Real-World Trade-In Values

qbrozen · October 2012

ugh. was worried you'd ask me about this one. haha. Its really impossible due to the miles.

Only data I have is an average one with 93k miles that did $5500, and an above average one with 80k that got $6500.

So, based on that, do I think $8k is reasonable? Not really. But, then again, its getting close to winter. Who knows?

qbrozen · October 2012

08/30/12 PA Lease $22,000 6,594 Avg CANDY WH 4DT A
08/15/12 ATLANTA Lease $20,900 7,073 Avg GREY 4DT A
10/11/12 TAMPA Regular $19,300 20,900 Avg GREY 4DT A

robr2 · October 2012

I don't know what a personal car communicator is.

It's the two way key fob that Volvo offers. You can check the security status of the vehicle via the fob and it includes the heart rate monitor that will tell you if someone is in the car.

qbrozen · October 2012

ah, that thing. My educated guess is that it adds zero dollars to the value.

roadburner · October 2012

Thanks!

drew11m · October 2012

Are these prices for diesels or gas engines, thanks

qbrozen · October 2012

Diesel.

ffxjack · October 2012

Thanks for your help.

qbrozen · October 2012

you are welcome

uga91 · November 2012

Hello--curious about what I could expect to get for the above vehicle in metro Atlanta with:

5.7L V8, RWD
25,000 miles (it sits a lot of the time)
Tan exterior/Charcoal interior
No major options, standard with rear parking sensors, auto climate control, alloys
New Michelin LTX MS2 tires bought in April of this year, only have a few thousand miles on them
Dealer maintained since new
A couple of dings and scratches in line with a 5 year old car (bought December 2007)
No wrecks or damage (would have a clean 1 owner Carfax report)

I did an online Autotrader Trade-in offer on Monday and it came back at $15,796. Edmunds says as a "Clean" trade in it should be worth $15,847. I assume I could expect something in this range?

Thank you

qbrozen · November 2012

I think maybe the low miles are throwing off the online free appraisers. Examples in warm climates with 40k'ish miles are fetching $18k+ at the auctions, with a couple of lower outliers. Considering your miles, I'd be looking for near $18k trade.

uga91 · November 2012

Thank you

ricerony · November 2012

Location: Austin, TX
Year/Make/Model: 2007/Toyota/FJ Cruiser
Body Style: 4DR
Engine: [3.5 liter, 6 cylinder, auto]
Driveline: [FWD/2WD]
Mileage: 38,700
Color: Sun Fusion/ Charcoal
Major Options: Alloy Wheels, MP3 Single CD/ Tow Package/ Roof Rack
Condition:
Details of interior: Good, minor scuffs
Exterior: Good - minor scratches on hood
Tires - worn needs replacement
Brakes - Good
Maintenance - Good
Other: Clean Title - no accidents

qbrozen · November 2012

38k?? Wow.
There are zero comparables for this. All the 50k mile cars are right about $17k at the block, which would mean around $16k trade. With your miles, I could see $17k trade value.

doofy1 · November 2012

Hello, we are looking to buy the vehicle below. The seller is asking for $5000. We are confused as to its try real time value. We checked KBB (which says its GOOD value is $6400 and FAIR is $5700) and Edmunds says at AVERAGE, it is at $2800 and CLEAN is $3400. Don't know what to believe because if we paid $5000 and the true value is from Edmunds, that is a major difference in the value and what we paid.

Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Year/Make/Model: 2002 Ford Focus SE
Body Style: 4dr/wagon
Engine: 3.5 liter, 4 cylinder, auto
Driveline: FWD
Mileage: 25,000
Color: silver
Major Options: don't know
Condition:
  interior is good/clean and exterior looks clean with no major scratches
  Tires - new 6 mos
  Brakes - works well
  Maintenance
Other: VIN history states clean title and no accidents

Kirstie_H · November 2012

A reporter is looking for a recent car buyer whose car's sunroof/moonroof feature was a big factor in their purchase decision. Please send your daytime contact info to smar@edmunds.com no later than Monday, November 5, 2012 at 5 p.m. Pacific.

sebring95 · November 2012

My opinion....a vehicle that old with that low of mileage will never get an accurate book value. They're just not designed for that and you won't get good auction values from this type of vehicle either. This is just going to have to be a gut-check from you....is it worth what they're asking? I would say it get it checked out by a good mechanic and go from there. I don't think their price is out of line if the mechanical condition reflects a 25k mile car and it hasn't been through a flood or anything. I've seen some real garbage for sale for not much less money.

ricerony · November 2012

yes almost at 40k right now. Since we moved to Austin from LA, the wife barely drives the car.

Thank you for your help! Now to find a good used/new car!

qbrozen · November 2012

I agree with sebring. A car like this is worth what someone will pay for it. Especially one with the extremely rare 3.5 liter 4-cyl!! :P

Hell, if it had a stick, I'd probably buy it for $5k if it all checks out and is real clean.

uga91 · November 2012

Hey--just as a follow up, I took $17k for it at a Toyota dealer in Atlanta. I didn't tell them about other offers or online estimates. They offered $17k and I said okay. I was happy--not ecstatic, but happy. Thanks for your help.

qbrozen · November 2012

Being happy is all that matters. Congrats.

koctailz · November 2012

Location: SF Bay Area
07 Honda Civic Hybrid No Nav
89k miles
Silver
Condition: Excellent inside and out, Tires about 50% left, and Hybrid Battery just replaced 5 days ago.

Looking to Trade or Sell Private Party. I see similar vehicles listed on Craigslist for $10K.

igozoomzoom · November 2012

I've finally talked to my mom into trading her gas-guzzler 2007 Ford Explorer for something more reliable and more fuel-efficient. I'm planning to take it to Carmax and another local mega-dealership that will buy used vehicles. I'm also planning to see what the Acura, Hyundai and Nissan dealers will offer if she does a trade-in on a new car (looking at the TSX, Sonata and Altima).

I used the 'Appraise My Car' feature here on Edmunds and it returned a Trade-In Value of $9,906. I'm wondering if that's a fairly realistic figure or if it's overly optimistic?

Here are the details on the vehicle-

2007 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 2WD
4.0L V6
Dark Cherry Metallic w/ Tan lower trim
Camel Leather interior
134,500 miles

Optional features -
Audiophile 7-spkr stereo, 6CD changer
Power passenger seat
Power Adjustable Pedals
Memory for Driver's Seat, Pedals & Mirrors
Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control
Heated Front Seats & Side Mirrors
Steering Wheel Audio, Climate & Cruise controls
Homelink remote
Power Moonroof
Split Power-Folding 3rd Row Seat
Rear Auxiliary Climate Controls
Reverse Sensing System

Condition-
Exterior- Very Good (no damage, shiny paint & chrome, no dings)
Interior- Very Good (clean carpet & seats, leather looks like new)

And if it matters, it has a new set of $800 Bridgestone 60k tires with 8k miles on them.

What do you guys think it's worth?

sebring95 · November 2012

You might want to add your location...can be a big swing in 2wd prices between Michigan and Florida/Arizona.... my gut says $9,900 is on the high side at least here in Ohio. 2wd's will easily be $2k less than a 4wd version here...sometimes far more. The books don't always calculate the high mileage charges properly either.

stever · November 2012

If you are in the process of car shopping, using online forums and tools and plan to visit a dealer soon, a reporter would like to hear from you. Please email PR@edmunds.com by Tuesday, November 13, 2012 and provide a few lines about your experience so far.

igozoomzoom · November 2012

I'll try this again adding the location [thanks sebring95] and using the recommended format:

