OK, so I went to check out the Highlander last night and decided not to go ahead with the purchase. I've been researching this SUV for almost 2 months, so went in there armed with a file folder full of information, plus being female, I didn't want to give them the idea that I could be jerked around. The salesman started off by telling me that the $16,999 was non-negotiable, and it had to be accepted as is. Turned me off straight away. On the initial inspection, I noticed that there were a few scratches on the driver's side door, and some deeper scratches on the front bumper (looked like the previous owner scraped against something). Salesperson said what do I expect from a vehicle that is 3 years old - I have an 8 year old Saturn that has been through quite a bit, but has less scratches than this Highlander. Salesperson told me that his detail crew couldn't remove the scratches, and that it would cost about $300 to sand down and repaint that area (which I would have to pay). Interior smelled slightly of cigarettes, and noticed that the cigarette lighter had been slightly used. Rear bumper also had a few scratches where it looked like the owner had backed up into something. Took it on a test drive (not the normal salesperson drive, but my own customized going up and down hills, etc, which is what I would normally do in my own car). Drove extremely smoothly as expected. I got a call from another salesperson today to ask me how things went. I told him that the price should be negotiable considering the scratches on the vehicle. He said that he will speak with his General Sales Manager and will see what he can do... Thanks to everyone for the help. Will keep you posted.
Yes they are very nice cars... I was impressed on how it drove, fast enough, and quite sporty for a luxo-coupe.
The car was not CPO, and had nothing but a 30 day warranty.
I got a call from the salesman today ... they found records of the 30K, and were willing to do a 60K + timing belt change. I showed the car to my GF ... she nixed it on color ... frankly the gold color isn't my favorite either.
I have decided to buy one of these though. After returning from a week's vacation, I'm planning to search within a 300 mile radius, and get one. I would like to try a SC400 as well ... but they are even MORE rare.
I cannot figure out why they discontinued it .. I much prefer it to the replacement SC430.
Yeah, the 430 looks like a bathtub on wheels, speaking of which, the standard factory alloys are even uglier than those on the Volvo S80 (I think the newer S80's have better ones). I can understand hubcaps designed to look like alloys, but alloys designed to look like hubcaps is another story...!
...... Good description ... $16,9.? thats why it's so cheap, scratches and a few little kisses here and there .. I'm a little surprised that a high speed buffer and some "J" wax wouldn't remove most of it instead of a $300 shooting spree ....
Terry, Any help is appreciated. 2002 Maxima SE 6 spd Private Party Seller Black with Black Leather 6 cyl Manual transmission 31,000 miles Bose with 6 disc in dash CD Power moonroof Heated seats/Steering wheel/mirrors Side air bags Power seats Auto temperature control Aftermarket tinted windows Minneapolis area Excellent condition inside and out - non smoker Good tires and brakes Seller asking $19.9. What is a reasonable offer? Thanks!
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Whats a reasonable offer.? how about $21,000 ..l.o.l....
$19,900 ...?!? whats in the trunk, a new Piaget watch.?
It's a triple black SE in Viking country .. leather, short miles, Bozo sound, slider, cold pack, side balloons and we have that thing that moves around between the seats .... if the rubber is deep, no Dutch Boys, no crazy car washes, no I bounced off the drive thru at Blimpys, just a nice clean Maxima SE with a handshaker ~ if so, then it's a $14ish vehicle come trade side .. $19,900..?? come on, it's a Maxima not a friggin' Mercedes.
Dealers are only paying the short $15's for the "in the wrapper" 30k GLE's with an -automatic- and only seeing the tall $17's low $18's on a beautiful and glorious day on the Retail side ...... $19,900 for an SE with a meat cleaver.? - $16,900ish is the money and $17,900 would just flat KILL it .... $19,900.? I could duplicate this vehicle tommorow with less miles and have it detailed, serviced, add three dozen red roses and 12 big Fat Daddy steaks from Omaha and have it shipped 1,200 miles and still make $3,000 ..... this guy should be lookin for the sale at Home Depot, cuz' he's going to need a ton of potting soil for $19,900 .. Whoa.!
What info source is this guy reading, Mad magazine.?
We fear my brother's Blazer is going to drop something soon, so he's thinking about trading it in (or, more likely, selling it), probably in the next few months. Details: 96 S10 Blazer LS 4-door 4x4 4.3 V6, automatic power windows/locks/dr. seat, factory AM/FM CD almost 99k miles black, gray cloth, factory alloys the good: body no rust, no major dings or scratches, paint not super shiny but not faded or blotchy, interior decent, no rips, stains or smells, runs OK (not great), trans shifts fine, 4x4 works fine, miles OK for a '96 the bad: ABS light on, Check Engine light on, needs front tires (will replace before sale, though), A/C warm (needs compressor), rear wiper in-op, fronts don't spray, power seat in-op (I'm gonna check the fuses on the last two). It's basically a decent looking' beater SUV at this point, but all in all, fixing all the badly-built GM nickel-and-dime crap would cost more than the car is worth. He'd like to buy a.... something smaller, maybe a Matrix/Vibe, Scion xB, used Protege5? I think on trade he'd get around $2k maybe $3k on a dream day push, if he put it in the paper $4k tops as is. Really nice ones are $5-6k 'asking' in AutoTrader. Whaddya think?
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Hmm, sounds like the typical Bimmer with the light show and all ... miles are low for the year, it's a 4dr with the 4x4, no rust and you say it's in ok shape ...
The air I wouldn't worry about in Chicago in October, the light package is the main deal here, have him spend the $50/$250 and have it taken care of, age, time, weather, etc can make these things go on the blink and most dealers will say it costs $millions$ to fix when he goes to trade it .... they're doing "in and around" the $3ish figure at the auctions in your area, so a dealer will probably do $1,5/$2,000 would be my guess ... add the rubber $300, fix the this and that $250, misc $200, great Ad, get a superb detail, $4,900 *asking* and he will probably see $3,5/$3,9 - especially with winter knocking at your door .....
