Do you pay KBB values?

[Sawdusted]

Looking for a car in the Dallas TX area. I see a lot of cars being listed at or close to KBB values for private party sale, and most people I spoke to are not willing to negotiate much from the KBB values.

While I just moved to Dallas, where I was in the mid-west Ohio, you'd be a fool to be paying KBB prices even for private party sales. I usually try to find something reasonably priced between the black book value and the KBB value.

So my question is that for those of you familiar with the used car scene here in Dallas, do most private party sales sell near the KBB prices? Am I a fool to be expecting to pay beliw KBB prices?

Thanks,
Julian

 

[JHZR2]

I've paid more than kbb prices because the only cars Ive bought used have every last receipt and record, and are meticulous in care. Not some run of the mill used car.

If I were selling, I'd do my best to sell at kbb value. If I were buying, I'd have cash in hand and be willing to walk. Perhaps it is a sellers market now, but we can only blame c4c for so long. Data points from other geographical areas in other years may not be comparable.

Cash talks. I'd bring it, and be happy to leave. Dallas and Texas are big places, always another option will come up. If you're seeing trends though, you might need to rethink your strategy. I'd look on ebay at finished auctions to do some comps. You can also look at CL and other online car selling sites for similar cars in other geographical areas for comps.

 

[earlyre]

the car market in dallas is hot. one of the reasons the prices are higher, is folks(&Dealers) like us from the rust belt come down and buy up their used cars. Rust Simply isn't an issue down there.
Sunlight and UV are the biggest damage causes to a cars parts and Finish.

also, Texas in general didn't get hit as bad by the economic mess of '08. The Sprawl is still sprawling where My brother lives. (eastern part of Tarrant county)


out of Curiosity, what takes you to Tejas from Buckeye land?
My brother Moved there around 90, then after the '08 crash, an old buddy of mine and his wife relocated to Richardson. He ended up working @ the same Hospital as my Brother.
There are a lot of Displaced Buckeyes in the Metroplex.
When My brother first started @ the Hospital, he found out one of his co-workers was from the next town over from ours here in Ohio.

one More Question... What are you looking for/at?

 

[Sawdusted]

Thanks for the replies guys, I was looking at CL listings. Don't want to go the dealer route ATM.

Looking to buy a japanese branded or late model korean branded car. About $6K or so Not too much over 100K Miles and preferably not older than 8 years.

Moved to Dallas for a new job. Cancer research. Will start new job next week.

Got awful tan lines from all the sun here. And don't get me started about the heat. How do you guys survive here?

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: Sawdusted
Thanks for the replies guys, I was looking at CL listings. Don't want to go the dealer route ATM.

Looking to buy a japanese branded or late model korean branded car. About $6K or so Not too much over 100K Miles and preferably not older than 8 years.

Moved to Dallas for a new job. Cancer research. Will start new job next week.

Got awful tan lines from all the sun here. And don't get me started about the heat. How do you guys survive here?


Try looking at nadaguide.com for more realistic prices. Your main problem is that you are trying to buy really popular models which will go for more. For used cars of that vintage, I would buy America. Prices are lower, parts are cheaper and stocked at most local auto parts stores, easy to find in the junkyard and everyone knows how to fix them. While Japanese cars might be slightly more reliable in general, the higher parts/labor/sale prices just make American cars a better value.

 

[KitaCam]

I got Kitacam at a dealer @ trade-in value for KBB "very good condition", $1,600 under private party listed value....Kitacam is a very hard sell in south Florida...Camry buyers generally not interested in sticks....stick shifters not generally interested in a Camry...

It's all about supply and demand and salesmanship...a hard sell can be marketed as rare...and get more, from the right buyer of course...if the seller is willing to wait...how long? Well, this dealer waited no more than 2 weeks from the day it went on the lot to lower its price $1000 from the lowest of 3 prices they had on the car...window sticker, Ebay, and the cheapest, Cars.com...to get it off the lot...

 

[earlyre]

cancer research... so UTSW Med. Center?
My Brother is in what the rest of the world would call IT there(they cal it ..IS?, IR? something odd ball)- the guys with all the computers.
(he first started down there @ Zale-Lipshy Univ. Hosp., but over the years they merged and consolidated into UTSW Med. Center)

My Buddy(with a degree in Comp. Science)is in...some other dept.. forget just what...

so Japanese or Korean Cars? can't Help ya.
But if you were looking for a LOOOW Milage 15 yr old Mustang(1998 GT - 5 speed, ~18k Mi)...

 

[Pop_Rivit]

I'd never pay full retail price for a vehicle.

We recently added a vehicle to our household-it's an SUV we're planning to use strictly for traveling. We spent some time looking around and were able to purchase it for what would be considered the trade in value. That included all the receipts from the prior owner who had it since new.

We had cash in hand and were able to negotiate the price down from the asking price.

 

[The_Jeff]

Don't forget Texas requires inspections while Ohio was the land of anything goes. Plausible the sellers have been required under force of law to put tires and brakes on once in a while.

I assume the cars in your sig are good enough for now and you don't need a car by monday?

 

[Zero]

Originally Posted By: Wolf359
Originally Posted By: Sawdusted


Try looking at nadaguide.com for more realistic prices. Your main problem is that you are trying to buy really popular models which will go for more. For used cars of that vintage, I would buy America. Prices are lower, parts are cheaper and stocked at most local auto parts stores, easy to find in the junkyard and everyone knows how to fix them. While Japanese cars might be slightly more reliable in general, the higher parts/labor/sale prices just make American cars a better value.


This.

I found this out the hard way, but I was smart enough to cut my losses (within a year) and followed the advice above.

Good call.

 

[Old Mustang Guy]

Yes it is very hot here in the Dallas area but wait until October through April and you will enjoy the weather.

 

[Win]

When I had my used car business, I felt KBB undervalued customer cars, and overvalued dealer cars.

This was about a decade ago. I do understand the dynamics of the used car marketplace are said to have changed since then.

Banks, afaik, still use NADA. My personal opinion is that NADA loan value is what a used car is worth.

 

[demarpaint]

Do you pay KBB prices? It depends on how badly you want the car, your negotiating skills, and if the seller is willing to negotiate.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: Sawdusted
. . .
Got awful tan lines from all the sun here. And don't get me started about the heat. How do you guys survive here?


We don't. Survive, that is. We're all remarkably well-preserved zombies. [Laughs maniacally]

 

[Hokiefyd]

The only time we really pay attention to KBB values is if we are selling a vehicle within the family, and we use the KBB "trade-in" value as the sell price. It's consistent, repeatable, and objective. Buyer buys it for less than he's likely to find another one for, and seller gets more than what he'll likely get at a dealer on trade.