Cosmetic damage: worth fixing?

bobo_1314

bobo_1314

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Joined
May 22, 2005
Messages
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Location
Vancouver, BC, Canada
I'm going to trade-in my car for a GS350 in a few week's time, and I'm wondering how badly this kind of cosmetic damage will affect the trade-in value. A friend of mine can fix it for around $700 (~$630USD) but that's only to repair and paint the bumper. A better and permanent fix would cost around $1500 (~$1350USD). So my question is, should I fix it up before trading in, or that little damage won't really affect the value? Thanks for your advice folks!!

http://img188.imageshack.**/img188/2276/05202009447.jpg

http://img44.imageshack.**/img44/7879/05202009448.jpg

http://img41.imageshack.**/img41/9366/05202009449.jpg
 
That "little damage" will screw your trade in or resale value immensely. Were I appraising your car, I would knock off $3-4K or more.

You need to fix it properly, which includes a new light, bumper assembly, straightening out the fender, and all the required paint work.
 
Spectre said:
That "little damage" will screw your trade in or resale value immensely. Were I appraising your car, I would knock off $3-4K or more.
Click to expand...

His car appears to be an older body style Lexus ES (Toyota Camry). Knocking off $3-4k may put it in the negative. :lol:

Depending on the dealership and how much the car is actually worth, mileage, condition, and all that, would it not end up being sold off at auction possibly? I know dealerships don't always put every trade-in back on their lot.
 
Maybe I should add a bit more info: my car is a 1998 Lexus ES300 with approx. 132,000km (~82020 miles). Other than the front bumper damage, the car is generally in very good condition other than a few dings and scuff marks on the rear bumper. Also the interior is very clean and mechanically the car's brand new (maybe the brake master cylinder needs to be replaced soon but it's OK for now). I'm optimistically guessing that my car might be worth around $5000-6000 (~$4460-5350USD) for trade-in since I bought it at their dealership (I'm trading my car at the dealership where I had bought my car) brand-new and maintained by them from day one. Am I being a bit too optimistic that my car is worth so much? Should I fix that bumper damage?
 
I would still fix it; remember, the dealer doesn't have to take your car in trade.
 
Got to a junkyard and find a new bumper, headlight and whatever piece is below the headlight. You could probably find one in the same color (beige is a popular color for those cars) for a few hundred.
 
Or you could take it to a local high school. Generally it takes a bit longer, but It's often free.

*sometimes you have to pay for parts
 
JipJopJones said:
Or you could take it to a local high school. Generally it takes a bit longer, but It's often free.

*sometimes you have to pay for parts
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip JipJopJones, didn't know high school mechanics course deals with car bodies as well. I'll call a few high schools in my area. Maybe I'll try BCIT as well.
 
The only problem with BCIT is that it takes like 5 months for them to actually get to your car. I honestly think you are better off with a high school. Look for one with an auto shop and it will probably have an auto body shop too.
 
Just an update: my car got another (and unexpected) cosmetic damage to the driver side today!!

http://img222.imageshack.**/img222/7355/06152009452.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.**/img268/4358/06152009453.jpg

Now with this kind of damage, will my car be worthless now? :cry:
 
What the hell are you doing to your car? :p
 
That may come off with a clay bar or some (wait for it....) buffing.

No joke. :D

That said, yeah, every bit of damage makes your car worth less than book value.

Then realize that at least around here, a perfect 98 ES300 is worth about $4500.
 
That should buff right out. (no, seriously, it should)

-It`s hard to say that line seriously now adays.
 
^Thanks for the advice Spectre and JipJopJones, I got the lines all buffed out (seriously).

As for the front bumper, I'm going to get it fixed sometime next week. A auto body shop next to my workplace can get it fixed for $700.
 
^Or you could just drive it for the rest of time and wait for the value to go to 0 anyways and not worry about it :p

I say this as my daily driver just passes the 200,000 mile mark.
 
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