Real-World Trade-In Values

rroyce10 · March 2003

.... There should be a toll free # on the paper work, that should at least get you there .. and from there, ask for the (in a nice way) the head hot dog for the leasing dept .. I'm not sure, but I think Bank 1 is out of Columbus, or at least the regional Big Hoopster ...

Terry.

thel · March 2003

The salesman said that it belonged to one of the managers fo the store. I'll look for the things you mentioned. I was planning on offering $4,000 and going up from there so I don't think I'll be completely of the reservation.

shabbycat · March 2003

wanted to say that when/if I do find a used vehicle I'm interested in, I'm going to tell the salespeople "I've got to go home and phone my uncle and ask about this one", then I'll post the details for you to see if we are on track, LOL. BTW, decided that we will definitely wait til fall since lease is up Nov. 1st, so it will be a while. Probably start shopping around late August! Thanks for all of your help.

dweller1 · March 2003

Thinking of getting another vehicle and want to see what i could reasonably expect to get out of my "new" 2003 VW JETTA 1.8T GL. Atlanta is the town, silver arrow is the color. the car is perfect with 8 k miles , black cloth, alloys, indash single cd player,6- disc changer in trunk(vw dealer accessory),monsoon stereo, power windows and locks, cruise. Car is garaged, no kisses, dings, scratches,swirls.nothing. seats look hovered in.Ive had no problems with the car, in fact I really like it, but im one of those folks that likes to drive different cars so , if the numbers are right I would consider trading or private sale.Now the only negative is that it is a handshaker(Ilove manual transmissions, but the market frowns on them , huh, thanks,

thel · March 2003

I offered $4,800 as is, no reconditioning, cruise control stalk needed replacing, etc. They said they would take no less than $5,325. I walked. Salseman said that the General Manager made them give his wife that much for it on trade for a Tahoe and that they didn't want to take a loss on it. I told him that they would never come close to that on wholesale or at auction and that my offer was more than fair. He simply said that it may be on the lot for a long time b/c they would not sell it for a loss. Arrrgh.

marys235 · March 2003

Terry, or anyone who knows, I'm thinking of trading my 2001 Ford Escape and getting a used RX300. I've checked the trade-in values on NADA, KBB, and here at Edmunds, but I'm hearing from other people that dealers right now just aren't giving anything close to those values on trades. What could I realistically expect on a trade-in with a 2001 XLT, 6 cyl, 4wd, single cd/cassette, leather seats, 34,000 miles, running boards, roof rack, trailer hitch, overhead console? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Mary

marys235 · March 2003

Just wanted to add that the 2001 Escape is white and has silver paint on the cladding around the bottom, a custom thing the dealer added before I bought it. It's really nice looking. It's clean, no dents, no visible dings, looks good.

rrsafety · March 2003

Thinking of choosing between two Aztecs, both with about the same options (keyless remote,tinted windows, etc. retail of options is about $850 over base).

My choice is between buying new from a dealer or used from another dealer. These are the deals:

New 2003 Aztec AWD
$23,200 (minus 2k rebate 1k GM points)= $19,200

USED 2002 Aztec AWD
They are asking $15,900 (hope to get it for lower, maybe?) good condition with 15,000 miles still has warranty left on it.

The used car price appears to be in keeping with Edmunds, but I'm wondering what the "real world" might be saying I should buy the 2002 AWD from a dealer for. Any suggestions? Thanks a ton.

zueslewis · March 2003

$14,500 for a used Aztec. Wholesale is around $16,000, but it probably went through the auction at $13,500 or $14,000, then add for transport, service, recon, etc.

clpurnell · March 2003

Yeah I am the yankee down south. It is hard to have a mid life crisis at 27

Wife just can't get into the minivan thing and that new infiniti FX35 is calling my name. What are your thoughts on the infiniti. Drove it twice and am in love. Just don't tell my wife

handsfree1 · March 2003

Thanks for the info on the LS.

