Real-World Trade-In Values

134353739401100

Comments

  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    MMR...

    4/25/01 CFAA
    4/20/01 Nevada
    4/04/01 Kansas City
    4/16/01 SanDiego

    Older ones... if clean.,.. can surprise ya. 97+s are stiff. Guys I know over at JB's place on Semoran cant shift them. They sit.... Weird tho, a CPO 96 is hot property there...

    Bill
  • bimmerscottbimmerscott Member Posts: 3
    I have a new BMW on order and have a 99 328i I want to trade-in. The dealer is suggesting I'd be better off selling it private, but I'm not in the car business, don't want to be and don't have the time. Also, on such a high priced car in a state with such high sales tax (WA) the tax advantage of trading in more than offsets any higher profit I could make selling the car. Price of the car is pretty much set in stone so we're only going to be negotiating on the trade and I'd like to know what to expect.

    Here are my details:
    99 BMW 328i 32k miles permium package, sport package, automatic, cd, fold down rear seats, and xenons. Premium includes leather, sunroof, wood and some other doo-dads. It has been in a fender-bender and had the rear quarter panel and rear bumper replaced. Orient blue (dark blue) with sand (tan) interior, paint is pretty much perfect just a few rock chips out of the hood but nothing out of the ordinary.

    TMV, KBB, etc put trade-in at 29-31k. Can anyone tell me what I can reasonably expect to get for it? I know the dealer will attempt to low-ball me but my defense is, if the dealer that sold the car isn't willing to give a good value for it in exchange for selling another car to a return customer, then why would I want to buy another one? Is that unreasonable?
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    .....Sounds like the dealer found the -- minor adversions -- Bimmer people get a little "hinky" about damage ..---- there almost as bad as Benz buyers...and they do have a tendency not to sell... I will agree with the dealer on this one...

    The miles are going to hurt this ..and the minor damage is "really' the kicker here...without seeing it, I'm thinkin' this is a $24,000/$25,000 ish vehicle (real money)-- the prem/sport package ..kinda saves it--------

    The vehicle is the right color...and If - I were you, I wouldn't be afraid to sell it on it's own.....you know the drill...---detail it ..and make it look like a diamond, have all the service records available( tires.?)...and put a 4/5 liner in the biggest paper in your neck of the wood's...and let it rock-just don't price it too high-- you want traffic, not just another ad....

    I hope this help's...

    Terry.
  • bimmerscottbimmerscott Member Posts: 3
    It's not what I wanted to hear, but that's why I was asking. Thank you. Dealer hasn't seen the car yet, she sold it to me so she knows what it is and what it's got. Dealer also doesn't know about the collision yet. I wanted a baseline to go on before I went in with the make-or-break number in my mind.

    Sales tax is 9.2% in Seattle, WA and I have a bad feeling about trying to sell a car like this privately in this area with the technology lay-offs. Also paying full sales tax on 46k is a killer. Even if I break even on the trade, that's $1932 in tax I pay as opposed to $4232. I doubt I'd get 27300 on the open market. Not too mention, I'm not a car salesman. I don't have the time or patience to deal with test drivers and dickerer's. But, it's my money I guess.

    This question is going to be esoteric, but if a repeat customer came to you wanting more for the car you sold them than you were prepared to give, would you consider or turn them away? As a consumer I feel I should recieve some incentive for returning and purchasing another car of the same brand. Especially at full MSRP without any discounts.

    But then again, maybe I'm just wishful thinking and I'll have to walk away from it and keep my current car.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    I'm with Terry here.

    Please dont take what I am about to say personally! :)

    But, while it's a great car with good equipment....

    It's not a great color (Silver is a $1K add there..easy) and the real killer...

    Structual repairs. Might not have been abig hit, but on a unibody car replacing a 1/4 panel is structural damage. That's the killer right there. Also, miles are just average. Paintwork and body repairs really hurt the value of a car like that.

    I hate o say it.. but $29K seems WAY high. I'm thinking $24-25K right along with Terry.. I dont think that car's worth that even if Silver, 20K miles and no damage.

