If I decide to purchase an '04, I'm planning on obtaining my own financing rather than financing at the dealer. Cheaper that way. My options for selling my current TL are a) private sale and b) dealer sale. I've heard some of you guys selling your car back to the dealer. Tips for that? Or is a private sale easier?

 

Sell it outright no question about it. The dealership will probably give you 18 to 19k depending on mileage. You can pretty much get a 03 tlp now for about 25 to 26. My dealership has a 02 tlp with nav with 22k miles on it for 23,000.

 

I always thought it was more of a hassle to sell privately but I know I can get more for it despite the hassle. Selling to the dealer cuts out most of the hassle but I get less. I'll probably take your sugg.

I have two pluses in my situation: 1) My car loan is exactly at the point where the car is worth around what I owe (meaning I'm not "upside down" on the loan and therefore come out even, assuming private sale), and 2) I can make the car stock again and sell my Comptech springs and my TL-S wheels to y'all or on eBay.

 

Since you are getting your own financing you should atleast give the dealer a chance to counter offer. They may surprise you.

 

Dependant on the difference, it is much easier to trade it at the time of purchase. IMO...

 

I've always traded my cars in, but would like to get enough back to pay off my loan. Kelley's Blue Book is currently quoting a dealer trade in of $17,540. and $20k for private sale (I have about 33k miles on my '02). I use the KBB values to be pessimistic--they tend to be lower than Edmunds'. OTOH, I can get part of the lost value back with the sale of my parts (I can still get $800-1k on my TL-S wheels + tires alone on eBay).

Just making financial preparations in case the car is what I want!