I wouldn't buy this thing: between the scratches, cigarette smoke, & the attitude of the dealership, I'd be really turned off. But that's just me. Personally I'd spend more to get a "nice one", & probably with the V6.
Thanks again for the info on the 300zx Twin-turbo. I have continued to look on autotrader and where idiots auction and buy cars, i.e. eBay. Either you and me are waaaaay in left field or everyone else is on "crack", but to find a clean '91-'95 300zxTT with less than 100K on the ticker is like trying to find a camel in Greenland!! What lunatic pays more than NADA retail value for these cars? Apparantly, plenty! And do the people at NADA interview these nut cases? There's even a guy on eBay who has his '91 300zxTT, loaded with 17K, starting bid at $22500!!! I'll admit it appears to be the finest one I've seen, but come on that thing has got to be at least $13000 over honest retail. To get a laugh you should just cruise over to ebay and read how he describes it, you'd swear he was auctioning off his wife!!! You gotta read it man!
I certainly have the money to pay top dollar, but it is plum stupid to pay more than market value for a car because the guy loves it more than he loves life itself!!! These guys get irrate if you don't offer a few hundred less than their asking price, no matter what they have it listed for! I've seen plenty with miles over 100K, stupid rims, foolish looking spoilers, junk audio systems and even these bottom of the barrel Z's usually start at $7500 and the from there the sky's the limit baby! The 90-96 Z's are popular, but since when does 8-14 year old cars become "Classics"??
Sorry for the vent, but people actually fall in love with metal, plastic, and rubber! Then expect everyone else to idol worship like them! Not me! It's just a car! Not a Ferrari...I think I love Ferrari...ooops!
2003 Acura TL Type-S Less than 8000 miles in Southern NJ. 3 years 42,000 miles remain on the factory warranty. This car is absolutely in perfect condition. The only blemish is one rim had a little run in with a curb the first week I had it. It left a nice scrape, but didn't hit hard enough to effect the suspension. These only come loaded except for the navigation system, which it does not have. White Pearl with beige interior. Spoiler Wood grain steering wheel
Would an Acura dealer be interested for a reasonable price? I see dealers asking in the high twenties for base 03's with 30k plus miles. I only paid $27k for my Type-S brand new.
I love the car, but now that I have two kids, I think my priorities should be a bigger house. I only drive it 10 miles each way to work, and then it usually sits at home on the weekends since my other vehicle is an SUV.
Location: Atlanta, GA Make: 2001 Volvo V70 2.4T Body: 4dr wagon Engine: 5-speed Automatic Geartronic Engine Mileage: 51,500 miles Color: Silver exterior w/tan leather interior Major options: Power Sunroof, Dynamic Traction Control, 17 x 7.5" Premium Alloy Wheels. Includes Premium Package: Leather Steering Wheel, Wood Trim, Power Driver and Passenger Seats, In-dash CD. Touring Package: Cargo net, Homelink Garage Door Opener, Laminated Side Glass, Auto-Dim Rearview Mirror, Trip Computer, 12-Volt Outlet in Cargo Area. Cold Weather Package: Heated Front Seats, Headlight wiper/washer. Condition: Minor dings in doors, but overall, very nice. Paint shiny and reflective. Four nearly new tires (installed in the last 90 days). All maintenance accounted for, and performed at Volvo dealer. Other: Minor damage to rear bumper. Rear bumper replaced w/OEM part - looks brand new. No other accidents. Has Volvo 6yr/100,000mi. Factory Warranty (which is transferrable) good for another 50,000+ miles. ----
I've been a lurker for a while (you are a great source of information), and it's finally come time for us to move from wagon to minivan (expanding family and all). So, I wanted to get your take on pricing, especially because the guides are all over the place - Edmunds has $20,400 (T/I), $22,400 (P/P), $24,600 (RET) + $25,800 (Certified); KBB has $15,135 (T/I), $17,810 (P/P), and $21,845 (RET); and NADA has $19,000 (T/I) and $22,050. It's no wonder consumers have such a tough time valuing their used cars!
Anyway, I'd love your opinion on what I might expect to get on the vehicle if I trade it or sell it myself. Also, does the transferrable factory warranty add anything in a trade, or must I sell it myself to see any value in it? Thanks so much in advance!
How've you been? God bless ya for staying so faithful to us folks over the years!
Curious how the avalanches are doing at the auctions. I'm intersted in the totally loaded version with heated leather and slider. Figure one in perfect condition with around 20k miles. white or, i like the orange too in New england.
Where did you find a dealer to give you that great price??, especially for a 2004. Probably a long ways from NE Wyoming. I would love to have a new one at that price - they want about 30K for a 2004 in Rapid City, SD.
After reading numerous posts and deciding what a fair price to offer I recently purchased in the metro NY area a black 2004 Escalade ESV with 15,000 miles, sunroof, second row captain chairs and DVD for $42,600. While I am comfortable with the price paid, I like to know the experts opinion on it.
but what does it matter? You paid what you believe is a fair price, and you've already contracted on the vehicle.
To learn someone's opinion on a vehicle none of us have ever seen doesn't weigh much. Also, what if you were wrong by a large amount?
Not only are you then really frustrated, there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.
Enjoy your new Escalade!
To me, weighing in with an opinion on this is as senseless and potentially sensitive as trying to guess a woman's age or weight - if you're wrong, in any manner, you'll cause a ruckus for sure. No thanks.
I think they were talking about an SC300/400, the coupe, not the LS400, which, in 1999, had few appearance changes from your 1991 model. Good point, though!
