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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2009-04-09, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2009. PAGE 13. (MS) - When it comes to cars, people seem to have a wide spectrum of opinions. For some, a person’s car is an extension of the driver. For others, a car is merely a way to get from one place to another. Regardless of a person’s point of view, there comes a time in most car owners’ lives when it’s time to part ways with a vehicle, whether there’s an emotional attachment to the car or not. In some cases, the separation is as easy as calling up the nearest junkyard and having them tow away a clunker to parts unknown. Many more people, however, choose to try and get something for a vehicle before moving on. For those new to selling cars, there are several decisions to be made and things to do to ensure you get the most money for your soon-to-be former vehicle. Where to Sell? This is arguably the biggest decision a seller has to make in the selling process. If you need to unload your car fast, choosing the wrong place to list a vehicle can be very detrimental. For those who can afford some trial and error, where to list a vehicle isn’t nearly as important. Of course putting a for sale sign in the window always helps, but there are numerous other options available as well. Since most homes now have the Internet, that’s the first place most sellers now go to sell their car. This has its ups and downs. On the plus side, a car listed on the internet has more prospective buyers than one listed elsewhere, simply because there are no geographic restrictions on the web. For example, a car being sold in New Jersey could theoretically be purchased by a buyer in California. While this is highly unlikely, due to the global nature of the internet it’s not impossible. The downside to selling on the internet is the current popularity of doing so. The more cars listed on auto sale websites, the more likely your car is to get lost in the shuffle. For those looking to sell quick, the internet probably isn’t your best bet. On the contrary, a local newspaper classified section could be the quickest way of selling a car (outside of simply trading it in). Here, you know your prospective buyers are within shouting distance, and a daily newspaper ad will ensure your advertisement gets seen at least once daily, probably many more times than that. For those who need to sell fast but don’t want to trade-in, a newspaper classified section will likely be the quickest way to a sale. How Much Can I Get? To some, this might seem the most important decision a seller has to make. While it is important, it’s not really a decision on the seller’s part. Thanks to car selling guides such as Kelley Blue Book (which is available on-line for free), sellers have a guideline by which to sell their cars, and buyers can easily look up any car and see if they’re paying too much. While there exists some leeway and sellers should always try to get the most money, the flexibility with respect to price rests largely on the price the industry says the car is worth, and not necessarily on how much the seller thinks the car is worth. What Can I Do to Make My Car More Appealing? There are lots of ways to make a car more appealing to buyers. For the sake of brevity, let’s just consider standard maintenance and cleanup. Any mechanical issues should be addressed on an individual basis and with a mechanic you trust. Much like selling a house, a car’s curb appeal goes a long way toward selling it. If a car doesn’t look good to a buyer when he or she arrives, the person probably won’t buy it, regardless of its price or how smoothly it may run. Get a car detailed and have it washed and waxed before putting it on the market. In addition, clean the inside as well, including having it vacuumed after the carpet and upholstery has been professionally cleaned. A dirty car, be it on the outside, inside or both, will give prospective buyers the impression that it wasn’t well taken care of, a definite red flag. Other tricks include changing the oil, replacing the air filter (which can drastically change how smoothly a car drives), keeping the tire pressure up to snuff, and keeping the car smelling fresh. Also, be sure to remove the contents of the trunk (but leave the spare tire). A roomy trunk is always attractive to buyers. While this might be a bit of hindsight, keep all maintenance records in a file. If you haven’t done this you haven’t done it, and there’s no going back. But if you have kept your records, organize them and make them available to prospective buyers. This will leave a good impression of you as an honest seller, and someone who took care of the car. (MS) - The unstable automotive industry in the United States can be a benefit to Canadians looking to purchase a vehicle at a discount. With talks of automotive bailouts, dealerships closing and many workers out of business in the States, Americans