Selling smoky truck could torch wallet

Dear Terry,
About a year ago, I purchased a used pickup. It turns out the previous owner was a smoker. I couldn't smell the smoke when I test drove it because the dealer had it cleaned and smelling fine. The clean smell eventually left and the smoke smell became stronger.

I really can't stand the smell and would like to trade. I have spent a fortune trying to get the smell out professionally, but it is still there. My wife thinks I should drive it for a couple more years, but I'm afraid the value will be much less by then and I can get more trade allowance now.

What is your take on this? By the way, I paid cash for it and the trade-in value now is somewhere around $20,000.
-- Mark

Dear Mark,
This is a tough one. If the smell is so strong that it's really bothering you, by all means sell it or trade it. But it's likely that you'll take a hit in the value. You don't say what you did to try to eradicate the smell, but an investment in new carpeting and seat covers might be an answer.

Here are this week's reader questions:

• Top 10 deeply discounted 2008 cars • How can I get rid of a smoky-smelling truck? • Does my dealer have to finance my purchase? • Who decides which APR type to use?

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