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wowwabbit

thanks for info--Hank

prodigalsun

On invoice pricing for a brand new 2002 Nissan Maxima SE? I have a dealer promissing me one at dead cost, but I can't verify his numbers.

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi prodigalsun. It appears as though Edmunds.com has removed the new car pricing pages for 2002 models from this site. I can tell you though that the base dealer invoice price for a 2002 Nissan Maxima SE with automatic transmission is $23,411 including destination charges. I can find out the invoice prices of any options or options packages for you as well if you let me know how this car is equipped.

Car_man
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prodigalsun

It's an '02 SE, with 500 miles on the OD.

packages included: Meridian, Leather package, Comfort and Convenience package. Has sunroof. No Limitted slip or navigation.

CarMan@Edmunds

You're welcome, prodigalsun. The dealer invoice prices that I have seen for the options that you are interested in are: $346 for the Meridian Edition Pkg., $1,347 for the Leather Pkg., and $779 for the sunroof.

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prodigalsun

One other question, the SE I'm looking at has the 6 speed manual, Any difference in base cost?

CarMan@Edmunds

No problem, prodigalsun. According to the informaiton that I have seen, the dealer invoice price of the 2002 Nissan Maxima SE with manual transmission is $23,411 including destination.

Car_man
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prodigalsun

CarMan@Edmunds

Thanks .

Car_man
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drjefe

I am looking at buying a TDI Jetta Wagon and was wondering if anyone has had experience buying through a broker?

KCRam

Hi drjefe

You can search on "brokers" in the Search box in the left margin for discussions involving brokers. You may also want to head over to the Station Wagons Board and check the Jetta discussions there.

kcram
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chile96

Quickie question - I'm looking at a 1 yr old Porsche Boxster and there are a couple of companies that have a few real low mileage 2000-2003 Boxsters listed. Typically these companies have 150+ high end used luxury/sporty vehicles. I asked the rep where he gets them and he said they were all trade-ins at local dealerships.

Why would a dealership wholesale these really nice/luxurious cars to them? Are they typically damaged in some way, shape, or form?

BTW, all these companies have their cars listed on ebay w/ residuals - usually 7-10 day auctions. If I pay for an inspection by a private party, clear it w/ CARFAX, and check the cars service record - do you think it's safe or are most of these cars hiding something and that is why the original dealership didn't want them?

If you're not sure about these questions, would you mind reopening the archived file "Buying & Selling cars on Ebay"

Thanks a ton for any info
fo

ps - Bottomline - where do these vehicles come from. They even have a 2003 lamborghini muricelago(sp?) w/ 23 miles if you're interested. It's only listed @ $255,000!!!!!! I'll wait till George W eliminates all taxes! lol

CarMan@Edmunds

Hey chile96. It's difficult to say why any dealer would cut loose a vehicle at wholesale prices. Perhaps it has been sitting on their lot for a long time and they just want to move it. Or perhaps they sell a type of vehicle that does not usually attract Boxster buyers to their lot. If the vehicles that you are interested in are way under priced, it certainly is possible that there is something wrong with them or they have been in a major accident. Like any used vehicle, make sure to either check over these Boxsters very thoroughly yourself or take it to a mechanic to have it looked at prior to purchasing it.

As requested, I have moved the "Buying & Selling Cars on eBay" out of the archives and back onto the main Smart Shoppers Message Board. Please feel free to post any additional questions that you have on this subject in that area.

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scottdude

Hi, I have no idea where to post this question, so if you guys can't help, can you tell me who can?

I love the Edmunds site, but I keep getting a "runtime error" every time I try to access any of the pages. I use IE 5 and after clicking on one of your pages, I get the error box and it asks me if I want to send a debug report. I say no, then I can get to the page I wanted. This is very annoying!

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi scottdude. I have never experienced the problem that you are talking about, but I will ask our IT department about your situation and see if they can shed any light on what the problem may be. I'll let you know if I am able to find anything out.

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nishka

Can you direct me to a discussion group regarding the vehicles that hold their value the best (not collector cars); just cars that I can buy, use, and sell without loosing money.

