... **'03 Pontiac Vibe GT, 4-cyl, 18K miles, 6-spd, silver w/black cloth, pwr sunroof, all power options, the car is located at a pre-owned dealer in NH who sells mostly high-line vehicles, he is asking $12.5K. How much do you think he has in it and what would be a fair offer?** .. ===============================
The miles are low for the year, color is good, we got a slider and the power pack and let's not forget that moving around thing between the seats ..... if it hasn't been hangin' around Sherwin Williams and the rubber is deep, then the dealer probably paid in and around the mid/tall $9's, maybe the low low $10's, after a this and a that it probably hits the table at around the mid $10's ..... $12,500.? he's just just trying to move a unit, but I have a feelin' that $11,5/$11,9 can get it into a new driveway ....... the miles are low, but the handshaker will hold it back .....
PS: hey .. when they got their nose in the air it causes them to slice ..l.o.l....
.. **even though she really wants the new Jetta. She decided to wait till the '06's or even the '07's are** ..
I just can't get my arms around that new grille work on the Jetta ... it reminds me of the auto parts department at K-Mart ..... enjoy the new driver and "tanks" for the update ..
"...... the miles are low, but the handshaker will hold it back"
Not much. This is the GT (=Matrix XRS), with the powertrain from the Celica GT-S.
The auto was only offered in the Vibe, and only in 2003. It's pretty much useless, because it keeps the car from hitting the switchover point to the hot cam at around 6000 rpm, unless you keep it floored all the time. Hmmmm... I could do that.... :-)
It's a bit of a specialty vehicle, but they have their fans, and the stick is expected. Now if it didn't beep like a garbage truck when you put it in reverse...
..... I know how fond you are of the el manuals' .... but in the grand scheme of things most buyers would rather have a root canal than shifting, shaving and screaming at the slow driver in front of them ......
Terry, thanks once again!!! You were dead on with your assessment. My daughter offered them $11,5... they settled on $12.
My daughter tells me the whole deal took like 5 minutes. The sales guy knew exactly "0" about the Vibe and was more then happy to move it out the door. I suspect she could have pushed the price into the high $11 range, but why bother when every one seems to win on this one the way it went down.
This dealer had a lot full of BMW's, Porsche's, Lexus's, Volvo's, sport cars, sport sedans, etc... so the Vibe GT was simply an odd little duck to them. They had apparently taken it in trade and it was too nice to send packing to the auction but too odd to have hanging out with their high brow inventory for very long... and as you might say, it has the mixer bowl thingie. However, as Mathias points out (and I concur wholeheartedly), the 6-spd is both expected/required and very desirable in the GT. I pidi-da-poh-fuls who don't see the light.
Anyway, I thought you might like to hear about it... and thanks for the help
Terry or Mathias or someone in the car business. could one of you please give me a Real World Trade in value/private party value for the following area 73701. TIA. 2002 Ford Ranger Edge Supercab 2 Door black exterior 20,000 miles 2 wd 5 Speed Manual 4.0 SOHC v6 tilt cruise air power locks,mirrors, windows single cd player keyless entry exterior-some scratches on tailgate-touched up. Lots of scratches in bed but no rust and paint chip on bumper also touched up. Interior perfect. maintenance records from dealer one owner non-smoker good brakes, tires, no CEL radiator flushed, fuel filter replaced etc. Thanks J.
I have no idea how long they've been doing this, or if it's a new "feature" on the new 3, but I noticed an interesting characteristic, it looks like they primered the car in white before painting it in silver. The insides of the fenders, the underside of the hood, and the well inside the trunk appear to be white (maybe with some grey tint to it). It doesn't look like bodywork, as there are no tape lines, but I suspect they are being stingy with the more expensive metallic paint. I know they don't put clearcoat on the underside, but this is a bigger difference than that.
Have you noticed this at the auctions? (I'm not complaining, just pointing out something that would look like bodywork if I didn't know better. Incidentally, this is the only obvious cost-cutting on the car.) Also, I notice more Cosmoline coming out of the drains than I did in my VW, so it looks like the rust protection is very thorough.
....... Thanks for the update .. all in all she did pretty good -- low miles, slider and all the junk ... so tell her to enjoy the Toyota ... oop's I mean her Pontiac GT Vibe ......
Going to look at the truck this weekend. I know Terry is very busy, so could maybe one of you other experts give this one a shot? ADVthanksANCE.....
I'm looking at a 2005 Chevy Colorado Z85 Base trim, 4 cyl, red, auto tranny, value appearance package which is essentially upgraded alloy wheels and better tires, like new condition, on a dealer's lot and only 2600 miles in Daytona Beach, Florida. . The funniest part is the dealer's asking price on their website is $16500. GM employee price for an identical new one is $14200, they asked if I'd take it for $13500. . What's a reasonable retail price.....???
"" ....... Thanks for the update .. all in all she did pretty good -- low miles, slider and all the junk ... so tell her to enjoy the Toyota ... oops' I mean her Pontiac GT Vibe .... ""
Thanks, I'll tell her. I know she is thrilled and can't wait to pick up her new ride.
Looking back on the deal now, I must say I was a bit surprised by the numbers in the end. What I thought had the potential to be an exceptional deal, actually turned out only "pretty good". Mind you I'm not complaining, there is nothing wrong with "pretty good". But, it's surprising none the less.
What threw me was the web numbers and the actual listed prices being so far off from your real-world values. I realize the web numbers are only guidelines (as we all know, they don't buy the cars). But, based on what I'd seen here in the past, one or more of them usually seemed in the ballpark. In this case, Edmunds was $2,0 over your trade and nearly $3,0 over your retail. KBB was closer this time, at about $1,0 trade and $2,0 retail. NADA was also significantly over on retail.
