Selling the AU, need opinions

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Unfortunately it's crunch time and while I love having the best of both worlds, the AU has to go as I cannot afford to run two cars on a single income.

I've fixed various things on her over the last year and a half which anyone on here can read up on so I have no intention to mislead people on the condition of the car, which is pretty damn good considering the age.

Short of it: AU Fairmont Ghia S1, 1998, 185k, 4.0L, White with black leather interior, Lowered slightly, 2.5" Catback with chrome tip, hi-flow airfilter, DBA slotted rotors all round with bendix brake pads. Never been on a dyno, never set foot on a 1/4 mile track. Regularly serviced and have had ABS module rebuilt, recently had fan belt and all pulleys replaced, vct and tappet gaskets replaced, battery replaced 1 year ago, rear left hub and axle replaced, door actuator in passengers door replaced.

I am taking it to the mechanics for a roadworthy so anything else that has been left out will be fixed along with a major service before it is sold.

The long of it: shes an AU Fairmont Ghia Series 1, built in 1998, 4.0L Tickford VCT motor with a full leather interior in good condition (minor cracks on drivers and passengers seats, disappear with the leather conditioner I put on) with woodgrain inserts and chrome goodies.

Car has original stereo in it (missing tweater in left A pillar) and all the steering controls including audio and cruise work fine.

The drivers and passengers door are starting to wear around the front of the arm rest (the part you use to open and close the door) and some of the black material is coming off, these will need replacing eventually if you wanted a pristine interior however this is about the only major thing wrong with the interior.

Car drives and handles very well, exhaust has a good note when accelerating and does not drone on the highway or in general.

Anything that needed replacing pretty much has been replaced, as above, mechanics will sort out the rest.

Paint has a few minor chips in the bonnet and the scratch on the bumper was there from when I bought it. A few scratches on the rear bumper but apart from that the car looks in very good nick.

Market value of a pristine one is around $7.5k however I'd be wrapped to get $6k once everything is fixed up.

Am I being realistic?

Edit: Car will be up for sale in the next 6 weeks or so once I get it roadworthy, shall put it up in the sales section once I have this.

[frd906]

Roughly going by prices these days, 3 to 5 grand for a series 1

[Mr Hardware]

Stick it out for six, be happy with five, provided you make it mickey mouse.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

It's been well maintained since I bought it so it shouldn't take much to make her shine, only polished it a month ago, it's mainly the service that needs doing to make it roadworthy. You've driven it before so feel free to come round and have an inspect ;)

[robbyj]

I agree with Mr Hardware. Start it at 6. Take 5.
I recently tried to sell my S1 as a "p plater car" and was flamed for my asking price.
I had a couple of offers. 5.5, 6 and 7.

So a VCT ghia should go around 5.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Ah I thought this may be the case, I really would like 6K as the gov. is reaming me for stamp duty and rego on the other car, $1500 just to get the other car on the road, its flamin ridiculous!

Edit: Also have to renew the rego on my AU soon so there's another 400-ish for 6 months, by the time I get it sold I'll be broke!

[robbyj]

Ouch.
Yea, i reckon wait long enough the right person will come along.

[robbyj]

In your sig you have 'lots of doof doof' is there a stereo system in there or did u put the stock stuff back in?

[blueoval]

It makes me sad to see such premium AU's go for so little. That just gives me more incentive never to sell mine and just pass it down to other family members as some kind of heirloom. Maybe in 30 years they will just go up in price like the XY's. haha

[Mr Hardware]

I know what you mean blueoval, but that's what they said about EB Ghia's 10 years ago. Do you think anyone gives two hoots about an EB Ghia today? Nup.

[Racecraft]

98 model with XD brakes............
I'd be jumping at 4k if it was me :(

[Mont5.0]

sold my 5litre series 2 fairmont for $3200 two weeks ago. AU's (except T's and XR's)- arent worth jack!

[Eleanor]

When I was at my mechanic's workshop about two months ago he was telling me about Series 1 Ghia in Burgundy that had come in for a pre-sale RWC. Elderly, 1 owner, 6cyl stock as a rock, 160kms, very good condition and the asking price was $5k. I'll have to find out how much it sold for.