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi nishka. I am not aware of any discussion that talks about which vehicles retain their value the best. Please feel free to start a new discussion on this subject if you would like. I did come across an Edmunds.com article that you may find helpful though: Special Reports - Residual Value Awards Announced.

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oomyoo

Hi. I'm a first time buyer and I was wondering how much paperwork fees (licensing, registration etc.) would approximately come out to be for a new vehicle.

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi oomyoo. The tax, title, and license fees that you need to pay when you purchase a new vehicle will vary depending upon what state you live in. They also will vary depending upon the price of the vehicle that you are getting. If you let me know what state you plan on registering your new car in, I would be more than happy to provide you with some links to places where you might be able to find out the answer to this question.

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hulagirl1

There's only one BMW dealership in Honolulu so there's no comparison shopping... Does $35,500 sound like a fair price for a 2003 325i with the Performance package,leather seats, and automatic transmission? The price includes state tax (4%), doc and licening fees. I am also trading in my 1999 Toyota Rav 4 for which they are offering me $9000.

rajamansingh

Hi there!
I am trying to buy a used car in Santa Fe, NM. I have narrowed down my search to the following.
Could you please re-post this appropriate discussions/give me your opinions? Thanks so much.

==================================================
Certified Used 2002 Toyota Corolla 4 Dr LE Sedan with 25,000 miles, and Automatic 4-Speed Transmission, Cruise Control, Power Windows, Aluminum/Alloy Wheels, Power Door Locks, Air Conditioning, AM/FM/CD Audio System, Antilock Brakes in Average condition
Dealer Price: $12,000.00
==================================================
                   vs
==================================================
Certified Used 2000 Honda Civic 4 Dr DX Sedan with 34,000 miles, and Air Conditioning, AM/FM/CD Audio System, Automatic 4-Speed Transmission in Average condition
Dealer Price: $10,500.00
==================================================

viper0074

If any of the Hosts here have a free second, please read my ridculously long post in "Any Questions for a Car Dealer?" and let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Peter

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi rajamansingh. The first thing that I would do if I was trying to evaluate the prices of these vehicles is look up their True Market Values right here at Edmunds.com. You can do so by clicking on the following link and inputting the appropriate information: Edmunds.com Research Used Car Prices, Listings & Info. Once you have found out what Edmunds.com believes these vehicles are worth, you should hop on over to the Real-World Trade-In Values discussion that appears right here on the Smart Shoppers Message Board. One of our most knowledgeable and helpful community members, Terry, hangs out there and is usually willing to give consumers an idea of what the used vehicles that they are interested in buying or selling are currently worth. You may also want to stop by the Toyota Corolla (Sedans Board) and the Honda Civic Sedans discussions here in the Town Hall to see if other community members who have these vehicles can give you an idea of their current values.

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CarMan@Edmunds

Hey Peter. I was just over in that discussion and gave you a detailed explanation of this vehicle's current incentives. Hopefully it helps to answer some of the questions that you have. Please feel free to let me know if you have any other questions though.

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jwilson1

I'm considering using a locator service to shop for a used Porsche 996 -- they will also go to the Manheim "high line" auction and purchase in my name (for a set fee).

I know nothing about these services or what to "watch for," and have found nothing via several searches here at Edmund's.

Any suggestions? (Or information!!?) Best, and thankx in advance. JW

KCRam

JW, feel free to begin a new discussion regarding your situation. Some of the dealer pros who post here will likely give you an idea of what to expect.

kcram
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d_bug

My neighbor recently bought a 2004 Toyota Corolla S from a dealer, but cannot afford to keep it. I am very interested in purchasing the car but i cant find the Market Value on a "used" 2004 corolla. The man asking for $1000 less than what he paid at the dealer.
is that a fair price?
Thank you Mr.Car_man

KCRam

Hi d_bug

You probably want to post this over in Real World Trade-In Values where sales pros offer advice as to how similar cars are priced at the dealer auctions. Be sure to give as much information about the Corolla as possibkle to get a better evaluation.

kcram
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rbr

Coming to the end of a lease on our Toyota Land Cruiser and I have some questions about whether I am properly evaluating the purchase option price against the Edmunds TMV values. Not quite sure where to go -- the lease questions forum seems to mostly be questions about current lease programs and residual values; the smart shopper real world trade in site is certainly price focued, but I wonder if I am off topic there. Thanks.

