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It's an SE with the V6 (and speaking of itsy bitsy miles) this one has like noooo miles, no window (as in, there's no hole in the roof.?) auto, balloon package, abs, triple black, color is ok for Charlotte, actually I should move you to Philly,
we have the a/m leather (might help, might not) a few scrapes, other than that it sounds like it might be a nice driver ... trade side, in and around the low to mid $17's ...
Terry.
Leather Seating
No dings on outside or inside
Heated seats and Power Everything
Dual Heat and Air, Rear Radio Controls
5.3L engine, 4WD (of course)
29,000 mi.
Towing package
Running boards, upgraded wheels, tires excellent
Located in KY
Lease is up. Have to do something. Buy out is $20,500.
What is reasonable value for this on trade if I want to start the money pump back to the beginning and go with an '04?
Thanks for the help if you can
Charley
We have a 01 SLT 5.3 Yukon 4x4, no 3rd seat (ouch) miles are nice and low for the year, we have a little Z71 action, color is good anywhere, we have leather guts, hot and cold running air, bun warmers, tow pack, boards, deep sneakers and a little bling going on .... sounds like it could be a nice one.
$20,500 ...? .. even though there's no 3rd seat, it's probably worth in and around the $22ish figure on the wholesale side -if- it's a puppy dog .. I dunno, you know the previous owner and obviously the 3rd rider you don't have a need for .. sounds like a deal to keep it and grab a GM warranty and life is good.
Terry.
Also, the long powertrain warranties are mostly a gimmick. It's so unlikely that an engine or transmission will blow up under 100,000 miles even if you perform the bare minimum maintenance required. Give me a long comprehensive warranty for peace of mind, but I will still be annoyed if I have to use it!
1998 Chevy Cavalier RS, 2dr, 2.2L 4-cyl, row your own gears, crank your own windows, no breeze, no cruise, am/fm/cd, 61k miles, tires knee deep, no sale green/gray guts, car was in good shape, some minor door dings/scratches. Asking $4495, I'm thinking $3k tops.
He seemed kind of interested in the Chevy, but I didn't really ask, he did say that diesels are flying off his lot and he can't keep them there. I'm thinking retail the Chevy for $3k/$4k (won't take long to sell it, people are already asking) and then buy a small car. I really like that little Cavalier and they must be reliable, my mom's 96 has 203k on it.
Of course I would be keeping my Explodeder.
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Yeah....I'm not sure what I want to do.....other than buy a house. I really want to pitch the 'ol Audi TT and get my equity out of it to use for house purposes. I also I really wanted to lease something to keep the payments low, so I can qualify for a larger loan, that and I wouldn't feel guilty about parking somebody else's car outside every night or otherwise driving the hell out of it.
How do you like the Mazda 3 hatchback? I like them, and I'm veryimpressed with what you can get them equipped with (nav, HIDs, leather), and for not a lot of money. Only thing holding me back is that I don't want to pay all that first year depreciation, and I want a bigger engine than a N/A 4cyl.
There not distressed merchandise and there doing strong $$ at the auctions and this one has Itsy Bitsy miles .....
Funny thing is, the seller is distressed, or on the way to being distressed. He's already bought the wifey-poo something else, and needs to unload this one, and he was dumb enough to put that in the ad. Didn't even have to dig.
Yeah....I'm not sure what I want to do.....other than buy a house. I really want to pitch the 'ol Audi TT and get my equity out of it to use for house purposes
Let me try to understand this. You have an equity in a car that you'd like to use as downpayment on a house ? Not knocking you, but shouldn't it be the other way around ? That is, you first buy the house, and use part of the equity to buy whatever car you want. That seems to be the way its done. Personally, I'd invest in that house and leverage my equity into a car of my choice. I haven't yet seen where a car (especially an AUDI) actually yields equity to use in a house purchase !
That works pretty well.
Sometimes you can buy new and be okay, but it's got to be something special, like huge incentives on a disappearing model that's popular.
Or GM Card used on a truck... or Subaru card, those Subies don't depreciate all that much.
"What's the least financially disasterous way to do this?"
Buy cars in the flat part of the depreciation curve. Keep that crystal ball polished. Buy older cars -- if you know what you're doing.
"Or is that like asking what's the least financially disasterous way to get married and divorced several times?"
Marry rich women. Don't work. Don't sign the prenup. Easy!
-Mathias
10th car in 17 years. 1st wife.
So whether you have to spend $200 or $500, just make it happen while you have Spring/Summer to your advantage and folks aren't afraid to drive 150 miles to look at a vehicle, trade it, sell it, burn it, whatever it takes .....
