Selling a car on Craigslist from start to finish.

You'll get more money than through Peddle but you'll have to do much more work and have much less fun. Still interested? Read on for some real world examples.

Selling the 2001 Porsche Boxster on Craigslist

Here's the post contents:

Title: 2001 porsche boxster - $5,000 (Holly Springs)
Salvage title, has Boxster S exhaust.

Purchased from IAAI auctions Sept. 2, 2022 with 118,578 miles. Currently has 119,994 miles.

Inspected, daily driven, top works, windows roll up and down.

Replaced front left radiator, headlight assembly, turn signal, new battery. Painted over damaged body panels, poorly.

Appears to have IMS bearing replacement if you believe the tiny sticker in the picture.

Has many things wrong with it:
  • Obvious scratches, body damage.
  • Hood has weird permanent paint damage that looks like it's just dirty.
  • The remote key does not work, center window switches do not work.

This is probably because the window was left open during delivery and the alarm module was fried. The module sat in water for a few days and appears toast. This in turn makes the center window switches not work, I believe. What I ended up doing was disconnecting the motor harness in-door, and directly wired to the window regulator motor terminals. Then ran some wires out through the door panel and wired up some custom switches. The passenger side is straightforward in the door up/down, which you need to do before operating the top. The windows used to have comfort access open a little when the door is open so it won't pull on the top when the door is opened. In order to get around this I made a custom switch under the driver door handle that moves the window up and down manually before the door is opened. Window can only be operated by this switch. If the window switches fail just pull the door open and it will open fine, just pull on the side of the cover till it pops.

The carpet on the drivers side was ripped out and the floor panel replaced by a racing metal plate from pelican parts with the old floor mat bolted to the plate. The good news is there is no rust and no mold.

Rear cv joints are starting to clunk under heavy load and cornering.

Smells wet-doggish on the inside sometimes from previous dog owner. Stereo was removed prior, head unit disabled. Check engine light on occasionally for a evap sensor, or some other emissions issue that is moot because it's more than 20 years old and doesn't need to pass emissions. Has the 'hard to start' issue if you fill it up all the way. Fill it up to 3/4s and it will start after a few extra seconds.

Do you really want a 23-year potential money pit? One that was worked on by a novice, ignorant software engineer for fun? My preference is to sell this to someone who knows the potential issues, so please respond with some indicator that you're ready for problems as soon as you drive it away.

With that said, I daily drive it in Holly Springs and it is ridiculously fun to cruise around in a slow-fast car that I literally do not care if it gets damaged.

Price Context:
  • Carmax will give 300$
  • LKQ ~ 900$
  • Paid IAAI ~3000$, +~1500$ in parts.

Please consider the above when making an offer.


Outcome: The author received 3 different buyers that seemed serious. They didn't communicate that they truly understood what a nightmare this could potentially be. I think they just thought they were getting a cheap porsche. Ultimately I didn't feel comfortable potentially selling it to any of them so just sold it back to Copart/Cash4Cars for $1,400.

Selling the 2013 BMW X3 on Craigslist

Here's the post contents:

2013 BMW X3 salvage title - $6,000 (Holly Springs)

What does a salvage title mean? It means that if you buy this then attempt to resell it to a dealership, junk yard, or anywhere other than a private party, it will be valued at half a clean title, if they even want to buy it at all.

Bought this earlier this year for my daughter from an auction. Was hit while parked and not running, damaging the front right. Damage repaired by yours truly.

Known issues:

  • Front passenger door needs to be slammed to shut
  • Front right side has various scratches
  • Previously titled in Georgia with non-NC compliant window tint
  • Will need tint fixed for next year's inspection

This is a ten year old luxury German car. It will break soon and it will be expensive to fix.

Still not scared off? Include the name of a German city in your email response so I know you are aware of the issues.

With all that said it's a low mileage X3 that has a gorgeous interior and is fully drivable - I've driven it for weeks for fun because my daughter didn't want it.

Outcome: Over a few weeks and a re-post, the author communicated with one buyer that seemed serious. The showed up from a few hours away and out of state. The paid in cash. All we had to do was go to a local notary and sign the title over. What this looks like in NC is you go to the UPS store, and both parties sign the title while the notary watches. Then they hand you an envelope with the cash, and they walk out with the title and the keys. Leave the license plate on the car as a convenience to the buyer. Later on you can ask for it back or report it as lost and get the vehilce off your insurance and out of the DMV system.

Where Are You In The Process?

What is your combination of cost, availability, and repair requirements?
Can you handle flood damage? Missing panels? Non-starting vehicles?
Decide on acceptable panel gaps, paint imperfections, and fit misalignments
Consider fees, delivery, bid amount, parts, taxes, and registration
Set your max bid early and don't monitor the auction
Post sale negotiation, and actually pay for the vehicle.
Can be as soon as next day after auction
Title Transfer, Registration and Inspection.
Complete any legal requirements to get your car on the road
10 Days to make the first keep or sell decision.

You Are Here:

Step 10: Sell It And Repeat

Re-market, sell for parts, or scrap.

Find where you are in the car buying journey and click any step above to learn more. Each step includes specific examples and lessons learned from real purchases. See all articles for more information.

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