Our friends ended up getting $19,500 for it and paying $35,900 for the 01 530i with 11k on it and they are overjoyed, now it's not as nice as my 740iL but it will do.
Right now, I would have to say you are batting a thousand, thanks for all the help "again' and don't forget us the next time you are up this way, we must owe you at least 2/3 steaks by now.
M.

KCRam · March 2003

Bill and Terry

Wilmington/New Castle DE
2000 Saturn SL1, handshaker, cassette, otherwise standard equipment, gold metallic, beige cloth, decent condition. 39 month lease due in April, allotted mileage is 51,750 - current odo is 52,245.

Lease bank (Chase) gave a payoff of $7428, and would finance it for 6.9%/48 if she wants to keep it, which she really doesn't (especially not for 4 more years). Is she close enough to payoff that she can walk away clean?

kcram
Host
Smart Shopper and FWI Message Boards

spark1e · March 2003

Hello, I've been researching the trade-in value of my Jetta, trying to decide whether to sell privately. What can you tell me? 5 speed, 58,000 mi, real clean, never kissed, air, cruise, 16" alloys, No sunroof. Thanks

steine13 · March 2003

Okay, here's the deal: New professor at the Lab, she just arrived, she needs wheels (what else is new), she roughly knows what she wants...(THAT is new)... it's gotta be a manual tranny; not a Japanese 3box so Corolla/Civic are out; P5 she doesn't like; Matrix maybe, but not too interested; we've got approx. $15k to play with, but it's the banks money, so keep that in mind.

Here's the first candidate:

1999 Audi A4 1.8T 5sp fwd black on black; leather (or leatherette; but supposedly leather); 34k miles, climate control; all that good stuff. You got that: FWD in MICHIGAN in MARCH?!!
Audi off-lease, so the maintenance should have been free and should (!) be documented; dunno if certified. I won't even mention what they're asking.

What be the numbers??
[Personally, I'd steer clear unless I had it in cash, but that's me]

Other candidates are 5sp VW Golf/Jetta/Beetle; 2-3 years old; after some shopping & looking, the Beetle is the favorite, and I'm thinking it's also the most available and maybe the cheapest of the three. So, to keep it generic; what's a 2000 NB 2.0l 5sp with 35k go for these days? What of a Golf?

Thanks in advance as always! Keeping the faith in frozen Michigan, I remain
-Mathias

im_brentwood · March 2003

Glad to help!

Keep me posted on what you are up to, k?

Bill

im_brentwood · March 2003

Hmmmm.....

'03 Jetta 1.8T GL? Sure it isnt a GLS?

im_brentwood · March 2003

Hmm..

I dunno what KBB and Edmunds say.. but I think you'redriving a wholesale $13,500-14K truck there. The custom paint might shy me off it a tad I think.

Terry? You're SUV Man...

Bill

im_brentwood · March 2003

New.. I dunno there myself, seems like a good deal, esp with the GM points.

Used? Baseish model? Prolly got $13,300-13,500 in it.. I'd start em in the 14s.. but $14,500-15K ought to buy it. (Dealers dont make $2-300 on used cars as a rule.. but you never know)

In this case, same basic truck, save $5K+... This is why I dont buy new for my family unless its' a lease.

Bill

im_brentwood · March 2003

Damn.

I thought I was the young'n here (28)

FX45? Freaky looking, I like it.. supposed to ride hard but handle like a sports car. Resale should be decent, go drive one man!

You know the rule.. Buy and Drive what you like or go to your room with keys to a Kia.

im_brentwood · March 2003

Umm..

It would be in her best interests to pay the mileage. At the moment she is, dare I say, about as underwater as crabs in the Marianas Trench.

I see $3,500-4K in negative equity.. easily..

Sorry bro.

Bill

im_brentwood · March 2003

Color?

Location?

Engine?

tsk tsk...

im_brentwood · March 2003

A low-mile similarly equipped 00 Jetta wont be much cheaper.. Audi nicer car. Bill like Audi.

leather (or leatherette; but supposedly leather

Bollocks. It's genuine Leatherette.

