Advice for Trading In a Car

[clarkflower]

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
Hey everyone.

We'll likely be trading in the Mountaineer this summer on a minivan, and I'm hoping someone here has some inside info on what I can do to increase the value a dealership is willing to give me for our trade.


I probably will give it a week or so on CL before we trade in, just to see if I can get a quick sale out of it. But in reality, I don't see putting up with the hassle of tire kickers for even that long. Thanks.


At dealers I've been a salesman, closer, car buyer, manager

There is no scoop.

In most cases there is not a lot you can do to make a new car dealer pay more.
They use black book which only a dealer can get.
If the deal gets close, they may look here, actual sales at the dealer only auction. (same people who write the black book)
Below is a 2005 Mountaineer AWD V6 Convenience PK. If I knew what trim you have I can get closer

Some get personal but I am not going to pay (much) more than the ones selling here.
Why would I give 4000 for a car that I can go and buy for 2000 tomorrow?
It's all numbers. If you are buying at 500 over cost I have no pretend money to give you
If I am making 5000 on a used car I can make you feel better and move some on your trade

Many new car dealer would not even keep an 2005 on the lot, it will go to a wholesaler or the auction







02/27/13 NJ Regular $7,800 76,766 Above TAN 6G A Yes
01/30/13 NY Regular $5,000 89,884 Avg TAN 6G A Yes
02/14/13 ALBANY Regular $6,550 91,438 Above BLACK 6G A Yes
02/27/13 NJ Regular $7,500 93,610 Above WHT 6G A Yes
02/19/13 GEORGIA Lease $6,600 97,202 Above BLK/GLD 6G A Yes
02/26/13 NYMETSKY Regular $3,000 103,683 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes
02/12/13 STATESVL Regular $3,000 110,984 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes
02/21/13 PHOENIX Lease $5,700 114,329 Avg BLUE 6G A Yes
02/27/13 NJ Lease $2,000 117,394 Below RED 6G A Yes
02/27/13 NJ Regular $4,600 117,619 Avg SILVER 6G A Yes
02/19/13 NYMETSKY Regular $2,950 120,746 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes
01/30/13 NY Regular $5,000 120,870 Avg RED 6G A Yes
02/12/13 BALTWASH Lease $3,200 124,376 Avg SILVER 6G A Yes
02/13/13 NY Regular $2,500 128,340 Below WHITE 6G A Yes
02/27/13 HRSNBURG Lease $2,500 130,512 Below SILVER 6G O Yes

I throw out any high (or low out) of place numbers (like the 5000 sale with 124,000 miles above. Things happen. Then I use an average. Sometimes a retail customer gets in. Like that $7800 sale? I would not want to be that buyer.
A word on grading here. Above means I can take the car and stick in on the front of my lot for sale without doing anything.
Avg is still very nice but man need tires or brakes + wax (but not dents)

 

[clarkflower]

Originally Posted By: Panzerman
Wash it, sweep it out and trade it. Really it is a 2005, so its 8 years old, they arent even going to keep it at the new car dealership. Anything that comes in over 3 years goes dierectly to the auction. If it has over a 100,000 definetely. Dont worry about the spare tire, dont worry about mismatched tires or rust. They will act like they care, bbut they dont. Pretty much take it in there like its next in line for the crusher. Keep in mind you are dealing with the Devil. I traded a beautiful Dodge Ram 4X4 in once, it was really nice, had 107,000 miles, all synthetic oil changes, the salesman kept commenting on how nice a truck it was and it really was, I traded it on a new Dodge 2500, I was signing the papers and realized, I wanted my front customized license plate off the front and asked if they could get it and it already left for the auction, I didnt even sign all the papers yet. So realize, we may think of them as nice vehicles, great deals, but they are just numbers and sales to them.


LOL
I missed this. Very accurate
Puff gone...no tears...no emotion

 

[threeputtpar]

clarkflower, I was hoping that you would see my OP and comment. I just couldn't remember your user name to PM you instead.

It a AWD 4.0 V6 Premium package with factory DVD, running boards, and towing package. I was hoping to see a trade value of about $7000.

And we have no emotional attachment to the vehicle. I actually have not liked it since day one because there is not enough room in the driver's seat for me (6'2") considering it is a full size SUV. But my wife just had to have another Mountaineer, since she loved the last one so much I had no say in the matter.

It looks like if I will only get about $5k-6k for it on trade, NADA and Edmunds show about $7700 private party sale. That probably will be the best route to go. KBB actually shows $9000 for a private party in good condition. What kind of drugs are they on?

