Parting with my dearest Sentra soon.

[sentrastace]

I think it's about time to part with my dearest Sentra. She's served me well over the last 4 years, but it's time for a change. I've never sold a car before and I need a checklist to go through to make sure everything is done right.

1) what do I need to sell the car?
a)the title
b) is that all I need?

2) The way she looks
a) I have a painted grill that wasn't sanded or primered before painting it (I left it in the hands of a silly friend) so it's all chipped up. What grit sandpaper or sanding tools do you recommend to do it over, and what primer and paint to redo it? I need it to be KH3 super black.
b) my beautiful silver rims were curb rashed and salt eroded to hell so I sanded, primered and painted them matte black. Those are chipping as well. What grit sandpaper or sanding tools do you recommend to do it over, and what primer and paint to redo it? I don't think I can afford powdercoating in my area unfortunately.
c) I'll obviously give her a good detailing and waxing to make her look brand new once I fix the grill and wheels.
d) The overall paint on the car has some scratches, chips from rocks, etc. Any recommendations on how to make these little imperfections look better?

3) she drives like s*** sometimes.
a) I am going to give her an oil change next weekend.
b) Reset the TPMS, as the dash light is on because one broke and I had to replace it
c) get an alignment because there are some vibrations, car goes right if I let go of the steering wheel just a tad.. besides, I never got an alignment after putting on new rims, springs, etc. (I know, shame on me, those were my broke days)
d) what small things should I replace to make her run and seem clean and good? I have a cold air intake. should i replace that filter?

4) Miscellaneous
a) I have the stock parts such as exhaust and springs. is it necessary to include these or put them back on the car?

5) the worst part--getting rid of her
a) the dealer is gonna shaft me on price. It's probably better to sell privately, but who the heck wants a B16? :/ I guess we'll see....

Any help/insight would be appreciated. Thanks

[Repo Man]

If you are trading, having the stock parts is important. Frankly you are probably better off putting it back to stock and selling your mods. Doing that reconditioning will help your trade-in value as well. I would also go to the Autotrader.com Trade In Marketplace and get a guaranteed trade-in value before I went anywhere. You could also get a bid from your nearest Carmax. These are guaranteed buy bids.

The other part is doing your research on kbb.com, blackbook.com, and nada.com to get opinions on current trade-in value. Keep in mind that these numbers don't come with a check like Autotrader and Carmax and don't expect to get a retail or even private party value on a trade.

What kind of car are you looking for next?

[Encryptshun]

I would also go to the Autotrader.com Trade In Marketplace and get a guaranteed trade-in value before I went anywhere. You could also get a bid from your nearest Carmax. These are guaranteed buy bids.

Not sure about Carmax, but the Autotrader thing is NOT a guarantee. They have a deal with certain dealers to honor their trade-in quote ONLY IF the condition of the car matches what you disclose on the on-line form. And since the disclosure is based on Poor --> Excellent rating system, most of it is grey area, so don't expect the dealers to come back with a number as high as the Autotrader quote.

[sentrastace]

Yeah, the worst part about this is the trade in value or the private party value. Eek.

[Amays U G37S]

Yes you would need the title to sell the car. You have to continue to pay it off, or if it is in your possession, then you are ok.

The wheels and painted grill - You may be better off scouring a junkyard for the original wheels and grill for the vehicle.

Alignment - The car is ok and it should pull to the right whenever you let go of the wheel.

CAI - Take it off, and return the car to stock.

Any stock parts - Replace back onto the car.

Private sales are good. You should list the car on craigslist and carsforsale.com. On carsforsale.com you will get a lot of dealers in the area new/used contacting you about the car, and possibly trading it in. Your best bet is if you need the cash, and want to use that as a down payment to get a round-about figure from the dealer first on a trade-in value on a newer car. If you do not drive a lot, you should lease. You can still mod a car that is leased.

Recap: Return car to stock, get title, list for sale, get a ballpark figure from the dealer, and don't worry about the wheels unless you can get the stock wheels for it for a good price. Then replace yours with those.

[sbird1]

I went with a friend on Wednesday to go get a 4Runner. He tried to trade in his 2000 Camaro in the deal. KBB said trade in value for a poor condition Camaro was ~$2100. The dealer offered him $700. Anyway, dealers always shaft on trade ins. I, personally, would try to sell it privately. Good luck!

[Ace2cool]

Alignment - The car is ok and it should pull to the right whenever you let go of the wheel.