They prolly got no more than $11,500 in the A4.. $13-13,500 oughta buy it methinks.

Lotta car for little $$.. Quattro is nicer, but costly to repair when it breaks and FWD is fine with snow tires.

Bill

rroyce10 · March 2003

..... Lotsa Bugs floating around right now .. if it's a nice one, clean, good history, 35k, they probably have less than $10 in it, should be going her way for $11ish and change .. the Golf should be just "about" the same if it's a GLS ..

Terry.

rroyce10 · March 2003

..... Sounds like your friends did real well, actually they did great.! .. and no I won't forget, I should be up that way before Easter ..

Terry :-)

rroyce10 · March 2003

..... Mid $13's seems about right .. depending on where you live and if it's a nice one ..

Terry.

steine13 · March 2003

Gentlemen:

Your help is much appreciated, as always. See, an Audiphile friend of mine went with her on Sat, so I haven't seen the car myself...
I TOLD him it's naugahyde... of course, he discovered the schtuff in his '99 Solara wasn't made from dead animals either... looked convincing to me... like GM leather, except there the real stuff looks fake...

Where was I... what, "fix" quattro AWD? I've always heard they were indesctructible! Except for the 11 CV joints/boots... last year, I put an '88 90q up on ramps and looked underneath... oy vey... bad medicine... Bart no like.

And: (Drum Roll) The asking price on the '99 A4 is (ta-dah!) $15,900. The local VWAUDIPORSCHESUBARUBMWMERCEDES dealer has never been too shy about pricing their used stuff. I figured $14 max, myself, but that's just from the fact that it couldn't possibly be more than 1/2 of sticker new. Sheesh. But I'll have her offer $13 if she wants it, and we'll see where they go.

Anyone know if they got the problems with the A-arms sorted out by '99???

Thanks again,
-Mathias
East Lansing, MI

rroyce10 · March 2003

...... You should be able to purchase a pre-owned Trainwreck (Aztek) for under $15 or way less .. and thats the way I would go, buying a new one is like buying Enron stock .. not a real good idea.

Terry.

rroyce10 · March 2003

..... Can you tell the difference yet from H-town and C-town .. you probably never even noticed, huh.? .l.o.l.

That FX is a hot little dude ... also check out the Volvo XC90 and the Murano .. there is some Ultra sharp ones coming out right now ..

Terry.

rroyce10 · March 2003

..... Not much fun going on here .. it might do the high $3's, low $4's on a good day, it's a handshaker and the miles are semi-tall .. there is tons of Saturns rolling around, Bill is right, I would just pay the mileage and forget about it .. a "Real" asking -retail- figure on something like this, might be $5,9/$6,5 ..

Terry.

spark1e · March 2003

the 00 jetta is dark green, SE PA, 2.0L 4cyl

marys235 · March 2003

Thank you for the information on the Escape. That's about what I was afraid of, $13,000 to $13,500. NADA lists the trade-in value at $17,400, but I thought that had to be way off. I need to get $16,000 out of it, so I guess I'll try to sell it myself, unless I can get the Lexus dealer to come down on the used RX300 I want. I'm looking at a 2000 Lexus RX300 4x4, with 43,000 miles, and everything on it but the navigation (gold, with sunroof, traction control, homelink, etc). The dealer's asking $25,900, but I'm sure I can get him down to $24,500. Any idea whether there might be some more room downward in that price? It's been on the lot for at least a couple of months.

KCRam · March 2003

Saturns were hard for me to peg, only because the only other one I have any experience with is my sister's 93 SL2, which she knows she is running into the ground, but she lives in a college town (Columbus OH) and can unload it on a fellow Buckeye who needs wheels.