And I do know that dealers and sales people are just interested in making as much money off of my as they can, so I know to leave the emotions at home when we do finally go to purchase.

 

[TallPaul]

The dealership is expert at making car deals and you will be at a disadvantage as they have a lot more experience. You likely will do much better to sell it privately.

My wife has a 2005 Mountaineer we picked up a couple years ago and other than that the seats are comfortable and the AWD is great in snow, I would just as soon get rid of it and get her back to driving our old 1992 Aerostar, which is a much simpler and practical vehicle.

 

[threeputtpar]

TallPaul, how are you liking the Odyssey? The Touring Elite is #1 on our list right now, since I couldn't stand the 6-speed auto in the Town & Country. I've seen a TallPaul on odyclub.com and figured it was you.

Have you been doing the maintenance yourself, and how easy has it been? Thanks.

 

[rjundi]

2005 Mountaineer is likely auction fodder. They likely won't bother reselling it. Clean it up and skip tires. Not worth it for tires IMHO.

8 year old+ mId-size SUV's used are not popular.

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
Hey everyone.

We'll likely be trading in the Mountaineer


Smart man.

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
Dealers look up your car usally the NAPA book.

If I only I could go to NAPA and see how much my car was worth!

I think you mean "NADA", chap.

 

[PandaBear]

When you trade in a car and buy a new car, do you only pay sales tax on the price after they subtract the trade in value from the new car price?

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
When you trade in a car and buy a new car, do you only pay sales tax on the price after they subtract the trade in value from the new car price?


It depends on the state. Check your state's laws, it's not that hard.

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
TallPaul, how are you liking the Odyssey? The Touring Elite is #1 on our list right now, since I couldn't stand the 6-speed auto in the Town & Country. I've seen a TallPaul on odyclub.com and figured it was you.


Not me. I should change my name to my Google/Photobucket name of InlinePaul. Interestingly I like the Oddessy van from the late 90s, smaller.

 

[threeputtpar]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
When you trade in a car and buy a new car, do you only pay sales tax on the price after they subtract the trade in value from the new car price?


For Wisconsin, yes.

 

[threeputtpar]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
Hey everyone.

We'll likely be trading in the Mountaineer


Smart man.

I know. Like I said, I didn't like the vehicle from the go but the wifey had to have it. We never saw above 19mpg, and when my wife drives were lucky to get 12-13. She has never once used a cruise control in her life, but instead prefers to gun it until she encounters a car and then slams on the brakes. Check the blind spot and then gun it again to pass. Rinse and repeat. I sometimes get car sick from the passenger seat, and I love roller coasters.

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
Originally Posted By: zerosoma
Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
Hey everyone.

We'll likely be trading in the Mountaineer


Smart man.

I know. Like I said, I didn't like the vehicle from the go but the wifey had to have it. We never saw above 19mpg, and when my wife drives were lucky to get 12-13. She has never once used a cruise control in her life, but instead prefers to gun it until she encounters a car and then slams on the brakes. Check the blind spot and then gun it again to pass. Rinse and repeat. I sometimes get car sick from the passenger seat, and I love roller coasters.


The Explorer/Mountaineer was a decent vehicle in the 1990s when it was smaller and lighter. The 2005 is way too heavy and overpowered. The 4.0 V6 is grossly overpowered in my opinion. If it weighed about 800 pounds less, a modern 4-banger would be a nice setup, that and a manual transmission.

I want to go back to the solid rear axle; the IRS is nothig but trouble. I have had to replace the left rear wheel bearing twice at close to $400 a pop. Had to replace the pumpkin seal where the axle exits on one side. Had to replace the rear disk/drum combo because the parking brake was beyond repair. Rear disk makes no sense as it over-complicates the parking brake.

It's a shame they quit making the Aerostar. With the modern Duratec 4-banger the Aerostar would be peppier than it is with the old 3.0 Vulcan V6. Seems once the auto companies get a good design, then can't wait to change it and in the process they ruin it!

 

[clarkflower]

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
clarkflower, I was hoping that you would see my OP and comment. I just couldn't remember your user name to PM you instead.

It a AWD 4.0 V6 Premium package with factory DVD, running boards, and towing package. I was hoping to see a trade value of about $7000.

It looks like if I will only get about $5k-6k for it on trade, NADA and Edmunds show about $7700 private party sale. That probably will be the best route to go. KBB actually shows $9000 for a private party in good condition. What kind of drugs are they on?

And I do know that dealers and sales people are just interested in making as much money off of my as they can, so I know to leave the emotions at home when we do finally go to purchase.