....**These guys get irate if you don't offer a few hundred less than their asking price, no matter what they have it listed for!** ....
You can't get upset about it .l.o.l.. it's a free country and folks can "ask" anything they want for anything, it's getting the money thats the hard part .. whether it's a house, a boat or a piece of jewelry you're always going to see a particular item that is waaaay over-priced, but hey, it's their item and thats why they have it a year later ... in the case with the Z, it looks nice and I'm sure it clean, but it's not worth anything even close to that figure, but someone probably told him it's worth $25,0 or he read some crazy info source or just believes he can get it, who knows ... if you track ebay closely like I do, you see stuff thats been in there since 9/11 .. unfortunately he didn't get "bid one" in 10 days, that should tell him something with 3,800 hits on the page .. but then again, he lives in Naw Leans and folks there are a little different .l.o.l...
Talk about some crazy prices, I also follow the boat prices on ebay and there's some sellers that are asking $3,0/$7,0/$11,000 more than they paid for them .l.o.l... but the problem here is the NADA, and in most cases it's off by 25/35%, so they end up making the big payments and they still have them 20 months later .............
2003 Acura TL Type-S Less than 8000 miles in Southern NJ. 3 years 42,000 miles remain on the factory warranty. This car is absolutely in perfect condition. The only blemish is one rim had a little run in with a curb the first week I had it. It left a nice scrape, but didn't hit hard enough to effect the suspension. These only come loaded except for the navigation system, which it does not have. White Pearl with beige interior. Spoiler Wood grain steering wheel Would an Acura dealer be interested for a reasonable price? I see dealers asking in the high twenties for base 03's with 30k plus miles. I only paid $27k for my Type-S brand new. I love the car, but now that I have two kids, I think my priorities should be a bigger house. I only drive it 10 miles each way to work, and then it usually sits at home on the weekends since my other vehicle is an SUV.
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Nice vehicles, and still doing some serious money even with the new body style .... this one has the right color, it's an "S", nooo miles, don't worry about the Nav's they only add "around" $500ish depending on the dealer, we have a little curb rash .. if it's as clean as you say it is, minus the curb burn, then you should be seeing the super tall $21ish low low $22ish figure on the trade side ..... right color and no miles, I wish I could find a dozen of them .....
Location: Chicago NW Suburbs Year/Make/Model: 2000 Grand Cherokee Laredo Body Style: SUV Engine: 4.0L I6 OHV 12V FI Engine Driveline: 4WD Mileage: 98,000 Color: Green ext/ Tan interior Major Options: None Condition: Very average condition Tires: 50% worn
Terry,
This is my last car to sell this year. The car is in OK, not great shape. The driver of the vehicle, a former employee, wants to buy the vehicle which is fine with me. I want to price the vehicle so that he takes it BUT I don't want to give the thing away.
If it comes to me, I am *probably* going to offer it to the employees or send it to the auctions for disposal.
Oh, just thinking, but I wouldn't trade ANYTHING I have now (the Focus or the Titan).
I was talking an older (say pre-1999) GC, but not interested in yet another vehicle to maintain and insure right now. The 3 we have are hard enough to keep up with, the poor Titan has been neglected lately.
I've sold 3 cars on eBay. I've never bought a car on eBay. Hmmm... may be a lesson here.
I've found that eBay is a great place to sell a car that maybe needs a little wider audience to find the "right" buyer - right, as in, willing to pay more $$$. On my S10 pickup and Neon I knew these were a dime a dozen, so I went ahead and dumped them in the local paper. The market for, say, a ratty but rust free 260Z, a nice high mile Alfa Spider, or a super low mile Sentra SE-R is a bit more specialized. I'm a money grubbing capitalist like anyone else, so I want to get as much money as I can for my bit o' glass and steel. eBay lets me sell it to the guy in Pocatello or New Jersey or Puerto Rico that's willing to pay a premium for a "can't get 'em, can't find 'em".
I had one guy ask me to lower my Buy-It-Now price, telling me he couldn't rationalize buying a car for more than NADA, Edmunds, etc. Guess what? He didn't win the bid. IMO, unless you're looking for a rare vehicle and are willing to pay a premium eBay is not the place to buy a car. There may be "screaming deals" to be had, but I haven't seen them.
-Jason
Oh, and people that start the auction at some ridiculous number that's twice the actual value? Idiots. But it ain't cheap to list on eBay, and they have every right to waste their money.
All of this talk about ebay has me wondering if an ad in our local paper would be a better place to sell our 94 LS400 or would ebay be better since it could be a car someone is specifically searching for? I know 94 LS400's aren't rare but this is a 10th Anniv. Edition with special wheels & paint and it's immaculate.
Terry: Thanks for the reply. I offered what I thought was a fair price. I just wanted to know if I was close (as in horseshoes) since I haven't bought a new car since I purchased my 85 Cherokee Laredo 150,000 miles and still running strong. Black, washed every two weeks,waxed twice a year, interior shampooed once a year. In other words well maintained. Going to my daughter. Keep up the good work. Learned alot by reading yours and others comments
Location: Monterey, CA 2003 Toyota Highlander 4-dr 2.4L I4 DOHC 16V FI Engine FWD Mileage: 15,000 Color: silver/gray Major Options: Remote keyless entry, roof rack, privacy glass, tonneau cover, 8-way power driver's seat, engine immobilizer, illuminated vanity mirrors, HomeLink universal remote trasmitter(can set 3items), color-keyed rear spoiler, carpet mat set (front, rear, & cargo), two (2) cargo nets.
Condition: All regular maintenance up to date. Interior: Small scratch on passenger side dash top. Exterior: slight dent on rear bumper (backed into wooden post at home).
Other: No prior damage or claims. Wondering if it would be better to replace the bumper on our own before trade-in to get more money for it?
