Parting with a car (1990 Toyota Corolla AE92)you have dreamed of having since you were in college has to be one of the hardest things to do. After fulfilling everything you had wanted to do with it, ranging from mechanical, body works, interiors and simple in-car entertainment audio system, one can imagine the cost and effort a person would put into it. I realized that effort but in the end, it all boils down to practicality and needs.
The Toyota Corolla 16 Valve does not have the common problems of high fuel consumption nor major car repairs. The AE92 had nothing to fix except perhaps for some minor paint job if you really wanted your car to stand out and live to its “Car Show” finish. But you have to take into consideration the year issue. The car is depreciating in cost and while you would want to part with it at something more, you just have to admit that you will not get it for the value you had gotten it along with modifications you had already spent on it.
Why should you read this? When it comes to selling your old car, you have limited options. Especially if you have a car that is reaching the 20 year age limit, you have to make decisions. Unless you are the famed car collector, if you are going to sell it, sell it now when the market value is still acceptable. Prolonging it will only drive the car value lower and eventually you may find it outrageous.
Figures? I had sold the car for about $2,200.00. I had bought the car as well for almost the same amount and then spend over $2,000.00 in modifying it. In the end, that amount used for improvement became my means of living a dream.
In the end, it was the depreciation value that claimed that investment even if the car still looked great. The next best thing to do with such a car? Don’t sell it to the car buying business wolves. Sell it to a friend who will value it. That is exactly what I did. Now the problem is, what car will I use to replace it!
Tags: body works, car collector, car entertainment, car repairs, car show, car value, depreciation, fuel consumption, living a dream, mechanical body, paint job, practicality, Toyota, toyota corolla, toyota corolla ae92