Real-World Trade-In Values

LDegrelle · February 2007

Ah well, again I come to the realization that I'm buying car for long haul and not resale. Oh well. I look for it to last me 150k miles or so then it will get replaced.

Just seems such a drastic difference between the 'retail price' and the trade-in price. $2000 or $3000 I can understand, but $6000? Thats pretty wild.

Thanks for insights.

volvomax · February 2007

Trade in @ $13-13500

volvomax · February 2007

Figuring it as a coupe, trade in between $9-11,000.

volvomax · February 2007

Hyundai and resale value never appear in the same sentence.

Trade in between $11-12000

volvomax · February 2007

Well, I'm thinking closer to $2500 w/ damage.

Volvo lease deals are good thru the end of the month.
Yes, you can use the $2k lease bonus w/ the VFNA program.

kmur · February 2007

Hello - what do you think would be the fair trade-in value (to a VW dealer) for the following:

Location: Los Angeles County
Year/Make/Model: 2005 Passat GLS
Body Style: 4 Dr Sedan
Engine: 1.8T Five Speed Manual
Driveline: 2WD
Mileage: 28k
Color: [exterior/interior] Blue exterior, beige interior
Major Options: [alloys, sun roof, etc.]
17" Alloys, moonroof, premium sound, fake leather (leatherette)
Condition:
Details of interior and exterior, including dings, scratches etc.

Interior is in mint condition. Exterior is in excellent condition except for a small dent by the door... There does not appear to be any paint damage, and they might be able to just knock the dent out. Alloys have some scuff marks on them.

Tires - new or % worn -- Good condition
Brakes -- Good condition
Maintenance

Dealer service at suggested intervals, synthetic oil.

Other: Indicate prior damage/insurance claims, repaints, etc.

N/A

tbone934211 · February 2007

I have done alot of research on 3 cars that are right around my price range. I am looking at 04 SE SL Maxima loaded up leather, moonroof, etc.. Also looking at 03' TL type S as well as 04' G35 AWD.

I see edmunds Trade In Values are vastly different than some dealerships as much as 5k difference. For example I went to a Nissan dealership yesterday and they did not have the car I was looking for but I decided to test drive an 04 SL with 45k in which they were asking 23,900 which i thought was very high. They also had a G35x with 60k on it that i test drove they were asking 24,365 i think.

I am looking to spend about 18-20k on a car while putting down 3-4k and financing the rest through my credit union which I have already been approved.

Am I way off here or are these prices way too high?

I saw a 04 SL when i went home and checked a different site with 40k miles and they were asking 21,900.

any input would be greatly appreciated.

qbrozen · February 2007

I think the G35 may be out of your target range, unless you get one that's all miled up. For one with around 30k miles, I think you'd be more in the $22-$23k range on the retail side.

same year and miles on an SL Maxima should be pretty close to $20k. maybe up to $21. An '03 TLS with about 40k miles should run you $17-$18k.

These are just my guesses, though. I'm not a pro.

volvomax · February 2007

Automatic Passats are going thru for between $13-14500.
A manual Passat is probably $1000 less.

turbotorque · February 2007

Are those the auction prices? So would I be correct to assume a VW Dealer would be willing to pay more since he could do a Certified Pre-Owned and sell it himself?

Thanks.

qbrozen · February 2007

yes, those are auction prices. You really can't assume anything. A VW dealer may or may not give you more. It could depend on SO many things. 95% of the time, the auction price is what you will get from a dealer.

volvomax · February 2007

a VW dealer may give you LESS since he has to pay for the CPO recon and warranty.
Generally, what they go thru the auctions for is what you can expect to recieve from a dealer.

Kirstie_H · February 2007

I agree, since that's in the range of what I paid for an '03 G35 a year ago. You're not likely to get a 2004 for under $20K, esp. not with AWD.

frenchv · February 2007

I may want to trade in my car, I owe 21k and the car I want to buy is around 18k.