These prices you guys are mentioning for Fairmonts, and V8 Fairmonts, are nearly making me cry though. I paid way too much when I bought my Futura earlier this year.

[AUIIPURSUIT]

an e what?


i think ill drive my au xr8 til she stops ticking.. even then probably get an overhaul... its a good rig. i cant fault her.. gearbox is a tiny bit notchy compared to most manuals i drive, but otherwise she just goes...

good luck with the sale buddy, even if it takes a while... ;)

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by blueoval

It makes me sad to see such premium AU's go for so little. That just gives me more incentive never to sell mine and just pass it down to other family members as some kind of heirloom. Maybe in 30 years they will just go up in price like the XY's. haha

It is unfortunate for the seller but awesome for the buyer. I'm rapt that for under $5000, I got a fantastic car. It's not a Ghia, but I've found many of the Ghia touches for cheap enough

Just to put it in perspective, my EAII Ghia was a $7000 car back in 2002. Recently my next door neighbour bought pretty much the same car but a Series1 for $200.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

*sighs* looks rather unfortunate however I'm going to stick with the $6k starting price I think, it just a tad scary hearing all these stories about people selling cars for buckleys!

I guess I'll just have to just sit on her for a while until it sells for a reasonable price (at this stage I wouldn't budge from 5k) as I'm not desperate to sell her, I just need the money elsewhere.

Edit: Thank you everyone for all the input, it's a sad day as I love the AU and it has been a great car, I'm sure I'll be in another ford at some stage, they're just a damn good car all round

I'm putting the stock stereo back in as there's a few grand worth of audio gear in there that isn't going to put the price up by anything. Going to transfer it all into the other car.

I'm also only the second owner from new, with the first being an army chap who kept a full log book up until 150k.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by Dezza

It is unfortunate for the seller but awesome for the buyer. I'm rapt that for under $5000, I got a fantastic car. It's not a Ghia, but I've found many of the Ghia touches for cheap enough

Just to put it in perspective, my EAII Ghia was a $7000 car back in 2002. Recently my next door neighbour bought pretty much the same car but a Series1 for $200.

Your right there mate. Its a buyers market and if you wanted to be a real pr ick about it you could sting the seller even harder.

I don't think I could ever come to terms with selling my AU. I have spent far too much on it to just burn it on a sale for another car. At best I'd get about 25% of what it owes me, and thats being optimistic. I'd rather keep driving it, keep up the maintenance, keep it clean, give it a full overhaul if it requires it in the next 5-10 years and hand it down to my nephew to enjoy.

Grandpa - hope you get close to what you are asking for your car. Im sure the person who buys it is getting a very good vehicle on the basis of how you have looked after it.

[Polyal]

Honestly your going to be hard pressed to get anything above $6k.

I got my S2 for $6300 2ish years ago with 114000 on the clock, I thought it was a good deal at the time. If I didn't have my SVI system in it I dont think id get $4k.

Needless to say that I think I am going to keep the AU as a daily for as long as I can. I mean no other car gives me what it does for such little running costs, I fill the thing up for $30 and get over 500k's, the Barina doesn't even do that.

The longer you keep it the more you will save, I plan to have a nice weekender car and keep the AU for daily duties. Whats the point in spending big on a daily when some **** scratches you etc...then there is depreciation of new cars..stuff that.

[blueoval]

Thats half the reason why Im not getting my paint done yet Polyal. My car has scratches and imperfections in as it is, and as a daily now, it would be futile and pointless to respray the car only for it to be someones shopping trolley down the shops. It would cut me deep if the paint was damaged after forking out $XXXX of dollars making the paint look killer.

My intention is to drive it as a daily for now. Enjoy it as is for a while. Then buy another nicer car as a daily driver and turn the AU more as a weekender.

Sorry to hijack the thread grandpa

[grandpa_spec_F6]

All good blueoval

It just annoys me that if I wrote off my car I would get market value of $7.5k, yet it seems like I can barely get even $5k for a well maintained vehicle... ah well... that's just how it goes I guess

At the end of the day I'd love to keep both as you say Polyal, however two rego's (soon to be 3 with the bike), two lots of insurance, fuel costs, tyres etc. just don't allow me that luxury :(

[Polyal]

Your right, you should sell the VY (actually I was joking but you will lose more money holding onto the VY longer..)