The transmission fluid leaked out of my old dodge neon I’ve had since high school and now I'm cruising in a trek mountain bike and I need an upgrade fast.
I'm looking at a pair of used luxury sports sedans. First is a
2001 BMW 530i Automatic Mileage 46,470 Exterior Color Black Light Beige interior CALIFORNIA CAR, FULL DEALER HISTORY.REMAIDER OF FACTORY WARRANTY TILL 08.09.2005 OR 50,000 MILES * Good condition The usually BMW bells & whistles but it does NOT have the Sport Package. The Ferrari & Maserati (eck!) dealership in Costa Mesa, CA is asking $26,950 for it.
The Second is a
2001 Lexus GS300 auto Mileage 45,270 Exterior Color Black Interior Light Charcoal Balance of Factory Warranty! Also is in good condition I believe it only has the standard options NO mark L. radio or NAV. The mom and pop dealer wants $23,900 for it in Stanton, CA 90680.
Info: 2001 Tacoma V6 4x4 SR5 X-Cab Black Exterior Tan interior Manual Trans Pwr windows/locks/mirrors/steering 43k miles
Condition: Its gonna need new tires in about 10k, driver's seat a smidge worn, crack in the instrument cluster face, and the chrome on the grill has a couple marks in it, other than that its in good shape
The seller is asking $35K and some change. Even though this is close to what I am looking for, I am going to pass and continue to look for an AWD RX330. This will help me with the re-sale. Thanks again for your advice. I will post again if I find another vehicle.
Right now, CLEAN 03 FX35's with all the stuff, tech, awd, sport loaded up and with miles in the 9/12/15k range are doing "in and around" the tall $30ish/$31ish figure at the block, dealers will probably see the $33/$34ish range depending on the time zone ... down Lexus lane, the 03 RX300's, again with all the junk, nav and the awd, same low miles are seeing the $27/$28ish range and dealers will probably see the $29/$31ish figure on the retail side
That's very surprising to me considering that the MSRP on similarly equipped cars is within a couple K of each other. I would've thought (and I was hoping) that the FX was going to be a pig on resale....just like all the other Infinitis before it.
With either of these that's 3500-4500 miles. You may find the Lexus would be less likely to lose its transmission fluid. You may find the BMW more entertaining.
#22625 of 22626 Re: Neon finally bite the dust [hypersion] by corvette Oct 11, 2004 (9:21 pm)
Reply >>>Balance of Factory Warranty!<<<
With either of these that's 3500-4500 miles. You may find the Lexus would be less likely to lose its transmission fluid. You may find the BMW more entertaining.
LOL
If I could get a `96 neon to go 130k without leaving me stranded I bet I could get either one of those cars to last 230k. If only my neon lasted unless January when I could flip my stock options and pay cash for the lex. But than it wouldn't have Balance of Factory Warranty .
pay cash in January, find another ride to look at - you're not in a hurry that way, and you're spending only slightly more than a car payment (per month) on a high line ride...
Terry, First, the details: Location: Atlanta, GA Make: 2001 Volvo V70 2.4T Body: 4dr wagon Engine: 5-speed Automatic Geartronic Engine Mileage: 51,500 miles Color: Silver exterior w/tan leather interior Major options: Power Sunroof, Dynamic Traction Control, 17 x 7.5" Premium Alloy Wheels. Includes Premium Package: Leather Steering Wheel, Wood Trim, Power Driver and Passenger Seats, In-dash CD. Touring Package: Cargo net, Homelink Garage Door Opener, Laminated Side Glass, Auto-Dim Rearview Mirror, Trip Computer, 12-Volt Outlet in Cargo Area. Cold Weather Package: Heated Front Seats, Headlight wiper/washer. Condition: Minor dings in doors, but overall, very nice. Paint shiny and reflective. Four nearly new tires (installed in the last 90 days). All maintenance accounted for, and performed at Volvo dealer. Other: Minor damage to rear bumper. Rear bumper replaced w/OEM part - looks brand new. No other accidents. Has Volvo 6yr/100,000mi. Factory Warranty (which is transferable) good for another 50,000+ miles. ---- I've been a lurker for a while (you are a great source of information), and it's finally come time for us to move from wagon to minivan (expanding family and all). So, I wanted to get your take on pricing, especially because the guides are all over the place - Edmunds has $20,400 (T/I), $22,400 (P/P), $24,600 (RET) + $25,800 (Certified); KBB has $15,135 (T/I), $17,810 (P/P), and $21,845 (RET); and NADA has $19,000 (T/I) and $22,050. It's no wonder consumers have such a tough time valuing their used cars! Anyway, I'd love your opinion on what I might expect to get on the vehicle if I trade it or sell it myself. Also, does the transferable factory warranty add anything in a trade, or must I sell it myself to see any value in it? Thanks so much in advance!
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Thanks and Good evening Mr. Lurker ... since Green Bay forgot to show up tonight, I might as well take this time to answer this .......
On the warranty deal, it's a great help if you decide to go down Retail Rd, on the trade it means nothing .. that said, you can "probably" still get a little refund depending on the time and the barometric pressure from the warranty company -if- it's never been used, but check first ..
In the land of Michael Vicks, we have a 01 V70 2.4T, nice vehicles (it's a SW58D, right.?) your right, these are kinda all over the place because of the model confusion ...
We have the auto, miles are almost on the low side, leather guts, best color combo for the area, slider, cold pack, trac ctrl, winkers on the lights, 17"s, almost new rubber, service is up to date, good paint and a minor meteorite hit to the transom area - all in all, it sounds like a pretty nice little rig ... if ~ it's as nice as you say, then trade side you should be seeing the super high $15's low $16's, mid $16's if it's in super shape .. might see a dealer to get a little confused and put *SW53D* money into it (which I see everyday) thats why the book values are so whacked out, the books don't even know the difference, the miles and the options save it .... might catch a dealer napping and wander into the $17's, ya never know .l.o.l...