BZZZZTTTT, sorry. The car *SHOULD* track straight when the wheel is released. However, a *VERY SLIGHT* right (or left, depending on lane choice) feel can be natural, due to the crowning of the road.

[93coupe]

Stace, I have no knowledge for you. I'm just in here to ask Amays why the heck my car should pull to the right.

[frapjap]

Stace, I have no knowledge for you. I'm just in here to ask Amays why the heck my weiner pulls to the right.

[Amays U G37S]

Considering the safety laws, many car manufacturers always adjust the wheels to the opposite side of the road that traffic flows on. The car should always pull to the right as we are in the states.

Example: You are driving and fall asleep. The car is adjusted to pull to the right which would be out of on coming traffic onto the shoulder of the road.

Her car, for instance, should pull to the right of course, but only minimal.

[alms24sebring]

probly because the shaft is shorter on the pass side (or whatever side). It will pull if you floor it and let go of the wheel but not while cruising.

Sorry to hear that Stace be we all knew it was coming. So.... did you decide on what upgraded Autocross car you were ganna get? Would you consider trade + cash?

[93coupe]

Amays, I'm calling complete shens.

[AppleBonker]

Amays, I'm calling complete shens.

The harder it pulls right, the safer you'll be!

[Amays U G37S]

Amays, I'm calling complete shens.

come at me bro

[alms24sebring]

Bill Cosby is still alive?

Wow..

[OriginalWheelman]

Amays, I'm calling complete shens.

This isn't the first time I'm heard of this. However, I've only ever heard 1 other guy tell me this, and it was a guy from one of the tire / lube places that pays their 'techs' minimum wage.

[RobPaulson]

come at me bro

[S13_love]

Amays, I'm calling complete shens.

This isn't the first time I'm heard of this.

Same here. While I heard this from techs at several tire/lube places as well, I've also heard it from a claims adjuster that I was talking to a while back.

[sentrastace]

Sorry to hear that Stace be we all knew it was coming. So.... did you decide on what upgraded Autocross car you were ganna get? Would you consider trade + cash?

not a complete decision yet, but I will pull the trigger sometime in May---fixing the car up now so by the time my bday rolls around (May 26) i'll get rid of the sentra and treat myself to something new. It'll be a surprise maybe

What are you trading, and how much cash? teh 240? PM me.

[Amays U G37S]

My bday is may 25th

[RobPaulson]

My bday is may 25th

bonkers255: that f*** doesn't seriously share my bday, does he?
robpaulson: lulz
robpaulson: *troll face* problem?
bonkers255: yes
bonkers255: big problem
bonkers255: wait
bonkers255: correction
bonkers255: i get it now
bonkers255: i couldn't have just been born on the 25th
bonkers255: that much awesome entering the universe would probably cause a rift in the time-space continuum
bonkers255: it needed to be offset
bonkers255: hence, the king of derp was born
bonkers255: and the universe did not collapse on itself
bonkers255: the end
robpaulson: clearly the only logical potential. i approve.

[Kompresshun]

My bday is may 25th

bonkers255: that f**ker doesn't seriously share my bday, does he?
robpaulson: lulz
robpaulson: *troll face* problem?
bonkers255: yes
bonkers255: big problem
bonkers255: wait
bonkers255: correction
bonkers255: i get it now
bonkers255: i couldn't have just been born on the 25th
bonkers255: that much awesome entering the universe would probably cause a rift in the time-space continuum
bonkers255: it needed to be offset
bonkers255: hence, the king of derp was born
bonkers255: and the universe did not collapse on itself
bonkers255: the end
robpaulson: clearly the only logical potential. i approve.

[Amays U G37S]

Lol you guys are always talking about me

I love it.

[RobPaulson]

Lol you guys are always talking about me

I love it.

Come at me bro.

[Amays U G37S]

Come at me bro.

[Bubba1]

I think it's about time to part with my dearest Sentra. She's served me well over the last 4 years, but it's time for a change. I've never sold a car before and I need a checklist to go through to make sure everything is done right.

1) what do I need to sell the car?
a)the title
b) is that all I need?

)

The title is the only document you need. But be very careful before signing it over to a buyer. Make sure that buyer gives you cash or a certified check. A personal check could bounce. If a person insists on a personal check, hold onto the title until it clears.

