vjd3

Seeking a little group wisdom here; I have a 99 Mercedes C280 sedan, in perfect condition, that I need to sell. I've tried an ad in the Boston Globe, which is very expensive ($80) and got zero calls. What alternatives are there? My first thought was Auto Trader, but it seems the online site is not connected to the publication anymore, and I'm not sure how many people looking for a car like a C280 are actually browsing online. And it's not cheap, either. There are smaller (cheaper) local papers, as well, but I'm not sure the typical Mercedes buyer reads anything but the Globe here in Boston. Anyone been down this road with a non-P-car? I've got it priced a full $5000 below the NADA online average retail price, so I don't think it's priced too high, and it still has some factory warranty remaining.

Thoughts?

Vic
95 C4
99 C280

Randy M

There is no exposure like autotrader.com

jhb

I sold my 86 Cab with an add in cars.com to a guy in RI. You pay one price, and, if I remember, can renew until it sells.

Could try the "want ads" too, since your in New England, but there's not much quality listed there, so may not be many people looking for quality cars either.

993chaz

try
cars.com

993chaz

Vic,

try cars.com

I'm actually looking for a C280 for my wife.....or will be in late July.....shoot me a pm with your asking $ and details.

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Dbltime

I also have a CLK430 black/black with AMG wheels, one owner, never anything, always garaged. Will trade for new GT3.

stinky

Ebay Mercedes listings:

<a href="http://listings.ebaymotors.com/aw/plistings/list/category6311/index.html" target="_blank">http://listings.ebaymotors.com/aw/plistings/list/category6311/index.html</a>

Rezal

I'm still trying to sell my Audi A4. I've placed an Ad with both the Autotrader magazine *and* autotrader.com with the full premium option (9 pics shown with bold highlight). I've received several inquiries within the last week or so (the print ad went out two weeks ago, the online ad last week) and will be showing the car to one person tonight. I've priced it at about the Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds value, but $1500 below the NADA value.

IMHO, cars like the C280 and A4 are what I would call commodity vehicles. There are many on sale in various configurations so even if a buyer had a specific color and option list, he or she would have a good chance of finding it. Also, there is a tendency for potential buyers to cross shop between the German mfrs (Audi, BMW, Mercedes) and others (Volvos, Acuras, etc.).

The buying profile is someone different than the p-car buyer. Even assuming that the car is in good condition and has been well maintained, price will probably be the key deciding factor. The (slight) advantage that I have is that with the exception of the niche Mercedes 4matic and BMW 330xi, Audi is the only volume luxury AWD brand so someone looking for an AWD sedan will most likely think of Audi above Merc and BMW.

If its any consolation, online ads allow you to reach a greater audience. I've had calls from as far as Annapolis, MD. When I was looking at A4s, I went as far south as DC and as far north as Long Island, NY.

The key success factor would be getting someone to notice your car for sale, which is where used car dealers have an advantage since buyers drop by their lots to *specifically* look at a used car. I take the local train to work hence one strategy that I'm going to try is to drive to the train station and park it in a strategic location with a "For Sale" sign in the window. I figured that at least a hundred people or so take the train from that station. If I was really desperate, I could potentially park it at a different station each day.

Good luck in selling yours.

Btw, if anyone is interested in an AWD A4 in the Philly area, here's the link to my ad:
<a href="http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/vdetail.jtmpl?car_id=131362137&dealer_id=&car_year=1998&make=AUDI&distan ce=75&max_price=13000&model=A4&end_year=1998&advcd_on=n&min_price=&addre s" target="_blank">http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/vdetail.jtmpl?car_id=131362137&dealer_id=&car_year=1998&make=AUDI&distan ce=75&max_price=13000&model=A4&end_year=1998&advcd_on=n&min_price=&addre s</a> s=08107&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1998&color=&cardist=6

vjd3

All good suggestions ... I'll try AutoTrader next, I think. And leaving it at the grocery store ;-)

Vic

PS -- It's a 99 C280, smoke silver, beautiful, fresh major service, loaded, Bose CD, 46k miles, $18k (NADA is $23.5k) and it's in Boston. Details here:

<a href="http://www.electrichummus.com/c280.html" target="_blank">C280</a>