This topic is a fun one to write about because it’s so easy to explain. If you are like me, you grew up around parents and grand-parents that smoked cigarettes. Not only did they do this, but literally in the car with kids next to them wearing no seat belts. Car Seat? What was a car seat? Enough “Boomer Talk” already… yeah, smoke odor bothers me. I got enough 2nd hand smoke in my life to know I don’t want to be around it ever again. If I rented a car on vacation and it was smoked in, I would immediately return it for something else – of lesser class if necessary. I am “like” 86% of the US Population – we all agree that smoke odor sucks. That said, 14% of the US Population smokes avidly. We have learned that not all smokers will smoke in their vehicle and would like to point out the obvious….this is testimony that smoking inside a car is no bueno!!! I mean smokers won’t even do it. Why? Because you can’t get it (that smell) out and the burn holes keep happening and adding up which ruins the vehicle.
How much does it hurt? Typically most cars will take a $1500 hit for smoke odor as long as there are no burns. Burned headliners, door panels and carpets have to be replaced and interior parts cost big money because they all have to be ordered from the vehicle manufacturer. On an exotic car it could be as much as 10-12% of the value. Let’s face it, the number of butts for the seat of a $100K Vehicle are few to begin with and these buyers have the ability to discriminate -and they will! Against your car with smoke odor! They just won’t buy your car and will look elsewhere for one like it.
While smoking is bad for your health and we would suggest quitting as soon as possible, we can guarantee that the audience for your used vehicle will shrink by 86% if you smoke in it.
For more about this topic or a value on a vehicle with smoke odor, please email us at: info@carbuyerusa.com