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi rbr. You definitely seem to be very familiar with many of the discussions that appear here in the Edmunds.com Town Hall. I think that the Real World Trade In Values discussion that you mentioned would be a great place for you to get feedback on your truck's purchase option price and TMV.

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crashtestdingo

We have an '87 Chevy Nova that we'd like to sell, but there are two wrinkles: 1. We took the plates and insurance off of it and transferred them to another car, so the car can't be test driven. The TMV I got from this site says it's worth $594 in average condition and $523 in rough condition if sold privately, so it doesn't seem worthwhile to get plates and insurance just to sell the car. 2. When we bought the car (used, from a private seller), the seller didn't know the exact odometer reading off the top of his head, so he entered the correct tens-of-thousands and thousands digits in the appropriate spot on one of the forms, and made up numbers for the rest. Being a perfectionist and not realizing what I was doing, I checked the box that said "not the actual mileage," and now that's what it says on the title.

So how should we go about selling this car?

By the way, I offered to donate it to our local chapter of the American Lung Association, but they said they take only 1991 and newer cars.

steine13

real-world trade-in values is the place.
you can check my profile for a web page that might help.
for a 17-year-old car, you'd do well to forget the books, they can't help you. It's all in the condition. If it's reasonably clean, no rust, the mileage under 200k, and has no problems or funky noises, it's easily worth $1k on the street. If there's stuff wrong/not working/grinding noises/hard starting... you may not get more than $300 and take 3 weeks to get it. NICE older cars always sell quickly, esp. when they're made by Toyota.
The ones here in MI are pretty much all rustbuckets.
As far as the mileage; figure what it most likely is, put it in the ad, then tell people exactly what the story is and let them make up their minds. The car is so old taht it hardly matters... it either runs ok or it doesn't, and it ain't worth much either way.
-Mathias

crashtestdingo

...but I'm not concerned so much with how much we can get for this car, but how to attract a buyer given the two wrinkles I described, especially the first one.

KCRam

Hi crashtestdingo

Stop by the "Good, Cheap Beater Cars - how to find one?" discussion here in Smart Shopper. While you can't advertise or solicit buyers there, you may find people to explain how to sell it.

kcram
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sjstanis

I'm not sure which group would be best to post this question in, so I'm just going to post it here.
I currently have a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am SE coupe V6 with about 94,000 miles on it that I still owe somewhere around $4,300 on. My question is am I better off to trade it in now and possibly have to eat some of the lose between trade-in and what I owe or just hold on to it and drive it until it'll drive no more?
Any advice or direction on where to get advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi sjstanis. Assuming that you do not have any major mechanical problems with your car, your least expensive option is to continue driving it for as long as possible. Having said this, there is no way for anyone here to know what sort of condition your car is in or if you will experience any major problems with it. I personally would keep it at least until it is worth more than you will be able to get for it as a trade or by selling it on your own. By doing so you will not have to worry about having to pay money out of your own pocket or roll negative equity into your next vehicle's loan. You may want to try posting a message about your situation over in the New or Used? Which do you think is more economical and Why? discussion to see if any other community members have any advice for you.

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ej1111

i am looking to buy a new 30000 car from an out of state dealer. I cant find a lot of information about possible safeguards to protect my purchase. I am curious if there is any information that can help me with this transction and steps i can take to secure it.

i couldnt seem to figure out how to post a new topic in this area!

thanks for any help!

stickguy

can't really see how the safeguards would be different than buying instate, but then again, I'm not "in the business"

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi ej1111. Purchasing a vehicle from a dealership in another state should not be very different than purchasing one in your home state, other than the fact that you will be liable for your home state's sales tax and will likely have to pay it when you try to register your new car or truck. What exactly are you concerned about? If you can be a little more specific we should be able to answer any questions that you have or at least point you in the right direction.