Down Retail Rd: a superb detail, a wonderful 4/5 liner Ad and $19,900 *asking* and send it south for the first $18,9/$19,5 ...
Don't forget to give me an update on this one ..............
PS: if the dealer puts too much money into it - don't tell him
Yea that's what a few people have been telling me. I also personaly know two people that are "curb-side" dealers and specialize in cheap cars (under $4k.) I could get something from one of them for 1-2K and drive it around until I found what I really wanted. Or maybe get an old buick from an auto auction.
I posted this while back, but took my time buying a new truck, so only now finally getting around to sending the old family truckster down Retail Road...looking to confirm $#'s -------------------- Parked in Northern NJ. Original owner 99 Ford Explorer XLT, 4 door, 5.0 V8, all wheel drive, 56,000 miles, white exterior, gray cloth, basic XLT power everything with the upgrade radio with premium sound the only option. Clean and shiny in and out. No hits no errors. Tires are Michelins about 50% worn. I was going to replace these before selling but $1500 of steering rack replacement and ABS work has taken some of my incentive away on spending any more money on this lame-duck truck.
I'm thinking an ad in the Daily Rag for $9995, and sending it off for $9500ish? Am I in the ballpark? I know these are a dime a dozen, but it does have light miles and still looks good for 6 years old.
Comments
The car was not CPO, and had nothing but a 30 day warranty.
I got a call from the salesman today ... they found records of the 30K, and were willing to do a 60K + timing belt change. I showed the car to my GF ... she nixed it on color ... frankly the gold color isn't my favorite either.
I have decided to buy one of these though. After returning from a week's vacation, I'm planning to search within a 300 mile radius, and get one. I would like to try a SC400 as well ... but they are even MORE rare.
I cannot figure out why they discontinued it .. I much prefer it to the replacement SC430.
Terry.
Terry.
Any help is appreciated.
2002 Maxima SE 6 spd
Private Party Seller
Black with Black Leather
6 cyl Manual transmission
31,000 miles
Bose with 6 disc in dash CD
Power moonroof
Heated seats/Steering wheel/mirrors
Side air bags
Power seats
Auto temperature control
Aftermarket tinted windows
Minneapolis area
Excellent condition inside and out - non smoker
Good tires and brakes
Seller asking $19.9.
What is a reasonable offer?
Thanks!
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Whats a reasonable offer.? how about $21,000 ..l.o.l....
$19,900 ...?!? whats in the trunk, a new Piaget watch.?
It's a triple black SE in Viking country .. leather, short miles, Bozo sound, slider, cold pack, side balloons and we have that thing that moves around between the seats .... if the rubber is deep, no Dutch Boys, no crazy car washes, no I bounced off the drive thru at Blimpys, just a nice clean Maxima SE with a handshaker ~ if so, then it's a $14ish vehicle come trade side .. $19,900..?? come on, it's a Maxima not a friggin' Mercedes.
Dealers are only paying the short $15's for the "in the wrapper" 30k GLE's with an -automatic- and only seeing the tall $17's low $18's on a beautiful and glorious day on the Retail side ...... $19,900 for an SE with a meat cleaver.? - $16,900ish is the money and $17,900 would just flat KILL it .... $19,900.? I could duplicate this vehicle tommorow with less miles and have it detailed, serviced, add three dozen red roses and 12 big Fat Daddy steaks from Omaha and have it shipped 1,200 miles and still make $3,000 ..... this guy should be lookin for the sale at Home Depot, cuz' he's going to need a ton of potting soil for $19,900 .. Whoa.!
What info source is this guy reading, Mad magazine.?
Terry
96 S10 Blazer LS 4-door 4x4
4.3 V6, automatic
power windows/locks/dr. seat, factory AM/FM CD
almost 99k miles
black, gray cloth, factory alloys
the good: body no rust, no major dings or scratches, paint not super shiny but not faded or blotchy, interior decent, no rips, stains or smells, runs OK (not great), trans shifts fine, 4x4 works fine, miles OK for a '96
the bad: ABS light on, Check Engine light on, needs front tires (will replace before sale, though), A/C warm (needs compressor), rear wiper in-op, fronts don't spray, power seat in-op (I'm gonna check the fuses on the last two). It's basically a decent looking' beater SUV at this point, but all in all, fixing all the badly-built GM nickel-and-dime crap would cost more than the car is worth.
He'd like to buy a.... something smaller, maybe a Matrix/Vibe, Scion xB, used Protege5? I think on trade he'd get around $2k maybe $3k on a dream day push, if he put it in the paper $4k tops as is. Really nice ones are $5-6k 'asking' in AutoTrader. Whaddya think?
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Hmm, sounds like the typical Bimmer with the light show and all ... miles are low for the year, it's a 4dr with the 4x4, no rust and you say it's in ok shape ...
The air I wouldn't worry about in Chicago in October, the light package is the main deal here, have him spend the $50/$250 and have it taken care of, age, time, weather, etc can make these things go on the blink and most dealers will say it costs $millions$ to fix when he goes to trade it .... they're doing "in and around" the $3ish figure at the auctions in your area, so a dealer will probably do $1,5/$2,000 would be my guess ... add the rubber $300, fix the this and that $250, misc $200, great Ad, get a superb detail, $4,900 *asking* and he will probably see $3,5/$3,9 - especially with winter knocking at your door .....
Don't forget to let me know.!
Terry.
