auto
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.
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