Smoker's car - how to get rid of smell? resale value?
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Smoker's car - how to get rid of smell? resale value?
just thinking about buying a car but it was a smoker's car. how can the smell be get rid of? the dealer said they can use some kind of ionizer to take out the smell over night. do they work?
do these cars usually have a lower resale value?
how much lower? thanks!
do these cars usually have a lower resale value?
how much lower? thanks!
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If the dealer says he can clean it overnight, go back the next day and see.
Sounds like B.S to me. They might get the smell reduced (temporarily), but that won't clean the headliner and other parts of the interior. I've had smoker's cars in the past where you could see the residue on the headliner (fold the sunvisors down for a comparison) and although the car might not smell all the time, the smell would come back in rainy, humid weather.
I would expect them to clean the car no matter who they are going to sell it to. So have them clean it and then take a look. The company I work for started to forbid smoking in the company cars a few years ago because of the trade-in value hit (they replace the cars every year). I'd expect a big discount if I was ever to buy a smoker's car again.
- Tom
I would expect them to clean the car no matter who they are going to sell it to. So have them clean it and then take a look. The company I work for started to forbid smoking in the company cars a few years ago because of the trade-in value hit (they replace the cars every year). I'd expect a big discount if I was ever to buy a smoker's car again.
- Tom
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Re: Smoker's car - how to get rid of smell? resale value?
If the car reeks of smoke that means they didnt give a "f" about it. Do you want to buy a car from someone who doesnt give a "f" about things? Didnt think so, move on to another. Plenty of sweet used cars out there not to have to worry.
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Re: What kind of car is it? and how much? is the interior leather or velour??
In my opinion I assume if an owner didn't give a hoot about the smell and didnt attempt to keep it clean, then there are probably many other areas where the previous owner didnt treat the car well.. But yes, a good interior detail job shampooing the carpets and upholstery will get most of the smell out... Is the car leather or velour interior?? Leather is treatable, with velour, you'll never fully get the smell out it'll return on humid muggy days..
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more than smell...corrosion, electrical problems.
IMHO, the problem can't be fixed for the long term owner. In several years the power window switches and/or contacts in the dash switches, stereo, and/or the sunroof switch will act up and the only solution is replacement at exorbitant cost. You have to be a real idiot to smoke inside a car today. Oops, that's redundant...smokers ARE idiots. Darwinian selection. YOU don't have to buy their cars.
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I never heard of a car that suffers electrical problems from cigarette smoke
Any modern day car that suffers from corrosion or electrical problems from cigarette smoke, is obviously not engineered well at all and an incompetent car.. A vehicle should be able to withstand years of extreme heat and sunlight in summer baking in a parking lot, plus extreme cold and frost during the winter time.. Not to mention going over potholes, withstanding rain and humidity and other elements normal vehicles are subject to day in and day out..
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Re: I never heard of a car that suffers electrical problems from cigarette smoke
They can withstand all of that. What they cannot withstand is the build up of tar and other rubbish on the contacts and in the switch mechanisms.
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I think this problem is secondary to the damage it does to
the fabric and plastic in the interior. Headliners are the frst to go. Clear plastic covering over wood trim is next. It also effects the glue and foam in leather seats.
Look a little harder, and find a non-smoking car.
Always look for one with service records
Look a little harder, and find a non-smoking car.
Always look for one with service records
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The smell's not in the air, it's in the materials inside the car!
Esp. the headliner. All surfaces need to be shampooed/cleaned. ALL carpeting (under seats included), the seats themselves, headliner, etc. etc. etc.
Even then, depending on how sensitive your nose is, you may always catch a faint whiff of ciggie smoke. That stuff is very pervasive.
Even then, depending on how sensitive your nose is, you may always catch a faint whiff of ciggie smoke. That stuff is very pervasive.
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Recommend against buying any stinky smoking car...
Just because you do something, doesn't mean it should be done in a car...people ****, but they shouldn't **** in their car...people smoke, but people shouldn't smoke in their car...etc, etc. 
I think it is impossible to get all the stink out...it may seem good for a while, then some rainy day comes and the stink comes back again and again.
Unless this is some exotic car...find a non-smoked car...one more reason it pays not to smoke.
I think it is impossible to get all the stink out...it may seem good for a while, then some rainy day comes and the stink comes back again and again.
Unless this is some exotic car...find a non-smoked car...one more reason it pays not to smoke.