The other thing was that we couldn't find a similar car being offered at anywhere near this ones $12,5 list... even privately. Every other '03 GT we found listed for around $14,0 or more with more mileage and none had a sunroof. Given your $9,5-10'ish plus this-and-that trade number for this prime GT, it looks like there is a lot of gouging going on out there.
Once again, I'm not complaining. I'm ecstatic with the deal my daughter got. But, I feel sorry for others who, based on the web site numbers, will plunk down $1,0 or $2,0 more for less car while thinking they got a great deal. Especially, since I'll bet most shoppers for this vehicle are 20'ish with somewhat limited resources, like my daughter.
Anyway, I hope you keep up your altruistic work here for us poor uninformed masses... I for one am indebted. Should I call you Sir Terry... or Saint Terry
Starting to hyperventilate, wondering if I've done anything to anger the RWTIV gods.*checks armpit and breath for odor*. Please Terry, any help you could provide on the following would be great!
Infiniti G20 touring model Handshaker Leather Moonroof Homelink Power drivers seat Black with Light grey interior. 65K miles Dealer is asking $11,900
Kansas City 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 2 Dr 3.1L V-6 Auto 110,000 miles Teal (Green)/ gray cloth interior Driver & passenger airbags Power locks/windows, A/C, cassette player, Alloy wheels Condition: Tires are 1 yr old Interior clean Good mechanical condition Large crack on passenger side windshield Small dent on passenger side rear panel Small rust spot developing on top of trunk by window
2005 Scion TC (2.4 engine) Durham, NC 4900 miles White Limited model - sunroof, 17 in alloys, all the power stuff Automatic
Here's the kicker - front bumper cover has been replaced due to "cosmetic damage" - supposedly no frame or other damage beyond the front bumper cover. Seller is asking $14,000 even for it.
ASSUMING damage was just cosmetic and limited to the bumper cover, what would be a fair # on this one? Trust me, I will have it looked at by a mechanic/body shop if I proceed.
Seattle, WA 2003 Toyota Highlander 4 cyl FWD Auto Light blue exterior/tan cloth interior 28,000 miles Power seat, keyless entry, roof rack Original tires with significant tread left Original brakes All scheduled maintenance is done No accidents or body work. The exterior is clean with no dings and only a few small scratches. Interior is undamaged, but needs a detail.
I'm thinking the color and 4cyl will keep it down, but I'm hoping the high price of gas makes the 4cyl more attractive.
Hi all , I am pretty new to this forum. I am planning to buy 01 pathfinder, which is having 90K miles on it. Interior looks pretty clean and leather seats. Its an SE model. So my question is, is it a good deal to buy 01 pathfinder with 90K miles on it ? If yes what is the price range I can bargain for. [I checked in Edmunds.com TMV, its about $9K]. Its a private party. what all the problems I may hit down the line ?, I brought a 96 Accord in 2001 with 90K miles on it, it still runs like a champ, I almost put 150K miles on it. Can I expect the same thing from Nissan pathfinder ?
1996 Deville 4dr 4.6L 275HP Northstar 49,000 miles Silver/Gray leather New tires Asking $5500 firm What do you estimate as the trade in values for each? My goal is to buy one of these cars, drive for a couple years max, then sell and get a minivan. Which one will give me the best value assuming I drive 20k miles per year? Which one is the "better deal" Thanks so much! ============================
"Depending" on where you live - and the Caddletracks haven't been used as snow shovels or as moving targets for the Taliban, and the interior doesn't have that Bonnie and Clyde look - and we have cold breeze and deep sneaks ..... then the 1999 Deville Concour with 83k big ones probably has in and around the mid/tall $4's, maybe the low low low low low $5's in it ..... $7,800.?? (neg) ........ you betcha somebody is negotiable, the low/mid $6's should get it done and $6,900 would be aaaall the money on the planet if it drives/looks/feels/acts like an 02 with 25k ..... if it needs stuff, start deducting ....
The 96 Deville has 49k low low miles, but whats the rest like.? ... super service, deep rounds things, a "catered" vehicle inside and out, can you feel the love.? .. if so, then the vehicle is probably worth in and around the $4's, maybe the deep $4's ... so $5,500 isn't out of line by any means ... again, if it needs stuff start deducting ......
Whats it worth in 2 years with 40,000 more miles..? ... now I don't have Volvonuts crystal ball, but 94's that are c-l-e-a-n with 90k and have that "pride of ownership" feel/look and smell can always fetch at least $2,500 on the dealer side ..... so that means somebody will pay the high $3's down Retail Rd ..... now, if you're going to use it as a trash compactor it's going to be a whole different story ......
Happy hunting and let me know ..............................
I can see it now: You want to trade that in? We will be happy to help you dispose of your car for you.
The cracked windshield, and rust are going to hurt value the most. How much will it take to have the major stuff done so you can sell it yourself? Windshield, clean up the rust and do a good touch up, ding king on the dent.
Maybe, might see, $500 on trade. Fix the windshield ~$200, have the rust spot cleaned and airbrush touched up ~$150, see if ding king can tap the dent out ~$80, super detail, all maintenance records on the seat, then ask $3,000 and send it packing with any cash offer over $2,500.
Don't want the hassle, take whatever few hundred dollars the dealer will offer.
