Real-World Trade-In Values

riceman3 · August 2011

Forgot to mention that I''m 6'4". Need a bit of room

ateixeira · August 2011

Fuggedaboutit.

What about a Wrangler? Some thing from the opposite end of the spectrum. They just crammed the new Pentastar V6 in there.

3rd option (new): Fiat 500c - do you fit?

qbrozen · August 2011

Based on auction data, here's what you'd be looking at on the retail side.

Assuming all 2007 with ~30k miles.

Mustang GT vert - ~$22k
MINI Cooper S vert - ~$21k
350Z Touring vert - ~$23,500
Solstice GXP - ~$18k
Sky Redline - ~$20k

An '05 325 vert with ~60k should run you right around $20k.

If it were my money? Man, that's tough... there are so many options. Well, here are just a few...
Love the upholstery.
Not everyone's style, but I like it.
I always like these without a spoiler.
Nice in white, too.
Super low miles. Great buy.
I fell obligated to throw one of these in.

riceman3 · August 2011

Thanks for the help! I had a late model Porsche on my list as well, but those are so car specific that I didn't want to mention it. Looked at a few C4's but am scared off by the complexity of the 4 wheel drive but they drive great.

fezo · August 2011

Give me that 63 Plymouth!

ateixeira · August 2011

In hindsight, the headlights on those early Boxsters really leave much to be desired. The new design is soo much cleaner.

nyccarguy · August 2011

Very funny fezo. I was thinking the same thing.

qbrozen · August 2011

I wouldn't get a C4. Stick with the RWD.

ateixeira · August 2011

Want a budget C4?

Just drive a WRX backwards.

Seriously, though, they are both boxers, the engine beyond the axle, longitudinal layout.

oldfarmer50 · August 2011

Care to offer a value?

kyfdx · August 2011

'04-'05 Z4s are getting into the mid-teen range for decent ones..

Saw an '05 Boxster S the other day for $22K...

No comment on possible maintenance issues...

im_brentwood · August 2011

Ahhh...

Super duper amazing price on the new car, eh? Yeah makes sense, they were probably ACVing the trade at $8500-9k and showing you $7k.

That's why ya need to look at the trade difference. Just took a deal from another Hyundai dealer about an hour ago...

I put $18k on a car the other Hyundai dealer put $20,500 on. Except they had a $3,000 ADM on their car.......

yozho · September 2011

Looking for a value on F-250 -
Location: Orlando, FL
2008 Ford F-250 Lariat
Crew Cab
6.4L Powerstroke
4x4
42,300 miles
Two-Tone Gray
Lariat, Off-Road, Trailer Control, 20" Alloys, Adj. Pedals, Chrome step rails
Condition:
One small dime-sized ding on passenger side of bed. Leather interior has no stains or tears. Carpet on driver's side is stained.
New Nitto Terra Grapplers (1K on tires)
Original brakes
All maintenance up-to-date and done at dealership
Vehicle never been wrecked, no claims.

roadburner · September 2011

I wouldn't get a C4. Stick with the RWD.

Agree 1000%

ateixeira · September 2011

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/31/ebay-find-of-the-day-mercury-marauder-two-doo- r-convertible/

$75k is insanity, though. Overpriced by a factor of 3.

henry_n · September 2011

I was trying to help out a friend, went with him to check out a 2008 Maxima SE, 40k miles, $15k, from Craigslist. Long story short, the seller was a crook. He claimed to be the original owner, but when I started copying down the VIN number (for running a CARFAX report), he hastened to tell me that the car actually had a "flood title". I've never heard of a "flood title", have heard of "salvage title" and I know that lowers the resale value by quite a bit.

Personally, I don't think I would touch a car that had been flooded, but just how much would that lower the real world value?

riceman3 · September 2011

Love the WRX. Might be the best performance / value equation away from a corvette, but really want a convertible. Plus here in No Cal driving an WRX is an invitation to get invited to drag race with every Civic Si or 16 valve Toyota Corolla.

corvette · September 2011

There is no such thing as a "flood title." It's probably a vehicle that was salvaged and issued a rebuilt title. Most guides say to pay no more than 2/3 of the normal used retail value for a rebuilt vehicle. The problem is, most of the sellers I've seen think their rebuilt vehicles are worth far more than that. I would tread carefully, you never know what issues might come up later with a vehicle that's been flooded.

oldfarmer50 · September 2011

"...how much would that lower the real world value..."

How much are they paying for scrap metal in your area? :lemon:

I'm no expert but even I know that a flooded car will have no end of electrical problems as things start to rust. If the engine had water in it and they tried to start it---blam! ruined engine. Transmission will also be junk. I'm sure the pros here can add to that list.

The car might be worth something for parts but nowhere near $15K.

rayainsw · September 2011

"...how much would that lower the real world value..."

