Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

[hostage]

I wanted to get some outside opinion.

My g/f currently drives a large Sedan 2k6 Toyota Avalon w/ 92k miles on it. It is a nice car w/ great performance, but with the winters here in Rochester and the hours she works as well as that the job requires her to be there no matter what the weather, is one of the reasons we are considering a new (to her) vehicle. Her current car is pretty large and we don't need something that large, since we don't have any kids. Right now she uses my 4x4, though I can't always let her use it. The Subaru she is looking at will get the same gas mileage as her current Sedan.

If a dealer has a car for sale that is the same Book Value for Retail Sale, how much should I have to expect to pay extra for the trade?

Thanks,
Hostage

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

If they're asking retail, you should get close to the wholesale value for the trade. If they're selling below retail, they'll likely screw you on the trade value.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

Depends on the mileage on the Subie and how long they've had it in inventory. Try and find comps over the last couple of months so you'll be prepared.

 

[Red_BOFUS]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

Dealers need to sell cars to move units. He has floor plan fees and everything else on that car, unless it has had a birthday.

What I would do is this.

-Go into the dealership and NEVER say you are going to trade your car in. Go through the entire deal NO TRADE.
-Offer him NADA WHOLESALE and work from there
-Once inside the F&I office drop the trade in their lap

You'll have them going nuts and throwing numbers around like crazy. But if you are savvy you'll buy and trade at wholesale.

 

[hostage]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

The car is one year newer w/ 66k miles on it. According to NADA they are both valued at around ~$15k retail value. This is a large dealership that sells: Chevy, Toyota, and Nissan

I also bought my last vehicle from them last year. Was thinking of telling them they are the first place I am going and who ever offers me the best deal, I will go with that.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

There are numerous methods of skinning a cat of course, but I've always had the best luck with the following approach. Determine what I feel is fair based on comps, tell the dealer I'll give them my trade and X dollars for the vehicle, and either make the deal or walk. I can shoot the s*@t all day long with them. I like car salesmen. But, when it comes to the deal, the more talk the more confusion as far as I'm concerned. I'd like to think I'm a fairly intelligent cat, but they're much better at the game than I, otherwise they wouldn't have succeeded at it for so long. In the end you just have to determine what method works best for you. Good luck Hostage. I've always said if someone ever held a gun to my head and told me I had to start driving a car instead of a truck I'd go with a Subie. Have to be a pretty big gun though. I've been a truck man all my life.

 

[Rellik546]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

i agree with red_bofus my grandfather use to own a dealership in Salisbury MA and my dad sold cars. i did this when i bought my new mazda 3. she doesnt need all wheel drive if she can use an e brake . anywho. go in without a trade in being an option. once everything is square than throw in the trade in. because now they cant mickey mouse prices on you...u have the negotiated value of the car u want to buy. plus u know the worth of your car. so you know exactly where you stand, without wondering what was taken off here, or not give there

 

[Red_BOFUS]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

Check your local credit union as well for the best % and use it as a guide when buying.

Remember they do their negotiations everyday so you need to be armed and ready.

Also man, telling them you came there first doesn't matter to them.

I sold cars for five years and we used all kind of tricks, trips and snares to do the deals. The way I shared is how I hated to be done and the way the insiders train their best guys to deal with customers.

 

[jkust]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

The trade in value is where all the magic happens. My take is that people love Toyotas and hers is very desirable being the top model and still under 100k miles. Unless I was really busy or needed to move quick, I'd be selling that one myself and I bet it wouldn't be too hard. I just rebought my wife's midsized suv after she rolled hers over a few times. I like private party purchases but there just aren't many individuals selling these days it seems so off to the dealer I went. Without a trade or financing the transaction was simple to assess. They love to have the trades to skew the negotiations to their benefit (as they should). They looked at my commuter minivan we pulled up in that is maybe worth 2,000$ and wanted to work a deal. Now why would they want a car that they'd have a hard time giving away. How bad are the roads that she needs to upgrade cars? In Minnesota (my qualifier for the coldest and possibly the worst weather any given day) here I almost never, ever truly need our suv's capabilities in the snow unless I am towing our snowmobiles. FWD has never let me down and usually the only issue is the vehicle height not the number of wheels with power. I have gone through feet of snow with my fwd vehicles and they had average clearence.