Location: Metro Atlanta area
Year/Make/Model: 2007 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer
Engine: 4.0L V6, 5-speed automatic
Driveline: RWD
Mileage: 135,000
Color: Dark Cherry Metallic w/ Camel Leather
Major Options: Power Moonroof, Dual Power, Heated Front Seats, PowerFold 3rd Row Seat, Dual-zone Auto Climate Control, Rear Aux. Climate Controls, Reverse Sensing System, Audiophile 6CD audio system, Power Adj Pedals, Homelink remote, Heated side mirrors
Condition:
Exterior- no dents, dings or scratches; recently waxed
Interior- clean with no signs of wear, no stains or damage of any kind
Tires - 8k miles on a set of 60k Bridgestones ($800)
Brakes- front and rear- 50%+ left on pads, new front rotors 20k miles ago
Maintenance- all maintenance performed at or before Ford's recommended mileage intervals; all records included.
Other: NO damage history or insurance claims of any kind; clean AutoCheck report to prove it.

nyccarguy · November 2012

I have a friend in Queens looking to rid herself of her 2003 VW GTI

Dark Blue Exterior
Dark Grey Interior
80,000 miles
5 Speed Manual Transmission
New Rear Brakes
New Starter
Mechanically Sound
Receipts for all maintenance
Car is in fair condition, parked on street in Queens so use your imagination
Female, adult driven, no modifications

What do you think it's worth?

qbrozen · November 2012

$7500-$8k

qbrozen · November 2012

$3k-$3500 for the 1.8T
maybe up to $4k for a VR6.

nyccarguy · November 2012

Whoops! I left out the most important part... 1.8T

Thanks Q!

igozoomzoom · November 2012

Now that I know we'll be trading in mom's '07 Explorer in the next week or so, I'm trying to avoid spending a penny isn't necessary. I am taking it to a detail shop tomorrow to have it washed and hand dried and all the glass thoroughly cleaned inside and out. I'm also have the front carpeting and the leather seats cleaned. All of that for $100 is money well spent, IMO.

It has only been about 3500 miles since the last oil change and I would usually wait until 5000 miles to do it. But I'm thinking a fresh oil change can't hurt- along with all the maintenance records for the entire life of the car.

The other one maintenance item that hasn't been done is replacing the spark plugs. New ones were due at 100k miles, but my mechanic said the old ones still looked perfect, so I could get another 30-40k miles out of them. Now it has almost 136k on it and I suspect that they really do need to be replaced...but I don't think changing them would have any noticeable benefit (at least not immediately).

So I'm thinking the hardcore clean-up and oil change are all I should do and then try to find somewhere to dump it!!! Any other suggestions?

sebring95 · November 2012

I would do none of the above. Unless it looks like a brand new car when cleaned up (and it's filthy now) even cleaning it is a waste in my book. Any dealer is going to do a detail job on it and most could care less about maintenance records/history. This will likely go to an auction where nobody will look at anything. Save your money and more importantly...your time. Just dump it. Outside of private sales I have never felt I received any value for a mint condition well cared for car. If you get anything extra...it will likely only cover what you've spent.

robr2 · November 2012

Besides that Explorer isn't going to wind up on the dealer's lot. It has 136K - it's going to auction as soon as the transporter shows up.

qbrozen · November 2012

I always clean my cars before trading, personally. I just want them to be able to see how nice it is so when I push for more on my trade, they will often do it.

The other stuff is a definite no. They don't care about maintenance records. They throw them right in the trash.

koctailz · November 2012

Trying this again for the 2nd time.....would appreciate any info....thanks.

Location: SF Bay Area
07 Honda Civic Hybrid No Nav
89k miles
Silver
Condition: Excellent inside and out, Tires about 50% left, and Hybrid Battery just replaced 5 days ago.