.. **Starting to hyper ventilate, wondering if I've done anything to anger the RWTIV gods.*checks armpit and breath for odor*. Please Terry, any help you could provide on the following would be great! Infiniti G20 touring model Handshaker Leather Moonroof Homelink Power drivers seat Black with Light grey interior. 65K miles Dealer is asking $11,900 In the Seattle Area.** .. ==============================
**checks armpit and breath for odor** .. ....l..o..l........ (speaking of, I better check my own) ...
In the suicide capital of America .... we have a 99 G20t with 65,000 small miles .... we got the meat cleaver, hydes, slider, powder puff seats and the color is good for the area ...... IF - the rubber is deep, no visits to Maaco, all the "k" service has been done and the history checks out .... then the dealer probably dropped the low/mid $6's in it, he might have missed the Friday point spread on Tiger Woods at the Open and got crazy and dropped the tall tall $6's in it ... so figure a this and a that and it probably hits the table at around the low/mid $7's ...........
$11,900 ....?!? ...is that in British Pounds.? .. is there a Rolex in the console.? ..... I know I know, a brand new set of Nike's golf clubs in the trunk, right.? ................ $9,5 is fair for both and $9,9 would all the cookies in the cookie jar .. $11,900..? .. aahh, I have this really nice watch I can sell ya .. now it "looks" like a Rolex, but if you could save $500 you wouldn't mind the name Rolodex would you .? ....l.o.l......
PS: $11,900 -- did you find any funny little cigarettes in the ashtray..?
.... **Going to look at the truck this weekend. I know Terry is very busy, so could maybe one of you other experts give this one a shot? ADVthanksANCE..... I'm looking at a 2005 Chevy Colorado Z85 Base trim, 4 cyl, red, auto tranny, value appearance package which is essentially upgraded alloy wheels and better tires, like new condition, on a dealer's lot and only 2600 miles in Daytona Beach, Florida. . The funniest part is the dealer's asking price on their website is $16500. GM employee price for an identical new one is $14200, they asked if I'd take it for $13500. . What's a reasonable retail price.....???**..
==============================
I'm not busy .. just reeeeaally slooooooooow .....
Let's see if I can decipher your description .... 05 Z85 -- this a 2wd 4 banger, right.? .. reg cab, right.? .. just a base - no LS trim, right.? .... we got 2,600 baby miles, we got's the auto thing and you have the eye package, right....?
Dealer probably paid the low/mid $9's, maybe the super tall $9's because of the low low miles, perhaps he was snorting Draino and "maybe" dropped the low low low low low low low $10's in it, Big big maybe cuz' that 4 banger is no help .... let's get crazy and say it hits the table at the mid/high $10's ......... $16,500.?? .. was that in Daytona Beach Florida or the Daytona Beach in Seattle WA.? .. cuz' you and the guy with the G20 must be dealing with the same whacko ..... $16,500 ..??? .. there's gotta be a Rolex in this dude.! ...... $11,900 is waaaay fair for both and $12,500 would be aaaaaaaaall the juice in the juice bar, all the peso's on the planet, the whole enchilada, the whole coma se' yama and 12 15 bags of chips .....................
$16,500.....?!? maybe in the Falklands Islands ...
The repost responses make it clear that what Terry lacks in promptness is made up in entertainment value.
As I pointed out in another board (to someone who hasn't taken my advice & posted here, I might add), if more "used car salesmen" were like Terry, the title wouldn't be pejorative.
I'm pleased (stunned, really) to get this kind of information from someone who's willing to take the time to share it & doesn't drag his knuckles (forgive me -- I've dealt with a lot of the "other" kind of car salespeople). What does it sell for at auction in your area? The key question. . .answered here.
Thanks again for providing this very useful service. You told me what I needed to know (but didn't like) about the value of my manual transmission, blue (could it be any worse?) Lincoln LS. Yeah, it could -- I gather a lot of miles.
I used to think you were off your rocker saying row your own gears was for the birds, but after dealing with road construction all summer, I have to agree with you. I'm so sick of shifting, I'd kill for an auto and A/C.
However, even though I got promoted and got a pay raise, I continue to avoid the car lots. Or maybe I just don't have time.........I talk to my car more than my husband, not to mention I see work more than home.
So, Terry.........there you have it, I finally agree with you! :P
Location: Salt Lake City, UT 1998 Toyota Camry LE Body Style: 4 door Engine: 4 cyl Mileage: 109,000 Color: White with cloth interior Options: none really. Power everything, but no CD player Condition: The car is in great condition. The paint shows a few dings, but nothing major. The interior is in great condition with no stains or tairs. Other: The car has been in an accident and the majority of the passenger side has been repainted. The body work was done by a big local dealer (LHM) Thanks, Joe ==========================
Salt Lake .. isn't this the place where you can have more than one wife.? .. thats kinda like winning the lottery ain't it.? ...
Anyhoooo ... it's a standard 98 Camry LE with 109,000 low miles and you say the interior is in good shape and we have a few dings -- and lets not forget that "little kiss" on the starboard side that took 58 gallons of paint.!
What can I say without seeing it.? ... if the frame isn't all bent-up and it doesn't dog track down the road and the rubber doesn't sound like school erasers on the highway and everything is OEM and it wasn't repainted by Helen Keller ... then you're probably lookin' at the $2,5/$3,5 range .....
**Please let me know what you think I could get as a trade in on this car. Also do you think I should try to sell the car myself? I think it may be difficult for me to try to sell because the car is in need of several mechanical repairs. (brakes, ATF leak, oil leak, broken strut, ABS light on) Location: Connecticut, NYC metro area Year: 1992 BMW 325 IC Body Style: Convertible Engine: 6 cylinder manual Driveline: RWD Mileage: 92000 Color: Black on Black Options: Leather, heated seats Condition: Interior in excellent condition exterior has a couple of door dings. Rear tires have about 2000 miles will need front in about 5000. Maintenance: see above Other: car was in an accident in 1993, hit on the passenger front panel required significant repair. Thank you**
===============================
For starters, struts on a Bimmer ain't cheap .. now that I think about, nothing is cheap on a Bimmer ..l.o.l... the ABS light is on and that could be $150 or $1,500 - the rubber is weak and the top needs to be in super great shape .... your not giving me any warm and fuzzy feelin' on this one, we got brake problems, it's leaking oil and based on what your telling me it's been hit by meteorite ....... I'm thinkin' take the $2,0/$2,5 on trade and make it go away ....... there's only 2 things that save this project, it's a convert and the low miles ....
