Goodbye, little silver BMW

Today's assignment, find a buyer for the soon to be no longer needed third car. By consolidating our "carbon footprint" and moving from two condos into one (albeit somewhat larger) home, we found ourselves with just ONE 2-car garage, and new subdivision rules against driveway parking.

We had kept a car in Missouri, and a car in Florida, for my wife to drive. I enjoy driving my Corvette, so it became the "up and down" car and was used 12 months a year. My wife favored the little Z-4 BMW, so the 300 convertible was the logical car to go. We decided to sell it to a dealer, rather than mess with Craig's List, E-Bay, Emily's List, the neighborhood BP station with a windshield sign, etc.

I first went to Kelly Blue Book on the Internet - they showed this car had a private party value of 18,000 to 19,700. That of course was a goal to reach should I have dealt with a private sale. I decided that, frankly, was too much trouble. I felt I had more important fish to fry, so I went to the next level - we checked into the Mannheim Auto Auction pricing. There we learned that similar cars were fetching between 13,000 and 14,000 dollars. Those auctions are where used car dealers pick up their product to later resell at Kelly Blue Book prices, or more.

So, thoroughly armed with a new reality, I went seeking a buyer, and over several days had secured two offers. I accepted the one from a local BMW dealer who was willing to pay me $500 more than the next highest offer, at the top of the Mannheim price range. In return for the money, he got a 2004 with only 29,000 actual miles on it. Having purchased it in 2006, when it was two years old and had 5,000 on the odometer, we got another 24,000 miles (over four years) out of this car. I'm sure the dealer will mark it up and be happy with his deal, but in the end the convenience made me happy as well.

Soon, we'll be down to two drivers and two cars. There's a certainly symmetry there, and I feel good about it. A call to cancel the insurance made me feel even better, from the savings I'll have. I have reduced my carbon footprint! Al Gore - you can be proud of me!