    Sorry if it's not what ya wanted to hear. I hate being the bad guy. But it's like I say: "A car is worth what it's worth"

    If you want some insights, feel free to e-mail or call me. 407-492-4854

    Bill
  • shopper101shopper101 Member Posts: 11
    Let's assume that I trade-in a car and the car is sold at auction, later bought by someone at the auction, and then sold to a used car buyer.

    What is the relationship among the car's trade-in value(A), auction price(B), wholesale price(C), and dealer retail(D)?

    Thanks.
  • qwallsqwalls Member Posts: 406
    Bill,

    I found this old post of yours, and I just got to that point yesterday. Blue is ok, silver is fine if you like it, but I want black. Whatever I get, I plan to keep for a long time, so it might as well be what I want.

    Quentin

    #7 of 136 Insanity by brentwoodvolvo May 16, 2000 (03:43 am)
    This is nuts.

    You mean I ought to settle for whatever I get a good deal on instead of what I want? Maybe that's fine for an automotive dilettante.. Not for me.
    I did that once and the thing is in my driveway.
    When I bought my Jaguar back in 95 I was looking for a Black with coffee Vanden Plas with Premium Sound+CD Changer and Cold Weather Pkg.
    I got a Jade Green (Which is very pretty but dammit I wanted Black) demo with 500 miles on it because it was $3500 cheaper. I did NOT Get Premium Sound OR the color I wanted.
    But I bought a new Jaguar damned cheap!
    Now, 5 years and almost 109,000 miles later.. while I absolutely love my car.. I wish it were black and i wish that I had the harmon/kardon stereo all this time!
    Gee, wasnt I bright!
    Bill
    Who is still lightly kicking himself for being an idiot.
  • eeoreeor Member Posts: 7
    97 accord lx, 98,000 miles

    auto, power everything, 6 disc changer, rear spoiler, alloy wheels, cruise, ect

    if i only put 12,000 miles a year on it (suppose), can i get rid of it after four or more years for a decent price? it's on sale now for $11,000.

    any help appreciated.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ........That's actually a good question about, why the dealer doesn't put more money in a Good customers trade.....

    Actually..they do -- but the real question is ** How much is a enough...?

    I have stood pretty tall in some trades..and "most" customers feel it's not enough....I don't mean to sound smart-- But, it's a little tuff for me to "bury' myself in a vehicle ( I hold all the risk)...and then the customer want's me to hold a low profit margin......

    I'm not asking you to agree ... --- Just look at it, at my point of view...---- I put $27,000 in your trade, and I hold $1,000 profit margin..--- what have I made..really nothing, because I have to get myself out of the trade just to see daylight......Which in this particular case might take month's ---- But, if I can't -turn and burn em- in 45 day's .......they are going, by, by, to the auction... Then I get to see how much more I can bury myself ---- l.....o.....l.......

    I hope this makes some sense...

    Terry.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Shopper,

    A B and C ought to all be pretty close. Actually B is what C really is in the real world.

    With rare exceptions, most cars at auction, if in similar condition, with similar miles, color and equipment, will all do similar money.

    A look at the results of a big "program car" sale (Ex rentals) will give an example of this.

    Say they run 50 2000 Toyota Camry LE 4-cyl Automatics. Say they all have the same equipment and between 14,500-16K miles. Unless one car is a dog or brown or something.. they'll all do within $500 or so of each other.

    ANd it will generally be anumber that's within a couple of hundred of typical wholesale values. (I.E. Black Book or something).

    So when you come in with your 2000 15K mile Beige Camry LE, and 50 of them just sold for, say, $14,500 +/-$500, then I'm gonna put $14-14,500 in your car.

    And those Camrys would retail for something like.. ohh.. $17K-17,500 or so. Depends on the price of the car. A car that's worth $60K wholesale is going to retail for $65-68K or so... A car with a wholesale value of $2,000 is a $3,995 car. But much below $1,000-1,500markup... it's not worth it for me to retail a used car.

    Bill
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Quentin,

    Smart man! :)

    Bill
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    WHOA!

    Youre thinking of BUYING THIS CAR FOR $11,000????

    NO NO NO! Way too much!!!!!

    Spend $12K and get a 50-60K mile one...