I'll pass the reality on to the lessee

kcram
Host
Smart Shopper and FWI Message Boards

rroyce10 · March 2003

.... Spend $60/$80 have it cleaned and a little detail .. a big fat 4/5 liner ad in the biggest newspaper in your area for $16,950 -must sell- and try to get $16,2/$16,7 -- but, grab what you can if need be, $15,5/$15,9 ..

Good luck and let us know ...

Terry.

rroyce10 · March 2003

...... Now that's a pretty good area .. 50,000+ students, lot's looking for a nice vehicle, most won't care if it's a handshaker .. as long as they make it to class and High street, who cares. l.o.l..

Terry ;-)

icvci · March 2003

I'm selling a 2000 Civic DX hatchback in Metro Detroit. It's in really good condition. Brand new tires (Yokohama Avid Touring). Perfect paint (a few minor scratches in the clearcoat). And a perfect interior.

A/C - 5 speed - AM/FM/CD - 49,000 miles - No smoking - It is spotless.

One problem though. I got in an accident. I took it to a really good shop and they did a fantastic job. Car still ran well (after the accident) and (obviously) air bags did not deploy. No mechanical fixes, purely cosmetic. It's a silver car and I have tried and tried but I cannot see a difference in the paint. Anyway, how much value should I expect to lose?

Seriously, if the car was repaired correctly (they gave me a lifetime warranty on their work). How bad is an accident? BTW the bill was HUGE $5100.

rrsafety · March 2003

How do you evaluate the buying of a used program car (rental car) as opposed to others. Do you pay more or less that Edmunds TMV. Thoughts? Thanks.

zueslewis · March 2003

they're all rentals, not "executive cars" like unethical people would have you believe and since they're rentals, ask yourself: how do YOU drive a rental and how have you seen others drive rentals?

marys235 · March 2003

Thanks, Terry, that's my plan. I'll post back and let you know if it sells.
Mary

rroyce10 · March 2003

.... Ooooh, $5 grand worth .. that's a lot of Jingle, that's a lot of paint and parts .. No frame damage .?

        For starters, you need to be up front with any buyer. I know you said you can't tell the difference, but some folks can, and when you go private sale they like to bring their 3rd baseman along or a visit to their tech, who will spot it EASY on a lift or an Elco. Most, will just nod and smile and say they have to run off for their colon Dr's appt .. so that part, I would get right out of the way and disclose it with all the records and warranty, you don't want that puppy coming back in 2/3 months with a possible court case.

        Without actually seeing it, lets say a it's a fabulous job, on a trade you might be seeing $4/$4,5, could, might, maybe, it's possible it could hit $5,0 ..

        Down Retail Rd, I'm thinking $6,9 in the paper and say bye bye at $5,5/$6,5 .. if you don't get any buyers soon, then you know the price is too high.

        I would really have to see this one.

              Terry.

steine13 · March 2003

Terry,
Thanks a lot for the #s on the VWs this morning... You have got to check this action out:

2000 Beetle turbo 5sp black/black, slider, 31k, puurrrfect (where have I heard that before) clean, all the toys....at a local CHEVY dealer: Asking price $12k. For a 31k 1.8 turbo!!

Christmas came early on this one; methinks they want it GONE. I say start 'em at $11 but don't lose it... Did I mention it's a turbo?

Merrily,
-Mathias

steine13 · March 2003

I'm thinking this is one for the Ann Arbor college kids market... too bad it got hit, these things have their fans... silver is great, 5sp is okay on this one I think... just TRY and find one of those when you want to buy one.

You needs a digital camera and a web site to put up all kinds of pictures... don't necessarily mention how big the repair bill was... let them see the car first.. but do tell people there was body damage, and what a nice job they did... if no frame damage, point that out clearly... IF true.

This is one of those cars that I think the right person will step up for. They were dirt-cheap new and really great little cars; I didn't buy one because of impending child.. found out right around the time I went shopping; but I was REALLY impressed by the DX I drove. Very refined for an econo box.

Good luck,
-Mathias
East Lansing, MI

rroyce10 · March 2003

.... Your on this one like a beagle on a fox run .. I'm thinkin' they might have $10 in it, and thats to the table .. start em' at $10,7 and check their pulse, but don't loose it ..

