How Accurate is Kelly Blue Book?
06-03-2006, 12:59 PM
#1
is Pretty Much a Moron
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How Accurate is Kelly Blue Book?
I know that KBB has been around forever, but I recall hearing people on here mention that it hasn't been terribly accurate in producing reasonable asking prices for a used car being sold private party.
I'm going to be leaving school in August and moving around to some larger cities for a while, and having a car is simply not practical. My plan is to sell the car, invest the money in some kind of CD or something, and then next year when I settle down again buy a replacement. The thing is, I don't know how much I should ask for it based on what KBB is giving me. Their suggested private party value is $11,485 (
). What do you guys think would be a fair asking price that would generate some interest, but still give me something to shoot for a new car with?
I'm going to be leaving school in August and moving around to some larger cities for a while, and having a car is simply not practical. My plan is to sell the car, invest the money in some kind of CD or something, and then next year when I settle down again buy a replacement. The thing is, I don't know how much I should ask for it based on what KBB is giving me. Their suggested private party value is $11,485 (
). What do you guys think would be a fair asking price that would generate some interest, but still give me something to shoot for a new car with?
06-03-2006, 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by BEETROOT
I sold my CL for $2k under blue book last year. I just sold my s2000 for $1900 under blue book.
Thanks guys, maybe I'll use $11k as a starting point and let people have a little wiggle room for bargaining. I'm really hoping to get as close to 10k as possible out of it, and with 95,000 miles it's probably gonna be tough.
06-03-2006, 06:00 PM
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FYI CarMax gave me $10k for my CL-S with 96k miles. 
And I sold it to them with my H&R springs on it so they removed them prior to listing it for sale. They listed it for $17,999
And I sold it to them with my H&R springs on it so they removed them prior to listing it for sale. They listed it for $17,999
06-03-2006, 06:03 PM
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Originally Posted by mrsteve
FYI CarMax gave me $10k for my CL-S with 96k miles.
And I sold it to them with my H&R springs on it so they removed them prior to listing it for sale. They listed it for $17,999
And I sold it to them with my H&R springs on it so they removed them prior to listing it for sale. They listed it for $17,999
...and maybe I should start my own CarMax firm. $8k profit ain't too bad.
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06-03-2006, 06:33 PM
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KBB is a reference tool only. When a dealer says they are selling their cars for under blue book its all bullshit.
Whatever you equate your car to being valued by kbb...and make sure its a FAIR estimation. Because almost everyone enters "perfect" when that is not the case...subract 1500/2000 from that price, and thats generally what you will get offered in trade by a dealer.
I sold my 2.3CL in Jan for less then $1000 under Blue book
But of course. if youre interested follow that story up with the Tale of the Cursed Acura link in this forum.
Whatever you equate your car to being valued by kbb...and make sure its a FAIR estimation. Because almost everyone enters "perfect" when that is not the case...subract 1500/2000 from that price, and thats generally what you will get offered in trade by a dealer.
I sold my 2.3CL in Jan for less then $1000 under Blue book
But of course. if youre interested follow that story up with the Tale of the Cursed Acura link in this forum.
06-03-2006, 07:34 PM
#10
Originally Posted by CGTSX2004
KBB is a good reference, but pricing can vary a great deal based on your regional factors. Use it to establish a base point for negotiations, but don't rely on it as some sort of holy grail for pricing your private party sale.
None of them are accurate. Flooded used car market also.
06-03-2006, 11:11 PM
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KBB and Edmunds are both inaccurate for used cars. Most people classify their cars in better condition than what it realistically is, and that's where the difference is more significant when trying to trade in a car. I use neither for my car business.
06-04-2006, 10:14 AM
#14
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www.nada.com is another one like KBB. It's actually used by insurance companies and state departments. However it's about as accurate as KBB.
However it does cover Motorcycles, RV, Boats...
However it does cover Motorcycles, RV, Boats...
06-04-2006, 06:48 PM
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