New research proves smoker’s cars harder to sell
March 26, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Smoker or non-smoker we’ve all at one time or another sat in a car that has been smoked in and noticed that no matter how well it had been cleaned, the smell of stale tobacco still lingered deep within the upholstery. A little off putting isn’t it?
Now, according to the PR Manager at British Car Auctions (BCA) Tim Naylor, statistics are proving that smoking in your vehicle can seriously devalue its price when it comes time to sell.
“Our research shows that presentation is one of the top factors influencing the price of used cars,” says Mr Naylor. “And in a tough market, buyers are only going for the best quality stock. If a car’s interior smells like an ashtray, this makes it very difficult for a dealer to sell it on and the chances are they will turn to something else instead. Motorists should avoid having a cigarette in their car, especially if they intend to sell it in the near future.
“This will avoid the lingering smell of cigarettes hanging in the interior, as well as eliminate the risk of discolouring and leaving scorch marks in the ashtray or on upholstery. All of these things will put buyers off, even if they smoke themselves. Professional valeting can alleviate most of the effects of smoking, but it can be expensive and time consuming and might mean replacing some interior trim, such as nicotine-stained headlinings.
“Although prices for used cars have been rising, it would be unwise to assume that buyers will pay high prices for every vehicle, whatever the condition. Buyers will only part with their cash for the very best examples and any car that has been heavily smoked in is potentially at a disadvantage when it comes to be sold.”
Print it: 
I am not surprised. Even if the car has been cleaned you can see the soot on the glass. Its worse i think if you are a reformed smoker. (Like me)
Have to agree SOULman. As an ex-smoker who purchased a classic car owned by a smoker since new I can still tell it has been smoked in 15 years later.
I’ve replaced the headlining, windscreen, console and carpets and yet the faint smell of ciggys is still there… somewhere.
Yep, its growse. Don’t wanna turn this into an anti-smokers thing here because my parents are smokers and I can understand how frustrating it must be for them to feel like everyone is out to get them, but man nothing is more annoying then having to put up with someone else’s ciggy smoke. A mate of mine lit one up in my car once and I was like dude seriously.. not only will i have to put up with the smell of it while you smoke it, but then i’ll have to put up with the smell of it in my car for the next few days because thats how long it will last from just one ciggy! Smokers generally can’t smell it, but when your a non-smoker or a reformed one, i can tell you its the worse smell there is…
Who wants to drive an ash tray……………yuk!
Plus anyone that looks after a car doesnt smoke in it !
This story should be put in the file “the bleeding obvious”. Of course condition is a major determinant of value and sale-ability. Similarly don’t let your dog travel in the car if you want to get top dollar, or small children for that matter. Have you seen how much damage a baby seat/child capsule can do to a rear seat when its been upholstered in leather?
Dlr1,
Yes i had that drama (bloddy kids) Next time put a towl down first :)
those things are some of the reasons why I buy new, even though I know I will take it in the tail as soon as I drive out of the car yard. Add scratches near door handles from engagement rings. My all time least favorite though is the yellow nicotine stain in the head lining (mentioned by Matt). Imagine that crap in your body…putrid. I’m reformed, BTW.
Well Duh!
I’m with Dlr1 on this one, stating “the bleeding obvious”.
I hope they didn’t spend any money on that research.
I’m not a reformed smoker but I still can smell the smoke no matter how well they clean the car. These cars therefore have no value to me because if I smell smoke I walk away.
In other news, bears do in fact sh*t in the woods
not ONE BIT surprised by that…not one bit..i saw a picture of an old guy who had rings on him like liberaci in a brand new Ferrari Scuderia going to a ferrari meet in canada on another carsite, and their he was (to my amazement)their he was smoking a big fat cuban cigar……i couldnt believe it when i saw the pictures….that would stink it to high heaven for years to come…..but then again scuderia’s have no carpets….hahahah
Ahwell good luck to him….
I wish I could put it any other way but “DERRRR”
On a foot note Salesman the Black 323 that was traded by my friend recently wasn’t that badly kid marked. ;-)
Thats because it was a BMW. Mine was in a TD4 Freelander SE. Need i say any more?
Off topic for half a sec, He said something about a 323 protege with familiar sounding owners names
Sorry Mods back on topic now ;-)
Frontman,
Are you talking about my Mazda Protage 323 that i traded on a Honda CRV Lux Sports? Do you know everything about me?