Thanks again for the info on the 300zx Twin-turbo. I have continued to look on autotrader and where idiots auction and buy cars, i.e. eBay. Either you and me are waaaaay in left field or everyone else is on "crack", but to find a clean '91-'95 300zxTT with less than 100K on the ticker is like trying to find a camel in Greenland!! What lunatic pays more than NADA retail value for these cars? Apparantly, plenty! And do the people at NADA interview these nut cases? There's even a guy on eBay who has his '91 300zxTT, loaded with 17K, starting bid at $22500!!! I'll admit it appears to be the finest one I've seen, but come on that thing has got to be at least $13000 over honest retail. To get a laugh you should just cruise over to ebay and read how he describes it, you'd swear he was auctioning off his wife!!! You gotta read it man!
I certainly have the money to pay top dollar, but it is plum stupid to pay more than market value for a car because the guy loves it more than he loves life itself!!! These guys get irrate if you don't offer a few hundred less than their asking price, no matter what they have it listed for! I've seen plenty with miles over 100K, stupid rims, foolish looking spoilers, junk audio systems and even these bottom of the barrel Z's usually start at $7500 and the from there the sky's the limit baby! The 90-96 Z's are popular, but since when does 8-14 year old cars become "Classics"??
Sorry for the vent, but people actually fall in love with metal, plastic, and rubber! Then expect everyone else to idol worship like them! Not me! It's just a car! Not a Ferrari...I think I love Ferrari...ooops!
C-ya!
That's the way it goes, "real world", Kelley, NADA, or not.
And thanks, but I'M one of those idiots who has sold a car on ebay...
Less than 8000 miles in Southern NJ.
3 years 42,000 miles remain on the factory warranty.
This car is absolutely in perfect condition. The only blemish is one rim had a little run in with a curb the first week I had it. It left a nice scrape, but didn't hit hard enough to effect the suspension.
These only come loaded except for the navigation system, which it does not have.
White Pearl with beige interior.
Spoiler
Wood grain steering wheel
Would an Acura dealer be interested for a reasonable price? I see dealers asking in the high twenties for base 03's with 30k plus miles. I only paid $27k for my Type-S brand new.
I love the car, but now that I have two kids, I think my priorities should be a bigger house. I only drive it 10 miles each way to work, and then it usually sits at home on the weekends since my other vehicle is an SUV.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1- &item=2491055324&category=6398
First, the details:
Location: Atlanta, GA
Make: 2001 Volvo V70 2.4T
Body: 4dr wagon
Engine: 5-speed Automatic Geartronic Engine
Mileage: 51,500 miles
Color: Silver exterior w/tan leather interior
Major options: Power Sunroof, Dynamic Traction Control, 17 x 7.5" Premium Alloy Wheels. Includes Premium Package: Leather Steering Wheel, Wood Trim, Power Driver and Passenger Seats, In-dash CD. Touring Package: Cargo net, Homelink Garage Door Opener, Laminated Side Glass, Auto-Dim Rearview Mirror, Trip Computer, 12-Volt Outlet in Cargo Area. Cold Weather Package: Heated Front Seats, Headlight wiper/washer.
Condition: Minor dings in doors, but overall, very nice. Paint shiny and reflective. Four nearly new tires (installed in the last 90 days). All maintenance accounted for, and performed at Volvo dealer.
Other: Minor damage to rear bumper. Rear bumper replaced w/OEM part - looks brand new. No other accidents. Has Volvo 6yr/100,000mi. Factory Warranty (which is transferrable) good for another 50,000+ miles.
----
I've been a lurker for a while (you are a great source of information), and it's finally come time for us to move from wagon to minivan (expanding family and all). So, I wanted to get your take on pricing, especially because the guides are all over the place - Edmunds has $20,400 (T/I), $22,400 (P/P), $24,600 (RET) + $25,800 (Certified); KBB has $15,135 (T/I), $17,810 (P/P), and $21,845 (RET); and NADA has $19,000 (T/I) and $22,050. It's no wonder consumers have such a tough time valuing their used cars!
Anyway, I'd love your opinion on what I might expect to get on the vehicle if I trade it or sell it myself. Also, does the transferrable factory warranty add anything in a trade, or must I sell it myself to see any value in it? Thanks so much in advance!
How've you been? God bless ya for staying so faithful to us folks over the years!
Curious how the avalanches are doing at the auctions. I'm intersted in the totally loaded version with heated leather and slider. Figure one in perfect condition with around 20k miles. white or, i like the orange too in New england.
KBB is 24.5K what say you?
Thanks!
Mike
Where did you find a dealer to give you that great price??, especially for a 2004. Probably a long ways from NE Wyoming. I would love to have
a new one at that price - they want about 30K for a 2004 in Rapid City, SD.
To learn someone's opinion on a vehicle none of us have ever seen doesn't weigh much. Also, what if you were wrong by a large amount?
Not only are you then really frustrated, there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.
Enjoy your new Escalade!
To me, weighing in with an opinion on this is as senseless and potentially sensitive as trying to guess a woman's age or weight - if you're wrong, in any manner, you'll cause a ruckus for sure. No thanks.
That makes the 91 we bought seem like a bargain at $5500. So it had 130,000 miles. $24000?!?! Wow.
You can't get upset about it .l.o.l.. it's a free country and folks can "ask" anything they want for anything, it's getting the money thats the hard part .. whether it's a house, a boat or a piece of jewelry you're always going to see a particular item that is waaaay over-priced, but hey, it's their item and thats why they have it a year later ... in the case with the Z, it looks nice and I'm sure it clean, but it's not worth anything even close to that figure, but someone probably told him it's worth $25,0 or he read some crazy info source or just believes he can get it, who knows ... if you track ebay closely like I do, you see stuff thats been in there since 9/11 .. unfortunately he didn't get "bid one" in 10 days, that should tell him something with 3,800 hits on the page .. but then again, he lives in Naw Leans and folks there are a little different .l.o.l...
