Advice on Selling a GT

[JAM-GT]

I'm looking for advice from the fellow members of this forum on the best way to sell a GT. I seem to be having a reverse midlife crisis. Three years ago I bought my GT, and now my wife and I just had twin boys (our first, second and last kids). I love my little guys, but the opportunities to drive the supercar have gone from infrequent to almost none. It seems a shame to just to have it sit, so I've come to the conclusion that it needs to find another owner who will love it (and drive it).

Do you guys have any tips on how to sell it? For example, I know that people post cars for sale on the forum, but is that enough? I recently sold a Mazda Miata using Autotrader.com and Cars.com, but I don't know if those are the kind of sites that prospective GT owners look at. I'm pretty sure that Ebay is not the way to go.

Another question that I have is how to handle it if someone wants a test drive. For a regular car, no big deal. But for the GT, it makes me a little nervous. I bought mine without ever having driven one, but I imagine that a lot of people would feel differently, especially looking at a used vehicle.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and everyone's contributions to this forum over the past few years.

John M
2005 GT, White with blue stripes
4 option vehicle, all stock
4000 miles

 

[Empty Pockets]

#1 NOBODY DRIVES IT BUT YOU!!!!!! 'Can't stress that enough. 'Sure way to have it wrapped around a light pole...or any one of several other unpleasant results.

#2 Post all the particulars here on the 'Forum first and see what happens. A number of people have bought/sold their GT's here.

#3 B J motors and Shelbyelite ('Forum sponsors) are looking for GT's all the time if you want to go that route. :cheers

 

[spyder625]

pm sent

 

[shelbyelite]

Selling a GT is definatly different than selling a Mazda. There are several routes you can take as you have already pointed out. All the things you have listed are tools we use also. eBay, cars.com, autotrader, forum, etc. When selling a GT you have to have all your ducks in a row and also make sure you are with the current market. I see many people advertise there cars WAY over market value and that will surely kill your sale. Then by the time you realize that is whats hurting you, your car has been advertised for months on end and everyone is used to seeing it advertised and more or less your car has become "STALE". If you are gonna advertise it, presentation is EVERYTHING!!! Put yourself in the buyers shoes. Think about what you would want to see if YOU were the buyer. Dont post 3 pics taken on your camera phone with the car dirty and expect to get alot of interest (other than lowballers). Take your time. You are selling a GT, not a ford focus. Offer as much information as you can. I wish you all the best with your sale. Sorry to hear you are selling, but I can respect your reason why.

P.S. If you wanna sell it in between Wholesale and retail let me know. We buy cars all the time, but we have to buy a little below retail in order to turn a profit. none-the-less, I am sure you will do fine! Cheers! :cheers

 

[shelbyelite]

Also, I agree with pockets.... NO TEST DRIVES. Have the potential buyer pay you for the car before he (or she) drives it. If they drive it and find anything wrong that you did not disclose, then refund their money once the car is back in your driveway safe and sound. These cars are wrecked far too often by people that drive them every day. Putting a person behind the wheel of a GT for the first time is a big risk. Protect yourself.

 

[Kayvan]

Dont sell it.

You will 100% regret it.

Read the multiple roundtrip buy/sale/re-buys on this forum.

Having a GT from NEW is a priceless experience, and cannot be duplicated again, at any cost.

Check-in on folks who sold their Shelby Cobras in the 70s...there is usually a sob story or two during Barrett-Jackson's/Mecum million $ Cobra sales.

When your sons ride off to their prom in a limo, 17 yrs from tonight, you dont want to walk back to the mini-van in the garage.

Money can be replaced; memories can not.

 

[KJRGT]

John, I totally respect your current situation (been there) and why you have come to your current position. However......if you do not need to to sell from a financial position, then by all means like Kayvan said, DONT SELL HER!
My kids are all grown now (25, 24, 21, 18) and now I can enjoy the time I have been blessed with to enjoy my Midnight Blue beauty.
This car is way too special to give it up once you have it, unless you have no other option. :thumbsup

 

[JAM-GT]

I appreciate the advice so far. You guys aren't making my difficult decision any easier. I don't have to sell the car for the money. Part of the issue is space. Garage space in my neighborhood in Seattle comes at a premium. The GT takes up a lot of space (because you don't want anything to come close to hitting it). I think it's just a matter of time before a stroller or car seat hits it. I haven't cried in a long time.

