I know the KBB on my car is about $7,500 private party but I think I could get more since my 97 GLE has only 47,500 miles, black on black leather, and is in really good condition. Seems like KBB takes year into account more than mileage because I did the same mileage for a 99 and it was worth about $10,500. What could I expect to get for my car? It was in a minor accident but it was all cosmetic damage and you can't tell at all. Everything's immaculate except for a small crack on the auto shifter trim and the clock goes on and off randomly sometimes.

 

Just look at your local newspaper to see what the going price is for a 97. You can always start out high and go down. You'll probably get around $8000

 

You want realistic numbers of what would someone pay for your car, or what you wish you could get for it?
If it is the first, go to edmunds.com, type in all your info and take 500 - 1,000 off the private party value. This is about what others can buy a car like yours for.
And on top of that you have the previous accident. Sorry for the stereotype, but maybe some lady wouldn't tell, cause she doesn't look into it enough, but someone that knows what to look for will.
Definately the best thing you have going for you is the mileage, so stress that the most. How about your mods? Do you have any?

 

In my opinion, cosidering your location and again the low mileage, you should offer it for 8,000 and take the best offer. you should get around 7-7.5 for it. If it is any more, consider yourself lucky.
Good luck!

 

All is nice, except that you forgot a BIG ONE here, something nobody has mentioned and something that matters a lot to me if I were a buyer looking at your car - IT'S almost 8 years old.

Too many times people get all hiped out about how many miles they have, the condition of their car, etc. without realizing that age matters too.

 

I have the same car with 40k miles. I think you could get more. Do you have mods on the car? If you do take them off and sell them seperatly.

 

...for the last time, you WILL NOT get more than $7,500 for this car because:

1) You rarely get the price KBB says you should be asking. ...And considering the fact that RapidMax wants more for his GLE than what KBB says? ummmmm.... NO

2) It's old - 8 years old

3) You can easily buy a 99 SE-L with 30k miles for just under $10,000 now

4) Since when is your car worth more (when selling) because it's modded? If anything, it's worth a lot less. Nobody likes to buy a modded car because one expects that the car has been beat on, even though that may be entirely false.

Either way, I really don't don't understand people who say they can get more for their Maxima because it's modded? NO, YOU CANNOT! But if you do, consider yourself very lucky.

It is so obvious, 99.9% of Maximas sold go either for the same price as if they weren't modded or less.

Prime example: there was a guy here who was selling his 95 or 96 (can't remember which one it was) SE here on the org a while back- don't want to mention names because the mods will most likely ban me. Anyway, he was asking approx. $13k for a 95/96 SE Maxima, which was in excellent condition, turbocharged, lowered, even nice wheels, etc etc. and with over 100K miles. He had the car on ebay and here on the org, as well. I kept convincing him to lower the price because, realistically speaking, NOBODY will give him that much for it. Anyway, he laughed at me. Soon after I found out that the price went down to $12k. A few days after that it was $11k. Weeks passed, nobody bought this "awesome, fast, modded Maxima". Before I knew it, the price was around $8k. HAHAHA, yeah, going from 13 to 8 - huge difference if you ask me. Till this day I'm not sure whether someone bought this Maxima even for $8k. Anyway, this is only an example. There have been many orgers here who couldn't sell their cars simply because they overpriced them.

Just trying to save you some time, but you do what you think is right.

Good luck

 

No one said mods will increase the value. It is possible to get more than 7.5 k for his car. About two weeks ago I was at a gas station. The attendant asked me how much for car. I had no idea what he was talking about. He then said very clean car and asked If I'd sell for 10,500. I realized he thought the car was for sale and I told him it wasn't. Some people won't check the value of the car there buying and if it has low miles and they think there getting a good deal they will have an interest.