    Bill
  • goralgoral Member Posts: 149
    Better yet - if you can afford it, buy a new one!!! These things sell for around invoce (+/- couple hundred), which means you can pick one up for ~$18K.
    In 4 years/50K miles, you will still be able to sell it for ~$12K (~6K depreciation).
    Now, if you buy one w/ 98K, in 4 years the car (w/ 150K) will be worth no more than $4-5K (again, depreciation of $6-7K). Same depreciation, but instead of driving an old beater, you will have driven a new car w/ warranty...

    Just my $0.02 :)

    Now, if you could pick up that Honda for $6-7K, that would be little different :)
  • bimmerscottbimmerscott Member Posts: 3
    No no, that's exactly the advice I was looking for. By my figuring the car I'm buying at MSRP, supposedly because demand is so high, is bringing a little over six thousand over invoice. Obviously that's not all profit, but because the salesperson wasn't willing to discount, then I expect there to be room for negotiation on the trade.

    Your advice was wonderful, it gives me a much more realistic picture of how much to push and when to know it just isn't going to work.

    Thank you very much. I'm glad I stumbled on this forum.
  • tcpip1tcpip1 Member Posts: 121
    Mileage: 63900
    Color: Beige
    Drives like new. :)

    I heard that new RL will be out soon. I had better trade mine in before the new one comes out... Thanks!
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Hmm...

    If it's free of paintwork..and in nice condition... I'm pegging the car right around the $17,500-18K mark or thereabouts.

    The miles do hurt it a bit...

    Hope this helps!

    Bill
  • lokkilokki Member Posts: 1,200
    Does the debut of a new model actually affect the values of the older styles immediately?

    I suspect it does...but am not sure. I bought a new 98 BMW E36 style 328i in Jan 99 just as the new E46 style 328i's came out. I think I got a heck of a deal because of the dealers anticipation that the older style would be unpopular. I got a heck of a deal.....

    Using this logic I dumped my 97 Acura Integra a few months ago - before the new model debuts in July. Would I have likely gotten a lower offer for it (beyond the time/milage change) if I'd waited till the new body style hit the streets?

    wow... does this question make any sense or have I garbled it ?
  • fdxboyfdxboy Member Posts: 45
    Can someone possibly tell me what this car will be worth 1 and 2 years from now:

    2001.5 Audi A4
    Quattro, Cold, Celebration, Bose, Silver w/black leathette, Manual in Chicago.
    I drive no more than 10K miles per year.

    I want to get a TTR (ever since I was in one a couple of weeks ago) and I would like to get an idea of what I may get for my current Audi in the time when I begin looking for a TTR. Thanks for your reply.
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    Yes.

    And no, the questions made sense. Unlike fdxboy's.
  • fangio2fangio2 Member Posts: 214
    Accord EX with 29,000 miles on it.Assuming the car is in clean condition,4 cyl and silver in color.Thank you
  • jpescijpesci Member Posts: 22
    New Cabrio GL 5-speed, all stock, excellent condition. Thanks
  • tcpip1tcpip1 Member Posts: 121
    I hope the price will convince her to give it to me as a gift. :)

    1993, Lexus GS300, dark green, 87K mile (moonroof, CD player, leather, heated seats, traction control), one owner, dealer serviced, no mechanical problems.

    Defects: minor scratches on side doors, minor dent on rear bumper, paint chips in the front bumper, water vapor inside left-front headlight.

    Thanks!
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ......Don't worry...we, now have a full time translator on duty now......l....o....l..

    Good question, but a tough answer...----- No one can predict the future of such a "picky market"...the new Toyota Avalons, have just kinda waddled around ..bringing the price of the 'old' body style resale way up...when they changed the body style of the Acura's, the Legends still pull big monies--...Passat's and Jetta's get stupid monies at the auctions...---- Catera's are worth more money now, than they were a year ago ...hey, go figure --- I know I can't, and I have been doing this for 18 yrs...------

    Soooo, the only thing I might recommend is ...it's summer, and it is a nice time to travel in some new wheels...

    I didn't think I made sense either....

    Terry.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    Well, I'm just kinda wing this one...----- let's pretend it's a auto, and it's a -Sedan.

    The color is right , and if it's super clean and it needs - 0 - ....your are lookin' at that $15,000 zipcode...

    I hope this help's....