If the stealership give me lets say.. give me 19k for my trade in, can they roll over the negative to the price of the car I want?

But doing all this using my own car loan from my bank not the stealership's financing.

Can they do that?

PS I know I can get more by private selling but I'm short on time.

jipster · February 2007

Since kirstie(host)is on break, I'll offer a kindly reminder that the word "stealership" is not kindly looked upon... especially amoungst our dealership friends... many who provide the answers to the questions in this discussion.

frenchv · February 2007

My sincere apologies, things are a bit stressful right now. I do appreciate all the help from the kind people who work at dealerships.

tidester · February 2007

I do appreciate all the help from the kind people who work at dealerships.

That's much better!

tidester, host

qbrozen · February 2007

well, if you are getting your own financing, I don't see how the dealership can do anything for you in this regard. I mean, it is kind of like buying groceries at one store, but asking the cashier to get the money from another store because you'd rather pay them. If you want to buy the car but use outside financing, then you have to present the dealership with a check, plain and simple. How you get that check is entirely on your shoulders. That is my understanding, anyway.

I can tell you that I did do this very thing many years ago by using an online bank. The online bank gave me a blank check that I could write up to a certain amount. They didn't care how I arrived at that amount. So I got another vehicle and rolled negative equity, taxes, tags, etc into the deal and wrote the check to the dealership for the total.

guss · February 2007

Try giving some specifics on what you are trading and what you are looking at.

Most dealers can get competitive on financing because they want to make the sale,and they make a little profit on it also.

frenchv · February 2007

Thank you all!

frag235 · February 2007

Looking for trade in value for the following
Location: Olympia, WA
Year/Make/Model: 2004 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan auto
Mileage: 63K
Color: Gold/Beige leather
Major Options: Sunroof, climate control, alloys
Condition: Good, no accidents/parking lot kisses, interior looks "hovered in", mostly hwy miles so above avereage paint chips in paint
Tires: near new
Brakes: 80%
Other: non-smoker, no pets, 60K service just completed.

What sayest the swammi?

volvomax · February 2007

The swami says that he needs to know which engine.

corvette · February 2007

I'm guessing the four-cyl. "EX-L" on the V6 is redundant, as all V6 EX models have leather.

volvomax · February 2007

Ahh.
Manheim doesn't make those distinctions.

volvomax · February 2007

4 cyl Accord EX should bring between $13-14000 trade in.

zilla1 · February 2007

Hi. I'd like to get an opinion on private party sale price;

Boston, MA
1998 Jeep Wrangler Sport 2dr. 4X4 SUV
4.0 V6, 6spd. manual
82,000k
Black w/ tan interior
Inside a/c, tilt & power steering; custon neoprene seat covers & molded floor matts; removable face plate Panasonic CD, MP3 & XM radio; overhead soundbar, two wheel-well mounted Jensen speakers & 200watt subwoofer.
Outside 31" tires with 95% tread remaining; side steps; hard top (w/ rear wiper/defroster & deep tint) soft top and bikini top.
New transmission and clutch. Everything inside and out is in excellent condition with regular maintenace and babying.

Thanks for any and all help!

honk2 · February 2007

I have purchased a car from a dealer I know but because of location I will not be able to trade in my current car (purchased car being transported to me). Has any one used Caralternative.com to sell a car? For a fee they will sell your car at auction and pay you the difference. Their claim is that even with their fee you will get more than if you sell it to a used a car dealer. Thoughts?

tbone934211 · February 2007

Just purchased a 2005 maxima se with the driver preferred package, the car has 16,900 miles. They were asking 23,999. I paid 21,500. What do you think??

