Would you buy a used car if the interior had some type of malodor, whether it was from smoke, pets, a spilled beverage, etc.?

 

with that being the only information given, then maybe...

 

...possibly...but then again I used to be a detailer...so I know some tricks of the trade. Maybe I still am, but havent had much time for it since the Army.

 

I've seen good detailers get rid of most evidence of such, but cars that are smoked in seem to always have that tinge, depending on how much it has been smoked in.

 

NO...I would walk from the car

 

If the seller isn't willing to pay for the detail work to remove odor before you commit to buy, I would say no.

 

After two experiences with "malodorous" cars, I'd say no. One company car returned by a cigar-smoking salesman cleaned up fine . . . until I turned on the AC. Evaporator coil was coated in stink that required removal and steam cleaning. It was never really de-scented, but was at least tolerable if you kept a window cracked open.

A ladyfriend traded her Eldo for a smaller car during a fuel crisis. It had belonged to several gentlemen, representatives of some odd culture that had no idea what soap was used for. The body-stench was simply overpowering. It went back to the dealer several times and was returned odor-free . . . that is until she parked it in the sun on a hot day. We're baaaack! Dealer took the car back and sent it to the crusher.

Depending on the source and type of the smell, it may be impossible to remove. If you DIY it, you stand to further damage the car. Mold can be a health hazard, and simple detailing to remove the smell is not often enough; it may require a good bit of disassembly to get carpets and door panels out, and may not be successful in the long term. Unless the discount was 30% or better, I'd say no.

 

If its just smoke I'd buy it, if it was body-odors and such (I dont think they werent using soap, I think they were doing something else) then I'd look for something else.

 

I probably wouldn't. My friend's house smells really bad because of his pitbull, which he keeps indoors. So pet odors would be a no. I did however, buy my car with the understanding that the seller was a smoker. I was pleasantly surprised upon receiving the car(purchased sight unseen, sent my folks to pick it up because I had work). I have never detected even a hint of cigarette smoke odor.

 

Watch and learn...

 

Ozone generators remove odor so yes...

 

I don't mind smoke much but body odor or pets, no thanks.

 

Not all odors......
My old SC400 was smoked in HEAVILY.

We took it to a shop that normally takes care of odors in homes after a fire. They ran their machine for 3 hours on end. Odor went away for 1 week...then came right back. Smoke residue in the A/C is a HUGE turnoff in car buying for me.

 

As far as odor goes, even with pets, you have to have some limits.

 

I bought a GS4 and it came with a weird smell, didn't know what it was and couldn't get it out of the car, until one day I was installing the wires for my system and found a half ouce " grass looking " thing under the shifter cover, it was WEED!! Man, I could have get caught by transporting drug!!!!