    Terry.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    .......You didn't leave a whole lot of information.........Sooo, I will just a say it's got 22,000 miles, it clean to the bone , no paint..all service done ...

    You are in or a round that $14,000 figure...

    Terry.
  • jpescijpesci Member Posts: 22
    You made a guess at condition and hit it right on the head...

    Thanks for the info.

    Cabrio Cowboy
  • fangio2fangio2 Member Posts: 214
  • carleton1carleton1 Member Posts: 560
    For the sake of interest, I ran the numbers using Edmund's TMV for a 1999 Odyssey EX with 27,200 miles and got $28,037 for it as a Certifed Used Car TMV.
    Who would be so stupid to pay $28,037 for a 2 year old vehicle with 27,200 miles when a NEW one with all of the factory warranty has an MSRP of only $26,860? New Odysseys have never sold for more than MSRP at any of the 4 Honda dealerships within 20 miles of my home. My sister is getting her NEW 2001 Odyssey EX on Tuesday May 22 for $26,680 (MSRP less $180.)
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Yup,

    I think it has an effect on values, particularly on the high end cars.

    Look at LS400s, and Merc S-Classes. They took big hits because of the new models. Why? The 2000 S500/S430 and 2001 LS430 were such massive improvements that all the old cars came out of the woodwork.

    Oversupply... falling values.

    As far as the integra goes... I doubt it would have taken a big hit, unless they started incentivizing the hell out of the last 2001s.

    Bill
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Figure...

    Whenit's 2 years old... Hmm... I dunno... Wholesale ought to be something like $19-20K or so wholesale...(for a 1.8)

    Tough to tell with a new model coming and all though.

    Bill
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    I'm with Terry. $15K or so if it's nice on the Accord...

    $14-14,500 on the Cabrioif it's as you an Terry say. Perhaps a bit more if silver.

    Bill
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Hmm...

    Tough call without seeing it....

    Probably $8,500-9K or so...

    Bill
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    That does seem somewhat high.

    But in a lot of markets they're still selling for over list with waiting lists...

    Look at the stunt I pulled with the SC430s. I sold 7 of them recently for as high as $85K!

    Bill
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ..............Now, that's a description of a used vehicle...! thank you...

    Well, let me guess..with all that info, I would think that a dealer is going to be in that $8,000 zipcode...$8500 maybe on the push, and based on what you are telling us...it's going to need some re-con that will run $400/$500+ just the piece for the headlight is $85 bucks, to get it to stand tall on a lot--- and the miles don't help...

    But to run it straight to the block ..I think that $8500 would be ..all.. the monies, I think Bill likes this one, more than I do .....l....o...l....

    I hope this helps..(I know, I'm always the bad guy....)

    Terry.
  • tcpip1tcpip1 Member Posts: 121
    Terry and Bill,

    Thanks for the info. In fact, the Lexus dealer won't take her car for trade-in at all and told her to sell it herself. When I test-drove the car, it did not feel like driving a '93 car at all. More like a modern Accord. And, the steering column is neat; it retracts when you turn off the key, so I can get out of the car easier. I am a Honda fan. Now, I am really impressed with Lexus's quality. Hmm... maybe I should foget about getting a new TL and buy a used GS instead. :)
  • jpescijpesci Member Posts: 22
    Bentwood - rrpoyce

    I already gave you descriptions and color. Went to the dealer today and they offered first 13.2 then 13.5 but said they would go no more. The books are all over the place on this one.

    Do you think I'm just in a soft market or is this close enough?
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ......Hey, Joe your not the famous movie star ..are you.....?

    Well anyway...those little vehicles are hot little items..but, I'm not sure what area you are from, but perhaps it might do you good to look around a little---

    Terry.
  • jpescijpesci Member Posts: 22
    I live in Southern Nevada..

    Guess I should shop it arond some more...Problem is the town only has 2 dealers of everything...and surprise they both came in about $200 apart.
  • im_brentwoodim_brentwood Member Posts: 4,883
    Yeah... This is weird. I'm with Terry, that car's worth $14K all day long. And $500-800 isnt chump change.

    Maybe they're "ducking" the trade because they're selling you the new car cheaper than they want to?

    Still, you need to shop a little harder methinks.