.. **Kansas City 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 2 Dr 3.1L V-6 Auto 110,000 miles Teal (Green)/ gray cloth interior Driver & passenger airbags Power locks/windows, A/C, cassette player, Alloy wheels Condition: Tires are 1 yr old Interior clean Good mechanical condition Large crack on passenger side windshield Small dent on passenger side rear panel Small rust spot developing on top of trunk by window Thanks**.. ================================
Another "baby doll" ....? ..... it's a 94, it's a 2 dr, it's no-sale green, it's got over 100k, we have a busted windshield and we have some rust in KC ..... so where's the good news.? ..... Pick a number: $400 - $900, maybe if it has cold breeze ...
Thanks for the help Terry. You were right on the money.
The auto body couldn't fix the dent until the end of the month and I want to be in my new one by then . I tried another auto body and they wanted $600 to "do it right".
The detail was pricey but well worth it. The car looked amazin. Decided to try retail road while waiting for the original auto body's schedule to open up.
Final result.......$3k without having the dent or brakes fixed.
I'm super happy and doing more new car shopping this weekend.
Hi Terry. Im new to Edmunds and looking for a Real world tradein value/Private Party Value. Ive checked Edmunds TMV and other blue books.
2002 Black Ford Ranger Edge Supercab 2 Door in Oklahoma 5 Speed Manual 4.0 Supercab 2WD 20000 Miles tilt cruise Cruise air power locks keyless entry power windows power mirrors excellent interior exterior has some small scratches on tailgate-touched up bed has lots of scratches but no rust tires are good probably at least 60% brakes have no issues maintenance is up to date have every oil,filter,flushe with dealer receipts TIA J
Kind of a short-notice type thing from the state of MI. A car-dealer friend of mine pointed it out to me.
A large fraction was 2000-2002 Tauruses (SE, Vulcan V6) with 90k miles, plus the usual other suspects (Impala, Century, Status etc.) I've been to these auctions before and had written them off as sucker bets, but today, lo and behold, the crowd was strong but the prices were REALLY good. I know this cuz my friend Andre bought a 1/2 dozen cars out of the first 20 lots; then I left cuz the 6-year-old was getting bored.
02 Taurus SE 92k miles $3700 -- that was pretty much the standard deal. Not bad at all... I gotta remember that when I need a beater car.. heck of a beater at 3-4 years old! It also appears to me that people there were very concsious of values, or maybe the obvious fact that there were dealers present intimidated some of them.
At any rate, the "bidding frenzy" that often happens did not take place there. I was pleasantly surprised. I also think I "learned" today that one should buy early rather than late.
I got a new job with a sizable raise, and my wife is complaining about having to drive around in an old Corolla. While she would like me to get rid of my 94 Grand Marquis, I'm thinking of trading my Dodge Intrepid, getting her a new Mercury Mariner with the 4 cylinder, and I driving her 2000 crackerbox Corolla as a commuter car, though I hate it. We'll keep the Grand Marquis for our road trip and my weekend car. The Dodge performs better, but the Mercury is smoother, quieter, much more solidly built, more relaxing, and worthless as a trade-in. I've noticed it has what I would call "road presence" when I drive it.
Anyhow,
2000 Dodge Intrepid R/T I bought new, located in central Ohio 3.5 liter V-6 with autostick 66,000 miles dark slate with charcoal cloth interior keyless entry, power glass moonroof, 8 way power driver's seat, cassette/cd, all the R/T performance items from the Eurospec 300M, (brakes, tranny and power steering cooler, 17 inch wheels, handling suspension, thankfully no rear spoiler on the 2000's, at least) Condition - interior in good shape, exterior has the typical parking lot dings that I've touched up, and one rash low on the driver's side bumper cover from a bank drivethrough, hood ornament fell off, tires are BF Goodrich Traction T/A with 10,000 miles, do my own maintenance, so fluids and brakes are solid. No accidents, but Chrysler has replaced the tranny at 2,500 miles, and the A/C about 10,000 miles ago.
I'm betting trade in the high $5k, which means with my cheapness, I may just switch cars with her.
I want to trade-in my 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It has a little less than 14,000 miles and is like new. The hang up is it has 2w drive. The appraisal sites like this one on the internet average out to about $13,500. The dealer I talked to would only go for $10,000. He said these sites are only guides and no one would ever come close to 13,500. Any ideas anyone?
But, it has 92,000 miles, when an average one of that age should have 36,000. Not a bad deal, though. Not sure if the newer ones like to eat transmissions and headgaskets, though.
Since '00, the Taurus has been pretty good; the main issues with the older ones are indeed transmissions, and heater cores -- $800 to replace, $50 for the part. But now they're actually a good bet; mostly 'cuz they cost nothing to buy. -Mathias
You need to repost and include all of the information that is listed at the top of the post box. (Don't use the Reply link, just go to the post box at the bottom of this page.)
I have been attending the various municipal auctions in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago for the past couple years. It is a complete waste of time to me to attend Chicago city auctions as it is obvious that the vehicles are not taken care of from what I have seen.
The '02-03 Crown Vics Police Interceptors go from $4500-8000 depending on condition and are generally snatched up by folks who intend to refurbish them into taxis in Chicago.
The '03 Impalas with police packages trade for $4500-4800 and never much more. The Caprices that are left do much better, especially the one with the larger engines.
