So my buddy works at a Honda Dealership. Recently someone traded in their 2005 ES330 and got 13k for it! He said it wasn't in the best condition, but they detailed and fixed the cosmetic flaws (very minor, no accidents or anything). But then they marked it up to 28.9k! I dont blame them, just can't believe the previous owner settled on the offer. My other buddy who is an idiot when it comes to cars traded his '01 BMW 323ci and got 8k!!! I almost killed him, but I didnt say anything because I didn't want him to feel bad. Saw it listed at the dealership for 17k!

 

i thought getting screwed on the trade was part of the deal...but your boy with the ES just ain't too bright

 

I've never traded a car in. I would rather keep it or sell it myself.

 

NEVER trade in a car.. i would never be able to settle for that.

when we had the 350Z, we had a total of 6,000 miles and had it for 4 months. perfect condition and garage kept.

we bought the touring model fully loaded. bought it for 34,500 and when we took it to the honda dealer, they were "willing" to take it for 18,000 dollars!!! pissed me off because i knew they were gonna sell it for 27,000-30,000. it looked new, interior still had some of the plasstic stuff on it!

i put an ad in the local newspaper and sold it for 28,000. and bought a brand new much more practical fully loaded accord for 24,500.

 

Sounds to me like a couple of not so bright people got screwed by their own stupidity. Trading a car in is not rocket science. Just do some hw and it becomes very obvious how one should go about handling it. Clearly the cases you described, synth, the people failed to put in any effort and got what they deserved.

 

Normally, I would never trade one in, but I needed out of the CL so I was motivated. I would usually sell it privately. I just got done trading in my CL. I was getting royally screwed at most places I went too. $7500 was the best they would offer me and I was buying 2 cars. Eventually, I shopped around and got a lot more.

 

Traded in our 03 Altima 2.5S and got exactly what the KBB said the trade was worth (which is typically higher than what Galves says). This was after we negotiated a killer deal on the 06 Sienna XLE.

Walked out of the dealership extremely happy.

The key I feel is to not tell them you have a trade until after you've negotiated the price on the new vehicle. It allows you to better understand what you're getting for both the trade and the new vehicle.

 

you go to get your trade in appraised and dont tell um anything else.

then you get it in writing and that normally lasts a week. you call every day untill the sales guy who appraised you is out. Then you go in and work a deal for a low price and dont mention the trade in.

so now you have a high trade in price... and a low buy price.

 

As a rule, trading @ dealership is not a wise decision. However, some dealerships are more favorable than others depending upon which pricing source they use (i.e.: NADA, KBB, Galves).

That said (and as NSXNEXT posted), "The key I feel is to not tell them you have a trade until after you've negotiated the price on the new vehicle. It allows you to better understand what you're getting for both the trade and the new vehicle."

 

New.car negotiations 101... don't even mention the trade until after you've negotiated a price for the car.

But, to answer the OP's question... I've never traded a car in. Always sold it myself.

 

I agree with NSXNEXT, also I'd like to add, as long as you get a GOOD trade in value (maybe something like KBB as a base to start), then it's worth trading in. What ppl dont understand is you save money on the taxes you would have made if selling privately. So it kinda balances out. The key is you MUST get a good offer on the trade. If not, sell private.

 

every mod is on this thread... wtf.

 

 

That's what I did. I negotiated a price for the first car. Then I told them I had a trade and wanted a second car. The sales person's eyes lit up. Last day of the month, trading in one car for 2 and putting cash down.

He gave us $2500 more than what KBB said I would get on a trade. And took off almost 15-20% of the sticker prices of both cars and certified the wife-mobile for free.

 

ROFL ... Someone please change the title of this thread to "Anyone ever NOT get screwed on a trade?"

 

i went to the infiniti dealership one day looking at G35's and to see what they would give me for my QX4 which is in mint condition. after being dicked around by them for an hour and me not being happy because they wouldn't give me prices of thier cars or even stick a ball park figure on my car. they "wanted my business that day" :rollseyes: and "i wasn't ready ot buy so they didn't need to" was thier excuses. so after me getting pissed and threatening to walk out they made an offer on my QX4 for 10.5-11K. needless to say i went bullshit, they had one on the floor with more miles, same year and the interior was a disaster for 20K. they said ohh we'll sell the G35 for 500 over and then i said, "so then you can make 10 grand on my truck and still be ahead in the end". needless to say i had enough of it and stormed out. my dad is good freinds with the guys higher in the organization and i do know all of them and they do know me, and the next day they got thier asses chewed out pretty badly because of the way i was treated.

i know i'm 18 and such but just because i don't walk in with a business suit on in my 30's doesn't mean i don't have money, and they automatically label me as a punk ass kid. i work damn hard for my money and pay for everything other then the intial cost of my car.

in the end dealerships steal like a mother......but my acura store which is also owned by this organization is really good to us and they are like friends. going to look at the new TL - S this weekend.