John M

 

[SYCO GT]

Also, I agree with pockets.... NO TEST DRIVES. Have the potential buyer pay you for the car before he (or she) drives it. If they drive it and find anything wrong that you did not disclose, then refund their money once the car is back in your driveway safe and sound. These cars are wrecked far too often by people that drive them every day. Putting a person behind the wheel of a GT for the first time is a big risk. Protect yourself.

Always did it this way with my motorcycles, never had a problem.

A lot of people that allowed test rides on motorcycles did have problems...

 

[BlackICE]

I appreciate the advice so far. You guys aren't making my difficult decision any easier. I don't have to sell the car for the money. Part of the issue is space. Garage space in my neighborhood in Seattle comes at a premium. The GT takes up a lot of space (because you don't want anything to come close to hitting it). I think it's just a matter of time before a stroller or car seat hits it. I haven't cried in a long time.

John M

If you have the vertical space and are not in earthquake country, you might consider storing the car on a 4 post lift, up out of harms way.

 

[Empty Pockets]

If you have the vertical space and are not in earthquake country, you might consider storing the car on a 4 post lift, up out of harms way.

There are 2-3 fault lines running thru the Seattle area. 'Suggest ANCHOR BOLTS for the lift if you (JAM GT) go that route & store your car on one.

 

[BlackICE]

There are 2-3 fault lines running thru the Seattle area. 'Suggest ANCHOR BOLTS for the lift if you (JAM GT) go that route & store your car on one.

I am within 3 miles of major fault line, I have my lift epoxy bolted 10" deep to 5000 PSI concrete. Even then I don't leave the car up on the lift for long periods of time. If I ever do I, will have to use wheel basket straps to hold the car on the ramps to make me sleep better. I just hate to imagine if a just one wheel slid off the ramps. Off course some say if that happens I have bigger things to worry about. Maybe true, but I don't want to add to my problems.

 

[JAM-GT]

Thanks again, guys. I've thought about putting it on a lift, but I don't have the ceiling height to accomodate a car on a lift. I think my preference will be to store the car in someone else's garage while I store their money in my bank account.

JM

 

[Neilda]

It sounds like you have pretty much made the decision to sell....

As already mentioned here, no test drives!

The GT is not a normal car, over here in the UK specialist cars usually sell through the 'network' - i.e. specialist dealers. Dealers have an address book of people they know are looking for these cars and you don't want to have people over to your house who have no idea what they're looking at.

There is no requirement to test drive the GT (I didn't drive one before buying).

 

[roketman]

Its still a better investment than the stock market !!

 

[Indy GT]

JAM-GT

It does appear you have settled on the sell option which is unfortunate as posted above by others but understandable given your situation. That is your decision.

I was lucky enough to purchase new from a dealer without ever driving one first and I wholeheartedly agree with Pockets and others that no test drives be allowed. As I am sure you have heard of new owners wrapping their GT's around a light pole on exiting the dealership lot for the first time. It happens. Do not expose yourself to some test drive idiot doing this to your car!

Many Forum participants have had an excellent buying/selling experience with Shelbyelite. He knows our cars and how to market them. He has offered up very good advice from a knowledgeable perspective. Head his advice on cleaning up the car and taking some good pictures, listing all the car details and select a realistic price point. I am sure Shelby would be happy to talk to you to help you arrive at this price. He knows the market and is very genuine and helpful to all Forum participants.

Good luck in your selling endeavors, and hope you return to our ownership ranks in a few years down the child rearing path!

 

[AtomicGT]

Don't sell, make an effort to take it out 1-2 times a month. Your kids will grow up and you will miss your FGT in the years to come. Do Not Sell.

 

[djs]

"Advice on Selling a GT"

Don't.

Seriuously though, if you can afford to keep it, make a commitment to try and take it out. You'll probably never have a chance to own another in the condition/with the miles your present car has. This forum is littered with members who sold and WENT RIGHT OUT and bought another, usually at a higher price.

 

[Empty Pockets]

...and you don't want to have people over to your house who have no idea what they're looking at.

...not to mention having people over to your house about whom YOU have no idea - if you get my drift. :willy :willy :willy

 

[AtomicGT]

Pockets and PL510*Jeff should be able to offer advice. DO NOT SELL