The suburban communities want to realize as much cash out of these auctions do you generally find their shop mechanics at the auctions and they are a pretty good source of information about the vehicles.
Personally, I would never bid for the 1st ten vehicles. Those vehicles tend to get bid up by the rookies and the impatient. By the middle of the morning (car #60 or 70, the prices get as low as they are going.
Several of the engineering interns at work are tooling around in old police Caprices and love the car as a vehicle down in Champaign as they have a lot a room to cart stuff around.
As for the Taurus vehicles. 1996 is generally the watershed years for the bad transmissions.
.. **Personally, I would never bid for the 1st ten vehicles. Those vehicles tend to get bid up by the rookies and the impatient. By the middle of the morning (car #60 or 70, the prices get as low as they are going** ...
Thats pretty much the story at a 300 car city auction or a 3,000 car dealer auction ...
Patience is a virtue ... most dealers, wholesalers, used car Managers aren't especially fond of going to the auctions unless the weather is perfect - or it's "their" money .... most pile-up at the sound of the gun and start buying as many as they can in the first 60 or 90 minutes, then off they go .. usually by that time the "real" vehicles starting coming thru and the prices have dropped by $500/$900 per vehicle .....
Comments
NYC area
2004 Toyota Sienna XLE FWD
Package #12 (traction, stability, leather, side airbags, all doors power, etc)
9700miles
Silver/Dark Gray
Excellent condition
what would be the trade value? Thanks..
===============================
The miles are low for the year, color is good, we got a slider and the power pack and let's not forget that moving around thing between the seats ..... if it hasn't been hangin' around Sherwin Williams and the rubber is deep, then the dealer probably paid in and around the mid/tall $9's, maybe the low low $10's, after a this and a that it probably hits the table at around the mid $10's ..... $12,500.? he's just just trying to move a unit, but I have a feelin' that $11,5/$11,9 can get it into a new driveway ....... the miles are low, but the handshaker will hold it back .....
PS: hey .. when they got their nose in the air it causes them to slice ..l.o.l....
Terry.
I just can't get my arms around that new grille work on the Jetta ... it reminds me of the auto parts department at K-Mart ..... enjoy the new driver and "tanks" for the update ..
Terry.
Not much. This is the GT (=Matrix XRS), with the powertrain from the Celica GT-S.
The auto was only offered in the Vibe, and only in 2003. It's pretty much useless, because it keeps the car from hitting the switchover point to the hot cam at around 6000 rpm, unless you keep it floored all the time. Hmmmm... I could do that.... :-)
It's a bit of a specialty vehicle, but they have their fans, and the stick is expected.
Now if it didn't beep like a garbage truck when you put it in reverse...
-Mathias
Terry.
My daughter tells me the whole deal took like 5 minutes. The sales guy knew exactly "0" about the Vibe and was more then happy to move it out the door. I suspect she could have pushed the price into the high $11 range, but why bother when every one seems to win on this one the way it went down.
This dealer had a lot full of BMW's, Porsche's, Lexus's, Volvo's, sport cars, sport sedans, etc... so the Vibe GT was simply an odd little duck to them. They had apparently taken it in trade and it was too nice to send packing to the auction but too odd to have hanging out with their high brow inventory for very long... and as you might say, it has the mixer bowl thingie. However, as Mathias points out (and I concur wholeheartedly), the 6-spd is both expected/required and very desirable in the GT. I pidi-da-poh-fuls who don't see the light.
Anyway, I thought you might like to hear about it... and thanks for the help
~Jo
2002 Ford Ranger Edge Supercab 2 Door black exterior
20,000 miles 2 wd
5 Speed Manual 4.0 SOHC v6
tilt cruise air power locks,mirrors, windows
single cd player keyless entry
exterior-some scratches on tailgate-touched up. Lots of scratches in bed but no rust and paint chip on bumper also touched up. Interior perfect. maintenance records from dealer one owner non-smoker good brakes, tires, no CEL radiator flushed, fuel filter replaced etc. Thanks J.
I have no idea how long they've been doing this, or if it's a new "feature" on the new 3, but I noticed an interesting characteristic, it looks like they primered the car in white before painting it in silver. The insides of the fenders, the underside of the hood, and the well inside the trunk appear to be white (maybe with some grey tint to it). It doesn't look like bodywork, as there are no tape lines, but I suspect they are being stingy with the more expensive metallic paint. I know they don't put clearcoat on the underside, but this is a bigger difference than that.
Have you noticed this at the auctions? (I'm not complaining, just pointing out something that would look like bodywork if I didn't know better. Incidentally, this is the only obvious cost-cutting on the car.) Also, I notice more Cosmoline coming out of the drains than I did in my VW, so it looks like the rust protection is very thorough.
~Jo
http://chicago.craigslist.org/car/84428198.html
Toyota... oop's I mean her Pontiac GT Vibe ......Terry.
Zipcodes .................?
Do I look like your friggin' mailman ....? how about a location................!
Terry.
Terry
Sorry about that. Oklahoma is the location.
I'm looking at a 2005 Chevy Colorado Z85 Base trim, 4 cyl, red, auto tranny, value appearance package which is essentially upgraded alloy wheels and better tires, like new condition, on a dealer's lot and only 2600 miles in Daytona Beach, Florida.
.
The funniest part is the dealer's asking price on their website is $16500. GM employee price for an identical new one is $14200, they asked if I'd take it for $13500.
.
What's a reasonable retail price.....???
And come to think of it, I *do* look like the mailman... -Mathias
TIA
Toyota... oops' I mean her Pontiac GT Vibe .... ""Thanks, I'll tell her. I know she is thrilled and can't wait to pick up her new ride.
