is it possible to trade and come out OK??

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

grunkster wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")I really didn't wanna have to trade, but my 04' Titan KingCab SE 4wd/big tow pkg. just isn't getting any hits here in S.E. Minnesota....any tips for me if I DO end up trying to trade?? I just have this sinking feeling I will have to LOSE MY ASS to make it happen!! Thanks.

I know what you mean. What we currently own is:
96 Audi A4
02 Subaru WRX
88 F-150 (willed to me w/ 48k miles!)

I want to get rid of all three and get a Pilot and a Ridgeline. KBB gave me around 7,500 for the Audi, 15,000 for the WRX and 2,500 for the F-150. Note these are private party sale prices. With that being said, the local Honda dealer would give me 3,500 for the Audi and 9.9% interest on the loan for the pilot. I was so angry I literally got up, walked out all without saying anything.

In hndsight, should I have tried to negotiate? My gut is telling me to put the Audi and Suby on Autotrader. I think the WRX will sell quickly as it has a pretty loyal following, the Audi will eventually sell (I'll have to settle but it will be a lot better than 3,500!), and sell the truck for about 1,000 to a local work crew.

Agree? Disagree? Comments?

Thanks in advance,
Doug

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Boudreaux wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")grunkster wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")I really didn't wanna have to trade, but my 04' Titan KingCab SE 4wd/big tow pkg. just isn't getting any hits here in S.E. Minnesota....any tips for me if I DO end up trying to trade?? I just have this sinking feeling I will have to LOSE MY ASS to make it happen!! Thanks.

I know what you mean. What we currently own is:
96 Audi A4
02 Subaru WRX
88 F-150 (willed to me w/ 48k miles!)

I want to get rid of all three and get a Pilot and a Ridgeline. KBB gave me around 7,500 for the Audi, 15,000 for the WRX and 2,500 for the F-150. Note these are private party sale prices. With that being said, the local Honda dealer would give me 3,500 for the Audi and 9.9% interest on the loan for the pilot. I was so angry I literally got up, walked out all without saying anything.

In hndsight, should I have tried to negotiate? My gut is telling me to put the Audi and Suby on Autotrader. I think the WRX will sell quickly as it has a pretty loyal following, the Audi will eventually sell (I'll have to settle but it will be a lot better than 3,500!), and sell the truck for about 1,000 to a local work crew.

Agree? Disagree? Comments?

Thanks in advance,
Doug

Doug,
I know what you must have felt when the stealer low-balled you. IMO, no matter what, you need to simplify the "deal". There is no easy way to try and trade 3 used cars for 2 new ones. Take some of the variables out of it by first selling what you can privately. The old Pickup will be worth more outright than by trade. The Audi is hard to predict since there is such a mixed following and they are still trying to recover from the hit they took back in the 80's with the old 5000.

Good Luck!!

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

The best I've ever done was to trade two for one, and I don't really think I got a great deal but I got what I wanted out of the deal, so I guess that's not too bad.

I agree that you should simplify the deal.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

You will usually take a double whammy when trading cars of this caliber. From the descriptions you've posted it is highly unlikely that any of your trades would make it on the lot of a new car dealership, ie: age, milage.
The dealer parks it in back and has a wholesaler come to buy it. The dealer makes a few hundred bucks off the deal and then the wholesaler attempts to sell the car again, many times at another dealer auction or another dealer where even someone else is buying it to resell.
The pick-up sounds like a steal. An '88, Oklahoma truck w/ only 48K... for 1K? I would think that truck would bring 3,000 all day long, more if it has air.

Edit: I forgot about the WRX. That would be a different story.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Colorider - 2006 - 2Dobes,
Thanks for the advice. When I bought the Audi, I was an engineer. I've "traded up" and now teach 5th grade students. I love teaching and wouldn't (won't) give it up, but the money is tight (my wife is also a teacher, so there are family benefits - summers off, et al). So all scenarios are pretty depressing at this point. I did *a little* checking around and was able to find 5.5% financing at a local credit union, probably would settle for that. But I'll definetly wait to sell the cars and have cash money to negotiate a couple of Hondas. Which raises the question - should I expect a sweeter deal if I go in to get both vehicles at the same time?

Thanks guys,
Doug

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

No, probably not that much better of a deal w/ 2. You can buy nearly any vehicle now at, or close to, invoice. I never hear of a dealer cuting into their dealer holdback money.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Well, to be honest, I think the auto industry has their own definition for "Invoice price." Bottom line is these guys are trying to make a living just like anyone else. What's unfortunate is that the business rewards some people who are trying to make more than their fair share by pulling the wool over consumers eyes. Please note that I am not singling anyone out or trying to make someone feel bad. But it's almost gotten to the point where I need to hire a "car lawyer" to watch out for my interests.
Doug

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

The best thing you can do is get on forums such as these and educate yourself about the vehicle you are considering purchasing. Everything you need to know can be found on the inetrnet.
Buying a car, outright, is easy. Trading is always tough... unless you just roll over.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

2Dobes wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")
The best thing you can do is get on forums such as these and educate yourself about the vehicle you are considering purchasing. Everything you need to know can be found on the inetrnet.
Buying a car, outright, is easy. Trading is always tough... unless you just roll over.


Werd

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Boudreaux,
Once you have some finance numbers lined up, hit your stealer up and tell him to beat the numbers. In virtually every case they will. You should be able to still get in the "4"s through American Honda Finance.

Not sure what your needs are since you said you were shopping for both a Pilot and a RidgeLine. You might be able to save some money if you get a new RidgeLine and a used Ody or Pilot.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Every time I go Honda shopping, the used ones fetch nearly as much as the used ones... then you consider financing used vs. new. It only hurts 'till you buy one.

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

2Dobes wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")
Every time I go Honda shopping, the used ones fetch nearly as much as the used ones... then you consider financing used vs. new. It only hurts 'till you buy one.


That's exactly what my wife said to me when we were looking at used Pilots. I guess that's good news for you guys that own a Honda.
Doug

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

Boudreaux wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")2Dobes wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")
Every time I go Honda shopping, the used ones fetch nearly as much as the used ones... then you consider financing used vs. new. It only hurts 'till you buy one.


That's exactly what my wife said to me when we were looking at used Pilots. I guess that's good news for you guys that own a Honda.
Doug

Well, it's only true to an extent. We all soon learn that ANY car is worth a lot more when buying than when selling - but Honda does typically fare better than others.

:)

[Ridgeline4wd_Archive]

I have gone to the same dealer to get more than one car on more than one occasion. The dealer, of course, loves to sell two cars to the same person because it is usually like selling two cars with the work of selling one, at least when dealing with me. The first time I did this was at a honda dealer. After shopping around and getting the typical bs from several dealers, I found an 'honest' honda dealer, bought a car and went back the next day and got another one -- I didn't spend more than a few minutes with the salesman the second time since I knew what I wanted and I knew what his price was going to be. The first car was bought quick, too because I knew what the car should cost and what I was willing to pay, and the salesman's first price quote was lower than I was willing to pay! Easy sales, both of them! Most recently I bought a CR-V from the salesman that I was discussing the Ridgeline with, the CR-V sale took about 10 seconds -- again I knew what I'd be willing to spend and the quoted price was almost exactly that number!

I believe you can get a good price if they are sure you're buying more than one car, but as stated above, their bottom line is probably not going to be pierced.

Rapid-richard could help us on the one....

[old-school-soldier]

hey grunkster, what did u end up gettin 4 ur wrx? im in a similar situation n my buddy told me autotrader is the way 2 go.
thanx