About to sell my 987.1 Boxster S - should I sort paintwork?

[TheOtherMonkey]

Hi everyone

Due to impending fatherhood, the Boxster is having to be sold. Unfortunately the wife hasn't yet come round to the idea of the baby being secured in the boot, although I'm hoping there's still time...



Do you have any view as to whether it's worth properly sorting out the paintwork pre-sale? There's nothing major - a few very light stone scratches, and one chip ~2-3 mm across on the passenger door from a moron opening their door into me in a car park. It's definitely something a buyer could do quickly and easily, but would you expect all this to be sorted before you bought privately?

I've heard today that the family wagon will be coming much sooner than expected, so the car will be appearing on PH very shortly. If you're interested, or you know anyone who is, give me a shout!

TheOtherMonkey

ETA

Sorry, far too much info.

Edited by Big Al. on Wednesday 20th April 16:45

[LeighB]

A lot depends really on the type of purchaser, some may not be too bothered and happy to sort and others may be put off thinking that is the standard to which the car has been maintained.

Personally I would spend the £200 to 300 getting the car detailed, with the paintwork correction side of it likely to remove most, if not all of the imperfections. Plus it'll be one less thing the price will be haggled on.

[Klippie]

I don't know about anyone else but if I went to see a car that was needing some stone chips fixed I'd rather see it in that condition v's it being painted just to sell on, the potential for a sub standard paint job is quite high, it's always a haggling point too.

Then I could take it to a preferred painters who will do a top class job and I'd have a mint car.

[ajondyh]

Detailing, as stated above is probably best idea. The problem with paint is that if it's not done 100% perfectly it will look "Painted" and that will make people wonder why it was painted.... i.e has it had a bump, is there wads of filler etc etc.

[TheOtherMonkey]

OK thanks everyone. It's a daily driver and the paintwork is actually in very good condition for a car of its age and mileage. Having said that, most buyers will want this as a pristine weekend toy, hence why I think they'll want the paintwork perfect.

I'll get in touch with some local detailers and get one out to have a look at it. And keep your eye out for it hitting the classifieds!

TheOtherMonkey

[DJMC]

The chip on the door sounds like the one which may be an issue. Unlikely a "chips away" type repair would work. Most likely a full panel respray and blend into surrounding panels. Expensive and easily done badly if you cut corners on price because you're selling.

Unless you know the detailer/paint shop well, and trust them, I'd go with selling as is.

I know of only one paint shop I'd trust, in Birmingham. They repainted 1/2 my Merc for Mercedes UK. Then a subsequent bumper scrape for me at £115. More recently they quoted £850 for a penny sized dent in my son's Mini bonnet. I think they were busy and didn't want the work that time!!

[VladD]

I'm sorry for your loss.