Let a girl smoke in my car once, (only cause she was hot and..well..lets not go there) now i dont let anyone smoke near my car, let alone in it!
Nah PMCQ traded it on a XR5 Focus ;-)
Back on topic, it’s not just the smell, it’s the inevitable pin hole burns and browning of the hood lining etc.
It’s like chuck in the heater vents – never goes away.
I’m a reformed smoker as well (28 years off the crap :) ).
Come to think of it, I haven’t chucked in a long time either, haha, so maybe I can classify myself as a reformed chucker too.
Ummmm g;day Car Advice long time smoker short time buyer ! Reckless i have no idea how you came up with that name? Havent chucked, havent smoked in a while i reckon you sit there knitting car seat covers on Friday nights ?? Anyhow im going to enjoy life! smoke , drink, you name it and when i die and go to heaven im gonna slide in to heaven with a bottle in one hand and a smoke in the other slap an angel on the ass and say ” Whoooaaa what a ride” ! So dont take life so seriously people it’s not permanent ;o)
luvalambi you right life is not permanent but why hasten your end oh and i think in australia its pronounced arse.the loud people say ass,what makes you so sure its going to be heaven?because if you are going to live your life to the full i think you may end up in that other place and you realy dont want to slap old nick on the arse or you might find a pitchfork inserted in yours.go hard.
Luvalambi, you sound like a very small minded person. Slide into heaven and become an unlikeable ghost if you like but not smoking isn’t not enjoying life. Reckless is just writing that he’s glad he’s off them. So he should be. And just because he hasn’t thrown up in a while doesn’t mean he doesn’t drink and therefore sits home knitting.
About five years ago, I was looking for a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow with certain interior and exterior colours and I found it, but I just couldn’t buy it because it stank! I don’t see how it’s still legal to smoke while driving actually. If you can ban people from holding mobile phones to their ears then why not cigarettes to their mouths? It’s obviously not to do with the distraction of the phone call because hands-free and bluetooth are allowed so I don’t get it.
John A, you’re exactly right. Just because you’d rather the end came later than sooner doesn’t mean you’re some boring lifeless person.
And they do say “ass” here. I’ve found that Australia’s much more American than British.
yes alex they do say ass here i think we have become to americanised i think its so sad that we copy everything that the yanks do as australian english is is unique,when the youngies ask me where the bathroom is i always direct them to the showers hehe,and you right it shouldnt be hard to make smoking in cars ilegle.
Looks like John and Alex go to the same bible class?? Poor Luvalambi just got basted ! Interesting comment though John A i didnt know you were so into Ass’s ? Sorry Arse’s
LOL
luvalambi – if you need to put some fire sticks in your mouth every 15 minutes or so just so you can have a good time… well i feel sorry for you mate
the rest of us can have a good time without needing a smoke, infact we can have a BETTER time because we have an extra hundred bucks in our wallets every week to spend on going out! What a concept…
there are a few products around(i know wurth sell one of them)that will get rid off most of the smell,by fumeagation while the a/c is on.work’s on some non aussie origion’s owners cars as well(think curry)…
Smokers can just suck on the exhaust pipe of a running engine. A quicker and cheaper way to kill yourself.
Yeah good one “stevothedevo” i can think of a lot worse things?????? Maybe we will start with your name ??? Best not as i have church in the morning haaaaaaaaaaaa Oh are Alex and John A coming ?? (I mean to church you filthy buggers)… Hmm time for a smoke in my own car :o)
Um, Luvalambi, you bring up heaven so now I’m religious? Huh? So because I don’t see much point in smoking I must be religious? For the record, I’m not religious so I don’t know where you got that from.
I didn’t even write that I thought smoking was a bad thing, I just think you look quite foolish thinking that if you don’t smoke, you must be sitting home knitting right now.
You seem to lash out at every commenter who thinks smoking is bad. Maybe deep down you wish you weren’t one. However, judging by your obvious intelligence, I don’t think you would have a deep down so maybe not.
As for the comment on Stevothedevo’s name yes I do agree, but can you really defend “Luvalambi”? Sounds like one of the Japanese childrens cartoons my seven year old niece watches.