'76 Cadillac Superior Hease FOR SALE $4500

[Guest]

Morella and RU INJRD ---THANK YOU ----I asked for brutal honesty, and I'm glad you gave an honest opinion.

The reason I mentioned the engine size is because I've been asked about it MANY times, and people go "ooooo" and "ahhhhh" over it. They don't want the smaller engine types. The ad really should have been different here because here, we all know this stuff. People who aren't familiar with hearses seem to want to know everything I can offer about it's current state.

Water pump, tune-up, tires, exhaust, rebuilt trans, etc. are listed so you know you won't have to immediately have to have all that stuff done. The idea was to show that mechanically, the car is sound, and you won't have to dump all the money I dumped into it already. I thought it was worth mentioning, so that people knew they could trust the car to be driven away to another state somewhere. I would have paid more for the car if I had known all this maintenance was already completed.

The A/C----We've had some warm days last week, and it IS OK----But up until the last couple of days, I wasn't 100% sure----should I have lied about it, and never mentioned it? That sounds dishonest to me.

I guess what I've learned is to give no history, and not mention anything I think could use work. I really thought that some of the history would help put people's minds at ease, and make the car more sellable.

I WILL sell to the wholesaler for the $3000 though since you've pointed out that it's all the car is worth. And thank you for telling me that-----so far no one recommended it.

I agree with what you said about the economy, and that this is probably the only option. I need a more practical car, no one has offered a trade-----the wholesaler is offering cash, so I better not pass it up.

THANKS again for being honest about my ad.

DREW

[Morella]

The A/C----We've had some warm days last week, and it IS OK----But up until the last couple of days, I wasn't 100% sure----should I have lied about it, and never mentioned it? That sounds dishonest to me.

I would say that you should have phrased it differently, perhaps as you did just now. Many people do not know how to work on air conditioners, so when they hear that it may need a charge, it sets off a flag. I'm not criticizing the car, just the ad.

[R U INJRD]

I go back and forth as to how to describe a car in an ad. My impulse is to be 100% honest in descriping flaws or potential problem areas, just so when someone gets it there are no surprises (especially if someone is buying it sight unseen). But I wonder if I'm not shooting myself in the foot by being honest, when everyone else is pumping up their rides as the greatest deal out there and flawless.

[Guest]

But I wonder if I'm not shooting myself in the foot by being honest, when everyone else is pumping up their rides as the greatest deal out there and flawless.

----------Yeah, I don't know either. I guess if you're too honest, you'll scare them away. I was trying to point out the things I had already taken care of so a buyer would at least know he wouldn't have to do the same work. When I look at hearses, I know a bunch of things that will need work right from the start. I wanted to show that I've already done a lot of it for them.

I'm not good at writing ads that sell cars the fastest. I pretty much hate selling cars at all, really. lol.

[pyro]

I thought it was a well read add. He listed the price, and what he thought what was important to a perspective buyer.

You guys bitch about folks who post ads with no pic or price or location.

Dont like it, dont buy the car. The flaming that goes on in here is probably driving people away.

[sircc]

if you check lancaster PA on craisglist its 300 dollars cheaper.

[Guest]

CORRECT

YES, I recently changed the asking price on Craigslist to $4200 - I did NOT get around to changing the price here or on the PCS site either. I actually expected people to haggle to price down quite a bit regardless of what price I asked. I was about to change all my ads to $3000, because the wholesale guy ended up being another scam----trying to get me to sell the car as a consignment. His whole story had changed compared to the first call he made a couple weeks ago.

I DID just trade the hearse yesterday afternoon. The local Nissan dealer had a "drag it, push it, tow it in" sale, and they'll give you UP TO $3000. I wasn't sure if they would even take the hearse. I went to a lot earlier yesterday morning, and they wouldn't take it at all, and said even at auction it would only get $1500 or less. So I was getting very worried. I had NO ONE come to even SEE the car in over a month's worth of advertising----not even 1 person.

When the manager at Nissan saw and drove the car, he said he had to have it, and offered $4000. Then, because I was taking my time, and not be pushed into a sale, I offered $3500 cash, and they dropped an additional $2500, on the used car I was looking at----and even including the tax, title, registration, etc.

That made my savings amount including the trade $6,721----which is what I wanted for the hearse originally. So I think I made out ok----especially when it was looking like I wasn't even going to be able to GIVE the hearse away.

I got a simple white, boring little Nissan Sentra. It's cute I guess, but has no character-----yet anyway. But it's reliable, and practical. I HATE white cars, and have been calling it "The Anti-Hearse" so far. I paid a hair over Kelly Blue Book-----but at the time, I didn't have a computer with me to look it up. They were all VERY excited to see the hearse though, and while I was doing paper work, each of the managers and sales reps were taking turns driving around the neighborhood, lol.

$4k was better than the $3k I would have gotten if the wholesaler guy wasn't a fraud. And then the extra money they dropped off the car I wanted, made it a good deal, and the hearse went to some guys that seemed to like it. Still a little sad to see it go though.

Sorry this got so long----thank you all for you input.
DREW

[Guest]

SOLD

WOW, it took a long time, but I actually traded the hearse at a local Nissan dealership. They offered up to $3k for a "drag it in, tow it in, drive it in" type promotion. I didn't think they'd be interested in the hearse at all, but the manager drove it, and offered $4k on the spot. The other manager, and the other salesmen were all excited, and were taking turns driving it around the neighborhood!

While I picked out a '99 Nissan Sentra, they wanted me to sign a pre-sales aggrement, which I refused. I was waiting for money to arrive, and check out finance options, etc.----the longer I was there, the more they kept offering for the hearse. I eventually got $6500, and then they through in the tax, title, registration for a total deal of $6721.

I ended up paying the rest in cash for the Nissan, but I see I actually bought it for just under blue book value----so they played all their games, but I'm not disappointed. Any dealer can come down to blue book, but I wasn't expecting to get it any cheaper. The $6721 though is awesome, because I was about to give the hearse away for $3000. At least I got what I originally was asking for the sale of the hearse.

It's really sad that "Fluffy" is gone, but the new car drives very well, and it's so quiet, and has all the bells and whistles (the Sentra is a limited GXE). I don't have to worry where I park, and I'm not afraid to drive into Harrisburg or Philly for social events anymore.

Ok, this got long again, sorry----Thanks for all your input. I really appreciate it. I'm satisfied with the outcome.

DREW