Q – I hate to do it but I have to sell my Porsche. I don’t use it enough and I don’t have a spot in my garage for it. As disappointed as I am to do it, I need to find out what I should do to get the best price for it. What do you suggest? – Ted
A – Ted. I am sorry that you’re in this situation. I would much rather offer you some driving suggestions, sell you a storage lift for you garage but if you mind is made up, here goes.
Wash the car well and walk around it looking for flaws. The prospective buyer will do this and you should be prepared to have your Porsche picked apart. If you have any door dings, have them removed by one of the fine paintless dent removers. The price is low and the quality is good. Buyers do not want to see any flaws in the finish that look neglected.
I suggest that you have the paint touched up. When done well, this is not inexpensive but if you want your car to be the stand out, it’s got to look sharp. If you can’t afford a professional job, pass on it. Don’t try it yourself unless you have a basic solid color or the cure may be worse than the disease.
Have the car professionally high speed buffed to bring out the best that the paint has to offer. I do not suggest that you try this at home since high speed buffing requires finesse that only years of practice and experience can teach. You may not need this if your paint is already spectacular. If the though of a buffing wheel scares you, take the car to one of the reputable detail shops that advertise in the club newsletter. Ask for their advice.
Clean your wheels including the inside of the wheel, behind the spokes. This is just one more area that will be scrutinized by the buyer and don’t forget the brake calipers and rotors. If you have rusty, aftermarket rotors, consider painting them if you can clearly see them through the spokes. When it looks like you haven’t scrimped on maintenance, the buyer will be impressed.
Clean the wheel wells, the front bumper lower spoiler and any of the black plastic cladding on the lower part of the car then apply a heavy duty protectant like “back to black” etc. The contrast will amaze you. For other black plastic surfaces, a protectant will bring back the color.
Clean the interior like you would before the picnic when Fred will be giving it the evil eye. Remove the floor mats and unless they are in great shape, don’t put them back in. Put them aside and if you sell it, give them to the owner as an after thought. If the carpet in the car is stained, have it professionally steam cleaned. If the leather seats are dirty, use a good leather cleaner and if you have a darker leather, use neatsfoot oil to soften it up and even out the finish. It will smell like leather too.
The engine compartment needs to look sharp too. If you had oil leaks (and who didn’t), wash oily residue of road grime off the bottom of the engine with Gunk Engine Brite and your local power wash. This is a good time to clean that scum off the inside of the wheel
wells too. Once you get the bottom of the engine clean, open the lid that see what looks ugly. A quick and easy engine coating that I use is “No Touch Tire Cleaner”. It makes the rubber, fabric and plated surface look spiffy and it is easy to do. Once you coat it, wipe off the excess and you will be amazed at the major difference for minimal effort.
Get every service invoice that you have for the car and put them in order. Consider an excel spread sheet that you can email to the buyer. I want the car that was owned by a well organized, anal retentive, neat freak. –MC