Does Smoking Lower Your Car's Value? (rental, traction, mileage, Rover)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Considering you already lost money as soon as you drove it off the lot.....in 7-10 years it will be even less. Unless you kept an emasculate car void of any dents, rust, paint or any other interior damage/wear...
Why would you want to neuter your car? Is it running around with the neighbor's Volkswagen and producing little Skodas everywhere?
I used to own a Miata convertible whose previous owner smoked in it. After I thoroughly cleaned the interior (and made a habit of driving around with the top down), basically all of the smell was banished. Seats still had a couple of ciggy burns. When I sold it, the buyer didn't mention or complain about any smoke smell, and offered a competitive price.
For a non-convertible with lots of soft surfaces to soak up the ciggy smell, probably wouldn't be so lucky.
Dealers buy cars that smokers trade in and do you think they are going to separate thir used cars and trucks by smoking and non smokeing., I'm sure some here bought a used car from the dealer that had a former owner that smoked and you could not tell the differance dealers know how to get smells out of a car. And do you think the dealer is going to tell you if the car was smoked in. I'm sure most people have to use a dealer because you need financing.
Dealers buy cars that smokers trade in and do you think they are going to separate thir used cars and trucks by smoking and non smokeing., I'm sure some here bought a used car from the dealer that had a former owner that smoked and you could not tell the differance dealers know how to get smells out of a car. And do you think the dealer is going to tell you if the car was smoked in. I'm sure most people have to use a dealer because you need financing.
Kinda sorta. Most dealers don't bother because it isn't a HUGE deal. They know if they get a call on a used car, to run the ionizer machine in it overnight and it will filter out most of the smoke smell.
Kinda sorta. Most dealers don't bother because it isn't a HUGE deal. They know if they get a call on a used car, to run the ionizer machine in it overnight and it will filter out most of the smoke smell.
Correct so these op must pay cash for their cars from private sellers because they would have no idea that that used car from the dealer belonged to a smoker, so all this whinnying and scenario's about a car looses values if you smoked in it is bs. A dealer will give you fair market for your car that could give 2 cents if you smoked in the car. No we're in the dealers blue book is there a column fo if it belonged to a smoker. I'm glade to see op thinking they know everything there is to know about the used car business , I have owned plenty in my over 45 years of having cars and pickup trucks. In case you don't know most car salesman new and used smoke.
Dealers buy cars that smokers trade in and do you think they are going to separate thir used cars and trucks by smoking and non smokeing., I'm sure some here bought a used car from the dealer that had a former owner that smoked and you could not tell the differance dealers know how to get smells out of a car. And do you think the dealer is going to tell you if the car was smoked in. I'm sure most people have to use a dealer because you need financing.
If the interior looks yellowed and stinks like cigarettes they'll send it to auction. They're not going to spend time and money steam cleaning and replacing the headliner.
25%? Ok. If you find me the $40K 4Runner that is selling for $30K just because it was smoked in let me know.
I don't argue that it affects the value of a car. But the real number is closer to 5%, or less, and it depends on the car. If its an in demand vehicle, it won't make as much of a difference, but a used Camry will take the worst hit.
The smell is gross, but it isn't permanent.
Isn't permanent?
Depends on your definition I have known it to last for several years. Too "permanent" for me!
My wife wouldn't even consider a car if it has been smoked in. Even the best smoke smell removal method, short of replacing every interior fabric and plastic parts, wouldn't remove it completely.
I can only speak from experience - I test drove a used four door pickup truck with my wife a few years back and the smell of cigarettes permeated the cloth seats. We (non-smokers) looked at each other after a couple minutes and agreed there was no way we could live with a vehicle that smelled of cigarettes. The smell actually gave me a headache and I couldn't imagine our young children being ok riding in that environment without their sinuses getting irritated. The dealer could have knocked off a couple more thousand from the price and we still wouldn't consider it. The value of that truck dropped immensely in our minds when we smelled the cigarette smoke. Would other people have different reaction to the smell? Sure, a smoker probably wouldn't care at all.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