    Bill

    PS, Terry, Those old GSs are easy sales! Personally, I dont like them that much, but they are great merchandise! :)
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    I am getting closer to selling the car. I decided not to trade it since I am upside down in it. Was wondering what it might be worth selling it on my own. Here's the specs. 2001 Jetta GLS 1.8T Tornado Red, black velour interior, 5-speed, and cold weather package. It doesn't have alloy wheels, leather, or a moonroof. Miles are sitting at about 7,000. Also, there are a couple minor rock chips in the hood (normal for Alaska), there is a 4 inch scratch on the rear driver's side door down low, its very deep, and thanks to the dealer there is also a dent in the rear quarter panel near the gas door, its fairly minor, probably less than 4 inches around. Other than that the car is clean and has 2 sets of tires (winter and summer). What's it worth?
  • jpescijpesci Member Posts: 22
    Getting the car I want 400 over plus fees. hats about right for a 01 Civic EX coupe. Have dealt with this guy before, but this is the first time he's bid low.

    Guess I could sell on my own, but they are going for about 16k at the dealers, none in the paper.

    Wish we had more than 2 stores in town for the Civic.

    Thanks guys
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ........Well let's see here, you have some deep scratches, no wheels, no roof, no leather and it's a handshaker ( which doesn't seem to bother these Jetta's too much) -- miles are ok - and it's the right color......... So, if I was hangin' out with one of those big grizzley's up there, I guess a dealer would be in and around that $16,000 area...

    I hope this helps ...

    Terry.
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    I was offered $16,000 real money for it on trade but thought maybe I could squeeze a little more if I sell it on my own. Just have to wait and see I guess.
  • lancerfixerlancerfixer Member Posts: 1,284
    You bring up a good point about the Jetta not being hurt much by being a manual tranny. It seems European cars are hit less by this than, say, cars like mine (an Accord.) Is that the case, as a rule?
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    .......Yep, that does seem to be the way things are right now ....

    Basically what it does by having a manual tranny is --- it shrinks the market on that vehicle, so if a dealer or consumer will go to sell it, their market might be 3 out of 10 --- and with a auto, the market will be 9 out of 10 ...-- the market will also diminish with imports, but not as much -- let's say 4/5 out off 10 --- but, keep in mind that whole market is smaller...

    Terry.
  • carguy5000carguy5000 Member Posts: 146
    Different market as well. When the consumer sees an Accord with a 5-speed, they generally think "economy". When they see a German import with a finster, they think "fun". Again, market perception. But reality.

    rroyce...you are a kinder man than I, putting that dough on the Jetty. That pig is off to a bad start, regardless of the clock.

    As far as that antique GS, here in the Northeast, it would bring all the dough, there is a very good market here for such cars.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ........I am the NE..... l...o...l...

    I travel to the Big Manheim every week, and that my friend is the #'s they are bringing at -- showtime --

    Terry.
  • carguy5000carguy5000 Member Posts: 146
    I'll pass on that one, by the time you recon those dents and make up stories for the missing roof and wheels,....whew...never mind!
  • akanglakangl Member Posts: 3,282
    Actually in Alaska you see more Jettas without roofs and wheels then you do with. At the time I bought my car it was what I could get. As for the scratch, well, that happened when the car was a day old, still don't know what happened to it. The dealer put the small dent in it, but of course won't own up to it. Other than that the car looks and smells new. Normally my cars are in perfect shape, this one just seems to be a scratch and dent magnant. I figure I can get $16,500 out of it if I sell it on my own, its in better shape then most cars I see for sale in this area. You guys would faint if you saw the prices on some of the cars up here. Broken windshields, rock chips, door dings, scratches, they don't mean a thing in Alaska. There is no way to get away from this stuff, its a fact of life, most new cars have at least one door ding and one rock chip before they even leave the dealer's lot.
  • rroyce10rroyce10 Member Posts: 9,332
    ......I do have a tendency to agree with you..

    We cruised up to Alaska 2 years ago out of Vancouver - just beautiful.

    But anyway, the vehicles I saw, and the prices they were asking .. and getting, were quite surprising -- If it didn't cost so darn much, I might have shipped all my used inventories up there l.....o.....l....

    That's why I was thinkin' yours is almost a puff...

    Terry.
Sign In or Register to comment.