Long time no post! I've been a member here since 2005 but haven't posted for ages as I've had my MR2 SORN for a couple years. I want my garage back and with advancing age and weight I don't think now I'll ever get her roadworthy again. So the question is, is it better to sell as a whole car or split for parts?
I bought it effectively new albeit it was registered by Toyota and then stored for 9 months before I got. I've done about 110,000 in here and it was well maintained and reliable as hell when it was a daily driver. It was a weekend car for two years or so then had been SORN last 2 years.
Its a 2004 04 FL with hardtop leather and Aircon. I've got a replacement shock absorber and spring set to fit to make it's handling get back to code and is otherwise entirely stock.
It had the cat gutted as a baby (thanks Markiii) and never used oil. Only things replaced were clutch at 77k, rad at 80 something and water pump a little later.
So, she's been in the garage for ages and has a lot of small and some very noticeable scuffs and scratches. It looks tired albeit mechanically shes great.
So, would I get more breaking her (tragic imo) or getting it through mot and selling?
Don't like to see roadworthy cars broken.
Also it's very time consuming breaking a car.
Get her through the MOT and sell.
You would probably recoup more money breaking but is it worth the time and effort?
Yeah, mot and sell, you,ll be stuck with loads of parts for ages if you break..
Sounds in better condition than mine mate, give it a month or two for the warmer weather and it sounds like you'd be better selling as a runner.
If you wanted some quick cash, you could possibly shift the hardtop for £450-£500 but it's almost roof-down season.
You may find the aircon gas has escaped via the seals if it's been stood without the aircon being run.
It would be a real shame to break it - the fact that you've had it from new is great, and I'm sure a new owner could be found.
Is it just the suspension that needs doing? Where abouts are you based? I'm sure someone can be found to help sort it so that it can be sold on to another owner..
Suspension was only thing it needed before being stored. I did keep up with running engine every other week for out of sight.... So maybe battery is needed now and maybe 4 tyres (they were nearly new I think but must be flat spotted now). Otherwise it ran great.
If I got her though mot I'm doubting I'd get more then 2k for her, more like 1k, or 1.5k due to paint. Sound about right? Would cost me 700 I reckon to have suspension and springs fitted (over 200), new tyres 350 plus) , towed to garage and mot. So maybe end up with 800 quid at end. If hardtops are still 400 plus I wonder if just selling the shell will gain more but I also don't like idea of killing an otherwise sound car.
Definitely keep her on the road,either yourself or by someone else as a project.
If you wanted to break her on here you would have to speak to the Committee, but I would expect a refusal as she is a runner with a little work.
Sell the hardtop to finance any work as even us fat old blokes can still drive them ;)
Would the suspension in its current state get through an MOT?
If so, sell the suspension components as a separate concern.
Again - tyres, buyer's preference I guess. If the current ones have tread, aren't cracked and would pass an MOT, no way would I throw £250 at getting new ones.
Paint - it's a 14 year old £2k car, wouldn't get hung up on it.
For what it's worth - paid £1700 for mine. Sold hardtop and style bar for about 650, but I've since ploughed another 2500 into bringing it back up to spec. That's still a lot of car for £3.5k, and I've enjoyed doing (some of) it. ;)
Point I'm making is that even at £2k I don't think many people would seriously think they had no ongoing expenditure on a 14 year old car, and therefore if you're sure you want rid, I wouldn't be ploughing money that you can't recoup into it.
Sounds like its worth keeping on road to me, good ones are still fetching decent money although if its in need of cosmetics that will put some off but be a shame to break it if all good otherwise, maybe a local member can help you get it sorted as doesnt need much by sounds of it just let us know where you are/
As others have said selling hardtop will generate some decent funds quickly and go towards getting it back on road, im looking for a FL silver hardtop myself so if you do decide to sell that on to fund mot etc let me know... your probably wrong end of country though as most seem to be.
Nooooooooo! Don't break her, despite her paintwork as you say mechanically she's sound. Someone will come along, sort her paintwork and buy her as a whole, she's worth that at the very least. :protest:
I'm fortunate to be, at the moment, fine for funds to repair her but low on time and energy.
Maybe selling hard top separately is best first step as it looks like it's more valuable as an individual item than it is selling with the car. Hmmm decisions.
Tyrant, I am indeed a fair bit South of you (close to rugby/coventry). And whilst a colleague of mine lives in Glasgow and commutes down in the week, it's a bit too big to fit his Corsa! I've no idea how it could be transported in anything other then a van. Even the wife's Tiguan wouldn't swallow that.
Well if you fancy selling hardtop with all fittings etc and price is right I could make a trip in the 2 and swap it over, give it some thought.
Quote from: proeliator2001 on February 14, 2019, 17:42
Tyrant, I am indeed a fair bit South of you (close to rugby/coventry). And whilst a colleague of mine lives in Glasgow and commutes down in the week, it's a bit too big to fit his Corsa! I've no idea how it could be transported in anything other then a van. Even the wife's Tiguan wouldn't swallow that.
Best to have the seller collect& fit to their car, then you can swap the plastics out too. That way you're not left with holes in your plastics where the fitting kit used to sit.
Can't see why you would break for parts...? As long as engine and subframe good there's nothing too expensive to go wrong on these cars?