Is it worth replacing the hood on a car I'm about to sell?

[northestPM]

Looking to sell a 2014 Yaris 1.5L 2 door with 59k, bought new by my late grandmother. Been in the family since new and had oil changes every 4k, trans fluid/filter changed at ~30k.

They are going for about $9k in my area with that mileage.

One small issue. The hood has a couple small dents in it, maybe 1/4" deep from either a branch or road debris. Tried to fill them in with some of that Dr. Colorchip paint where you fill it in and wipe the paint with a squeegee. Dried fast and made a mess, tried to polish it off with my DA Polisher and cutting compound, ended up with a very shiny hood with touch up paint blotches everywhere (that's some good quality touch up paint!)

I can replace the hood for about $700.

Worth it for this price of a car or not?

Thanks

 

[dishdude]

No, someone looking for a 2014 Yaris wants a cheap car and will live with the dents for a $700 discount.

 

[demarpaint]

Try selling it in the condition it's in first. If you can't sell it then consider replacing the hood. IMO I'd sell it as is priced accordingly, and not hassle the hood.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Someone buying an $9K car would likely rather have a 8K car with a messed up hood.

 

[E150GT]

$9k for a 14 Yaris ?

 

[katnapped]

$9k for a 14 Yaris ?

The few that I see listed around here are even worse. Either that much for higher mileage or more expensive for similar mileage.

 

[oil pan 4]

Get a junk yard hood for like $100.

 

[Kira]

I remember looking for a hood once.
One junkyard man said, "Cars have a way of going forward when they're in a crash, so finding hoods is hard".

When my brother sought a trunk lid for his '91 Lumina....he had the choice of color!

OP: Look around online and at junkyards to see what a perfect junkyard hood in your color would cost.
Add shipping (fetching+loading+packing if you're doing it yourself), labor to swap it, color correction etc.
I betcha it'll run a tad over $100.

Gather your data and make a decision...worth it? only you can decide.

 

[DuckRyder]

I would not.

 

[Chris142]

Pick up a used hood @ at picapart thats the right color for $25.

 

[JTK]

People are asking $9K or you know they're selling for $9K?

Maybe it's realistically a $7K car. I wouldn't put $700 into it to sell it.

 

[macarose]

You have three avenues.

Go to car-part.com and see if your hood is available with the exact same color.

If not, go to a few body shops. Have them order. a certifit and see if they can paint it for you. Should be no more than $400.

Finally, I always ordered Toyota touch up paint at a dealership. Cost only $20. Do the touch up around 8 PM. I find Toyota's touch up paint is the best for any of their cars, and I've ordered dozens.

Go on YouTube and learn how to administer it. Chances are you will be fine with that.

All the best.

 

[zzyzzx]

Get a junk yard hood for like $100.

Because the junk yard hood will be the matching color and have no dents???

 

[oil pan 4]

Because the junk yard hood will be the matching color and have no dents???

When I get body panels I'm just going for less dents and rust. Color is irrelevant.

 

[E150GT]

The few that I see listed around here are even worse. Either that much for higher mileage or more expensive for similar mileage.

Crazy. My wife had a 2012 yaris. We took it to carmax and they offered $2500.00 for it. It did have some hail damage but it was solid mechanically. We did not sell it. Later that year my wife rear ended a truck and totalled it. and we got $5500

 

[Dave9]

People are asking $9K or you know they're selling for $9K?

Maybe it's realistically a $7K car. I wouldn't put $700 into it to sell it.

Even tho' low miles, I wouldn't even consider it $7K (private owner sale) w/o the hood damage. It was only ~$16K new, now a decade old. The post-Covid market is the only way that should sell for $7K.

 

[PandaBear]

If it is small dent, you probably can get paintless dent removal to work. You have to watch out for different fade in junkyard hood to match. It may be better or worse than just leaving a small dent on the current hood.

 

[Kira]

^^Bingo^^ ...how often a shabby repair looks worse than the original damage.
Body panel alignment 'happens'.

 

[Tdbo]

Just clean it up as best as you can.
Price it as you normally would.
If you get someone who is serious about it, notices it and gets all spastic over it, offer to knock a couple hundred off the price.
They'll be happy as clams, think that they got a bargain and/or pulled one over on you, and you'll still come out money ahead.

 

[wavinwayne]

I would not.

Same