Buying a car when you have a trade in

[BarTopDancer]

I'm looking into trading in my Explorer for a car. I realized I have my entire life to drive an SUV and I want something small (the price of gas is adding to these thoughts but I've been having them for awhile).

So while I am a master at buying a car with no trade-in I'm quite unsure how to not get totally hosed when I have one. Selling it private party isn't an option, I can't afford two car payments or insurance on both until it is sold.

Any tips and advice are welcome.

Thanks!

[mhrc4]

take in the car, along with kelly blue book printouts of the vehicles worrth on a trade in from www.kbb.com -

first thing i would do, is call around, or drive around, if yuo are looking for a toyota (lets say) call the different local dealerships and see what you can get for your explorer. Also call the little out of the way places and ask them if they buy vehicles, most will, and see where you can get the most money for your car. That way, you can also go to the dealership you know is going to work with you the best.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I traded in a car to buy the one I have now, but it wasn't worth much so I didn't worry about what I got for it. The girl gave me $400 trade-in for it, so I was lucky. The advice about calling around is good. And checking with Blue Book values, too. They have a web-site I think.

As far as buying the car, your biggest power is walking away. The one I bought I knew I was going to pay retail, no way around that. Ok, no problem. No real haggling on price. But my sister-in-law bought a car the normal way, i.e. *not* the hottest car in the market. They made the guy an offer, he rejected it outright, they said thank you and walked away. Three weeks later, the guy called back and asked if they still wanted the car, and gave them the price they wanted. The dealers are going to want to sell you something they have on the lot, right this minute, and to make the deal yesterday.

So if you're looking at a car that will hang around for a bit, make a low offer, and see what happens. Make offers with a couple of dealers. They'll whine about how they're not making much money on this car, but is that really your problem? If they're still talking to you, it's still possible.

Good luck! Picking out a car was fun. Oh, and get pre-certified for your loan before you go- the dealership will usually beat the interest rate in order to keep your loan. And if they by chance don't, then go back to the place that certified you.

[mhrc4]

we just boguht my wife a new Mazda, adn the only thing i am regretting is that I did not walk away.. they were only offering us like $800 for her trade in, i should have walked away and made them give me the $1500 I wanted for it and the $300 tinting for free, but i didnt, i sucked it up and financed $800 more just to drive it home that night....

[dsnylndmom]

I really like www.edmunds.com You can research whatever car it is you are looking for now, get true market value price/wholesale/private party prices for your trade in and check to see all the incentives that are out there! Plus, if there is more than one model that you are intereseted in you can compare either up to 3 or 5 different models. Good Luck!

[BarTopDancer]

Thanks guys. I am a car salespersons worst nightmare. I come armed with the KBB price, the TMV price, the average selling price, all incentives and my own financing. And I walk away if they don't meet my price.

My last car had died and I sold it to my mechanic so I didn't have a trade in. This time, well I want to trade in my Explorer for a car.. but I'll probably have to go private party to get what I want for it.

I was thinking of doing this:

Going in and doing my thing to get the price on the car
Then disucssing the trade in
Walking away when they won't give me what I want (closer to what its worth) after telling them that if they don't meet me they lost the sale of the car
Seeing what happens.

It may waste a few hours of my day, but they lost the sale.

[alphabassettgrrl]

BTD- exactly! :)