Rapidmax, you can always try selling it for more and see what happens. If it is in better shape than most other maxima's, that helps too. Check your local paper and see how much people are asking for similar miles/years on a max and try going by that.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I was looking at autotrader and for my area a lot of 97s with much higher mileage and not fully loaded were asking about $10k. I'm sure they won't get that but it makes me believe and I may be able to get a little more than $7,500

 

I tell you 2 very efficient ways to sell your car:
1. Put it on the internet. Autotrader.com generates the most views.
2. If you have the FREE Autotrader magazine at your local gas stations, get one and place your ad there. It worked great for me 2 out of 2 times I did it. Almost all states have them, so I assume you can get your hands on one too.
Good luck

 

I guess we were writing our responses at the same time. I see you know all about the autotrader

 

Turns out according to edmunds the value of my car is about $8,500 private party. My one question is how much do you think the accident would subtract from the value of the car. Like I said it was all cosmetic(new front bumper, and left quarter side panel, all OEM ) and occured at around 25k miles after which for the next 25k nothing has gone wrong with the car.

 

It may turn the buyer away, just because it was an accident. Doesn't matter how severe. Some people are just very touchy when it comes to that.
I am guessing you put "excellent" when asked about the condition of the car on edmunds.com. This category wasn't meant for any previous damage. So there you see what I was talking about getting 7,500 would be a good deal.
Do you have any pictures of the damage? If so you can show the potential buyers that it wasn't anything serious and was properly repaired. That would help.

 

I think I still have the invoice from the body shop that shows exactly what they did. I put the 2nd best for the condition of the car. I may also try and see if I can get a good deal on trade in.

 

Good luck!

 

WOuldn't the accident show up if they run the vin number for insurance purposes and whatnot? Not trying to burst your bubble, but some people may check it out.

 

Yeah I know that which is why the fact that I could show it was all cosmetic would help a lot.

 

Not unless it was reported

Even then, there a ways to clean it up, HELLLO, it's the 21st century!

 

So was it reported or not?

 

Yeah cops came and it was reported to insurance. Anyone else have any experience with selling after an accident. The thing is I know the car is fine so if it will really detract the value that much I may not sell it.

 

i'm not sure if this will help at all, but i was just in the market for a 4th gen maxima gle and searched to see the best that i could get in regards to price and mileage... i ended up with a '97 with 49000 miles and a minor accident <much like how you describe where just the front bumper was replaced> for $6800 from a dealer <which from my understanding is higher than private party>... it's in really good condition minus some scratches on the body and a small crack on the interior, but all in all really good shape...

as for how much the accident affected my decision, it was pretty significant in my opinion, but the right price and mileage got the best of me... just thought i'd share... good luck!!!

 

1&2) some people do not care about age, my 90' 300ZX - 14 years old went for $6500 with 115K miles on it, almost 1,500 above KBB.com's blue book value for private party, even though it had been involved in a minor/major (somewhere in the middle) accident (buyer knew everything). I put it on autotrader, and after dealing with lowballers for about two monthes, a guy came from a different state, drove it around the block, and then paid cash.

3) ok, still doesn't help your point, one great deal does not represent the vast market, nor the individual buyer/seller agreement

4) your car is worth more modded because you take the mods off the car and sell them SEPERATELY as sk24iam said to do if you would have read his post ....

I really don't know why some people get their panties in a bundle over accidents, everyone gets in them, and everyone who owns a car after it has been wrecked by themselves have no problems with it, but if it was wrecked by someone else, bam, all of a sudden everyone freaks out and runs away. I mean finding an 8 year old car that has never even been in a fender bender is quite a chore, and people should really grow a pair and stop stressing about a problem that was fixed awhile ago.

And again, when selling/buying a car, its completely YMMV...
Through it on autotrader, best $70 you can spend ....

 

FYI

I've just bough a 95 SE - bose, sunroof/moonroof options 61K miles for $4800 (my budget was $7000), car had no accident, but body has lot of dings and scratches( which I did not care). Here what I spent the extra bucks

Front brake (rotor & pads) $300, 60K miles service (sparks, oil, trans fluid, belts, trans pan, etc.) from dealer $1200

Total is $6300 for 95 SE 61K miles

 

I purchased my 97 GLE for a lil less (6600) last year with 90k miles on it... it was mint with some mods, but previously in a minor accident. I woulda much rather picked up something like this with lower milleage, but needed a car asap. I think 7-7.5 is fair according to description. My bro may actually may be interested send me some pics, if u have, to croman183@netscape.net and I'll see what he thinks.