Looking back on the deal now, I must say I was a bit surprised by the numbers in the end. What I thought had the potential to be an exceptional deal, actually turned out only "pretty good". Mind you I'm not complaining, there is nothing wrong with "pretty good". But, it's surprising none the less.
What threw me was the web numbers and the actual listed prices being so far off from your real-world values. I realize the web numbers are only guidelines (as we all know, they don't buy the cars). But, based on what I'd seen here in the past, one or more of them usually seemed in the ballpark. In this case, Edmunds was $2,0 over your trade and nearly $3,0 over your retail. KBB was closer this time, at about $1,0 trade and $2,0 retail. NADA was also significantly over on retail.
The other thing was that we couldn't find a similar car being offered at anywhere near this ones $12,5 list... even privately. Every other '03 GT we found listed for around $14,0 or more with more mileage and none had a sunroof. Given your $9,5-10'ish plus this-and-that trade number for this prime GT, it looks like there is a lot of gouging going on out there.
Once again, I'm not complaining. I'm ecstatic with the deal my daughter got. But, I feel sorry for others who, based on the web site numbers, will plunk down $1,0 or $2,0 more for less car while thinking they got a great deal. Especially, since I'll bet most shoppers for this vehicle are 20'ish with somewhat limited resources, like my daughter.
Anyway, I hope you keep up your altruistic work here for us poor uninformed masses... I for one am indebted. Should I call you Sir Terry... or Saint Terry
~Jo
Infiniti G20 touring model
Handshaker
Leather
Moonroof
Homelink
Power drivers seat
Black with Light grey interior.
65K miles
Dealer is asking $11,900
In the Seattle Area.
Kansas City
1994 Pontiac Grand Prix SE
2 Dr
3.1L V-6 Auto
110,000 miles
Teal (Green)/ gray cloth interior
Driver & passenger airbags
Power locks/windows, A/C, cassette player, Alloy wheels
Condition:
Tires are 1 yr old
Interior clean
Good mechanical condition
Large crack on passenger side windshield
Small dent on passenger side rear panel
Small rust spot developing on top of trunk by window
Thanks
** Should I call you Sir Terry... or Saint Terry** ....
.... just call me "T" for Texas, "T" for Tennessee or "T" for Terry .........
Terry.
Durham, NC
4900 miles
White
Limited model - sunroof, 17 in alloys, all the power stuff
Automatic
Here's the kicker - front bumper cover has been replaced due to "cosmetic damage" - supposedly no frame or other damage beyond the front bumper cover. Seller is asking $14,000 even for it.
ASSUMING damage was just cosmetic and limited to the bumper cover, what would be a fair # on this one? Trust me, I will have it looked at by a mechanic/body shop if I proceed.
2003 Toyota Highlander
4 cyl
FWD
Auto
Light blue exterior/tan cloth interior
28,000 miles
Power seat, keyless entry, roof rack
Original tires with significant tread left
Original brakes
All scheduled maintenance is done
No accidents or body work. The exterior is clean with no dings and only a few small scratches. Interior is undamaged, but needs a detail.
I'm thinking the color and 4cyl will keep it down, but I'm hoping the high price of gas makes the 4cyl more attractive.
Thanks,
Andy
I am pretty new to this forum. I am planning to buy 01 pathfinder, which is having 90K miles on it. Interior looks pretty clean and leather seats. Its an SE model. So my question is, is it a good deal to buy 01 pathfinder with 90K miles on it ? If yes what is the price range I can bargain for. [I checked in Edmunds.com TMV, its about $9K]. Its a private party. what all the problems I may hit down the line ?, I brought a 96 Accord in 2001 with 90K miles on it, it still runs like a champ, I almost put 150K miles on it.
Can I expect the same thing from Nissan pathfinder ?
Thanks in advance
I'm trying to choose between two used Devilles. One is a 99 and the other a 96. Here are the specs:
1999 Deville Concours
4dr
4.6L Northstar 300HP
83,000 miles
White/Beige leather
Moon roof
Newer tires
Asking $7800 neg.
1996 Deville
4dr
4.6L 275HP Northstar
49,000 miles
Silver/Gray leather
New tires
Asking $5500 firm
What do you estimate as the trade in values for each? My goal is to buy one of these cars, drive for a couple years max, then sell and get a minivan. Which one will give me the best value assuming I drive 20k miles per year? Which one is the "better deal"
Thanks so much!
============================
"Depending" on where you live - and the Caddletracks haven't been used as snow shovels or as moving targets for the Taliban, and the interior doesn't have that Bonnie and Clyde look - and we have cold breeze and deep sneaks ..... then the 1999 Deville Concour with 83k big ones probably has in and around the mid/tall $4's, maybe the low low low low low $5's in it ..... $7,800.?? (neg) ........ you betcha somebody is negotiable, the low/mid $6's should get it done and $6,900 would be aaaall the money on the planet if it drives/looks/feels/acts like an 02 with 25k ..... if it needs stuff, start deducting ....
The 96 Deville has 49k low low miles, but whats the rest like.? ... super service, deep rounds things, a "catered" vehicle inside and out, can you feel the love.? .. if so, then the vehicle is probably worth in and around the $4's, maybe the deep $4's ... so $5,500 isn't out of line by any means ... again, if it needs stuff start deducting ......
Whats it worth in 2 years with 40,000 more miles..? ... now I don't have Volvonuts crystal ball, but 94's that are c-l-e-a-n with 90k and have that "pride of ownership" feel/look and smell can always fetch at least $2,500 on the dealer side ..... so that means somebody will pay the high $3's down Retail Rd ..... now, if you're going to use it as a trash compactor it's going to be a whole different story ......
Happy hunting and let me know ..............................
Terry.
The cracked windshield, and rust are going to hurt value the most.
How much will it take to have the major stuff done so you can sell it yourself?