 

[hostage]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

The reason I want to trade is, I hate paying Taxes. If we trade it we only have to pay taxes on the difference. If it is easier, the cost isn't that much difference and we avoid some sketchy people of Craigslist, then I will be very happy.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

sell the toyota, you will lose over 3 X the taxes on the trade in value vs retail.. and get a Honda accord cross tour, available in 4WD and starts at around $25K..very nice vehicle..but I am a big Honda fan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XULR2oBHp_Q
http://www.truecar.com/prices-new/honda/accord-crosstour-pricing/2010/4743B19C/

 

[jkust]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

The reason I want to trade is, I hate paying Taxes. If we trade it we only have to pay taxes on the difference. If it is easier, the cost isn't that much difference and we avoid some sketchy people of Craigslist, then I will be very happy.

Good point on the taxes. When I wrote the check for my wifes replacement SUV, the taxes really irked me. When was the last time you got paid for doing nothing at all but sticking your hand out? In addition to the hundreds of thousands of dollars I paid in taxes in 2010, I also get to write a check for some more. Enough said, you want to avoid paying taxes then I'm convinced. I once sold one of my cars on craigslist to a stripper and she was the least sketchy I encountered.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

We all have our "secret" tips and tricks for dealing with the car lots and not "getting screwed", and we're all experts at how to get the best deal and what the best car is to buy. I honestly believe your best bet is to walk through the door armed with the proper knowledge and the confidence that where you want to be on the deal is reasonable. So what if they know you're planning on trading in your car? If the salesman starts jockeying numbers all you have to do is reiterate the number that will work for you and politely tell him he's wasting his time. In the end all that matters is the amount of money that's coming out of your pocket. If that amount works for you, what else matters? Regarding trading vs selling; I don't blame you for not wanting the hassle of selling. However, you might want to verify your state's method of assessing sales tax. As in your state, Arkansas sales tax is based on the difference. However, they will net separate buy/sell transactions as long as they occur within thirty days of each other.

 

[BF]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

Maybe it's different here, but up here you can get a refund of the taxes of your newly purchased car corresponding to the value of the car that you recently sold (even privately). If you trade/buy at a dealer, they do the paperwork automatically on your behalf and only charge you the difference, but even if you buy and sell privately, it can be done. But you must fill out a gov't form and mail it and copies of the bills of sale into the gov't... then you get a cheque mailed back rebating the taxes for the value of the car you sold. I'd imagine about 75% of people here don't know about this, and the sale/purchase need to happen within a certain time period of each other (a few months I think?). Anyway, it might be worth a call to the DMV to see if a similar program exists there.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

Are you buying from Billy.... HUUUUUGE !!.

http://fuccillo.com/

 

[woosterken]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

"Looking at getting a different car for the g/f."

I think it all depends on what she looks like lol

woosterken

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

I agree..a pic of the GF is in order..only way to make a good informed decision...ROFL...JK

 

[hostage]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

Are you buying from Billy.... HUUUUUGE !!.

http://fuccillo.com/

>< lol

Those comericals did have an impact.

 

[JB]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

No secret tips here, just this.

Back in '05 Daughter #1 bought a new Subaru Forester. She lent it to Daughter #2 for a weekend. #2 promptly went out and bought a Subaru Outback. Then I borrowed it. I promptly leased a 2010 Forester. Now #1's partner has bought a Forester and Daughter #3 is shopping Foresters.

Why?
1. They are bulletproof.
2. They go anywhere, anytime.
3. They get great mileage for an AWD vehicle. I am an aggressive driver and usually get 24 in mixed driving, 28 on long trips.
4. They are very comfortable and relatively fun to drive.

I am very happy with mine after driving Mercedes MLs for 10 years

 

[HollaGeo]

Re: Looking at getting a different car for the g/f.

What has worked for me...Tell them how much you want for your car, how much you want to pay for the "new" car, tell them your monthly payment. I don't like going back and forth with them. Here in NJ, they are old mob guys or drunks.