Looking to Trade or Sell Private Party. I see similar vehicles listed on Craigslist for $10K.

pgm17 · November 2012

Location: Miami, FL
Year/Make/Model: 2009 Honda Accord
Body Style: Sedan
Engine: 2.4L I4
Driveline: FWD
Mileage: 46,000
Color: Silver w/ Black interior
Major Options: EX w/ Leather (EX-L)
Condition: Very clean, just minor door dings. Leather good, clean interior.
Tires - 4 new as of October 2012
Brakes - 50% worn
Maintenance - all per Maintenance Minder, Synthetic Oil, All receipts on hand
Other: Indicate prior damage/insurance claims, repaints, etc.
One minor accident to rear bumper when just months old. Luckily only bumper cover had to be replaced and no need to blend in paint. So other than bumper paint is untouched.

Listed for 15,900 firm private party sale. Looking to get 15,000 trade-in if get no hits on private sale listing (seems coming up with 16k for private sale might be a stretch)

robbieg · November 2012

I am not an expert but a few things jump out at me. One, "firm". Most buyers want to negotiate a bit. So, this may turn some buyers off. Second, if your repair shows up on a car fax it is unlikely that you will get top dollar. Lastly, it seems as if your price is a tad high. Some dealers in my area have the same car with less miles for a lower price.

pgm17 · November 2012

Thanks for the feedback, I probably would list it higher but maybe am being a little bit overzealous on the price. Down here the dealer has an 09 LX-P with same miles for 15,600. I was hoping for 15 trade-in but may need to adjust my expectations.

qbrozen · November 2012

new battery is a great selling point. You might get $6500 trading it in Cali. Fair private party transaction would be $8500, so I can understand a $10k asking price, although I wouldn't personally price it that high if you want a quick sale.

qbrozen · November 2012

This is going to depend greatly on whether or not that accident shows on the history report.

Assuming it doesn't, you are looking at getting about $13500-$14k as a trade, and $16k is certainly a fair enough private party price, although you might need to settle for $15500. There are just SOOO many of these out there.

explorerx4 · November 2012

Just curious, battery was replaced as a warranty item?

koctailz · November 2012

yes, the ima battery was replaced as a warranty item. in CA they are under warranty for 10/150. thank goodness because the ima system in the civic is total crap. if you want a hybrid buy a toyota.

explorerx4 · November 2012

Thanks for the reply, but don't put that in your ad if you want to sell the car yourself.

nyccarguy · November 2012

Qbrozen - that's a trade value for my friends '03 1.8T GTI or private party sale?

demondeac · November 2012

About a month ago, my car (05 Acura RSX Base Automatic, 113k miles) sustained a minor collision - busted tail light cover, scratches/ small dent in bumper. The car also has mild scratches along the passenger door and mild interior wear, but no mechanical issues. I have collected from the insurance (just over 1k), but since it hasn't affected it's drivability, I haven't fixed it. I was wondering primarily whether or not to fix it prior to trading the car in? My guess was not to, but didn't know how much most dealers would deduct from the value. Also since I have your attention, what would be a fair trade in value? I plan on trading in at the dealership with using CarMax as a back up.

roadburner · November 2012

I've found that dealers tend to deduct an amount that is greater than the cost of repair. Ditto for a bad repair job(overspray, rippled bodywork, unmatched paint, etc.

corvette · November 2012

You might consider getting a taillight from the junkyard and installing it yourself. The other body work, you may want to skip depending on how bad it looks.

qbrozen · November 2012

trade

nyccarguy · November 2012

Cool. Thanks again my friend. I'll let you know how it goes!

fomentar · November 2012

Researched value of my car online (KBB, Edmunds, NADA) and found consistent trade-in value of approx. $20-21K. Trade-in offers have ranged from $16-18K from dealers. I'm puzzled at the large disparity. Have read some articles online about auction value and such, but still challenged by the seemingly low trade-in value compared to research.

Vehicle:
2008 BMW 335xi coupe (alpine white, tan interior)
CPO
Miles -77,500
Condition - excellent inside and out
Options/Packages:
Premium, Sport, Cold weather, Nav, Automatic w/paddles

I would welcome some insight and or opinions on the difference or value of the car. Thanks.

Real-World Trade-In Values

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