[Z32]

I am just wondering if it will make a difference in trade-in $$$ if I trade in a vehicle in December 2001 than in January 2002 (factor out mileage). If not, which will be the month when $$$ will start to decrease?

Thanx

 

[Jerry O1]

Usually it depends upon when the new "book" comes out. You can be in for a shock, if you have a fairly valuable vehicle and get "caught" by the book change. Values always go down with time.......

Jerry O.

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2001 Odyssey GG LX

 

[Pigeon]

Book, schmook. The value of the car is based on the local market conditions and what the dealer intends to do with it - keep it to sell or send it to auction. The bottom line is that you are selling a car to the dealer in a free market, and the book is only one indicator of what the value of that car is. Also, if the dealer really wants to make the sale they will give more on the trade in than they otherwise would, transfering value from the new car sale to the used car purchase, but they will play it as a zero-sum game if possible. If what you're trading in is going to go to auction, then the average auction price at the auction where your dealer sends their cars is probably a fair price, and they will have that information. Whether they will share is another story...

Scott

 

[Grantbo]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Z32:
I am just wondering if it will make a difference in trade-in $$$ if I trade in a vehicle in December 2001 than in January 2002 (factor out mileage). If not, which will be the month when $$$ will start to decrease?

Thanx</font>

Most of the dealers use the "black book"
to get baseline figures on a trade in. The black book value is simply what the vehicle would go for at aution. I have found the black book price to be significantly below market value. I recently sold my 95 Blazer
privately, as the dealer quoted me an insulting black book price. FYI, revised Black book prices come out each month.

 

[Jerry O1]

Maybe the "shmook" is what they use. I do know that the dealers will attempt to "steal" your vehicle from you and when you see their offer, next to what the private party market is, you will think so, too. Of course, they are entitled to make a profit on both vehicles and usually do. At times, it just seems a little excessive, especially when you trade a very good vehicle for a poor price and then see it sold the same or next day (without any value added by the dealer) for a LOT more than you received.

Jerry O.

------------------
2001 Odyssey GG LX

 

[lotus18]

Sometimes, we have to look at the big pictures, the state sale tax has a lot to do with the trade-in value.
It depends on which state you are in. For instance, in Texas where I live, you save a big chunk of sale tax if you trade-in your vehicle because they only tax the difference between the trad-in and the purchase price.
Take the 99' Ody Ex for sale here in Tx as an example: If you can sell to a private party succesfully for $23000 and you are purchasing a similar 02' van for $30190, and the sale tax here is 6.25%, you will scream at the dealer's trade-in offer for $21647. However, these 2 figures are actually the same considered that when you purchase the new van with the trade-in price offered, you pay only $449.38 versus $1886.88 if you purchase it without a trade-in.
So, do not forget the tax part when you look at the trade-in value. Again, it depends on which state you are in.