What to do, what to do, what to do?

[sjaguar13]

I need to sell my van. It fully carpeted in the back, so I bought it for my band. Now I am trying to sell it to a band. I posted message on 2 websites, and put up two flyers in music stores. I had it on eBay, but I didn't want to pay the $80, so I listed it as a musical instrument, and again in business and industrial. It didn't sell there. Bands are interested, but they don't have any money.

My dad has been a mechanic for over 30 years, so it runs great, but he thinks cars are worthless. The last couple of cars we bought were $200 (perfect running condition, ran strong for 5 years that we had it) and the most recent car we go free because the guy who owned it was tired of paying to get it fixed. I want $900. I post saying I want $1,250. Then when they call, I say I will take $1,000. That leaves $100 if they want to deal even more.

My dad says I should cut the price in half or more. I should find someone who wants it and take whatever they have. He found someone who had $200. He kept irratating the hell out of me to sell it for $200. It was my dad's friend, so I am pretty sure he was trying to get him a good deal.

Here's what I am thinking, I could fix it up a little and make it prettier, but that would cost money and then I would have to ask for more. People can't afford it now. I am beginning to think I shouldn't try to sell it to bands. My van is more for a vanner. I am thinking that after I do the stuff to it, I will put it on eBay the right way, and pay the $80.

Here's what the van looks like now:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/sjaguar13/Van/van1.jpg

The seats are in bad condition, but they are the swivel kind:
http://www.ceetus.com/int/DSC02014.JPG

Carpet and doghouse are messed up:
http://www.ceetus.com/int/DSC02013.JPG

It's hard to see, but the doghouse has a lot of marks all over it:
http://www.ceetus.com/int/DSC02012.JPG

The dash is three different colors:
http://www.ceetus.com/int/DSC02011.JPG

The carpet is beginning to sag on the roof:
http://www.ceetus.com/int/DSC02010.JPG

[sjaguar13]

Here's what I am thinking, the seats suck, so I will get seat covers. Either one of these:
http://www.ceetus.com/int/seats.jpg http://www.ceetus.com/int/seats2.jpg

To fix up the outside a little, I will get one of these decals in red. I like the third one the best:
http://www.ceetus.com/int/decal1.jpg
http://www.ceetus.com/int/decal2.jpg
http://www.ceetus.com/int/decal3.jpg

Or I will get this in either orange or yellow if I get the dragon seat covers:
http://www.ceetus.com/int/decal4.jpg

It should look something like this:
http://www.ceetus.com/int/flames.jpg

Then, I am thinking about getting some interior dye to fix up the doghouse and dash. The problem with that is, I am having a hard time getting dye that is the same color as the interior already. I don't want to have to redo every little plastic piece.

I can get the covers, decals, and dye for $75. That means I would have to ask for $975. I don't think $1,000 is unreasonable for the van. On eBay, I could probably get that. I also found a bench seat that folds into a bed. The guy selling it is right down the road. A couple bands wanted a bench seat so the whole band could ride in the van along with their equipment. The red seat covers comes with a bench seat cover, so they will all match. Even if I sell the van without the bench seat, I could use it in my apartment when I move out this week. I don't have any furniture yet and the bench seat would be cool.

What do you think I should do? Fix it up and hopefully it will be easier to sell, or sell it like it is cheaper? My dad says I should just sell it, but I think for $75, it would look more like an 80s vanner van and then more people would be interested in it on eBay. I also thought about getting the deals and covers and listing it on eBay the way it is and say "if bidding goes over $1,000, I will through in free seat covers and decals." I think offering the dye is kinda stupid. "Buy my van and get free interior dye to make the inside less sucky."

[GTS Jeff]

ok man, im gonna tell u how buying/selling cars work.

3 variables.

PRICE is determined by DEMAND and MILEAGE.

everything else, such as a huge sob story about bands and mechanic dads and whatever is frivolous. so take your dads wise advice and sell it for 500.

and dont bother with the decal and seat covers, unless your target demographic is highschoolers with poor taste
;)

[illeagle]

Fubar style airbrushing on the side...

"we'll put a moon here, and a large fuckin' rocket, and there will be a chick,... and she's have a fuckin' laser gun, and she'll just be... protecting...."

i think you should start by getting rid of all the chrome. Then buying little parts to make it "look" less threatining.., red paint/ pin stripes and a ramming bar to make the A-team van.:bigpimp: then put some 275/60/15's on it mounted on 'general lee' style wheels, a spoiler, lower it 6 inches, a big V8, and put a house stereo inside... anyways, looks like you'll be well known in the local junk yards...

[sjaguar13]

Originally posted by GTS Jeff
ok man, im gonna tell u how buying/selling cars work.

3 variables.

PRICE is determined by DEMAND and MILEAGE.

everything else, such as a huge sob story about bands and mechanic dads and whatever is frivolous. so take your dads wise advice and sell it for 500.

and dont bother with the decal and seat covers, unless your target demographic is highschoolers with poor taste
;)

I was asking for advice on selling it, I wasn't trying to sell it to you. It's not a sob story, it's information I thought you would need in order to give relatively helpful advice.

The mileage is high, about 150,000, but since pulling out the engine, replacing the head and all the other crap, we only put 20 miles on it. The thing runs like it was new. I am trying to sell it to someone in a band, so highschoolers with poor taste is pretty much it. I only recently found out about the die-hard vanners while searching for custom van forums on Google (also how I found this site).

I don't know how familar you are with local music, but bands hear tend to spray paint their cars with their band's name, dress their cars up like to look like ambulances (with spray paint), and other stupid stuff to get their van noticed while going to a gig.

The $75 for seat covers to make the seats less obvious of the poor condition and the decals to draw attention will probably be better than some Krylon custom paint job.

[sjaguar13]

Originally posted by illeagle
anyways, looks like you'll be well known in the local junk yards...

You should have seen some of the junk I owned...I'm already well known at the local junk yards.

[finboy]

sell it for 500 man, its barely worth that.

[africano]

Did you try posting it in the auto trader or something, posting it on e-bay under an instrument won't work and trying to sell it to poor ppl won't either :rolleyes:

[Rockski]

i wouldnt even bother with the seat covers dude, just ditch it for as much as your offered ....RIGHT NOW.... it doesnt matter if somewhere down the road (although as slight as it may be) somebody COULD(n't) offer you a better deal. you might only get the 200$, i wouldnt count on more then 700 for it man...