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ej1111

Too be honest, im not sure, i guess i was more curious as to any things to look out for. I am doing it as i have been quoted an excellent price on an in demand car from a large dealership. I hate the idea of not driving the car i am taking home before signing, but if most people feel its relatively painless, im game.

BTW, car_man, i have been reading the advice you have given out for a long while now (esp. in the lease car area) and appreciate your time and effort!

Thanks for the reply!

CarMan@Edmunds

You're very welcome, ej1111. I can certainly understand how you would be hesitant to purchase an expensive item like a new vehicle without having seen it first. You should definitely take a test drive in the car or truck that you are getting prior to signing any finance / lease papers or handing over the check for it. It would be annoying to have to drive or fly all the way to an out of state dealership only to have your deal fall apart, but it would be much much worse to do all of that travelling and purchase a vehicle that has problems.

The one thing that you definitely should look out for is the old bait and switch. Make sure that the low price that you have been quoted for the vehicle that you are interested in includes all of the fees, etc... You really should get an out-the-door price quote from this dealer prior to going there. This will prevent them from adding any unreasonable fees or some other strange items to your price.

Also, have you tried visiting all of your local dealers yet? If you show them the price that you have been quoted for the vehicle that you are interested in, there is a decent chance that they will match or at least come close to it and you won't have to do all of this travelling.

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stickguy

how come sometimes I see the "add discussion" button, and other times I don't? Is it related to how I logged in, the particular board, or something else?

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi stickguy. The reason why you sometimes see the "Add Discussion" button and other times do not is that certain Message Boards, like the Smart Shoppers Board, tended to generate a lot of one or two post discussions. In an effort to keep these boards as organized as possible a specific set of popular discussions was generated where community members can post their thoughts. If you have an idea for a new discussion that you would like to see on this board, please feel free to post your idea in the "Smart Shopper - Suggest a topic of discussion" discussion.

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chadwick11

Can you please give me a strong idea of what I should be getting for trade in on this car?
The discrepency between what Edmunds says and what the dealer is giving me is almost $2000.

Thanks.

KCRam

Hi chadwick

You want to place that query in our Real World Trade-In Values discussion, where experts can give you an educated guess on your vehicle's value. Be sure to check the Edmunds TMV for your car from the main Edmunds page as well (or use the blue Used Cars button at the top of this page).

kcram
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caveatvenditor

I'm not sure if a discussion on this topic even exists at this site or if this is the right place to post this, but I was hoping to ask a few questions about buying and selling used cars as a part-time business. I'm very aware of the laws and problems associated with "curbstoning," however I wish to occasionally sell legitimate cars that I got a good deal on and can recondition/repair for a profit. Hopefully this is something that can be done without a great deal of hassle or governmental red tape.

Thank you for your assistance.

KCRam

Hi caveat

You may want to stop by "Any Questions for a Car Dealer?" here in the Smart Shopper message board. In addition to salespeople, we also have folks who actually manage and own dealerships who frequent that discussion, and may be able to help.

kcram
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bdemas

Not sure on where to post this query: Has anyone had any experience/opinions on a service/company called Auto-Match? The group I am contemplating dealing with is from Jacksonville, FL. I did a quick web search and found one in Denver, Miami etc. They may not be related, but they all offer the same type of service. They offer to buy a car for you from the auto auctions and charge a nominal fee for their services. You describe what you want, they search the pre-sale lists, find a match and then attend the auction in hopes of buying it. Any insight would be appreciated.

CarMan@Edmunds

Hi bdemas. The only problems that I see with services like this are that you are purchasing a used vehicle sight unseen and that the price that you get on this car and the condition that it is in will only be as good as the individual who bids on it at auction for you. If the individuals who go to these auctions for this service were so great at getting good deals on used vehicles, why wouldn't they try to sell them on their own for much more profit than the "nominal fee" that they will charge you to bid on a car for you? I think that this would be an excellent question for the following discussion that appears here on the Smart Shoppers Message Board: sysop "Any Questions for a Car Dealer?" Apr 16, 2004 9:03am .

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neogenetics

Hi ,i just joined the forum, and i wanted to ask for a receomendation for a car. I am not sure what forum to put my question, oon a count of the fact that i am not looking for a certain model or type. Where should i post it?