairs (trans, engine, etc).  Deduct repairs (fair market repairs, i.e. dealer P&L, not DIY) to bring it back to the condition you are looking for.  At 10k, it shouldn't have ANY issues (brakes, bomb, a/c, driveshafts, bushings, etc), because that's full boat retail value.  At 5k, it should only need minor repairs (after clutch is done).  

If you have a cash buyer, take the cash, don't buy a clutch job (even DIY) for someone elses benefit.  Given ACV on an S car, investing thousands into a clutch won't recoup the value in the cash value market.  

Wrong list to ask this question?  The reality of ACV is what every seller should learn.  If you've had enough of the car, get rid of it, and move on.  Get your check today, call it done.  Hassling with unknowns seems like a lot of wasted time and money that can't be recouped in the reality of ACV.

Scott Justusson
QSHIPQ Performance Tuning
Chicago





In a message dated 1/18/2005 12:15:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, chris chambers <fastscirocco_2000 at yahoo.com> writes:

>OK I will add to what has been said. If I was looking at a crippled
>car, I would plan on paying significantly less than perceived
>value-expected repairs.
>
>Why?
>
>#1 Why buy a disabled car unless you can fix it and have less into it
>than what it's worth? Why take on the aggrivation when you can keep
>shopping and buy a running car?
>
>#2 Risk of additional "hidden" repairs needed. Supposedly its just the
>clutch, what if I find out the transmission is toast?
>
>$3 Cheap....most people that buy disabled cars are cheap and want a
>SUPER deal.
>
>
>Hope this info makes sense, I would plan on repairing the car if at all
>possible. You should get significantly more for it that way.
>
>PS for a disabled non running S4 I'd pay $3,000...that's because I
>would have to assume the transmission is weak or gone and it needs a
>new clutch. The brakes are also an unknown area, does it just need a
>master cylinder or am I going to have to replace come calipers/rotors
>too.
>
>
>Good luck
>Chris
>
>PS The obligatory "fix it and don't sell it" thrown in for good measure
>
>--- Mike Platt <mplatt911 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>        
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