Me personally, I think it was a blessing in disguise when the tranny took a #*#^ and left Mr. No Payment stranded, -and- you not having to send out a posse too look for that dude in El Paso Texas, Butte Montana or Topeka Kansas .. I mean let's face it, it's not like you live down the street from anything normal, gheez it took me 5hrs to fly to Vancouver BC - WITHOUT a cigarette, thank God for Air Marshalls (but we became good friends after they took the straps off me) ...
But anyway, it's a base 4banger 98 2dr Cavalier RS, it's got that wobbly thing between the seats and nothin' else with deep round things .... In *Alaskan money* they probably have a quarter in it, miles are almost low for the year, add some service, some other stuff it "might" be seeing $3,0 in it, might take $3,5/$3,8ish .. like Drift said, trade up or down or even or sideways, whatever .. just have the front-end checked out, maybe someone can drop the pan and have a close look see .. the 2.2's are good little motors, what kills them is those 25,000 mile oil changes (whether they need them or not) .................... :^)
Terry.
Mathias et al,
Any suggestions for newish cars which are fun, reliable and in the flat of their depreciation curves?
Long term buying a car will save us more money than keeping that dang Chevy. I put on 30k/40k a year and 15 mpg is killing me. Not to mention the depreciation on a high mileage Explodeder. So if I buy a car I'll drive it 90% of the time and use the Explorer here and there. Keep the miles off the thing that's going to depreciate the hardest and put them on the thing that's not worth much to begin with.
Kevin is all for me getting a car and dumping the Chevy, so guess that's what I'll do. Will be kinda fun to row my own gears since in a car that's all I'll buy is a manual. My mom's cavalier is an auto and probably one of the most horrible cars to drive, but its long lasting and reliable........not to mention those things are CHEAP to buy.
He did offer me a 1990 Ford Taurus wagon for $1k, lol, I wonder if he meant he'd pay me?
If your flippin' to car after car in 6/9/12 months you may want to try this simple little deal: like driving them FIRST.!
I see folks at the Auto Shows, in the dealerships and they are armed baby, I mean armed.! .. they have Car and Driver, they have Autoweek, Motor Trend, Penthouse, GQ, Popular Mechanics, Readers Digest, Southern Living, Bazaar, you name it .... the thing is, they see a picture, read an article and "Whammo" they need to have it, forget the driving part, it's just Sooooo damn cool lookin', so they buy it, then hate it or just the honeymoon is over .. drive them for a few hours before you drop your butt in one for the next 30 months ...
My brother HAD to have a Vette a few years back ~ couldn't live without it, couldn't breath without one, his life was coming to a grinding Halt by not having one .. so instead of me giving him one for the weekend, I gave him one for Monday -- he drove that dude to work (thought he was sooo cool) parked it (folks were lookin') then ran 3/4 sales appointments during the day, did the dry cleaners gig on the way home - and HATED it .. heaven forbid he would try something he might do on a "day to day" basis .l.o.l.... I think I saved his life -and- his financial well being ....
Terry.
Yes, what you've outlined is true for most people. Thing is, I'm not most people. I graduated from college back in December. In college, I had a great job and minimal living expenses, so I saved some for long term retirement purposes, and spent some on toys (a TT and an RX-7). Being out of college, I found an even better job in Houston, and I'm ready to buy a house. I have equity in the TT because I put about 25% down, practically stole it from the previous owner, and took out a loan with a short term. I could price it to sell quick and only suffer about $2k worth of depreciation, and get $13k in equity out of it. I know that cars aren't a good place to store money, but they sure do make it fun.
Thanks for the help on the Yukon.
Darn, the prices of these things just keeps crashing.
Sure is a change from a few years ago when they hardly depreciated at all. I've got a little head scratching to do.
Hope all of your buys are Good Ones.
Charley
That is why I ask my drivers to go out and RENT the car BEFORE they select it as their fleet car for THREE years. Nothing ticks me off MORE than having to listen to someone COMPLAIN about a car for THREE years.
On more than one occasion, I have seen people change their mind after a weekend in the car of their choice.
That works pretty well.
+++++++
I really don't have a problem doing the buying or selling part of the deal. Usually seem to come out reasonably well in that regards.
But I can't figure out how to beat the Sales Taxes and fees to the state. That 6% is a big number to overcome everytime.
Charley
Well I dunno about where you live, but here in TX we can go down to the courthouse and say we paid anything we want to....espescially in rural areas where they don't have a clue about valuations on Audis and the like....$14k sounds high to them for a 2001.....even though its worth like $25k. Plus you can always say you traded in your previous car to the seller if they ask any questions.