Hi...sorry for the delay was out


Not many transactions for the Prem PK
Miles is a big factor

They break them out AWD V6 FFV and AWD V6 but they both have the same cars
0/0 /12 PA Regular $6,400 78,980 Above BEIGE 6G A Yes
02/13/13 NJ Lease $4,400 116,716 Avg SILVER 6G A Yes
02/14/13 FRDKBURG Regular $2,850 132,613 Avg GOLD 6G Yes
12/19/12 NY Lease $1,600 139,841 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes
11/21/12 HRSNBURG Lease $2,700 142,380 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes
09/05/12 NY Lease $2,200 174,394 Avg GREEN 6G O Yes

 

[threeputtpar]

We went from a 99 to this 2005, and I really like the 99 much more. Same engine except for better timing chain guides in the 05 (the reason we dumped the 99, repair > value of car), and it got 23mpg on the highway all day long. 15" tires were cheap and plentiful, and brakes and rotors were easy to replace (no drum inside rotor hat parking brake). The only gripe I had about it was that the oil drain plug was aimed right at the pass side control arm and mad a horrific mess. A Fram sure drain solved that problem.

Plus it had the 4WD selector switch, so all of the front drivetrain didn't have to be in motion unless I wanted it to be.

 

[threeputtpar]

Originally Posted By: clarkflower
They break them out AWD V6 FFV and AWD V6 but they both have the same cars
0/0 /12 PA Regular $6,400 78,980 Above BEIGE 6G A Yes
02/13/13 NJ Lease $4,400 116,716 Avg SILVER 6G A Yes
02/14/13 FRDKBURG Regular $2,850 132,613 Avg GOLD 6G Yes
12/19/12 NY Lease $1,600 139,841 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes
11/21/12 HRSNBURG Lease $2,700 142,380 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes
09/05/12 NY Lease $2,200 174,394 Avg GREEN 6G O Yes



I fall in between those two mileages and the average is $4625. I think I'm going to go cry in the corner now.

 

[clarkflower]

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
Originally Posted By: clarkflower
They break them out AWD V6 FFV and AWD V6 but they both have the same cars
0/0 /12 PA Regular $6,400 78,980 Above BEIGE 6G A Yes
02/13/13 NJ Lease $4,400 116,716 Avg SILVER 6G A Yes
02/14/13 FRDKBURG Regular $2,850 132,613 Avg GOLD 6G Yes
12/19/12 NY Lease $1,600 139,841 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes
11/21/12 HRSNBURG Lease $2,700 142,380 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes
09/05/12 NY Lease $2,200 174,394 Avg GREEN 6G O Yes



I fall in between those two mileages and the average is $4625. I think I'm going to go cry in the corner now.


100K is a tough mile spot as most banks don't want to touch a loan. (they don't want to repo a 160,000 car 2 years later)
It becomes a cash car (buyer with cash)and a tougher sale

I would not cry. You have good options. Sell it for 5500-6000- or..
Keep it

 

[refaller]

Most people cry when they find out what their car is really worth. I love when people tell me what something is worth. It is worth what someone will pay for it. Personally, I would rather trade a car in and take the 1-2 grand hit than deal with people- unless I have already identified the purchaser.

ref

 

[Tdbo]

My advice:

Part One: Negotiate the price of the car first. Tell them no trade. Negotiate your best cash deal. (Do not discuss payments. Know what you can afford in cash and have the translation to payments worked out in your head before hitting the door. Also have a source of financing worked out in advance, if they offer you a better deal @ the dealership, you can use theirs.)

This tells you what you can buy the car for and does not allow them to commingle numbers and show you a false inflated value for your trade.

Part Two: Negotiate the trade. Doing it this way gives you a clean number on what they are actually presenting on a trade scenario. Remember, that depending on your state, you may not have to pay taxes on the trade value of your car when applied onto a new vehicle. Apply the tax savings onto their number to get their offer. Also, you may want to go to CarMax prior to this for a free offer on your vehicle to use as a basis for comparison. You also may want to look at selling the vehicle yourself. After exploring your options, decide what works best for you.

The way I address it (and it drives dealerships nuts in my experience) is that there are two possible transactions pending: 1) whether or not I am going to buy a car from them and 2) whether or not they are going to buy a car from me. Depending on whether or not the numbers jibe, sometimes #1 happens and #2 doesn't, sometimes #1 and #2 happen in perfect harmony, and sometimes neither occurs. I figure that my job as the consumer is to do my homework, avoid being worked by sales staff, and make sure that I am dealing with unmanipulated data in reaching a decision.