Windshield, clean up the rust and do a good touch up, ding king on the dent.
Maybe, might see, $500 on trade. Fix the windshield ~$200, have the rust spot cleaned and airbrush touched up ~$150, see if ding king can tap the dent out ~$80, super detail, all maintenance records on the seat, then ask $3,000 and send it packing with any cash offer over $2,500.
Don't want the hassle, take whatever few hundred dollars the dealer will offer.
Infiniti G20 touring model
Handshaker
Leather
Moonroof
Homelink
Power drivers seat
Black with Light grey interior.
65K miles
Dealer is asking $11,900
In the Seattle Area.** ..
==============================
**checks armpit and breath for odor** .. ....l..o..l........ (speaking of, I better check my own) ...
In the suicide capital of America .... we have a 99 G20t with 65,000 small miles .... we got the meat cleaver, hydes, slider, powder puff seats and the color is good for the area ...... IF - the rubber is deep, no visits to Maaco, all the "k" service has been done and the history checks out .... then the dealer probably dropped the low/mid $6's in it, he might have missed the Friday point spread on Tiger Woods at the Open and got crazy and dropped the tall tall $6's in it ... so figure a this and a that and it probably hits the table at around the low/mid $7's ...........
$11,900 ....?!? ...is that in British Pounds.? .. is there a Rolex in the console.? ..... I know I know, a brand new set of Nike's golf clubs in the trunk, right.? ................ $9,5 is fair for both and $9,9 would all the cookies in the cookie jar .. $11,900..? .. aahh, I have this really nice watch I can sell ya .. now it "looks" like a Rolex, but if you could save $500 you wouldn't mind the name Rolodex would you .? ....l.o.l......
PS: $11,900 -- did you find any funny little cigarettes in the ashtray..?
Terry :P
I'm looking at a 2005 Chevy Colorado Z85 Base trim, 4 cyl, red, auto tranny, value appearance package which is essentially upgraded alloy wheels and better tires, like new condition, on a dealer's lot and only 2600 miles in Daytona Beach, Florida.
. The funniest part is the dealer's asking price on their website is $16500. GM employee price for an identical new one is $14200, they asked if I'd take it for $13500.
. What's a reasonable retail price.....???**..
==============================
I'm not busy .. just reeeeaally slooooooooow .....
Let's see if I can decipher your description .... 05 Z85 -- this a 2wd 4 banger, right.? .. reg cab, right.? .. just a base - no LS trim, right.? .... we got 2,600 baby miles, we got's the auto thing and you have the eye package, right....?
Dealer probably paid the low/mid $9's, maybe the super tall $9's because of the low low miles, perhaps he was snorting Draino and "maybe" dropped the low low low low low low low $10's in it, Big big maybe cuz' that 4 banger is no help .... let's get crazy and say it hits the table at the mid/high $10's ......... $16,500.?? .. was that in Daytona Beach Florida or the Daytona Beach in Seattle WA.? .. cuz' you and the guy with the G20 must be dealing with the same whacko ..... $16,500 ..??? .. there's gotta be a Rolex in this dude.! ...... $11,900 is waaaay fair for both and $12,500 would be aaaaaaaaall the juice in the juice bar, all the peso's on the planet, the whole enchilada, the whole coma se' yama and
1215 bags of chips .....................$16,500.....?!? maybe in the Falklands Islands ...
Terry.
As I pointed out in another board (to someone who hasn't taken my advice & posted here, I might add), if more "used car salesmen" were like Terry, the title wouldn't be pejorative.
I'm pleased (stunned, really) to get this kind of information from someone who's willing to take the time to share it & doesn't drag his knuckles (forgive me -- I've dealt with a lot of the "other" kind of car salespeople). What does it sell for at auction in your area? The key question. . .answered here.
Thanks again for providing this very useful service. You told me what I needed to know (but didn't like) about the value of my manual transmission, blue (could it be any worse?) Lincoln LS. Yeah, it could -- I gather a lot of miles.
Read it and weep.
But, thanks (did I say thank you?) again.
Entertainment & knowledge -- what's not to like?
However, even though I got promoted and got a pay raise, I continue to avoid the car lots. Or maybe I just don't have time.........I talk to my car more than my husband, not to mention I see work more than home.
So, Terry.........there you have it, I finally agree with you! :P
...thought of a new car didn't cross my mind until today. Zippy is giving me trouble...
glad I could help ....
Terry.
.....l..o..l.... she thinks I don''t read CCBA ......?
Terry.
1998 Toyota Camry LE
Body Style: 4 door
Engine: 4 cyl
Mileage: 109,000
Color: White with cloth interior
Options: none really. Power everything, but no CD player
Condition: The car is in great condition. The paint shows a few dings, but nothing major. The interior is in great condition with no stains or tairs.
Other: The car has been in an accident and the majority of the passenger side has been repainted. The body work was done by a big local dealer (LHM)
Thanks,
Joe
==========================
Salt Lake .. isn't this the place where you can have more than one wife.? .. thats kinda like winning the lottery ain't it.? ...
Anyhoooo ... it's a standard 98 Camry LE with 109,000 low miles and you say the interior is in good shape and we have a few dings -- and lets not forget that "little kiss" on the starboard side that took 58 gallons of paint.!
What can I say without seeing it.? ... if the frame isn't all bent-up and it doesn't dog track down the road and the rubber doesn't sound like school erasers on the highway and everything is OEM and it wasn't repainted by Helen Keller ... then you're probably lookin' at the $2,5/$3,5 range .....
Terry.
Location: Connecticut, NYC metro area
Year: 1992 BMW 325 IC
Body Style: Convertible
Engine: 6 cylinder manual
Driveline: RWD
Mileage: 92000
Color: Black on Black
Options: Leather, heated seats
Condition: Interior in excellent condition exterior has a couple of door dings. Rear tires have about 2000 miles will need front in about 5000.