are scaling back their purchases on new or used vehicles. However, Canadians could find now is the perfect time to invest in a vehicle, especially if they venture to the U.S. to do so. Despite the exchange rate and the costs of shipping the vehicle over the border, it could still come out more affordable to buy U.S., particularly for used middle to high- end vehicles, thanks to record-low prices. There are some things you will have to keep in mind if you’re going to purchase in the U.S., including what modifications the vehicle will need when it has arrived in Canada. Because the vehicle will have to be cleared by customs, it pays to hire someone who is experienced in negotiating vehicle sales in another country. He or she can take care of the shipping, title clearance (ownership), U.S. custom paper work, Canadian customs paper, car history check, emissions test and the negotiating with the U. S. car dealership on your behalf to get you the best deal. Research the prices of the autos you’re considering to truly see if you can obtain a deal in the U.S. There are several on-line car buying sites where you can turn to for research purposes. It may also be beneficial to check the automotive classified ads of newspapers in cities right across the border from you, therefore you can visit dealerships or private sellers in person to gauge the condition and the price of vehicles. Some useful selling tips for first-timersOOnn tthhee RRooaadd DDoonnnnyy’’ss BBaarrggaaiinn AAuuttooss DDoonnnnyy’’ss BBaarrggaaiinn AAuuttooss 264 Huron Rd., Goderich 519-524-5398 Rear heat & air, aluminum wheels, stow ’n go seating, power seats, power passenger windows, 3.3L V6 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT* 4x4, grey, V6, auto More Certified Used Vehicles $18,950 $12,500 2001 Ford Focus SE, 4 dr., 5 spd. manual, 142,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,950 2004 Chrysler Intrepid ES, sunroof, 3.5L V6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,950 2004 Chevrolet Impala, 3.4L, V6, 90,000 kms, gold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,950 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GT1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,950 2005 Toyota Matrix XR, many upgrades, only 57,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,950 2005 Cadillac STS*, North Star, V8, sunroof, pearl white, 33,000 kms . . . . . . . $22,450 2006 Ford Fusion SEL, V6, 59,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,950 2006 Buick Allure CX, 3.8L, V6, 38,0000 kms., lease return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,950 2007 Chev Malibu LT*, 4 cyl, fact. warranty, 42,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,500 2007 Chrysler Sebring Touring, V6, power sunroof, fact. warranty. . . . . . . . . . $13,950 CARS 1994 Chev Lumina APV, 7 passenger modular seating, 138,000 kms. . . . . . . . . $2,950 1999 Ford Econoline E350, 12 passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,950 2005 Chev Uplander LS Extended, 3.5L V6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,950 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan, Stow ’n Go seating, 68,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,500 VANS 1998 Chev Cheyene, ext. cab, 4x 4, diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,950 1999 Chev 1/2 ton, ext. cab, long box, 4x4, 192,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,950 2001 GMC SL, reg. cab, 4x4, 5.3 V8 auto, 159,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,950 2003 Ford ext. cab, Super Duty 350, 64,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,950 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 ST 4x4 Hemi V8, quad cab, 8' box, trailer tow ready . . $16,500 2003 Ford F150 Super Crew 4x4 Lariat, 91,000 kms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,950 2006 GMC 1500, SLE, Z71, 4 x4 crew cab, 76,000 kms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22,500 2006 Ford F150 XLT crew cab, 6.5' box, 4x4, 5.4 V8, auto, 86,000 kms . . . . . . $23,500 TRUCKS RETIREMENT LIVING ANYWHERE! 1991 Airstream Excella 29 ft. Many recent upgrades, twin beds, fully equipped including electric jack and easy lift hitch. TRAILER PRICE $24,900 $23,500 2003 NISSAN XE CREW CAB JenkinsL.H. LTD. TOWING, AUTO PARTS & REPAIR “Friendly Service & Reasonable Prices” 519-524-2181 Towing 519-524-2182 24 HOUR • Damage Free Towing • Flat Bed Towing • Local & Long Distance LARGE SELECTION OF NEW & USED PARTS FOR ALL MAKES & MODELS “Fuel tanks our specialty” CANADIAN TIRE AUTO CLUB National Auto League PARTS FOR ALL MAKES & MODELS HOURS: MON. - FRI. 8 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. SAT. 8 A.M. - 12 NOON 564 Campbell St., LUCKNOW 519-528-2220 1-877-528-2220 After Hours: 519-528-3876 FAX 519-528-2226 BRYAN MARRIAGE Unstable auto industry can mean benefits for Canadians Classified advertisements published in The Citizen are now available on our website at www.northhuron.on.ca