Then buy a classic which will appreciate if anything.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Well my intention was to get a nice XR8 manual in a BA or BF however the VY happened to come up at the right time with the right price, and I couldn't resist haha.

I'd thought about going down the classic route, however being fairly young in comparison to others on here I am not well established in terms of assets, and I would have been hard pressed getting a loan for an older vehicle that would be barely driven and cost a third world countries GDP to insure :(

Edit: I understand Polyal, can't expect to not cop it owning a holden while being a member on a site dedicated to fords I'm sure the holden will depreciate, heck you can get a fully kitted out VS commodore for $5k these days, and even some of the HSV models are cheaper than scrap metal. I just wanted a good daily car with a bit of oomph to it, the VY just fit the bill in this case

[Polyal]

Yeah I was only half taking the ****, im sure that VY goes ok. I know the feeling about getting a weekender...just not the right time, but in another year look out.

Lifes short, you have what you want, if the AU has served you well I wouldn't get to hung up on +/- $1k or so when you sell.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Lifes short, you have what you want, if the AU has served you well I wouldn't get to hung up on +/- $1k or so when you sell.

Yeah that actually puts it into a bit of perspective.... I've loved owning the AU, love the exhaust note especially and the interior is just a dream on those long cruises. If I didn't get the AU, Mr Hardware wouldn't have introduced me to the forums, and I wouldn't have met a great bunch of people who are both knowledgeable and passionate about their cars. (feel free to go and puke at the sentimental nature of above text ) I'm not really loosing out when you look at it that way I guess.

After hearing Peutey's AU XR8, I kinda wished I put off buying the VY as it sounded like a roaring orgasm of explosions and awesome, nicest sounding note of any car I've heard by far, but I've got it now, and in the future I'd love to own a classic Ford like an XC (love the shape).

[mik]

i`d hang out for the 6 k grandpa spec au, your Au sounds like a very honest car that some dad would be very happy to buy for his young bloke, good luck.

[Mont5.0]

sorry but i dont agree. The longer you hold it the more it depreciates. Cut your loses now or keep it. next year your probably looking at 3-4 max for pristine series 2/3 fairmonts! BA/F's are getting cheap now, personal choice of course- but if i could buy a newer car for a few grand more, why would i pay 5g for a 12 year old car with 185k on it?

[Cam]

Originally Posted by Mont5.0

sorry but i dont agree. The longer you hold it the more it depreciates. Cut your loses now or keep it. next year your probably looking at 3-4 max for pristine series 2/3 fairmonts!

I tend to agree..

Also, if you keep it another 6 months waiting it for it sell, thats another $500 in rego, if your keeping it insured there's another few hundred.. Say another $500-700 depreciation in 6 months, and your already well under 5k..

As we all know in the end, its not worth anymore then someone will pay for it. It all comes down to whether it is "crunch time" and you need it gone, or if you simply want it gone..

[sneaky]

nothing to do with the au, but i was selling a vr commodore a year ago. was asking $2900, someone offered $2000 before it was advertised (had signs on it, but not in paper yet) i knocked them back as it was only 2/3 of what i was asking (and i wanted to use the car to help move house). 6 months later after paying another $1000 for rego i ended up taking $1400 just to get rid of it.

so as people have said above, it might be worth cutting the losses and selling it now.

on a side note, these au prices aren't looking too good. i want to update my car (au3 sr with 200k's) next year and was hoping to get something back for it, it isn't looking good..

-tim

[frd906]

Id sell it right now, becuase if you keep driving it, the ks will go up even more and something else might go wrong

[HLC]

Originally Posted by Mont5.0

sold my 5litre series 2 fairmont for $3200 two weeks ago. AU's (except T's and XR's)- arent worth jack!

3200?!?!? Sheesh if I saw that, id have even thought about pickingthat up! Problems or not, what a steal!!!