I have a F350 2012 dually, two-tone white, Lariat, crew cab in in generally good shape around 35k miles. My wife, however, scrapped the left rear fender so there are visible scratches on the top of it, and I put a small dent about the size of a baseball in the lower part of the same fender.

I got an estimate of $1,500, parts and labor to replace it. I don't want to claim it on insurance.

I hope to sell the truck sometime over the next six months to a year.

Would I be better off fixing the fender for resale? or just discounting the price by $1,500?

(of course, there's always the chance if we fix it, we might scrape it again before selling it. . . . though we are more careful now).

Does this sort of damage lower the value of a truck beyond the cost of repairing it? In other words, will I actually need to knock down the price more than $1,500 if I don't repair it? Will it be a harder sell if I don't repair it?

Thanks for any advice.

 

Never mind.

 

I would fix it and then include that in add that in your price. This way you can show the truck was well cared for and show the potential purchaser that you just spent 1500 dollars to have this fixed so the purchaser doesnt have to

It also send a message to the purchaser that you care about the truck and took care to keep it maintained... but as UGH3012 stated shop around for a better quote. You can even look on Criagslist there are auto body guys who arent working or work on the side out of home for extra money that may do it cheaper but the same quality.. but I would definetly shop around for a better quote from someone

 

Actually it's a 2012, not 2016, if that makes any difference.

 

Yeah, i think it makes a diiference. It would to me. I bought a 2005 and it isn't perfect, but its also 10+ years old with 132k on it. It has a dent in what could be the worst place, the corner near the grill by the V10 tag. 3 body lines converge there.

 

with ONLY 35,000 miles .. no question FIX IT.. I feel the damage.. what else is wrong with the truck.. my opinion. In great shape demands a higher selling price.


I purchased my 2012 last summer.. but it has 145,000 miles so a few scratches and a fewer small dents goes with the miles..


whatever you ask for your truck. the damage .. will be asked to lower it more.

 

Have you tried getting a price to have the dent pulled out? I'm on the fence about this, it really depends on how bad the damage actually is. Someone will definitely try to get a lower price because of the damage but the question is will it be 1500 lower or just say 700 lower? It is hard for me to say fix it because then you are tied to a dollar amount, if you pay 1500 to get it fixed are you positive that your going to get an additional 1500 out of it? Just my .02

 

You make some good points, as I said I am on the fix it side, but I am sure whatever potential buyer comes along they are always going to try and get the truck for as low as possible. If I the poster fixes it, I think he will make out a little better, than if he had not. But in reality we are kind of playing devils advocate here.

Really it is what the poster thinks will best for him to sell his truck, yes he could just say it has a ding and reflect that in his price, or he could fix it and reflect it in his price. Some folks dont mind if a truck has a ding or scratch or needs paint etc because they can fin it or know someone who can, and others want it in showroom condition

This one will be what ever the poster thinks will work best for him

 

Talk to your sales guy you bought it from (or someone else you might get your next from). Body shops generally are insurance leaches. It's a valid business strategy, but I wouldn't pay outta pocket for one. Most sales departments have traveling body guys that fix up such things for traded in used cars on the lot. I am often able to cut cost by at least 50% compared to our body shop. Even if you don't, I wouldn't discount by $1500 right up front. Price it how you want to sell it, and if someone comes out and uses it for negotiation, just settle somewhere between what you are asking and what you're willing to discount due to that. Many people will actually say "it's a used truck, that's fine", or say nothing at all. If you discount upfront, I promise you they will ask for more. No one likes pre-discount (hence the song and dance when you go to buy a truck, I see it daily and it drives me crazy)