2) The way she looks
a) I have a painted grill that wasn't sanded or primered before painting it (I left it in the hands of a silly friend) so it's all chipped up. What grit sandpaper or sanding tools do you recommend to do it over, and what primer and paint to redo it? I need it to be KH3 super black.
b) my beautiful silver rims were curb rashed and salt eroded to hell so I sanded, primered and painted them matte black. Those are chipping as well. What grit sandpaper or sanding tools do you recommend to do it over, and what primer and paint to redo it? I don't think I can afford powdercoating in my area unfortunately.
c) I'll obviously give her a good detailing and waxing to make her look brand new once I fix the grill and wheels.
d) The overall paint on the car has some scratches, chips from rocks, etc. Any recommendations on how to make these little imperfections look better?

As far as painting parts and such, you just gotta keep the cost in perspective.
There are color based waxes that help mask little imperfections. As far as sanding/painting the wheels, why not use what you tried last time and keep it matte black, longevity is no longer important.

3) she drives like s*** sometimes.
a) I am going to give her an oil change next weekend.
b) Reset the TPMS, as the dash light is on because one broke and I had to replace it
c) get an alignment because there are some vibrations, car goes right if I let go of the steering wheel just a tad.. besides, I never got an alignment after putting on new rims, springs, etc. (I know, shame on me, those were my broke days)
d) what small things should I replace to make her run and seem clean and good? I have a cold air intake. should i replace that filter?

Her driving like S*** is a deal breaker if you're hoping to get a good price. I'd remove and sell the CAI, and return it to stock. If it still runs poorly after an oil change/air filter change, you should probably consider having a mechanic look at it and see what it really needs.

[Bubba1]

I4) Miscellaneous
a) I have the stock parts such as exhaust and springs. is it necessary to include these or put them back on the car?

I would recommend re-installing the stock parts if you still have them, and perhaps try to sell themod parts separately. Modified parts on a used car implies harder use.

5) the worst part--getting rid of her
a) the dealer is gonna shaft me on price. It's probably better to sell privately, but who the heck wants a B16? :/ I guess we'll see....

You're correct, the dealer is going to give you the worst price, but it does help as a simple downpayment on what ever you replace it with. Yes, you can likely get more money selling it privately, but you also have to contend with weird people coming to your house or office and try to haggle you down on your price because of the defects you noted.

One thought is to clean it up nice, leave the mods on it for a couple weeks, and put a for sale sign on it at Carlisle. If it doesn't sell there, then strip/sell the mods.

[alms24sebring]

Sorry to hear that Stace be we all knew it was coming. So.... did you decide on what upgraded Autocross car you were ganna get? Would you consider trade + cash?

not a complete decision yet, but I will pull the trigger sometime in May---fixing the car up now so by the time my bday rolls around (May 26) i'll get rid of the sentra and treat myself to something new. It'll be a surprise maybe

What are you trading, and how much cash? teh 240? PM me.

Nah you dont want my car lol, not worth the headache. I was just asking, it opens up options for you.

WOOT for Memorial Day Bdays! Mines the 31st.

[Repo Man]

I would also go to the Autotrader.com Trade In Marketplace and get a guaranteed trade-in value before I went anywhere. You could also get a bid from your nearest Carmax. These are guaranteed buy bids.

Not sure about Carmax, but the Autotrader thing is NOT a guarantee. They have a deal with certain dealers to honor their trade-in quote ONLY IF the condition of the car matches what you disclose on the on-line form. And since the disclosure is based on Poor --> Excellent rating system, most of it is grey area, so don't expect the dealers to come back with a number as high as the Autotrader quote.

YES, it IS a guarantee as long as the car is what is described. Obviously, if you say there is no damage on a car and it has visible hail damage, that changes things. I work with the TIM every day and it works as long as you're honest about what you have.

[sentrastace]

Got the TPMS light on my dash to finally go off, got an alignment and there are no more vibrations/pulling.
when I say she drives like s*** sometimes, its just that I can tell when she needs an oil change, the difference is obvious to me since I've been driving her for so long. Oil change completed, and she feels awesome again. Theres def nothing mechanically wrong with the car.

Now on to fixing the visual stuff. I wanted to start this weekend but it looks like rain and I can't get a spot in the garage unfortunately. I will try to start next week, I want her on the judged showfield at carlisle in the nissan--other category. Would be sweet to get a win the last month I have her, and my bday is two weeks after that.

I read the rules and it says no for sale signs on the showfield, otherwise I would This is prob the last time u guys will see the sentra (I'll be at Carlisle only on Saturday) --- and the way things are going it looks like I'll be takin over one of my bfs two SRT-4's. I've been wanting one, and his black one is in perfect condition, I wouldn't be paying anymore than my current car payments, insurance is cheaper, and I'd finally have something stick and fast. *takes a deep breath*