stevestein · February 2007

What to offer on a used 2006 LS430, Sport model with Mod Luxe pkg (Nav, Smart key, etc) from dealer in LA
5K miles
Black/Black
Excellent condition
"traded in on an 07"

volvomax · February 2007

wholesale looks to be @ $46,000

honk2 · February 2007

I posted on this forum and was given a trade in value for my car of between 6-7K. Because of the way I am buying my car I will not be able to do a trade in. I went to 3 used car lots today and here are my results: $3,500, No offer, and awaiting a call back. So frustrating. Two months ago I got an offer from CarMax of 5K. Any ideas of how to get a reasonable amount for my car?

jlawrence01 · February 2007

What type of car is it and where is it garaged?

stevestein · February 2007

Dealer asking 54K. Seems high. Is that a reasonable retail price? I plan to counter with 50K. Is that in the range of what a dealer would want to clear on this car? At that price most people would want to spend a bit more for a 2007. (It's for my son, who doesn't like the new body shape but loves the car since he drove my 2005).

honk2 · February 2007

Here is the car I am trying to sell that I got a really low offer on last night. The place that would'nt make an offer said it was a problem that the Saab dealer was about 30 minutes away
Looking for trade in value for the following
Location: Melbourne, FL
Year/Make/Model: 2002 Saab 93 SE (5 door)
Automatic
Mileage: 85,000
Color: Jet Black/Beige
Major Options: Sunroof,
Condition: Fair/Good, Some nicks, small dent pass. door from parking lot incident, information display (for radio, temp) has pixel loss
Tires: Good Condition.
Brakes: Replaced 5,000 miles ago.
Other: No accidents, non-smoker

jlawrence01 · February 2007

If you received more than $4-5 for trade in on a 2002 Saab 93 SE, I would be very surprised. A terrible car with very poor reliability and resale.

The auction price I received for a 2003 9-3 with 65k miles was $6500.

qbrozen · February 2007

Why don't you sell it privately?

ateixeira · February 2007

So you're buying a 50k car for your son that he doesn't find that attractive?

Can you adopt me?

-juice

volvomax · February 2007

Don't know what kind of car it is, or how desireable it may be.
U/C dealers don't just buy cars, they have to want them.
Why don't you go back to CarMax?

volvomax · February 2007

I see mow, its a SAAB.
That says it all.
Not a desireable car for a U/C dealer to buy.

volvomax · February 2007

Honestly, I have no idea.
I don't know what the dealer actually paid, what other costs may be associated with the car, or what the market is in your area.
$50k sounds good to me, you can give it a try.

stevestein · February 2007

He likes the previous body style from 2004-2006. He doesn't like the 2007 LS460. He's 40 and buying his own car, just asking my help in making sure he pays a fair price.

ateixeira · February 2007

Cool.

My mom raised 3 boys mostly by herself, all successful today, so we were the ones that gave her a car. :shades:

-juice

frag235 · February 2007

Yes, it's a 4-cylinder....thanks volvomax!

kyfdx · February 2007

A co-worker of mine has a used car lot.. goes to the auctions, etc..

Yesterday, he comes to work in an '04 Mercedes SL500.. silver/gray.. 40K miles.. original MSRP of $110K (he says)..

Any guesses on what he said he paid for it?

tidester · February 2007

Any guesses on what he said he paid for it?

Wild guess - $40k? Retail would be over $70k:)

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

erics6 · February 2007

I was going to guess $30k.

guss · February 2007

If this is like The Price is Right, I'll say $40,001, Bob.

I just hope nobody is going after me.

ateixeira · February 2007

In that case I'll go with $1. Anything under $30k and I win.

-juice

thenebean · February 2007

i'll say $45856.97

qbrozen · February 2007

hmmm... miles are high. Its not a 600. (which makes me think $110k is unlikely ... shouldn't that be sl600 pricing?)

so... I'll have to agree with those in the $40k range. I'll say $42k.

edit: i just checked. The sl500 in 2004 started at $88,800. The sl600 started at $126k. I don't think there were over $20k in available options, so the truth lies in between there somewhere.

Real-World Trade-In Values

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