Q for smokers on selling your cars

[manalishi]

Interested to know if, when selling your smoked-in car, a dealer has reduced the part-ex value of an otherwise excellent condition car because of the stale tobacco smell that's left?

Maybe they don't mention it (out of politeness) and just low-balled on the PX figure?

(Not wanting to get into any anti-smoking debate here)

 

[kwakdonut]

Personally, I avoid cars that have been heavily smoked in!

 

[wemorgan]

As a non-smoker I would not buy a car that smelled of smoke.

So I can well imagine a dealer offering a lower PX value as he'll have a reduced numer of customers willing to buy the car.

 

[verytalldave]

Unless it was so unbelievably, stupidly cheap, I wouldnt touch one with a disinfected bargepole.

Most car makers still give a "cigarette" lighter socket, but nowadays its more likely to be called a "power socket". My W203 has a socket, but no lighter unit.

 

[PXW]

My understanding is that smoking in a car does reduce its value, not sure how much by.

I once made the mistake of buying a smoker's car - it didn't seem too bad, and I assumed it would fade. But years later, especailly on a hot day, the thing still had the whiff of stale smoke.

 

[manalishi]

Thanks chaps, seems I'm not alone.

Have been googling about it and it seems that only some specialist fogging machine can get rid of the smell.

 

[JumboBeef]

I would never buy any car which smelt of smoke.

 

[popuptoaster]

most old cars smell of something so i dont care, cant stand the smell of car air fresheners, dunno why people insist on using them, mind you i'm a smoker, but then bunging a new ashtray in and having the car valetted has had several buyers over the years saying

"nice to see its never been smoked in"

 

[manalishi]

My daily driver is an 'old car' (an '03 Civic) and it smells of absolutely nothing other than typical car plastics.

As for valeting, I'd guess it's essential for helping to sell a smoked-in car - because the smell of cleaning chemicals and the just-valeted fragrances temporarily obscure the tobacco smell. They don't last.

 

[hawk20]

most old cars smell of something so i dont care, cant stand the smell of car air fresheners, dunno why people insist on using them, mind you i'm a smoker, but then bunging a new ashtray in and having the car valetted has had several buyers over the years saying

"nice to see its never been smoked in"

Exactly what I found. Sold loads of MB's when I was a smoker and if you clean it up and give a burst of airfreshener I've never had the question even asked. And I've never part exed a car for less than Glass's Guide figure.

I gave up smoking about 5 years ago and have gained 2 stone. Apparently nicotine reduces the appetite. Non-smokers cars have more seat wear and tear!

 

[NewMB]

Well, I am a smoker but would NEVER smoke in any of my cars. Nor would I buy one that smells it either.

OT: I never forget my mothers cars with an overfull ashtray and ashes all over

 

[Chattonmill]

I am a smoker, but will only smoke in my car with the window open, the missus is a non smoker and would complain if the car smelt of smoke in the slightest!

 

[verytalldave]

Well, I am a smoker but would NEVER smoke in any of my cars. Nor would I buy one that smells it either.

OT: I never forget my mothers cars with an overfull ashtray and ashes all over

My parents old Austin 1100 was like an ashtray on wheels.
And who can remember the old smoking smoking carriages on the slam-door trains. In winter. With all the windows closed. It was like sitting in a a fog. Made your clothes and hair reek.
Thank god for the smoking ban.

 

[popuptoaster]

Nowt wrong with the occasional ciggy in the car i reckon, i tend to not smoke in there the days its to cold or wet to have the windows open though, like anything taken to excess its bad for you, i am pretty healthy otherwise and about half a stone underweight for my height so i'm actually at less risk than most of the population these days.

i guess a dealer might make an ajustment if its obviously a smokers car and they think they can get away with it, but they'll clean it up anyway, not like you can go ask a dealer to sell you a car that HAS been smoked in a bit cheaper.

i bet none of em have ever been smoked in as far as the salesman will say when you ask, those of you who reckon you can always tell would never know unless a previous owner told you, you might think the smell always comes back, but you cant prove that 'cos if it dont come back you'll just think you've bought a car thats not been smoked in.

 

[verytalldave]

Trust me.
A lifelong non-smoker CAN tell if a car has been owned by a smoker.
Even after heavy duty valeting and cleaning.
The smell can almost never be completely eradicated.
I bought a mobile phone off a smoker off ebay well over a year ago and the keypad smelt of smoke. And it still does a little bit.

 

[johnsco]

Some years ago I bought a Vauxhall Senator from a friend who was a very heavy smoker ... Never had a cig out of his hand.

I never got rid of the smell in 5 years ownership.
My friend died of lung cancer.
The car died of chassis corrosion.

Must be a lesson there.

Johnsco

 

[kwakdonut]

Some years ago I bought a Vauxhall Senator from a friend who was a very heavy smoker ... Never had a cig out of his hand.

I never got rid of the smell in 5 years ownership.
My friend died of lung cancer.
The car died of chassis corrosion.

Must be a lesson there.

Johnsco

Yep, don't buy a Vauxhall!

 

[popuptoaster]

i still think if you went around a used car forecourt sniffing all the cars it will appear as if they are all non smokers cars, so i dunno where all the smokers sell their cars on then, im not saying ALL smokers cars can be disguised, but some of em must be or there would be a glut of them hanging around on the market awaiting sale.

 

[wemorgan]

i still think if you went around a used car forecourt sniffing all the cars it will appear as if they are all non smokers cars, so i dunno where all the smokers sell their cars on then, im not saying ALL smokers cars can be disguised, but some of em must be or there would be a glut of them hanging around on the market awaiting sale.

Maybe they get bought by people who own dogs!

 

[manalishi]

The background here is that I just bought a Toyota Aygo - an Approved Used one (replacing my Civic as a daily driver). I road tested a new one, liked it enough to buy a 57 plate that was in the same franchise at AN Other branch. 20,000m but that's OK as there's plenty of warranty left and it's a Toyota. The salesman reassures me that the prep/valet is so good, it'll be like new.

Salesman calls to tell me it's ready to collect - he's had a small ding on the bonnet sorted - fine by me.

When I pick the car up, it looks great. Exterior looks like new except for a tiny scuff. Open the door... and the reek is instant - and unmissable. Penny drops - this is somewhere I hadn't figured that the higher mileage would be a problem. And this reek is after it's supposed to have been valeted - and presumably more than once in the 3 months it's been up for sale!

Had all 4 doors open for 9 hours on Monday during the sun, got in it yesterday and the reek is still there and no weaker. Put the fan on and it's even worse when it's blowing at me. Googling shows that it's one of the hardest smells to get rid of (rather than just cover up with some other scent).

Toyota says I can bring it in for a valet (again?!), but I've declined - seems I'll be exploring the finer points of Toyota's 30 day No Quibble Exchange thing...