Selling car - To repair bodywork or not?

BlazingSaddler

Thinking of changing the wifes car (07 Focus) but it has some very hefty scratches running along both sides due to a couple of run ins with concrete pillars! I reckon there's about €1000 worth of damage. Is it worth getting repaired before we try and sell? Is it likely to add €1000 to the price when we sell? I was offered a trade in value of only €3500 at the one and only place I've tried so far, other than the bodywork it's a decent car with low mileage (63k) I was hoping for at least €5k.

goz83

Would you buy it with the damage?

_Brian

It would "probably" get you back the €1k in a private sale but I'd imagine on a trade in it wouldn't..

TheBody

If it wasn't giving you any trouble, I'd keep it. At least you know what the car is like. You could end up buying a headache!

For comparison, I have a 07 Focus with 254K on the clock and I've only ever put a coil pack, a HT lead and a handbreak cable it it (apart from ususal service stuff). I'm planning to keep it till it falls apart!

charcosull

I wouldn't buy it off you with the damage anyway unless it was a grand cheaper than the average donedeal price. Too many of those around with no damage that if I looked at yours and saw the damage I would just move on to the next one.

Atlantic Dawn

Is it a diesel Focus with full service history that there will be demand for or do you think you will struggle to sell it? If your going to struggle to sell it no point in putting additional money in it, just sell as is.

fmcg_scribe

Agree with all of the comments so far.

Have bought and sold quite a few cars in UK and Ireland.

In general, when putting a car up for sale, it's a good idea to sort out things that might cause a buyer to chip the price. If you're happy to go the trade in route instead, there is usually less point and value in fixing bodywork issues because a trader will be able to sort out those problems while preparing the car for sale. That said, the more the "problems" there are with your car, it's more likely that the trader will offer you an even lower valuation.

Dents can be easier and cheaper to fix if you get a paintless dent removal specialist.

Large deep scratches might be more expensive to resolve if the scratches go down to base coat or metal. Without seeing pics, it's possible that scratch remover, polish, or more likely rubbing compound could be used to "soften" the impact of the scratches. Failing that, only a respray might fix the problem.

However, two problems with reprays on older cars (whether for accident repair or cosmetic reasons):
- Respraying is expensive and needs to be done properly (prep, paint, lacquer, oven dry).
- Anyone in the motor trade will spot "new paint" and either ask about it or conclude perhaps unfairly that the car has been in an accident.

Therefore, if thinking about a respray, you're damned if you do respray and damned if you don't. If you do decide to respray, be ready to explain the "new paint" to any trader or punter looking at the car afterwards.

If the scratches issue is worrying you, you should consult a body shop about your options and cost estimates.

sham58107

mattb74 wrote: »

Thinking of changing the wifes car (07 Focus) but it has some very hefty scratches running along both sides due to a couple of run ins with concrete pillars! I reckon there's about €1000 worth of damage. Is it worth getting repaired before we try and sell? Is it likely to add €1000 to the price when we sell? I was offered a trade in value of only €3500 at the one and only place I've tried so far, other than the bodywork it's a decent car with low mileage (63k) I was hoping for at least €5k.

As already stated a lot out there and if I went to look at one with scratches I would just move on must be a few to take 1k to repair,also I would think if outside is like this what the hell is rest of car like was is ever looked after and run.
We will all pick up some small marks and no problem but not damage.