Such a vehicle might be worth something to me -
if I really wanted one, and no others [ literally ]
were available - anywhere.
In a case like this, I would run the other way.
Just as fast as my feet would take me.
There are plenty of other similar vehicles out there -
with a clean title....
IMHO.
Good luck!
- Ray
Unwilling to take that sort of risk...

ateixeira · September 2011

Before you even consider a salvage, check with your insurance agent to see if they'll even offer you full coverage. Some won't, liability only.

robbieg · September 2011

Just wanted to get your thoughts on this. I was looking at a 2010 Honda Pilot EX with AWD in with 24,000 miles. It was priced at 28,900. I was thinking that this could be had for under 25,000 since new ones can be had for a little under 29000. They said the lowest they could go was 28300. Did I run into the greediest dealer or do they really command that much?

I know that Honda's aren't exactly the best buy used but that is crazy. Finding a 2010 to compare is kind of tough. However, I have seen some 2009 Pilots priced under 22000. So, I was thinking 10% more is where it should be. Am I wrong?

qbrozen · September 2011

Looks like $25k is about auction value, so I think they were being pretty honest.

I don't know what '09s you were seeing, but an '09 EX AWD with, say, 36k miles, would do very near $22k at auction.

regan498 · September 2011

Hi there, looking for some opinion on how much you would expect an accident report on Carfax to reduce the value of TMV.

Some quick facts. I bought an 2006 Audi S4 18 months ago. It was seemingly in excellent condition. It does however have an accident reported which shows up on Carfax, which I knew at the time I bought it.

It's still in outstanding condition, and I'm trying to dealer trade it. TMV is showing as $21,300 for dealer trade. The dealership is only willing to pay me $16,000. They said the accident report on the Carfax forces them to reduce it at least 20% from whatever guide they are using to price it. So I walked out. This seems overly harsh to me, reducing the value by ~$5,000 because of a single accident report. I asked them if they noticed anything visually off based on their inspection and they said no. They said it's simply because their own resale would be diminished so much.

Does this sound right? Should I expect a very similar result if I shop it around to other dealerships?

Thanks!

sebring95 · September 2011

Most dealerships won't touch these. Carfax has put such a stigma on accident vehicles....people won't buy them even if it was a very minor problem. Most dealers are scanning VIN's at the auction to ensure they have a clean carfax. Private sale is obviously your best bet where you can find someone looking for a deal. The fact you're not the owner that had the accident (and can describe damage) AND are turning this car so quickly....also adds to the skepticism from a buyers perspective.

mikefm58 · September 2011

It does however have an accident reported which shows up on Carfax, which I knew at the time I bought it.

I hope you got a great deal when you bought it. If not, then I'd say you're stuck. As a buyer, I would never touch a car with a Carfax accident report, not in a million trillion bazillion years, well unless I got a HUGE discount.

robbieg · September 2011

That is surprising. New they go for less than 29000. I guess buying a year old Honda isn't exactly the smart thing to do unless you are buying based on a specific payment amount.

qbrozen · September 2011

It depends on WHAT the report says. Does it give any details about the accident? Sometimes it would say "frame damage" or "no frame damage." Heck, I've seen one report that even listed exactly what was replaced on the vehicle.

qbrozen · September 2011

I guess buying a year old Honda isn't exactly the smart thing

That is typically true, yes. Used Hondas in general aren't worth it, IMHO.

nyccarguy · September 2011

Carfax & TMV

I've learned from quite a few posters here on edmunds that TMV & Carfax aren't really all that useful. A dealer is going to give you auction value for your car on a trade in, no matter how outstanding the condition. Auction values are definitely going to be a good deal less than TMV.

Carfax is a brand that advertises a lot, so people know their name. Dealers will tell you there are cars that have been in severe accidents that have a clean Carfax as well as cars that have had their rear bumper repainted that shows up as "an accident" on Carfax.

You are going to have a nightmare of a time trying to sell a car personally for that amount of money. Take your car to an Audi dealer & see if they'll give you a buy bid. Take your car to Carmax & see what they'll buy it for. Good luck & keep us posted.

Why are you getting rid of the S4 after only 18 months? Sharp car. Gorgeous interior. 340 hp V8. Awesome exhaust note.

qbrozen · September 2011

how many miles does it have?

The average going through auction for '06 S4s is 78k. Those are fetching around $18k at the block. If a dealer doesn't want it on their lot, they gotta pay the fees, detail, and transport to get it there ... so figure they might be at $17k on a trade ... and that's without accident history.

fezo · September 2011

Where the heck has brentwood gone? Must be working on his new old cars.....

stl2112 · September 2011

Just popping back in to say thanks for the help! Sold the 2002 Altima with manual transmission in private party (ebay/craigslist) for a bit over 5k. Took 4 days to sell. Much better than the 2.5k trade in value that I would have been offered at the dealership. Definately good to know the real world trade in numbers up front...

nyccarguy · September 2011

Good for you! That's fantastic you were able to sell your car privately. How was the process? Were there a lot of no shows? be backs? People who wanted to negotiate before they even came to see the car?

stl2112 · September 2011

Took about 40 pictures, ran Carfax report (still have 4 reports left I have to figure out what to do with), and posted an eBay listing and CL ad (linked to photoalbum and eBay listing).