Talk about some crazy prices, I also follow the boat prices on ebay and there's some sellers that are asking $3,0/$7,0/$11,000 more than they paid for them .l.o.l... but the problem here is the NADA, and in most cases it's off by 25/35%, so they end up making the big payments and they still have them 20 months later .............
Terry.
Terry.
Less than 8000 miles in Southern NJ.
3 years 42,000 miles remain on the factory warranty.
This car is absolutely in perfect condition. The only blemish is one rim had a little run in with a curb the first week I had it. It left a nice scrape, but didn't hit hard enough to effect the suspension.
These only come loaded except for the navigation system, which it does not have.
White Pearl with beige interior.
Spoiler
Wood grain steering wheel
Would an Acura dealer be interested for a reasonable price? I see dealers asking in the high twenties for base 03's with 30k plus miles. I only paid $27k for my Type-S brand new.
I love the car, but now that I have two kids, I think my priorities should be a bigger house. I only drive it 10 miles each way to work, and then it usually sits at home on the weekends since my other vehicle is an SUV.
==========================
Nice vehicles, and still doing some serious money even with the new body style .... this one has the right color, it's an "S", nooo miles, don't worry about the Nav's they only add "around" $500ish depending on the dealer, we have a little curb rash .. if it's as clean as you say it is, minus the curb burn, then you should be seeing the super tall $21ish low low $22ish figure on the trade side ..... right color and no miles, I wish I could find a dozen of them .....
Let me know what happens.!
Terry.
Year/Make/Model: 2000 Grand Cherokee Laredo
Body Style: SUV
Engine: 4.0L I6 OHV 12V FI Engine
Driveline: 4WD
Mileage: 98,000
Color: Green ext/ Tan interior
Major Options: None
Condition: Very average condition
Tires: 50% worn
Terry,
This is my last car to sell this year. The car is in OK, not great shape. The driver of the vehicle, a former employee, wants to buy the vehicle which is fine with me. I want to price the vehicle so that he takes it BUT I don't want to give the thing away.
If it comes to me, I am *probably* going to offer it to the employees or send it to the auctions for disposal.
What is this worth?
Avalanche w/ slider, heated leather seats with memory, just everything offered.
20k miles
white or orange
like new
in New England
Thanks!
As Terry would say ...
Stay Away From The Car Lots!
I was talking an older (say pre-1999) GC, but not interested in yet another vehicle to maintain and insure right now. The 3 we have are hard enough to keep up with, the poor Titan has been neglected lately.
I've found that eBay is a great place to sell a car that maybe needs a little wider audience to find the "right" buyer - right, as in, willing to pay more $$$. On my S10 pickup and Neon I knew these were a dime a dozen, so I went ahead and dumped them in the local paper. The market for, say, a ratty but rust free 260Z, a nice high mile Alfa Spider, or a super low mile Sentra SE-R is a bit more specialized. I'm a money grubbing capitalist like anyone else, so I want to get as much money as I can for my bit o' glass and steel. eBay lets me sell it to the guy in Pocatello or New Jersey or Puerto Rico that's willing to pay a premium for a "can't get 'em, can't find 'em".
I had one guy ask me to lower my Buy-It-Now price, telling me he couldn't rationalize buying a car for more than NADA, Edmunds, etc. Guess what? He didn't win the bid. IMO, unless you're looking for a rare vehicle and are willing to pay a premium eBay is not the place to buy a car. There may be "screaming deals" to be had, but I haven't seen them.
-Jason
Oh, and people that start the auction at some ridiculous number that's twice the actual value? Idiots. But it ain't cheap to list on eBay, and they have every right to waste their money.
Avalanche w/ slider, heated leather seats with memory, just everything offered.
20k miles
white or orange
like new
in New England
Thanks!
2003 Toyota Highlander
4-dr
2.4L I4 DOHC 16V FI Engine
FWD
Mileage: 15,000
Color: silver/gray
Major Options:
Remote keyless entry, roof rack, privacy glass, tonneau cover, 8-way power driver's seat, engine immobilizer, illuminated vanity mirrors, HomeLink universal remote trasmitter(can set 3items), color-keyed rear spoiler, carpet mat set (front, rear, & cargo), two (2) cargo nets.
Condition: All regular maintenance up to date.
Interior: Small scratch on passenger side dash top. Exterior: slight dent on rear bumper (backed into wooden post at home).
Other: No prior damage or claims. Wondering if it would be better to replace the bumper on our own before trade-in to get more money for it?
Mike
The transmission fluid leaked out of my old dodge neon I’ve had since high school and now I'm cruising in a trek mountain bike and I need an upgrade fast.
I'm looking at a pair of used luxury sports sedans. First is a
2001 BMW 530i Automatic
Mileage 46,470
Exterior Color Black
Light Beige interior
CALIFORNIA CAR, FULL DEALER HISTORY.REMAIDER OF FACTORY WARRANTY TILL 08.09.2005 OR 50,000 MILES *
Good condition
The usually BMW bells & whistles but it does NOT have the Sport Package.
The Ferrari & Maserati (eck!) dealership in Costa Mesa, CA is asking $26,950 for it.
The Second is a
2001 Lexus GS300 auto
Mileage 45,270
Exterior Color Black
Interior Light Charcoal
Balance of Factory Warranty!
Also is in good condition
I believe it only has the standard options NO mark L. radio or NAV.
The mom and pop dealer wants $23,900 for it in Stanton, CA 90680.
I’m greatly in yours and eloans’ debt.
Donald
Linky: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=171763079
Info:
2001 Tacoma V6 4x4 SR5 X-Cab
Black Exterior
Tan interior
Manual Trans
Pwr windows/locks/mirrors/steering
43k miles
Condition: Its gonna need new tires in about 10k, driver's seat a smidge worn, crack in the instrument cluster face, and the chrome on the grill has a couple marks in it, other than that its in good shape
What you say its worth?