Maintenance: see above
Other: car was in an accident in 1993, hit on the passenger front panel required significant repair.
Thank you**
===============================
For starters, struts on a Bimmer ain't cheap .. now that I think about, nothing is cheap on a Bimmer ..l.o.l... the ABS light is on and that could be $150 or $1,500 - the rubber is weak and the top needs to be in super great shape .... your not giving me any warm and fuzzy feelin' on this one, we got brake problems, it's leaking oil and based on what your telling me it's been hit by meteorite ....... I'm thinkin' take the $2,0/$2,5 on trade and make it go away ....... there's only 2 things that save this project, it's a convert and the low miles ....
Good luck and let me know ..........
Terry.
1994 Pontiac Grand Prix SE
2 Dr
3.1L V-6 Auto
110,000 miles
Teal (Green)/ gray cloth interior
Driver & passenger airbags
Power locks/windows, A/C, cassette player, Alloy wheels
Condition:
Tires are 1 yr old
Interior clean
Good mechanical condition
Large crack on passenger side windshield
Small dent on passenger side rear panel
Small rust spot developing on top of trunk by window
Thanks**..
================================
Another "baby doll" ....? ..... it's a 94, it's a 2 dr, it's no-sale green, it's got over 100k, we have a busted windshield and we have some rust in KC ..... so where's the good news.? ..... Pick a number: $400 - $900, maybe if it has cold breeze ...
Terry.
The auto body couldn't fix the dent until the end of the month and I want to be in my new one by then . I tried another auto body and they wanted $600 to "do it right".
The detail was pricey but well worth it. The car looked amazin. Decided to try retail road while waiting for the original auto body's schedule to open up.
Final result.......$3k without having the dent or brakes fixed.
I'm super happy and doing more new car shopping this weekend.
Terry you're the best!!!!
2002 Black Ford Ranger Edge Supercab 2 Door in Oklahoma
5 Speed Manual 4.0 Supercab 2WD
20000 Miles
tilt cruise
Cruise
air
power locks keyless entry
power windows
power mirrors
excellent interior
exterior has some small scratches on tailgate-touched up
bed has lots of scratches but no rust
tires are good probably at least 60% brakes have no issues
maintenance is up to date have every oil,filter,flushe with dealer receipts
TIA J
A large fraction was 2000-2002 Tauruses (SE, Vulcan V6) with 90k miles, plus the usual other suspects (Impala, Century, Status etc.)
I've been to these auctions before and had written them off as sucker bets, but today, lo and behold, the crowd was strong but the prices were REALLY good. I know this cuz my friend Andre bought a 1/2 dozen cars out of the first 20 lots; then I left cuz the 6-year-old was getting bored.
02 Taurus SE 92k miles $3700 -- that was pretty much the standard deal. Not bad at all... I gotta remember that when I need a beater car.. heck of a beater at 3-4 years old! It also appears to me that people there were very concsious of values, or maybe the obvious fact that there were dealers present intimidated some of them.
At any rate, the "bidding frenzy" that often happens did not take place there. I was pleasantly surprised. I also think I "learned" today that one should buy early rather than late.
Thought I'd share.
-Mathias
Anyhow,
2000 Dodge Intrepid R/T I bought new, located in central Ohio
3.5 liter V-6 with autostick
66,000 miles
dark slate with charcoal cloth interior
keyless entry, power glass moonroof, 8 way power driver's seat, cassette/cd, all the R/T performance items from the Eurospec 300M, (brakes, tranny and power steering cooler, 17 inch wheels, handling suspension, thankfully no rear spoiler on the 2000's, at least)
Condition - interior in good shape, exterior has the typical parking lot dings that I've touched up, and one rash low on the driver's side bumper cover from a bank drivethrough, hood ornament fell off, tires are BF Goodrich Traction T/A with 10,000 miles, do my own maintenance, so fluids and brakes are solid.
No accidents, but Chrysler has replaced the tranny at 2,500 miles, and the A/C about 10,000 miles ago.
I'm betting trade in the high $5k, which means with my cheapness, I may just switch cars with her.
But, it has 92,000 miles, when an average one of that age should have 36,000. Not a bad deal, though. Not sure if the newer ones like to eat transmissions and headgaskets, though.
But now they're actually a good bet; mostly 'cuz they cost nothing to buy.
-Mathias
The '02-03 Crown Vics Police Interceptors go from $4500-8000 depending on condition and are generally snatched up by folks who intend to refurbish them into taxis in Chicago.
The '03 Impalas with police packages trade for $4500-4800 and never much more. The Caprices that are left do much better, especially the one with the larger engines.
The suburban communities want to realize as much cash out of these auctions do you generally find their shop mechanics at the auctions and they are a pretty good source of information about the vehicles.
Personally, I would never bid for the 1st ten vehicles. Those vehicles tend to get bid up by the rookies and the impatient. By the middle of the morning (car #60 or 70, the prices get as low as they are going.
Several of the engineering interns at work are tooling around in old police Caprices and love the car as a vehicle down in Champaign as they have a lot a room to cart stuff around.
As for the Taurus vehicles. 1996 is generally the watershed years for the bad transmissions.
Thats pretty much the story at a 300 car city auction or a 3,000 car dealer auction ...
Patience is a virtue ... most dealers, wholesalers, used car Managers aren't especially fond of going to the auctions unless the weather is perfect - or it's "their" money .... most pile-up at the sound of the gun and start buying as many as they can in the first 60 or 90 minutes, then off they go .. usually by that time the "real" vehicles starting coming thru and the prices have dropped by $500/$900 per vehicle .....
Terry.