I received 2 Ebay offers on the low end and sent counteroffers that were not responded to by the time I pulled the auction. I had 3 CL appointments setup, and the first person ended up putting down a deposit on the spot and paid in cash the next day.

Experience was probably about as easy as it comes. I'm sure I could've gotten a few more hundred dollars out of it, but my time has value as well, and I'm satisfied with the sale.

qbrozen · September 2011

Hey, $5k is exactly what I pegged it at, so I think you did just fine. And in 4 days is even better.

ateixeira · September 2011

AND cash, no hassles. Well sold.

regan498 · September 2011

@gbrozen, it is REALLY vague. It just says accident reported. Nothing else at all on that line item or any other line item in the report.

Thanks.

regan498 · September 2011

Thank you for responding. I love the car, it's just getting a bit small for me as the family grows. It looks mint. Like everyone here I'm a car guy, so I turned away dozens of other S4s until I found this one. It looks and drives perfectly.

Good tips on trying to sell to Audi or Carmax. I'll try a couple of other avenues, including private sale.

regan498 · September 2011

58k miles.

Edmunds TMV is saying $21,300 for dealer trade and ~ $24,500 for private sell. I went on a auto trader and this seems to be the price for 06s with that kind of mileage. I noticed that there were a few with accident histories, per the Carfax reports, in there as well.

Like I said, they offered $16,000 which to me was basically telling me they didn't want the car due to the accident report. Based on feedback here, seems like I'll have to shop it around and look at private sale instead of dealer trade.

Thanks for your response.

csieler · September 2011

San Diego, CA
2008 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Z71 w/Leather, Sirius, OnStar, Towing.
Extra Cab, 6.6' bed
4x4
35.7K
Silver Birch Metallic
Clean
Tires almost due
New front brakes
All maintenace completed at GMC dealer
Rear ended. Rear bumper replaced, rear bed panels pulled out, filled, painted by a very high end collision center. Reported to insurance.

woodyww · September 2011

2 things: Almost all of the guys buying a used car like an S4 are going to be fanatics. They will try to beat you up over a little wear on the "seat bolster", let alone a "mystery" car fax. Even a car fax on a Honda will affect the value.

And the Edmunds TMV & auto trader asking prices--that's all "pie in the sky", until an actual buyer shows up who doesn't care about the carfax. I hope you can do better than $16K, but it doesn't sound nuts to this amateur, esp. if you add the potential sales tax savings if you trade it in.....

im_brentwood · September 2011

Websense had this blocked for a few days and I have been SLAMMED... also been busy dealing with a flooded shore house after Irene...

OK I'll get caught up!

calan · September 2011

Tehachapi, California (near Mojave)
2008 Toyota Avalon Touring
FWD
86,xxx
Dark Red
Side airbags
power seats
mulit-disc MP3/CD player
Exterior:
some scratches in paint (especially around door handles), and one bubble in clear coat on trunk.
Interior: Black Leather, overall in good shape, except for one dent in the back seat from a car seat.
Tires: New (less than 3 months)
Brakes: about 50% left
Maintenance: Oil changes only as required
Other: ex-rental car

I plan on trading it in somewhere in Southern California, perhaps on a new Prius.
Thanks,
C. Alan

oldfarmer50 · September 2011

"...Websense had this blocked for a few days..."

The hosts were having a party and one spilled his wine into the server. We've all had problems.

Sorry about your house.

im_brentwood · September 2011

Flood = Salvage = Do not buy

fezo · September 2011

Come on, now! You know how I worry about you....

Where do you have your shore house?

im_brentwood · September 2011

It hurts it, a lot.

Also, what happened? Was a bumper painted or did it have $15k worth of damage?

That being said, any appraiser with a brain in his head should be able to tell... I can, but the problem is, people look at Carfax reports first and use their brains second. That car may have needed $150 to airbrush the bumper corner, or it could have been MEGAWRECKED. The average joe just can't tell and so they tend to shy away from em.

As far as TMV goes, nobody in the business uses it and it's not usually too accurate from what I have seen, Black Book or Galves is what most dealers use.

Galves is $19,400 with 57k miles... how many miles on this car?

Also, if it's got previous structural damage... it's the kiss of death.

im_brentwood · September 2011

Mantoloking.... 3 feet+ of water. Whole ground floor is shot, had it rented last week and this week too.

Grrrrr......

fezo · September 2011

Ouch! That's a big loss - two weeks and of course rebuilding a whole floor.

Mantaloking - very nice. You're even in my county.

I assume you have flood insurance.

Real-World Trade-In Values

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