[CHRYSt]

Ok, so here's the conundrum, and I'm wondering how others have dealt with the situation.

My Mini's currently "Scheduled for Production" so I figure I've got a little under a month, and can't go without a car for more than a week or so.

I still owe about $3500 on my old car. It's a 99 Ford Escort ZX2 that I bought new. I run into the problem that if I sell it, I have to get $3500 for it, in order to pay it off. My Mini dealer, who is great in every other way so far, told me they wouldn't pay anywhere near what I'd get elsewhere.

So, anyone had any luck on Ebay, Auto Trader, or just putting a for sale sign in the window? How long did it take to sell?

Just looking for input, as I'm not sure I can afford 2 car payments a month.

[NEMINI]

I put a sign in the window of my car and sold it the same day (unfortunately that meant no car for 3 months) but it really varies by region and what you are selling and if the car is worth what you are asking for it. Luck alos plays a part in it.
Perhaps you can put an ad in a local paper but be sure to state that the car won't be available until a specific date or possibly try to sell high now (extra money can go to getting a rental if its close enough to picking up MINI time).
Keep in mind scheduled for production can be delayed and that it can take anywhere from 4-10 weeks (or more in extreme cases) to get your MINI after its built.

[stryder]

depending if you have a 'hot' or 'cool' ZX2 your car's worth at least $4k to a private party. Check out edmunds.com evaluation of what its worth with options and milage and such, then place an ad in the newspaper for like $20 and see what happens. I sold my car in a week that way.

Don't forget to advertise the car for the dealer retail, then be prepared to bargin, (write OBO (or best offer) or something in the classified. You should be able to sell it within a week, as long as you have storage for two cars, just sell it after you get your MINI.

If you use ebay or auto-trader it takes much longer, you need to wait 7 days for the auction to end on ebay for instance. People regularly need cars in the few thousand price range. Start checking now for similar cars in newspaper classifieds in your area to see what you're up against for pricing and such. Call the people and see if they've sold the cars on wed or so if they were new in the sunday paper.

[chiph]

I sold my Honda Accord ('91 -- 273,000 miles) via autotrader. It took a few months due to the sour economy, and the high milage on it.

I had some "interesting" calls for it. One woman wanted to know if I was willing to accept payments (on a $1800 car!) Ummm. No.

But I eventually sold it to a very nice woman who ran documents for a real-estate attorney. I was glad to see it get a good home, as her previous car (Ford Aspire) had been totalled, and of course, her insurance didn't give her anything for it.

Chip H.

[stryder]

Assuming your escort doesn't have an insane amount of milage, I wouldn't worry it'd take months, its the odd cars or the special cars that need ebay. If you have a mainstream car that people recongize, it won't be difficult.

Selling a MINI is an ebay activity because you won't get your money's worth out of a local ad, but for a $4000 car, you should be fun, just check what's in the paper now and it will give you an idea. And make sure you have the title and such clean and available!