Hi,
Condition of the car is # 1. I owened many super cars, and I like everyone felt my car was "top value." In reality, all cars except the show cars are "average cars." One can say as one wishes, but reality is that way. I know of a 2006 roadster, it has less than 500 miles on it. No modifications, stock. That is a high value car, and it is worth $190,000. A 2005 with 8006 miles is in the average category, and 15,000 miles is considered "low." I seek a car that one is willing to sell for NADA average retail less 5. Simple, cash purchase, no haggling no games. A 6 speed is better on the clutch, but after 2006, you never see them again. Hence, for valuation purposes, since I may some day want to sell this car and buy another, a 6 speed is much harder to re-sell. I prefer a 6 speed, but I am always thinking ahead, hence your 6 speed is a negative from the start for me.
Interior wear, paint chips, etc, that makes a car a "low" value car, and it would simply not be considered by me or by a dealer. Yes the condition matters, but it does not make your car jump up in value - instead it makes it in the door having average value! Try selling your car to a dealer and you will find that out very quickly, I sure did, and it taught me to be a smart buyer.
All those ebay prces? How many sold at those prices? I know of only one in 5 months, and it was sold in dealers auction to another dealer for 44,000 less than is currently asked!
I am a tax lawyer, and it is my job to think ahead and to focus on the dollars!
And not only "condition" determines value, but also modifications. If I buy a car Murci and then remove the exhaust and put a $18,000 exhaust on it, then what happened? Most people wrongly think that increases the value of the car and on re-sale the buy should pay more $$$ for it. WRONG! That is the then owner's taste, not mine, and I would not waste $18,000 that way, and neither would I pay more for that addition. In fact, that "addition" hurt the car, it is no longer stock, and it would cost the buyer $$$ to put an original exhaust on it. Any modifcation away from stock hurts the re-sale price, it never increases the value of a car!
New clutch etc sounds good, but it also scares me, meaning how was the car driven to eat the clutch?
As for the years I picked, again that is the tax attorney in me. My budget for this purchase does not allow me to spend in the $200,000 range. I have a figure, a range that I have computed to be in my budget. The 2005 is on the low end and the 2007 is on the top end. I have grown bored of waiting, so I bought a 2010 ghost. Yep, a big hunk of metal, but darn it is fast, and I got it for $189,000 with 9,400 miles and a warranty. Cash worked wonders with the seller, and it is a great "drive to work car." I still seek a murci, but I am in no mad rush to part with my money unless the price is NADA less 5% of average retail.
I can wait and buy other toys, I have my fixed wing license but I am looking at a two place copter, if the price is right. So my answer is, that I know what is a fair price and I have a price range that I seek, but I am not in a rush since there are so many toys waiting to be enjoyed.