Did you mention it was a turbo ..? No, I don't think you did ...

Terry ;-))

dweller1 · March 2003

the jetta I have is a GL. for 2003 they made 1.8T in GL model. has pw , pl, cruise, but no slider . thanks in advance for your thoughts.

akangl · March 2003

Does this sound right?? 2000 Honda Odyssey LX, green/gray, 42k.....for $18,883??? Can they really hold there value that much?? If so I know what I'm buying, to heck with AWD, I'll buy me a new Odyssey with the traction control, slap some winter tires on it and be good to go.

BTW, that's the ONLY one I could find for sale on the used side in Alaska. Not that I'm really looking, was just thumbing through car ads. I've got 9 months to go 'til the truck is paid off.

Got to see the Iditarod mushers come through near us today, was pretty cool, first time they've restarted the race in Fairbanks.

rroyce10 · March 2003

.... Yeppers, they do hold their value .. 2 reasons, they don't build many and the demand is super high ..

It would not surprise me if the dealer had $17 in it .. but, $16 would be more like it with the miles .. but then again, it's Alaska.

Terry :-)

steine13 · March 2003

"2000 Honda Odyssey LX, green/gray, 42k.....for $18,883??? Can they really hold there value that much??"

(i) Yes. Unfortunately, these things are HOT new or used, and even though I think $19 for this puppy is a little out of line, Odys are sky-high.

(ii) No. From here on in, once the '04 Sienna hits the lot, and when the next Ody comes out (this fall?), I think the resale will go from idiotically high to just strong.

Meaning, from where I sit, there isn't all that much you can do now except wait a little, then buy an '00 Sienna or something along those lines when people start to ditch their old minis for the latest and greatest.

Last May, I bought a used '98 Sienna, and while I was complaining and moaning about how expensive it was, I was glad to have found a good one at all... there just weren't any to be had in my neck of the woods, and there still aren't a lot... I expect that to change somewhat over the next 6 to 12 months.

It's a little like buying a Tahoe in '98: The new ones go for near sticker, there aren't any used ones, and if there are, there super-expensive... and by the time you want to sell, say in '01 or '02, the prices are way down because supply has caught up with demand. No way to win in that situation, unless you buy something else.

You might want to sit tight for awhile...
-Mathias

akangl · March 2003

After working in car sales and seeing some minivans come in on trade I'm hesitant to buy a used one. Their are some NASTY people out there, they trade in vans with some gross stuff on the inside, I won't even go into detail, but I've seen some very scary ones in the detail department.

I've owned 2 minivans, one was a used Windstar (was off lease, owned by an older couple, no kids, super clean) and the other was a brand new Quest.

I take immaculate care of my vehicles and when I traded the Quest and the Windstar you could never tell they had kids in them. There's a standing rule in my car, you spill something or mess something up in my car, you die! My kids are great, no messes in mom's car.

I'm thinking new regardless, whatever I gets gonna be with me for a loooonnnnngggggg time. Heck, everyone is already wondering if I'm building a used car lot here.

rroyce10 · March 2003

..... It depends ~ there "should" be a difference in price, it depends on the vehicle, condition and the miles ..

As a rough estimate, they do about $400/$800 less, but if it's a super clean one, super low in miles and it sit's pretty, they can, and will do the same figures - it depends.

Terry.

im_brentwood · March 2003

Terry,

AInt about 80% of the used 15K mile '02 Trainwrecks gonna be "program" units anyhoo?

dayarb · March 2003

Here's the info Terry.

2000 Dodge 1500 V6 van. High-top, rear a/c, tv/vcp, sofa bed in back, short-wheel base (109.6 I think), am/fm cassette, 48,000 miles, white with grey interior, interior in good condition, running boards. Starcraft imperial conversion.

Anyhelp you good give would be greatly appreciated!!!

Real-World Trade-In Values

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