6% ?? try 9.1% in Washington!
regards,
kyfdx
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Well I dunno about where you live, but here in TX we can go down to the courthouse and say we paid anything we want to....espescially in rural areas where they don't have a clue about valuations on Audis and the like....$14k sounds high to them for a 2001.....even though its worth like $25k. Plus you can always say you traded in your previous car to the seller if they ask any questions.
If it were me: 2-3 year old Lincoln LS's, SAAB 9-5's, maybe a Jag X-Type. As Terry once said "they have the resale of artichokes" - but all somewhat fun to drive and cheap to buy used. Keep em a year or two and move on.
I'm looking to trade a 1998 Mustang 2DR STD coupe, 6 cyl, auto, a/c, cruise, tilt wheel, green, 53.5K miles, CD player, rear spoiler, tinted windows, rear defroster, 18" chrome rims/tires, flow master mufflers, looks sharp, runs great, Orlando Florida 32835 area. I'm hoping for $5-5.5K on a trade. Am I close?
98 base Stang, 6 banger, auto, cold breeze, 54k, spoiler, 18" chromee's and we have no-sale green ... the miles are low for the year and it's an auto, there's your 2 saving graces and if we haven't had any visits with the parking lot at the Florida Mall and haven't gotten Goofy on I-drive and no paint by numbers ... then trade side, in and around the low to mid $4's, might "maybe" see the high $4's if this little dude is "jam-up perfect" and needs -0- .... $5/$5,5 on a trade .? your kinda close, but $5,5 puts you towards the Retail zone ...
Let me know how it goes.!
Terry.
Them: "I hate this Navigator, it makes funny sounds and the seats are too hot .. Besides, it's too big" -
Me: "So it's a size thing not a seat, heat, sound thing ~ right.?"
Them: "yeah, it's too big and the Mrs is only 5'0 and she hates it"
Me: "So, did you guys drive it before you bought it.?
Them: "well, kinda .. you know how it goes, been in one - been in them all .. so I drove it around the parking lot"
Me: "Smart, real friggin' smart ... so anyway, what do you owe on this dude ..... ?!? "
Happens everyday .....
Terry.
Terry.
We are talking about a standard *Legacy* wagon - right.? .. a BH645 model ..
Terry.
2000 Tacoma xtra cab 2WD
White
cloth buckets, tan interior
SR5
3.4 L V6
5 spd (Yes, but it's a Truck)
A/C
Power Steering
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Tilt Wheel
Cruise Control
AM/FM Stereo
Cassette
single CD (inop)
Sliding Rear Window
shell ----doesn't match color of truck, but he thinks it looks cool in red on white truck, also, shell is in only in fair shape)
Thank, Jeff
I asked hin, "Have YOU driven it yet?"
"No, but I liked the RX-300 a couple of years ago when they gave me the Volvo."
"Go drive it and then I will order it."
"NO, order it NOW."
"Tell me when you can get to a dealership and you can test drive the vehicle. I don't want to be listening to complaints for the next three years that you don't like it."
"UHH, OK."
Personally, there are so many cars that I have been interested in buying UNTIL the test drive. The Alero was the last one that surprised me unfavorably.
I prefer renting a vehicle for a good 1000 mile test drive (g).
now could you enlighten us as to how far this thing has travelled in the last 5 years....????
tia -m
....at least its a Toyota!
I have located a clean title, no accident (carfax verified) '02 Jetta with only 13,500 miles (VW warranty 48K miles or 4 years), dark blue paint with grey cloth interior..Kbb trade in price for good condition is 12465..Owners were asking 14K, gave up, will take 12,500. The car is for my 16 year old girl who wants a Jetta or Mustang (no Japanese cars for her, she says "boring". Sounds good to me; what do you think?
The color is known around here as "no-sale blue".
BTW, these puppies were (still are?) sold for $17 or so... asking $14 2+ years later is, uh, optimistic. But I'll let the pros answer that part.
If your daughter rejects a $10k++ car because it's "boring", that suggests other problems... I"d have her in a '98 Lumina ($3+) in a hurry, but that's me...
-Mathias
Turboshadow
.
I'd also like to add that I really appreciate all the knowledge, expertise, (and humor), that you and a few others provide here, starts my day out on a good note.
You'd be proud of me! I just bought my newly licensed 17 yr old daughter a 97 Geo Prizm for $3k - here's hoping it runs forever, or at least until she figures out where she's going in life and can afford to replace it herself!
Have you considered the Scion XA - $12965 brand new...
as Spatulaman said in his post - "Yes...I recall VW of the late 80s thru mid 90s....they were building utter crap....fast forward to today, and lo and behold, they're still building utter crap, although it is far more attractive crap.....and they say you can't polish a turd!" In my personal experience, truer words were never spoken.
Terry.