The seller is asking $35K and some change. Even though this is close to what I am looking for, I am going to pass and continue to look for an AWD RX330. This will help me with the re-sale. Thanks again for your advice. I will post again if I find another vehicle.
That's very surprising to me considering that the MSRP on similarly equipped cars is within a couple K of each other. I would've thought (and I was hoping) that the FX was going to be a pig on resale....just like all the other Infinitis before it.
With either of these that's 3500-4500 miles. You may find the Lexus would be less likely to lose its transmission fluid. You may find the BMW more entertaining.
1) Thanks again for your help selling the '99 LS400 earlier this year.
2) You were right about waiting to sell the Avalon, because...
3) I really don't care now that I have my 2005 TL. It's an awesome car! I'll post when I AM ready to dump the Avalon. Thanks again.
Q
Reply
>>>Balance of Factory Warranty!<<<
With either of these that's 3500-4500 miles. You may find the Lexus would be less likely to lose its transmission fluid. You may find the BMW more entertaining.
LOL
If I could get a `96 neon to go 130k without leaving me stranded I bet I could get either one of those cars to last 230k. If only my neon lasted unless January when I could flip my stock options and pay cash for the lex. But than it wouldn't have Balance of Factory Warranty
.
First, the details:
Location: Atlanta, GA
Make: 2001 Volvo V70 2.4T
Body: 4dr wagon
Engine: 5-speed Automatic Geartronic Engine
Mileage: 51,500 miles
Color: Silver exterior w/tan leather interior
Major options: Power Sunroof, Dynamic Traction Control, 17 x 7.5" Premium Alloy Wheels. Includes Premium Package: Leather Steering Wheel, Wood Trim, Power Driver and Passenger Seats, In-dash CD. Touring Package: Cargo net, Homelink Garage Door Opener, Laminated Side Glass, Auto-Dim Rearview Mirror, Trip Computer, 12-Volt Outlet in Cargo Area. Cold Weather Package: Heated Front Seats, Headlight wiper/washer.
Condition: Minor dings in doors, but overall, very nice. Paint shiny and reflective. Four nearly new tires (installed in the last 90 days). All maintenance accounted for, and performed at Volvo dealer.
Other: Minor damage to rear bumper. Rear bumper replaced w/OEM part - looks brand new. No other accidents. Has Volvo 6yr/100,000mi. Factory Warranty (which is transferable) good for another 50,000+ miles.
----
I've been a lurker for a while (you are a great source of information), and it's finally come time for us to move from wagon to minivan (expanding family and all). So, I wanted to get your take on pricing, especially because the guides are all over the place - Edmunds has $20,400 (T/I), $22,400 (P/P), $24,600 (RET) + $25,800 (Certified); KBB has $15,135 (T/I), $17,810 (P/P), and $21,845 (RET); and NADA has $19,000 (T/I) and $22,050. It's no wonder consumers have such a tough time valuing their used cars!
Anyway, I'd love your opinion on what I might expect to get on the vehicle if I trade it or sell it myself. Also, does the transferable factory warranty add anything in a trade, or must I sell it myself to see any value in it? Thanks so much in advance!
===============================
Thanks and Good evening Mr. Lurker ... since Green Bay forgot to show up tonight, I might as well take this time to answer this .......
On the warranty deal, it's a great help if you decide to go down Retail Rd, on the trade it means nothing .. that said, you can "probably" still get a little refund depending on the time and the barometric pressure from the warranty company -if- it's never been used, but check first ..
In the land of Michael Vicks, we have a 01 V70 2.4T, nice vehicles (it's a SW58D, right.?) your right, these are kinda all over the place because of the model confusion ...
We have the auto, miles are almost on the low side, leather guts, best color combo for the area, slider, cold pack, trac ctrl, winkers on the lights, 17"s, almost new rubber, service is up to date, good paint and a minor meteorite hit to the transom area - all in all, it sounds like a pretty nice little rig ... if ~ it's as nice as you say, then trade side you should be seeing the super high $15's low $16's, mid $16's if it's in super shape .. might see a dealer to get a little confused and put *SW53D* money into it (which I see everyday) thats why the book values are so whacked out, the books don't even know the difference, the miles and the options save it .... might catch a dealer napping and wander into the $17's, ya never know .l.o.l...
Down Retail Rd: a superb detail, a wonderful 4/5 liner Ad and $19,900 *asking* and send it south for the first $18,9/$19,5 ...
Don't forget to give me an update on this one ..............
PS: if the dealer puts too much money into it - don't tell him
Terry.
Nice Drivers those new TL's.! - Enjoy it.!
Terry
1998 Mazda 626 LX
2.0 4 cyl, auto
only 55000 miles
black exterior, beige leather interior
all maintainance done religously
exterior has several scratches
interior is clean,
allmost new tires
want to trade in,
located in Springfield, Missouri
Thanks a lot
greenice
Call Enterprise and see what they can do for you for a month. Maybe you can score something very inexpensive if you can accept a lower mileage limit.
--------------------
Parked in Northern NJ.
Original owner 99 Ford Explorer XLT, 4 door, 5.0 V8, all wheel drive, 56,000 miles, white exterior, gray cloth, basic XLT power everything with the upgrade radio with premium sound the only option. Clean and shiny in and out. No hits no errors. Tires are Michelins about 50% worn. I was going to replace these before selling but $1500 of steering rack replacement and ABS work has taken some of my incentive away on spending any more money on this lame-duck truck.
I'm thinking an ad in the Daily Rag for $9995, and sending it off for $9500ish? Am I in the ballpark? I know these are a dime a dozen, but it does have light miles and still looks good for 6 years old.
TIA